The Big East semifinal Friday night doubleheader is pretty much legendary in my mind. I remember it being so great as a kid, as a teenager, as a college kid, and now as an “adult.” It’s just a great double-header and, like the rest of this tournament in the World’s Most Famous Arena, it nearly always lives up to the hype.
With the great upset pick of L’ville last night and Villanova the first night, Primm is our current Big East leader. Mac has hit 7 straight in this tournament, though, including a perfect quarterfinal round, and is right behind. The 2012 CTC Big East champion probably rides solely on the second semifinal tonight, as Primm has L’ville and Mac has ND.
#1 Syracuse vs. #4 Cincinnati
Both of these teams had to show some real gumption to get here, but they did. Syracuse poured cold water all over what looked like another potentially magical run for UConn yesterday, while Cincinnati needed two overtimes to finally be rid of Georgetown.
Gross is the only one of the 20 entries to have Cincinnati winning this game, so if they do, he will gain a huge 85 points on the other 19 people. J, KA, Lynch, and Teddy have already lost this game with G’town. The other 15 people all have the ‘Cuse, including many of them with the Orange to win this thing.
#3 Notre Dame vs. #7 Louisville
Another fanastic quadruple-header of Big East games finished up right around the stroke of midnight last night, when Notre Dame finally put away USF in overtime. Louisville looked like the most impressive team of the night, as they handled a really good Marquette team, basically, from the opening tip. Now, the two will play for a spot in the finals (a place Notre Dame has never been).
They will also, most likely, be battling to decide the 2012 CTC Big East champ, as the two current leaders are on opposite side of this one. Mac has Notre Dame, and Primm has Louisville. Primm is the only one with L’ville going to the finals. KA and Waters are the only other two with Notre Dame in the finals. The other 16 entries have all lost this game before it starts. KA has Notre Dame winning this tournament.
