{"id":4037,"date":"2013-03-16T10:44:36","date_gmt":"2013-03-16T14:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=4037"},"modified":"2013-03-16T10:45:16","modified_gmt":"2013-03-16T14:45:16","slug":"2013-ctc-the-big-east-312","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=4037","title":{"rendered":"2013 CTC: The Big East (3\/16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have been a die-hard Temple fan for my entire life. \u00a0And, when you’re a fan of a non-power conference, you pretty much adopt the entire conference as your own. \u00a0You feel pride for the conference; you defend the conference; you are happy when it does well, even if it’s not your team. \u00a0So, because of that – and my requisite love affair with the Atlantic Ten – I was required to despise the Big East. \u00a0I called it overrated, too physical, overexposed. \u00a0I ripped its 16 teams and its completely unbalanced schedules. \u00a0I berated teams like DePaul and Seton Hall. \u00a0I enjoyed watching Syracuse and Georgetown fail. \u00a0But, to be completely honest, I am really going to miss this league – particularly during the second week of March. \u00a0Maybe it is the rivalries and passion of the teams. \u00a0Maybe it is the quality of the games. \u00a0Maybe it is simply the Madison Square Garden effect. \u00a0Hell, maybe it is the three straight days with noon start times. \u00a0Whatever it is, I am going to miss it. \u00a0It is magical. \u00a0So, I am sure we will get one more crazy ride through MSG this year – for old time’s sake.<\/p>\n

\"\"This year, you won’t hear me rip the Big East for being overrated because I actually think that it is – gasp<\/em> – a tad underrated. \u00a0Louisville<\/strong>, Georgetown<\/strong>, and even Syracuse <\/strong>still are elite<\/em> national teams with national title potential. \u00a0Notre Dame<\/strong> looks like a legit Sweet 16-caliber team at times. \u00a0Marquette<\/strong> and Pitt<\/strong> might be the two best teams in the country that nobody EVER talks about. \u00a0And, UConn<\/strong> might be the third of that bunch. \u00a0Villanova, Cincinnati<\/strong>, and St. John’s<\/strong> (when fully healthy) are brutal to match up with, and even Providence<\/strong> has been playing lights-out basketball as of late, led by a trio of high-powered scoring machines. \u00a0This tournament is – and it goes without saying – wide open. \u00a0It’s gonna be great. \u00a0And, I’m going to enjoy it guilt-free – for once.<\/p>\n

CHAMPIONSHIP (March 16th – 60 points)<\/h1>\n

#2 Louisville vs #5 Syracuse<\/strong>
\nThe ‘Cuse has come the hard way. \u00a0They had to beat #12 Seton Hall on Wednesday, then a really tough 3-point win over #4 Pitt on Thursday followed by an OT win over #1 Georgetown on Friday, and now they have to battle the physical pressure defense of Louisville on Saturday night in The Garden. \u00a0The Cardinals, on the other hand, have made it look somewhat easy. \u00a0They pounded #7 Villanova on Thursday night before taking care of business against #6 Notre Dame on Friday night. \u00a0The Cardinals are clearly the fresher team, but that doesn’t always matter in MSG on this night. \u00a0The Big East Championship on Saturday night is the signature event of Championship Week, and it rarely disappoints.<\/p>\n

Dave, Lohse, Primm, Stumpf, and Waters have Syracuse here, while eleven people (Alex, Alexi, Bry, Doogan, Gersh, GrossSr, Mac, Rikey, RDoc, Scoot, and Teddy) have Louisville winning it. \u00a0A Louisville win will give Mac the 2013 Big East title. \u00a0A Syracuse win will hand the crown to Stumpf for 2013.<\/p>\n

SEMIFINALS (March 15th – 40 points each)<\/h1>\n

#1 Georgetown vs #5 Syracuse<\/strong>
\nThese two teams have met twice in the past three weeks and both times were convincing wins for the Hoyas – catapulting then to the top of the conference, and relegating the Orange out of the top 4.\u00a0 Both teams looked really good on Thursday, as G’town pounded Cincinnati, and Syracuse took care of a tough Pitt team.\u00a0 Now, they will play a very fitting opener to the final Big East semifinal night.<\/p>\n

Shockingly, only Lazarow and LohseJr have top-seeded G’town here tonight, though both have the Hoyas cutting down the nets on Saturday.\u00a0 Eleven people (Bry, Cheryl, Dave, Gersh, GrossSr, Lohse, Lac, Primm, Rikey, Stumpf, and Waters) have the ‘Cuse going to the finals, with Dave, Lohse, Primm, Stumpf, and Waters taking them on Saturday, as well.\u00a0 The other eleven have already lost this game with Pitt.<\/p>\n

#2 Louisville vs #6 Notre Dame<\/strong>
\nThe nightcap pits a L’ville team that looked really good against ‘Nova on Thursday against a Notre Dame team that came from behind to solidly beat Marquette in the nightcap.\u00a0 Is it me or can we take some solace in the fact that only one of those “Catholic Seven” schools are playing in the final Big East semis?<\/p>\n

Dave is the only one with Notre Dame here, which would give him\u00a0a cool 100 points on everyone else.\u00a0 Caleb, Cheryl, J, Lazarow, Lynch, and PapaCim have already lost this one with some ill-fated pick of one of those “Catholic schools.”\u00a0 Eleven people (Alex, Alexi, Bry, Doogan, Gersh, GrossSr, Mac, Rikey, RDoc, Scoot, and Teddy) have the Cardinals winning this tournament in their last go-round.<\/p>\n

QUARTERFINALS (March 14th – 20 points each)<\/h1>\n

#1 Georgetown vs #9 Cincinnati<\/strong>
\nA dominating defensive performance for the Bearcats on Wednesday afternoon against Providence sets them up to take on the Big East’s top seed on Thursday in the opener to a TERRIFIC quarterfinal quadruple-header in the Garden.\u00a0 Georgetown, led by National POY candidate, Otto Porter, sprinted to the finish of the season to take the regular season title and set themselves up for a possible #1-seed next week.\u00a0 The teams with the double-byes in the Big East tournament have typically struggled, particularly the #1-seeds, who play at noon.\u00a0 But, this G’town team seems pretty resilient and really tough.<\/p>\n

Alex, Bry, and Primm all have the potential for a HUGE upset pick (100 points) here with Cincy.\u00a0 Gersh and Teddy have already lost this game with Providence.\u00a0 Lazarow and LohseJr are the only two that took the Hoyas to win this tournament, so they have the most at\u00a0stake here.<\/p>\n

#4 Pittsburgh vs #5 Syracuse<\/strong>
\nThis is at least a Sweet Sixteen-caliber game, if not better, here in the quarterfinals of the Big East at Madison Square Garden.\u00a0 Man, am I gonna miss this tournament.\u00a0 The Panthers rebounded from Jamie Dixon’s first missed tournament last year to put the pieces back together and put an impressive season together.\u00a0 The tempo-free numbers LOVE Pitt – some having them as high as #6 in the country.\u00a0 I love the Panthers, too, but I don’t think they’re that <\/em>good.\u00a0 Their quarterfinal opponent, Syracuse is coming off of a shaky 12-point win over Seton Hall on Wednesday, but have the talent to beat anyone in the country, obviously.\u00a0 The zone would seem to play well against a team like Pitt that doesn’t shoot the ball all that well from the outside, but the Panthers won the only regular season matchup by 10 points at home.<\/p>\n

Everyone has a horse in this race, and the field is completely split, making this a classic CTC matchup.\u00a0 And, it gets better, from a CTC standpoint.\u00a0 Of the\u00a012 people with Pitt (Alex, Alexi, Caleb, Doogan, GrossJr, J, Lazarow, Lynch, PapaCim, RDoc, Scoot, and Teddy), ELEVEN of them have the Panthers winning again on Friday to go to the finals (only Lazarow does not).\u00a0 GrossJr, Lynch, and PapaCim have Pitt winning this tournament.\u00a0 Of the 12 people that have the ‘Cuse here today, ELEVEN OF THEM\u00a0have them going to the finals (only LohseJr does not).\u00a0 Dave, Lohse, Primm, Stumpf, and Teddy all have Syracuse winning the tournament.\u00a0 It would not be a stretch to call this game THE BIGGEST QUARTERFINAL in the 2013 CTC and, quite possibly, the biggest quarterfinal in CTC history…<\/p>\n

#2 Louisville vs #7 Villanova<\/strong>
\nAnd, enter Rick Pitino and the Louisville Cardinals to the MSG Party. \u00a0The Cards are definitely on the short list of national championship contenders. \u00a0They have much of last year’s Final Four team back this year to make another run. \u00a0The problem is that they really struggle to score way too often to feel too comfortable about them. \u00a0I’ve always said – when you are looking for a good upset pick, find the great defensive team, but when you’re looking for a national championship team, find the great offensive team. \u00a0It’s just too hard to win six in a row when any one of them can be total clunkers offensively. \u00a0Villanova takes on the Cards tonight after a 13-point win over St. John’s.<\/p>\n

Caleb, Cheryl, J, Lazarow, Lynch, and PapaCim took ‘Nova in this big upset. \u00a0Lazarow, Lynch, and PapaCim have the ‘Cats losing in the finals. \u00a0Cheryl has them winning the whole thing. \u00a0Eleven people have L’ville winning this tournament (Alex, Alexi, Bry, Doogan, Gersh, GrossSr, Mac, RDoc, Rikey, Scoot, and Teddy).<\/p>\n

#3 Marquette vs #6 Notre Dame<\/strong>
\nA great nightcap to the last Big East quadruple-header pits the tough, physical Marquette team against the tough, physical Notre Dame team. \u00a0It pits the coach that everyone thinks is underrated, but I think is actually really OVERrated (Buzz Williams) against a coach that actually <\/em>is underrated (Mike Brey). \u00a0Notre Dame survived Rutgers on Wednesday night to set up this matchup. \u00a0All that said about Buzz, this year was a pretty fantastic job, so it’s not good timing to rip him. \u00a0But, look at the talent they have every year – they should <\/em>win this many games.<\/p>\n

Eight people (Alex, Dave, Doogan, GrossSr, Lazarow, Mac, Primm, and Stumpf) have ND in this one. \u00a0Dave has them going to the finals. \u00a0Cheryl has already lost this one with Rutgers. \u00a0Everyone else has Marquette, including Caleb and J, who both have them winning this tournament.<\/p>\n

SECOND ROUND (March 13th – 10 points each)<\/h1>\n

#8 Providence vs #9 Cincinnati<\/strong>
\nThe Friars enter the Big East tournament red hot, but because they started way too late, they probably have next to no shot at an at-large without reaching the final of this tournament.\u00a0 And, that would be no small task, as they are likely to be facing tournament teams every step of the way.\u00a0 But, when you have two guys who can flat-out score as well as Bryce Cotton and Kadeem Betts, you’ve always got a chance.\u00a0 This should be a really interesting matchup between the high-scoring Friars and the tenacious, grind-it-out defense of Cincinnati.\u00a0 The Bearcats are – as always tough and physical – but this year they have a really skilled and talented backcourt in Cashmere Wright and Sean Kilpatrick.\u00a0 This Cincy team is more talented than their Big East results might suggest, so either they don’t quite have the balance and depth or they’re a really dangerously overlooked team here.\u00a0 The winner here gets top-seeded Georgetown in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

Only nine people (Caleb, Cheryl, Dave, Gersh, GrossJr, GrossSr, LohseJr, Teddy, and Waters) took the favored Friars here, with Teddy actually taking them to beat Georgetown in the quarters.\u00a0 Alexi, Bry, and Primm have the most at stake with the Bearcats here, as they all have them beatig G’town and going to the semis.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati 61 – Providence 44<\/em>
\nGood defense beats good offense in this one, as the Bearcats get a big win between two teams kind of on the bubble. \u00a0This should seal the deal for both of them – Cincy to the Dance and Providence to the NIT. \u00a0This was a solid effort for a dangerous team.<\/span><\/p>\n

15 people got this mild upset here. \u00a0Teddy lost a semifinalist here, while Alexi, Bry, and Primm keep one of theirs alive.<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

#5 Syracuse vs #12 Seton Hall<\/strong>
\nThe Hall scored 37 points in regulation on Tuesday night, yet somehow is still alive Wednesday.\u00a0 They will have to step it up slightly in the second round, though, as they face a really good Syracuse team.\u00a0 The ‘Cuse, fueled in part by the winner of this year’s Jess Settles Memorial Been-There-Forever Award, Brandon Triche, were on their way towards a possible #1-seed in the Big Dance, when the wheels started coming off a bit.\u00a0 But, the talent is still there with Triche and Michael Carter-Williams in the backcourt.\u00a0 And, C.J. Fair (who I think is ridiculous…), a recently eligible Southerland, and the big body, Rakeem Christmas down low.\u00a0 This is a Final Four caliber team, as the 5th-seed in this tournament.\u00a0 The winner of this one will get #4 Pitt in the quarters on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Everyone has Syracuse here, except GrossJr, who has already lost the game with South Florida.\u00a0 This game could bust a lot of brackets, though as Dave, Lohse, Primm, Stumpf, and Waters all have the ‘Cuse winning this whole tournament.\u00a0 Bry, Cheryl, Gersh, GrossSr, and Mac all have them going to the finals, but losing.<\/p>\n

Syracuse 75 – Seton Hall 63<\/em>
\nIt wasn’t pretty but, the Orange, behind James Southerland’s 20 points and MCW’s 14 assists survived a feisty Hall to move on to the quarters to take on a good Pitt team. \u00a0Seton Hall came to play, especially in the first half, but the ‘Cuse is just the better team and feels quite at home at the Garden.<\/span><\/p>\n

GrossJr is the only one not to get the 10 points here and is actually still scoreless through the first FOUR Big East games. \u00a0The other 23 people got this one right. \u00a0And, while the ‘Cuse didn’t look all that good today, they did survive, so five people keep alive their champion and five more kept alive a finalist.<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

#7 Villanova vs #10 St. John’s<\/strong>
\nIf you ignore the three top-5 wins from Villanova’s resume, they look like barely an NIT team.\u00a0 But, who can ignore THREE Top-5 wins?\u00a0 Not the Committee and nor should they.\u00a0 And, while I still hate this program – for totally\u00a0unfair reasons – if there is anything that will bring me back it’s a Tamberma man.\u00a0 There is a very small African tribe in northeast Togo and northwest Benin called the Tamberma people.\u00a0 I lived with the Tamberma people for two years.\u00a0 There are only about 10,000 of them in the world (if that).\u00a0 The largest Tamberma city is Natitingou, Benin.\u00a0 Mouphtaou Yarou is\u00a0from Natitingou.\u00a0\u00a0And, since the Tamberma people are amazing <\/strong><\/em>people, I assume Mouph is an amazing\u00a0person, as well,\u00a0so I root for that man.\u00a0 I just wish he didn’t choose Villanova to go\u00a0to school – maybe\u00a0he hates fun…\u00a0 The winner of this game won’t be in for much fun against the Louisville defense in the quarters.<\/p>\n

Only Bry, RDoc, Stumpf, and Waters took St. John’s here, but the Red Storm can break some CTC brackets here, as Caleb and J have them beating Louisville in the quarters; Lynch and PapaCim have them going to the finals; and Cheryl has them winning the whole thing.<\/p>\n

Villanova 66 – St. John’s 53<\/em>
\nA tie game at halftime turned into the TAMBERMA show!\u00a0 Mouphtaou Yarou – the native of Natitingou – hit his first 7 shots from the floor en route to 18 points and a nice second round win for the ‘Cats.\u00a0 Ryan Arcidiacano and JayVaughn Pinkston chipped in with 15 and 12, respectively, and the Wildcat defense completely a total collapse by the Johnnies down the stretch of this season.\u00a0 #2 Louisville is next on the docket for the ‘Nova on Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bry, RDoc, Stumpf, and Waters all missed on the Johnnies upset pick.\u00a0 Caleb and J keep alive semifinalists.\u00a0 Lynch and PapaCim keep alive finalists.\u00a0 Cheryl keeps alive her champion.<\/span><\/p>\n

#6 Notre Dame vs #11 Rutgers<\/strong>
\nThe Scarlet Knights looked real good in Tuesday night’s nightcap win over DePaul.\u00a0 But, they have a much tougher opponent in Wednesday’s nightcap, a the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish will try and make one last run through MSG.\u00a0 The Irish are tough, experienced and led by maybe the most underrated coach in the country (I feel like I say that during the CTC every year – and he still doesn’t get the credit he deserves).\u00a0 A veteran backcourt and a bruising frontcourt is a good recipe for March success.\u00a0 We will see if RU can step up tonight or if ND is too tough.\u00a0 Either way, the winner of this game will get another tough, hard-nosed team in the quarters, 3rd-seeded Marquette.<\/p>\n

Cheryl and PapaCim have Rutgers in a nice upset pick here.\u00a0 Lohse has already lost this game with DePaul.\u00a0 Seven people (Alex,\u00a0Doogan, GrossSr, Lazarow, Mac, Primm, and Stumpf) have Notre Dame beating Marquette in the quarters, but losing in the semis.\u00a0 Dave has the Irish going all the way to the final Saturday night.<\/p>\n

Notre Dame 69 – Rutgers 61<\/em>
\nIt looked like this would be a total blowout for a while.\u00a0 Then, it looked like it would be a total collapse.\u00a0 Finally, it ended being a hard-fought second round win for the Irish paced by a couple of guys that aren’t used to leading the offense.\u00a0 Pat Connaughton and Tom Knight (a couple of guys destined to play for the Irish) both had career-highs in this one, as ND ends the Rutgers season and advances to the quarters on Thursday to face Marquette.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cheryl and PapaCim miss on a nice upset pick here, while everyone else except Lohse pick up the 10 points for the win here.\u00a0 Eight people keep alive semifinalists, including Dave, who keeps his finalist alive.<\/span><\/p>\n

OPENING ROUND (March 12th – 5 points each)<\/h1>\n

#12 Seton Hall vs #13 South Florida<\/strong>
\nDoes everyone forget just how good USF was last year and how they brought back a lot of that team, including their best player? \u00a0What the hell happened to Anthony Collins and company this year? \u00a0What a trainwreck. \u00a0THIS is the team that ended the Temple careers of Ramone Moore and Juan Fernandez? \u00a0Brutal. \u00a0Well, they get to open the final Big East tournament – as we know it – in style, against another lousy team, Seton Hall.\u00a0 The winner of the game will get the ‘Cuse in the second round on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Eleven people (Alex, Bry, Caleb, Cheryl, Dave, GrossJr, Lynch, PapaCim, RDoc, and Teddy) have the USF Bulls tonight in a minor upset.\u00a0 No one has either of these teams beating Syracuse on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Seton Hall 46 – South Florida 42 (OT)<\/em>
\nThere is no truth to the rumor that they will play the second half of this game tomorrow. <\/span>What a way to kick off the final Big East Tournament, as we know it – with an awful, awful game that actually subjected us all to 5 extra minutes of awfulness. \u00a0USF should have had this game in the bag, but completely folded down the stretch of regulation and completely folded in overtime. \u00a0What an awful season for the Bulls, who expected big things after winning two NCAA tournament games last year. \u00a0Now, Seton Hall gets a shot at the ‘Cuse on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eleven people just missed a mild upset pick here. \u00a0The other 13 all get a quick 5 points in the Big East. <\/span><\/p>\n

#11 Rutgers vs #14 DePaul<\/strong>
\nMike Rice was supposed to do more with this Scarlet Knight team this year. \u00a0But, the pieces never came together and Rutgers struggled mightily all season, finishing just 5-13 in league play. \u00a0DePaul looked a lot better this year and yet still finished dead-last in the league. \u00a0What else is new? \u00a0By the way, is Oliver Purnell the smartest man in America? \u00a0He takes a different uncoveted power-conference job every five years, does very little with them, earns a ton of money, and moves to the next one just as the natives get restless. \u00a0He never coaches a pressure game. \u00a0He’s seen as a savior for AT LEAST a season or two and gets out before the boos. \u00a0He’s got it all figured out.\u00a0 The winner here gets #6 Notre Dame in Wednesday’s second round.<\/p>\n

Ten people (Alex, Bry, Caleb, Doogan, GrossJr, J, Lohse, Lynch, Mac, and RDoc) went with the Blue Demons in the upset here.\u00a0 Lohse has DePaul winning again on Wednesday over Notre Dame.\u00a0 PapaCim has Rutgers upsetting Notre Dame in Wednesday’s second round, so he needs them to get by DePaul here.\u00a0 Cheryl went even further with the Scarlet Knights, as she has them beating DePaul, Notre Dame, and Marquette over these three days, so she really would like them to survive this first hurdle.<\/p>\n

Rutgers 76 – DePaul 57<\/em>
\nRutgers looked like they could have beaten both of the teams in the early game – at the same\u00a0time – in the MSG nightcap, as the Scarlet Knights (particularly, K-State transfer, Wally Judge) looked really good in trouncing a DePaul team that closes out their “old Big East” existence in typical last-place, first-round-exit fashion.<\/span><\/p>\n

14 people got this one right.\u00a0 PapaCim and Cheryl are really encouraged by how good RU looked, as PapaCim has them beating Notre Dame on Wednesday and Cheryl has them beating Marquette on Thursday.\u00a0 Lohse loses a quarterfinalist here.<\/span><\/p>\n

CTC UPDATE<\/h1>\n

Championship Picks<\/strong><\/p>\n