March Madness (2013):

Big East Tournament Preview (Update)

 

BEAST DOME NATION.

This March Madness is going to be like one you have never experienced before.  We will not only be having Predictions from some of the top writers in the game such as E.P. Bignon who is the official writer for the Louisville website BigRedLouie.

What will make this March Madness really special is that we will be having Free Fantasy College Fantasy Basketball tournaments where you can win Ca$h Presented by DraftStreet.

Our Goal is to have you win your Office Tournaments!

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT PREVIEW 2013

By E.P. Bignon
For one final time basketball fans will be able to enjoy the best conference tournament in all of college basketball.  The Big East Conference tournament gets underway Tuesday and The Big East as we know it will not be the same after this season.  West Virginia is gone, Rutgers is heading to the Big 10, Pitt, Syracuse and Louisville are all ACC bound and the seven Catholic schools are exiting as well and taking the name with them.   This great basketball conference that brought us Hoya Paranoya, Pearl Washington, Carnesecca’s sweater and Villanova’s magic run in 1985 will be breaking up.  For college hoops fans enjoy these five days in The Garden because there will never be another Big East like the one we have enjoyed the last 34 years.
Georgetown, Louisville and Marquette finished the regular season tied for the conference title.  Of those three Louisville has been the hottest and seems to be peaking at just the right time.  Georgetown had won 11 in a row before losing to Villanova last week ending their win streak.  Marquette was blown out by Louisville and Georgetown but did beat the Hoyas at home.  These three along with a surging Villanova are the likely favorites to cut down the nets on Saturday night in The Garden but as we all know the favorites don’t always win.
A 9 seed has won this prestigious tournament twice in recent years so someone from the back of the pack will emerge and make some noise, but who will that be?   Syracuse has been a head scratcher this season at times looking like a Final Four team but down the stretch struggled mightily.  They better get their offensive woes fixed quickly or they will be an early exit.  Villanova is 3-0 against the top 3 seeds but just 7-8 against the rest of the league.  If they can get through to the semi-finals ‘Nova may be the team to beat.  And finally there is Notre Dame who runs the”slow burn” offense to perfection and is the best field goal shooting team in the conference at 47%.  The Irish could get to Saturday night if they shoot the ball like they did at the beginning of the season.

Game-by-game Predictions

 

Tuesday

Seton Hall vs South Florida
Winner: Seton Hall               

Game 1- Seton Hall – South Florida- Fuquan Edwin, Pirates leading scorer had a double/double in the first meeting between these two, expect another big game from Edwin.

Rutgers vs. Depaul
Winner:  Rutgers                  

Game 2– Rutgers – Depaul- Myles Mack, Rutgers guard had 28 points the last time these teams met however Deapul won 75-69. The Scarlett Knights will need another big game to have a chance to avenge the earlier season loss.

 

Wednesday

 

Cincinnati vs. Providence
               Winner: Cincinnati   

Providence-Cincinnati- Cashmere Wright– Struggled in their first meeting with only 6 points.  A true scorer, look for him to bounce back big and the Bearcats to advance.             

Syracuse vs. Seton Hall
          Winner: Syracuse               

Syracuse-Seton Hall- James Sunderland– When he is on Syracuse is tough to beat.  Sunderland will be the key to The Orange turning things around.

Villanova vs. St John’s      
           Winner: Villanova                 

Villanova-St John’s- Ryan Arcidiacono– Poured in 32 the last time these two met.  Has range from anywhere in the gym, he should have a big day.

Notre Dame vs.  Rutgers
       Winner: Notre Dame  

Notre Dame-Rutgers- Jack Cooley– Senior Jack Cooley will need to be a senior for the Irish to make a deep run, had 19 vs Rutgers earlier, should own the paint in this one.

 

Thursday

 

Georgetown vs. Cincinnati
    Winner: Georgetown          

Georgetown-Cincinnati- Otto Porter Jr-Big East Player of the Year will continue to do what he does, score.  Average 16.4/game, expect that to continue.

Pitt vs. Syracuse
                        Winner: Syracuse       

Pitt-Syracuse- C.J. Fair– The junior forward had 20 in the regular season match-up with Pitt, look for him to continue to have success against the Panthers.                    

Louisville vs. Villanova       
             Winner: Louisville            

Louisville-Villanova- Russ Smith– The junior returns to his home where he loves the bright lights and can get to the rim anytime he wants.  Smith will be a big factor Louisville repeats.

       

Marquette vs. Notre Dame
Winner: Notre Dame

Notre Dame-Marquette- Vander Blue– Leads Marquette in scoring but only had 6 in the first meeting.  Golden Eagles will ride Blue to the semi-finals.

 

Friday

Georgetown vs.  Syracuse
   Winner:  Georgetown           

Georgetown-Syracuse- Otto Porter Jr.– These two get together one last time before the break-up of The Big East.  Poter Jr will deliver one final time.

 

Louisville @ Marquette
Winner: Louisville   

Louisville-Marquette- Russ Smith– Had 18 in the first game these two played in a Louisville blow-out.  Should have another big game.

 

 

Finals

Georgetown vs. Louisville 
Winner: Louisville

 

Louisville-Georgetown- Peyton Siva–  The senior guard is the glue that keeps this team together.  He will lead Louisville to back-to-back titles.