The Big East Tournament gets underway Tuesday, and this year the Big East Tournament (BET) matches the construction of the conference -- oversized, a bit confusing and very clearly divided.
The Big East at this point has seven teams that are definitely going to the NCAA tournament and one team that lies way out on the fringe of the bubble. This year, the BET is all about teams trying to improve or maintain their projected seeding for the Big Dance.
Georgetown has missed every opportunity in February to claim a spot on the NCAA Tournament bubble after falling apart in January. Naturally, after all hope had apparently been lost, they pull out a big road upset over Villanova.
Georgetown turned the ball over 25 times. They shot 17 fewer free throws than Villanova and were outrebounded. Yet the Hoyas came away with the win.
It was another chance for a big home win for Syracuse.
But, like most of the Orange's shots in the final minutes, it ended as another miss.
Syracuse tossed a bucket of cold water on its own comeback in the final minutes, missing six shots in the final 60 seconds as a late rally turned into an 89-86 .
The Orange have now dropped seven of their last 10, and jump shots aren't the only thing they have to worry about missing.
West Virginia really needed a signature win. The Mountaineers had one quality win over Ohio State earlier in the year but, aside from that, the best they could claim was a win over Georgetown back when the Hoyas were still ranked. They finally got another marquee victory with a blowout of Villanova 93-72.
West Virginia had lost three of four, with all three losses coming on the road. It had been swept and embarrassed by Pitt earlier in the week. The Mountaineers were facing a team that had won six straight including wins over Pitt, Syracuse and Marquette -- they knew they really needed a win, and played like it.
This game was over early, with Villanova blowing Syracuse out of the water in the first 10 minutes. Villanova's defense completely disrupted the Orange, who could only make one basket in that span. By the time Syracuse started getting on track, they were down by 21. Villanova never let Syracuse get close than 10 points as the Wildcats coasted to a 102-85 win.
Dante Cunningham was unstoppable for Villanova. Not only did he match his career high in points with 31, but he forced two of Syracuse's big men to foul out failing to stop him. It also did not help that Syracuse had their entire defense shredded as Villanova shot 55 percent in the game.
This can't keep happening for the Cardinals, can it? Two of their last three games have seen Louisville blow a good lead, only to get a basket at the end of the game to survive and avoid blowing the game. Sooner or later it seems likely to come back on a team. Last week it was against Kentucky, and this time they did it in Philadelphia to beat Villanova 61-60.
Louisville led most of the game, despite 3-for-25 on three point shooting. They held an eight-point lead when Villanova went on a 9-0 run to take the lead. Louisville's problems were further compounded with freshman forward Samardo Samuels fouled out during the 'Nova run. Samuels was the leading scorer for Louisville with 15 points.
The Big East Tournament gets underway Tuesday, and this year the Big East Tournament (BET) matches the construction of the conference -- oversized, a bit confusing and very clearly divided. 
Georgetown has missed every opportunity in February to claim a spot on the NCAA Tournament bubble after falling apart in January. Naturally, after all hope had apparently been lost, they pull out a big road upset over Villanova.
It was another chance for a big home win for Syracuse.
West Virginia really needed a signature win. The Mountaineers had one quality win over Ohio State earlier in the year but, aside from that, the best they could claim was a win over Georgetown back when the Hoyas were still ranked. They finally got another marquee victory with a blowout of Villanova 93-72.
This game was over early, with Villanova blowing Syracuse out of the water in the first 10 minutes. Villanova's defense completely disrupted the Orange, who could only make one basket in that span. By the time Syracuse started getting on track, they were down by 21. Villanova never let Syracuse get close than 10 points as the Wildcats coasted to a 102-85 win.
This can't keep happening for the Cardinals, can it? Two of their last three games have seen Louisville blow a good lead, only to get a basket at the end of the game to survive and avoid blowing the game. Sooner or later it seems likely to come back on a team. Last week it was against Kentucky, and this time they did it in Philadelphia to beat Villanova 61-60.
