This is The Rant’s daily look in at the Big East conference as we creep closer to the BET in New York City, which begins March 10th.
STANDINGS
AND
WHAT IS AT STAKE?:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
UCONN can finish either in 1st or 3rd place. There is no way the Huskies can finish in the 2 spot. UCONN can win the Big East conference title and gain the 1-seed to the conference tournament with a win in Pittsburgh on Saturday. If they lose, they would fall to the 3-seed
**-Louisville Cardinals 15-2
Louisville already knows that it will be seeded either 1 or 2, they cannot be any worse. If UCONN wins in Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon, the Cardinals are the 2-seed regardless of their game at WVU. If Pitt wins, Louisville must also win to get the 1-seed. If Pitt wins and Louisville loses, Louisville would lose out on the 3-team tiebreaker. Pitt would be 2-1, Louisville 1-1, and UCONN 1-2 in the mini-conference.
**-Pittsburgh Panthers 14-3
Pitt can finish 1, 2 or 3 still, but no worse then the #3 spot. Pitt is the 1-seed with a win at home against UCONN and a Louisville loss at WVU. Pitt finishes 2nd with a win and a Louisville win. Pitt would finish 3rd if they lose on Saturday, regardless of the outcome in Morgantown.
x*-Villanova Wildcats 13-5
Villanova has clinched the 4-seed, and will get a 2-day bye. Their first game will be at 2:00 pm Thursday afternoon.
x*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-5
Marquette has clinched the 5-seed, and will get a first day bye. Their first game will be Wednesday at 2:00, where they will take on the winner of the 12 vs 13 game, which will be played Tuesday at 2:00.
*-Syracuse Orange 10-7
Syracuse will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Cuse finish 6th if they beat Marquette Saturday and Providence loses tonight. The Cuse finish 7th if Providence wins and WVU loses, regardless of whether the Orange win or lose. They finish 8th if WVU wins and Providence and Syracuse both lose. Syracuse also finishes in 8th if all three team finish with the same record.
*-West Virginia Mountaineers 10-7
WVU will be somewhere between 6 and 8. WVU finish 6th if they beat Louisville Saturday and Syracuse loses to Marquette. The Mountaineers finish 7th if they win but Syracuse also wins, and Providence loses. They could also finish 7th if Syracuse wins and both Providence and WVU lose. They finish 8th if they lose and Providence wins, regardless of what Syracuse does. If Providence, Syracuse and West Virginia all lose then WVU gets the 7th seed. If all three teams win the winner of the Pitt-UCONN game would decide the outcome. If UCONN wins WVU would be 6th, if Pitt wins, WVU would 7th.
*-Providence Friars 10-8
Providence will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Friars finish 6th if WVU and Syracuse lose on Saturday. Providence holds the 3-team tiebreaker due to having the best win when they beat Pitt. They could finish 7th if WVU wins, and Syracuse loses Saturday. They finish 8th if Syracuse wins, regardless of what WVU does.
x-Cincinnati Bearcats 8-9
Cincinnati has clinched the 9-seed and will be playing at Noon on Tuesday versus DePaul.
x-Notre Dame Fighting Irish 8-10
Notre Dame has clinched the 10-seed and will play Rutgers at 7:00 on Tuesday.
Seton Hall Pirates 6-11
With a win at Cincinnati Saturday Seton Hall would secure the 11 spot. There is no way the Pirates can get to the 10-spot, even with an Irish loss. The Pirates hold the 3-way tie with Georgetown and St. John’s and the head-to-head over both as well.
Georgetown Hoyas 6-11
Georgetown can only move up if the teams ahead of them lose. Georgetown finished 3rd in the 3-team mini conference and loses the head-to-head tiebreaker with both teams also.
St. John’s Red Storm 6-12
St. John’s hold the tiebreaker over Georgetown, but not Seton Hall. If they both lose today, St. J finishes in 12th place. If they both win the Red Storm finish 13th.
x-South Florida Bulls 4-13
South Florida has clinched the 14-seed and will be playing at 9:00 pm Tuesday versus the 11-seed
x-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-16
Rutgers has clinched the 15-seed and will be playing at 7:00 pm Tuesday versus Notre Dame
x-DePaul Blue Demons 0-17
DePaul has clinched the 16-seed and will be playing at NOON on Tuesday versus Cincinnati.
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
x-clinched current spot in standings
LAST NIGHT:
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 74
St. John’s Red Storm 55
Notre Dame saved me the torture of having to figure out the 4-way tiebreaker between ND, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Georgetown by beating St. John’s. The Irish have secured the 10-seed, while the Red Storm have to wait and see. St. John’s will be playing at 2:00 on Tuesday, but they have to wait and see if they will be wearing their red or white uniforms. That depends on the outcome of the Georgetown/DePaul game.
TODAY:
UCONN Huskies @ Pitt Panthers
NOON CBS
Syracuse Orange @ Marquette Golden Eagles
2:00 Big East Game of the Week
South Florida Bulls @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2:00 ESPN 360
Seton Hall Pirates @ Cincinnati Bearcats
4:00 ESPN 360
DePaul Blue Demons @ Georgetown Hoyas
5:00 ESPNU
Louisville Cardinals @ West Virginia Mountaineers
9:00 ESPN
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
WEDNESDAY
NOON
2:00
7:00
9:00
THURSDAY
NOON
2:00
7:00
9:00
FRIDAY (SEMIFINALS)
7:00
9:00
ALL TEAMS TO BE DETERMINED, ALL GAMES ON ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati (Clinched 9th seed)
Vs
16 – DePaul (Clinched 16th seed)
2:00
12 – Georgetown
Vs
13 – St. John’s
7:00
10 – Notre Dame (clinched 10th seed)
Vs
15 – Rutgers (clinched 15th seed)
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida (clinched 14th seed)
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Marquette (clinched 5th seed)
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Villanova (clinched 4th seed)
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
BETology 3-6
This is The Rant’s daily look in at the Big East conference as we creep closer to the BET in New York City, which begins March 10th.
STANDINGS
AND
WHAT IS AT STAKE?:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
UCONN can finish either in 1st or 3rd place. There is no way the Huskies can finish in the 2 spot. UCONN can win the Big East conference title and gain the 1-seed to the conference tournament with a win in Pittsburgh on Saturday. If they lose, they would fall to the 3-seed
**-Louisville Cardinals 15-2
Louisville already knows that it will be seeded either 1 or 2, they cannot be any worse. If UCONN wins in Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon, the Cardinals are the 2-seed regardless of their game at WVU. If Pitt wins, Louisville must also win to get the 1-seed. If Pitt wins and Louisville loses, Louisville would lose out on the 3-team tiebreaker. Pitt would be 2-1, Louisville 1-1, and UCONN 1-2 in the mini-conference.
**-Pittsburgh Panthers 14-3
Pitt can finish 1, 2 or 3 still, but no worse then the #3 spot. Pitt is the 1-seed with a win at home against UCONN and a Louisville loss at WVU. Pitt finishes 2nd with a win and a Louisville win. Pitt would finish 3rd if they lose on Saturday, regardless of the outcome in Morgantown.
x*-Villanova Wildcats 13-5
Villanova has clinched the 4-seed, and will get a 2-day bye. Their first game will be at 2:00 pm Thursday afternoon.
x*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-5
Marquette has clinched the 5-seed, and will get a first day bye. Their first game will be Wednesday at 2:00, where they will take on the winner of the 12 vs 13 game, which will be played Tuesday at 2:00.
*-Syracuse Orange 10-7
Syracuse will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Cuse finish 6th if they beat Marquette Saturday and Providence loses tonight. The Cuse finish 7th if Providence wins and WVU loses, regardless of whether the Orange win or lose. They finish 8th if WVU wins and Providence and Syracuse both lose. Syracuse also finishes in 8th if all three team finish with the same record.
*-West Virginia Mountaineers 10-7
WVU will be somewhere between 6 and 8. WVU finish 6th if they beat Louisville Saturday and Syracuse loses to Marquette. The Mountaineers finish 7th if they win but Syracuse also wins, and Providence loses. They could also finish 7th if Syracuse wins and both Providence and WVU lose. They finish 8th if they lose and Providence wins, regardless of what Syracuse does. If Providence, Syracuse and West Virginia all lose then WVU gets the 7th seed. If all three teams win the winner of the Pitt-UCONN game would decide the outcome. If UCONN wins WVU would be 6th, if Pitt wins, WVU would 7th.
*-Providence Friars 10-8
Providence will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Friars finish 6th if WVU and Syracuse lose on Saturday. Providence holds the 3-team tiebreaker due to having the best win when they beat Pitt. They could finish 7th if WVU wins, and Syracuse loses Saturday. They finish 8th if Syracuse wins, regardless of what WVU does.
x-Cincinnati Bearcats 8-9
Cincinnati has clinched the 9-seed and will be playing at Noon on Tuesday versus DePaul.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-10
Notre Dame could finish at the 10-seed. However, if they were to lose tomorrow against St. John’s they could fall as far as 12th. If they win tomorrow, they wrap up the 10 spot. I will update more on this if Notre Dame does lose tomorrow night.
Seton Hall Pirates 6-11
With a win at Cincinnati Saturday Seton Hall would secure the 11 spot. There is no way the Pirates can get to the 10-spot, even with an Irish loss. The Pirates hold the 3-way tie with Georgetown and St. John’s and the head-to-head over both as well.
St. John’s Red Storm 6-11
With a win tomorrow against the Irish St. John’s would move up to 10th. If they lose, we will visit that after the game. They hold the tiebreaker over Georgetown but not with Seton Hall.
Georgetown Hoyas 6-11
Georgetown can only move up if the teams ahead of them lose. Georgetown finished 3rd in the 3-team mini conference and loses the head-to-head tiebreaker with both teams also.
x-South Florida Bulls 4-13
South Florida has clinched the 14-seed and will be playing at 9:00 pm Tuesday versus the 11-seed
x-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-16
Rutgers has clinched the 15-seed and will be playing at 7:00 pm Tuesday versus the 10-seed
x-DePaul Blue Demons 0-17
DePaul has clinched the 16-seed and will be playing at NOON on Tuesday versus Cincinnati.
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
x-clinched current spot in standings
LAST NIGHT:
Villanova Wildcats 97
Providence Friars 80
With this win Villanova cleared up the 4-5 battle between them and Marquette. Nova clinches the 4 spot, leaving Marquette to play on Wednesday in the 5 spot. Providence can still finish as high as 6th, but they will need Syracuse and WVU to both lose. They can finish no worse then their current spot, 8th.
TONIGHT:
St. John’s Red Storm @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
7:00 Regional TV
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati (Clinched 9th seed)
Vs
16 – DePaul (Clinched 16th seed)
2:00
12 – St. John’s
Vs
13 – Georgetown
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers (clinched 15th seed)
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida (clinched 14th seed)
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Marquette (clinched 5th seed)
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Villanova (clinched 4th seed)
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
STANDINGS
AND
WHAT IS AT STAKE?:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
UCONN can finish either in 1st or 3rd place. There is no way the Huskies can finish in the 2 spot. UCONN can win the Big East conference title and gain the 1-seed to the conference tournament with a win in Pittsburgh on Saturday. If they lose, they would fall to the 3-seed
**-Louisville Cardinals 15-2
Louisville already knows that it will be seeded either 1 or 2, they cannot be any worse. If UCONN wins in Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon, the Cardinals are the 2-seed regardless of their game at WVU. If Pitt wins, Louisville must also win to get the 1-seed. If Pitt wins and Louisville loses, Louisville would lose out on the 3-team tiebreaker. Pitt would be 2-1, Louisville 1-1, and UCONN 1-2 in the mini-conference.
**-Pittsburgh Panthers 14-3
Pitt can finish 1, 2 or 3 still, but no worse then the #3 spot. Pitt is the 1-seed with a win at home against UCONN and a Louisville loss at WVU. Pitt finishes 2nd with a win and a Louisville win. Pitt would finish 3rd if they lose on Saturday, regardless of the outcome in Morgantown.
x*-Villanova Wildcats 13-5
Villanova has clinched the 4-seed, and will get a 2-day bye. Their first game will be at 2:00 pm Thursday afternoon.
x*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-5
Marquette has clinched the 5-seed, and will get a first day bye. Their first game will be Wednesday at 2:00, where they will take on the winner of the 12 vs 13 game, which will be played Tuesday at 2:00.
*-Syracuse Orange 10-7
Syracuse will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Cuse finish 6th if they beat Marquette Saturday and Providence loses tonight. The Cuse finish 7th if Providence wins and WVU loses, regardless of whether the Orange win or lose. They finish 8th if WVU wins and Providence and Syracuse both lose. Syracuse also finishes in 8th if all three team finish with the same record.
*-West Virginia Mountaineers 10-7
WVU will be somewhere between 6 and 8. WVU finish 6th if they beat Louisville Saturday and Syracuse loses to Marquette. The Mountaineers finish 7th if they win but Syracuse also wins, and Providence loses. They could also finish 7th if Syracuse wins and both Providence and WVU lose. They finish 8th if they lose and Providence wins, regardless of what Syracuse does. If Providence, Syracuse and West Virginia all lose then WVU gets the 7th seed. If all three teams win the winner of the Pitt-UCONN game would decide the outcome. If UCONN wins WVU would be 6th, if Pitt wins, WVU would 7th.
*-Providence Friars 10-8
Providence will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Friars finish 6th if WVU and Syracuse lose on Saturday. Providence holds the 3-team tiebreaker due to having the best win when they beat Pitt. They could finish 7th if WVU wins, and Syracuse loses Saturday. They finish 8th if Syracuse wins, regardless of what WVU does.
x-Cincinnati Bearcats 8-9
Cincinnati has clinched the 9-seed and will be playing at Noon on Tuesday versus DePaul.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-10
Notre Dame could finish at the 10-seed. However, if they were to lose tomorrow against St. John’s they could fall as far as 12th. If they win tomorrow, they wrap up the 10 spot. I will update more on this if Notre Dame does lose tomorrow night.
Seton Hall Pirates 6-11
With a win at Cincinnati Saturday Seton Hall would secure the 11 spot. There is no way the Pirates can get to the 10-spot, even with an Irish loss. The Pirates hold the 3-way tie with Georgetown and St. John’s and the head-to-head over both as well.
St. John’s Red Storm 6-11
With a win tomorrow against the Irish St. John’s would move up to 10th. If they lose, we will visit that after the game. They hold the tiebreaker over Georgetown but not with Seton Hall.
Georgetown Hoyas 6-11
Georgetown can only move up if the teams ahead of them lose. Georgetown finished 3rd in the 3-team mini conference and loses the head-to-head tiebreaker with both teams also.
x-South Florida Bulls 4-13
South Florida has clinched the 14-seed and will be playing at 9:00 pm Tuesday versus the 11-seed
x-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-16
Rutgers has clinched the 15-seed and will be playing at 7:00 pm Tuesday versus the 10-seed
x-DePaul Blue Demons 0-17
DePaul has clinched the 16-seed and will be playing at NOON on Tuesday versus Cincinnati.
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
x-clinched current spot in standings
LAST NIGHT:
Villanova Wildcats 97
Providence Friars 80
With this win Villanova cleared up the 4-5 battle between them and Marquette. Nova clinches the 4 spot, leaving Marquette to play on Wednesday in the 5 spot. Providence can still finish as high as 6th, but they will need Syracuse and WVU to both lose. They can finish no worse then their current spot, 8th.
TONIGHT:
St. John’s Red Storm @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
7:00 Regional TV
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati (Clinched 9th seed)
Vs
16 – DePaul (Clinched 16th seed)
2:00
12 – St. John’s
Vs
13 – Georgetown
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers (clinched 15th seed)
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida (clinched 14th seed)
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Marquette (clinched 5th seed)
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Villanova (clinched 4th seed)
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
T3R College Hoops Style Week 7
1. UCONN Huskies (27-2, 15-2)
60 votes (3 first place votes)
Last week: W vs Notre Dame 72-65
This week: Saturday @ #3 Pitt
Saturday is for all the marbles. A UCONN win gains them another week at #1 in the Rant Rankings, #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and the Big East regular season title which brings the #1 seed in the Big East Tournament. Pitt exposed them in Hartford; will Calhoun’s whining about the officiating change how the game is played? I hope not, the first game played was the best basketball game I’ve seen this season.
2. North Carolina Tarheels (26-3, 12-3)
57 votes
Last week: W vs Georgia Tech 104-74, W @ Virginia Tech 86-78
This week: Sunday vs #6 Duke
This team is so talented, but they keep playing down to their opponents and squeaking out wins. How long will it take for the national media to remove the crown that was appointed to them at the start of the season?
3. Pitt Panthers (27-3, 14-3)
54 votes
Last week: W @ Seton Hall 89-78, W vs #13 Marquette 90-75
This week: Saturday vs #1 UCONN
This team is a legit national championship team. They have three starters who are arguably the best players in the country at their given position. They also are as deep, if not deeper than any team in the nation. Saturday against UCONN should be a fun one to watch. Maybe we will get Pitt-UCONN III in New York during the Big East Tournament.
4. Louisville Cardinals (24-5, 15-2)
49 votes
Last week: W vs Marquette 62-58, W vs Seton Hall 95-78
This week: Saturday @ West Virginia
This team had some bad losses early on, but can you think of any team that has been playing better in the past month? They have a chance at winning the Big East regular season and the BET. If they do that the Big East might have 3 #1-seeds come Selection Sunday.
4. Memphis Tigers (27-3, 15-0)
49 votes
Last week: W @ UAB 71-60, W vs Southern Miss 58-42, W @ Houston 69-60
This week: Saturday vs Tulane
Memphis replaced their three best players from last years NCAA runner-ups. They have won 57 straight in C-USA. These are both impressive, but they STILL do not play anyone. I give credit to Coach Cal for scheduling non-conference games like Syracuse, Georgetown, Xavier and Tennessee, but when you go 1-3 in those games then run through a terrible conference why should we be impressed? C-USA rankings 10th in conference RPI. That is behind the A-10 Mountain West, and Missouri Valley plus the big 6. Best RPI in the conference (minus Memphis) is UAB at 43. No other team is in the top 60 and eight of the 11 Memphis opponents in the conference are over 100.
6. Duke Blue Devils (25-5, 11-4)
45 votes
Last week: W @ Virginia Tech 72-65, W vs Florida State 84-81
This week: Sunday @ #1 North Carolina
This team might be one of Coach K’s best jobs. They do nothing that is overly impressive. They are not big; they are less athletic than most teams and play without a true point guard, yet they keep winning games.
7. Oklahoma Sooners (26-4, 12-3)
41 votes
Last week: W @ Texas Tech 78-63, L @ #10 Missouri 73-64
This week: Saturday vs Oklahoma State
Yeah, last week Blake Griffin was not at 100% so they got a pass for the two losses, but when Griffin goes for 16 points and 21 rebounds and they still lose someone else has to step up and make some plays to help the team. Then again the six turnovers by Griffin against Mizzou didn’t help causes either.
8. Villanova Wildcats (24-6, 12-5)
36 votes
Last week: L vs Georgetown 56-54, W @ Notre Dame 77-60
This week: Tonight vs Providence
Villanova keeps hanging around in the Big East and national picture. A win tonight gets them a much-needed 2-day bye in the Big East Tournament. This team can score, but not having size or a deep bench will hurt them in both the BET and the NCAA’s.
9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (23-5, 10-5)
34 votes
Last week: W vs NC State 85-78, W @ Virginia 70-60, W @ Maryland 65-63
This week: Sunday vs #14 Clemson
This team is about as bi-polar as Darryl Strawberry.
10. Missouri Tigers (25-5, 12-3)
33 votes
Last week: L @ #12 Kansas 90-65, W vs #7 Oklahoma 73-64
This week: Saturday @ Texas A&M
Live by the press, die by the press. Live by the 3, die by the 3. They did both this week versus Kansas and OU.
11. Michigan State Spartans (22-5, 12-3)
32 votes
Last week: W @ Illinois 74-66, W @ Indiana 64-59
This week: Sunday vs Purdue
Since this is the only Big Ten team ranked this is my only time to rail on the Big Ten. Let’s look at some numbers this season produced by the Big Ten. The Big Ten has exactly one more 80-point game in conference play (4) than 30-point games (3) and one of those 80-point games needed overtime to get there. The Big Ten has also had 18 other games this year in which a team could not reach the 50-point mark. Last night, in a match-up of bubble teams, Wisconsin made FOUR field goals in the first half. FOUR!! And this conference could get 7 or 8 teams into the NCAA’s?! They should be a 1-bid conference; every team minus MSU is a joke!
12. Kansas Jayhawks (24-6, 13-2)
25 votes
Last week: W vs #10 Missouri 90-65, L @ Texas Tech 85-65
This week: Saturday vs Texas
As impressive as the dismantling of Missouri was the loss last night to Texas Tech was that disappointing. Tech had two conference wins before that game, versus (1-14 Colorado and 5-10 Baylor)
13. Marquette Golden Eagles (23-7, 12-5)
20 votes
Last week: L @ #4 Louisville 62-58, L @ #3 Pitt 90-75
This week: Saturday vs Syracuse
Losing Dominic James hurts this team more than I expected. Without him in to shoot the gaps of the defense and penetrate, the teams offense runs completely around the 3-point line and ends with someone chucking up a bad shot. This is not a real good strategy come tournament time.
14. Clemson Tigers (23-6, 9-6)
19 votes
Last week: L @ Florida State 73-66, W vs Virginia 75-57
This week: Sunday @ #9 Wake Forest
So, does Oliver Purnell get a contract extension since the Tigers finally finished over .500 in the ACC after starting conference play undefeated?
15. Gonzaga Bulldogs (24-5, 14-0)
15 votes
Last week: W @ San Diego 58-47, W vs South Carolina Upstate 90-40
This week: Sunday WCC Semifinals
Hats off to Matt Bouldin keeping that ugly hippie style hair a legacy at Gonzaga. First Adam (pornstache) Morrison had it, then Sean Mallon, now Matt Bouldin.
15. Florida State Seminoles (22-8, 9-6)
15 votes
Last week: W vs #14 Clemson 73-66, L @ #6 Duke 84-81
This week: Sunday vs Virginia Tech
This team could be dangerous come tournament time. They have tons of athletes and seem to always get it down when people count them out.
Others receiving votes:
LSU 14, Washington 14, Xavier 10, Syracuse 7, UCLA 6, Arizona State 2, Purdue 2
60 votes (3 first place votes)
Last week: W vs Notre Dame 72-65
This week: Saturday @ #3 Pitt
Saturday is for all the marbles. A UCONN win gains them another week at #1 in the Rant Rankings, #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and the Big East regular season title which brings the #1 seed in the Big East Tournament. Pitt exposed them in Hartford; will Calhoun’s whining about the officiating change how the game is played? I hope not, the first game played was the best basketball game I’ve seen this season.
2. North Carolina Tarheels (26-3, 12-3)
57 votes
Last week: W vs Georgia Tech 104-74, W @ Virginia Tech 86-78
This week: Sunday vs #6 Duke
This team is so talented, but they keep playing down to their opponents and squeaking out wins. How long will it take for the national media to remove the crown that was appointed to them at the start of the season?
3. Pitt Panthers (27-3, 14-3)
54 votes
Last week: W @ Seton Hall 89-78, W vs #13 Marquette 90-75
This week: Saturday vs #1 UCONN
This team is a legit national championship team. They have three starters who are arguably the best players in the country at their given position. They also are as deep, if not deeper than any team in the nation. Saturday against UCONN should be a fun one to watch. Maybe we will get Pitt-UCONN III in New York during the Big East Tournament.
4. Louisville Cardinals (24-5, 15-2)
49 votes
Last week: W vs Marquette 62-58, W vs Seton Hall 95-78
This week: Saturday @ West Virginia
This team had some bad losses early on, but can you think of any team that has been playing better in the past month? They have a chance at winning the Big East regular season and the BET. If they do that the Big East might have 3 #1-seeds come Selection Sunday.
4. Memphis Tigers (27-3, 15-0)
49 votes
Last week: W @ UAB 71-60, W vs Southern Miss 58-42, W @ Houston 69-60
This week: Saturday vs Tulane
Memphis replaced their three best players from last years NCAA runner-ups. They have won 57 straight in C-USA. These are both impressive, but they STILL do not play anyone. I give credit to Coach Cal for scheduling non-conference games like Syracuse, Georgetown, Xavier and Tennessee, but when you go 1-3 in those games then run through a terrible conference why should we be impressed? C-USA rankings 10th in conference RPI. That is behind the A-10 Mountain West, and Missouri Valley plus the big 6. Best RPI in the conference (minus Memphis) is UAB at 43. No other team is in the top 60 and eight of the 11 Memphis opponents in the conference are over 100.
6. Duke Blue Devils (25-5, 11-4)
45 votes
Last week: W @ Virginia Tech 72-65, W vs Florida State 84-81
This week: Sunday @ #1 North Carolina
This team might be one of Coach K’s best jobs. They do nothing that is overly impressive. They are not big; they are less athletic than most teams and play without a true point guard, yet they keep winning games.
7. Oklahoma Sooners (26-4, 12-3)
41 votes
Last week: W @ Texas Tech 78-63, L @ #10 Missouri 73-64
This week: Saturday vs Oklahoma State
Yeah, last week Blake Griffin was not at 100% so they got a pass for the two losses, but when Griffin goes for 16 points and 21 rebounds and they still lose someone else has to step up and make some plays to help the team. Then again the six turnovers by Griffin against Mizzou didn’t help causes either.
8. Villanova Wildcats (24-6, 12-5)
36 votes
Last week: L vs Georgetown 56-54, W @ Notre Dame 77-60
This week: Tonight vs Providence
Villanova keeps hanging around in the Big East and national picture. A win tonight gets them a much-needed 2-day bye in the Big East Tournament. This team can score, but not having size or a deep bench will hurt them in both the BET and the NCAA’s.
9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (23-5, 10-5)
34 votes
Last week: W vs NC State 85-78, W @ Virginia 70-60, W @ Maryland 65-63
This week: Sunday vs #14 Clemson
This team is about as bi-polar as Darryl Strawberry.
10. Missouri Tigers (25-5, 12-3)
33 votes
Last week: L @ #12 Kansas 90-65, W vs #7 Oklahoma 73-64
This week: Saturday @ Texas A&M
Live by the press, die by the press. Live by the 3, die by the 3. They did both this week versus Kansas and OU.
11. Michigan State Spartans (22-5, 12-3)
32 votes
Last week: W @ Illinois 74-66, W @ Indiana 64-59
This week: Sunday vs Purdue
Since this is the only Big Ten team ranked this is my only time to rail on the Big Ten. Let’s look at some numbers this season produced by the Big Ten. The Big Ten has exactly one more 80-point game in conference play (4) than 30-point games (3) and one of those 80-point games needed overtime to get there. The Big Ten has also had 18 other games this year in which a team could not reach the 50-point mark. Last night, in a match-up of bubble teams, Wisconsin made FOUR field goals in the first half. FOUR!! And this conference could get 7 or 8 teams into the NCAA’s?! They should be a 1-bid conference; every team minus MSU is a joke!
12. Kansas Jayhawks (24-6, 13-2)
25 votes
Last week: W vs #10 Missouri 90-65, L @ Texas Tech 85-65
This week: Saturday vs Texas
As impressive as the dismantling of Missouri was the loss last night to Texas Tech was that disappointing. Tech had two conference wins before that game, versus (1-14 Colorado and 5-10 Baylor)
13. Marquette Golden Eagles (23-7, 12-5)
20 votes
Last week: L @ #4 Louisville 62-58, L @ #3 Pitt 90-75
This week: Saturday vs Syracuse
Losing Dominic James hurts this team more than I expected. Without him in to shoot the gaps of the defense and penetrate, the teams offense runs completely around the 3-point line and ends with someone chucking up a bad shot. This is not a real good strategy come tournament time.
14. Clemson Tigers (23-6, 9-6)
19 votes
Last week: L @ Florida State 73-66, W vs Virginia 75-57
This week: Sunday @ #9 Wake Forest
So, does Oliver Purnell get a contract extension since the Tigers finally finished over .500 in the ACC after starting conference play undefeated?
15. Gonzaga Bulldogs (24-5, 14-0)
15 votes
Last week: W @ San Diego 58-47, W vs South Carolina Upstate 90-40
This week: Sunday WCC Semifinals
Hats off to Matt Bouldin keeping that ugly hippie style hair a legacy at Gonzaga. First Adam (pornstache) Morrison had it, then Sean Mallon, now Matt Bouldin.
15. Florida State Seminoles (22-8, 9-6)
15 votes
Last week: W vs #14 Clemson 73-66, L @ #6 Duke 84-81
This week: Sunday vs Virginia Tech
This team could be dangerous come tournament time. They have tons of athletes and seem to always get it down when people count them out.
Others receiving votes:
LSU 14, Washington 14, Xavier 10, Syracuse 7, UCLA 6, Arizona State 2, Purdue 2
BETology 3-5
This is The Rant’s daily look in at the Big East conference as we creep closer to the BET in New York City, which begins March 10th.
STANDINGS
AND
WHAT IS AT STAKE?:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
UCONN can finish either in 1st or 3rd place. There is no way the Huskies can finish in the 2 spot. UCONN can win the Big East conference title and gain the 1-seed to the conference tournament with a win in Pittsburgh on Saturday. If they lose, they would fall to the 3-seed
**-Louisville Cardinals 15-2
Louisville already knows that it will be seeded either 1 or 2, they cannot be any worse. If UCONN wins in Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon, the Cardinals are the 2-seed regardless of their game at WVU. If Pitt wins, Louisville must also win to get the 1-seed. If Pitt wins and Louisville loses, Louisville would lose out on the 3-team tiebreaker. Pitt would be 2-1, Louisville 1-1, and UCONN 1-2 in the mini-conference.
**-Pittsburgh Panthers 14-3
Pitt can finish 1, 2 or 3 still, but no worse then the #3 spot. Pitt is the 1-seed with a win at home against UCONN and a Louisville loss at WVU. Pitt finishes 2nd with a win and a Louisville win. Pitt would finish 3rd if they lose on Saturday, regardless of the outcome in Morgantown.
*-Villanova Wildcats 12-5
Villanova can finish either 4 or 5. To finish 4th Nova must either win today versus Providence or have Marquette lose on Saturday versus Syracuse. To finish 5th, the Wildcats would have to lose and Marquette would need to win.
*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-5
Marquette can finish either 4th or 5th. To finish 4th the Eagles would need to beat Syracuse at home Saturday and have Villanova lose at home to Providence tonight. If those things do not happen Marquette will be the 5-seed and have to play on Wednesday.
*-Providence Friars 10-7
Providence will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Friars finish 6th if they beat Villanova tonight, AND Syracuse and WVU both win on Saturday or if ONLY Syracuse wins. They can also finish with the 6-seed if all three teams lose their final game. Providence holds the 3-team tiebreaker due to having the best win when they beat Pitt. The Friars finish 7th if they win but WVU also wins and Syracuse loses. They could also finish 7th if WVU wins, but Syracuse and the Friars both lose. They finish 8th if they lose and Syracuse wins, regardless of what WVU does.
*-West Virginia Mountaineers 10-7
WVU will be somewhere between 6 and 8. WVU finish 6th if they beat Louisville Saturday and Syracuse loses to Marquette. The Mountaineers finish 7th if they win but Syracuse also wins, and Providence loses. They could also finish 7th if Syracuse wins and both Providence and WVU lose. They finish 8th if they lose and Providence wins, regardless of what Syracuse does. If Providence, Syracuse and West Virginia all lose then WVU gets the 7th seed. If all three teams win the winner of the Pitt-UCONN game would decide the outcome. If UCONN wins WVU would be 6th, if Pitt wins, WVU would 7th.
*-Syracuse Orange 10-7
Syracuse will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Cuse finish 6th if they beat Marquette Saturday and Providence loses tonight. The Cuse finish 7th if Providence wins and WVU loses, regardless of whether the Orange win or lose. They finish 8th if WVU wins and Providence and Syracuse both lose. Syracuse also finishes in 8th if all three team finish with the same record.
x-Cincinnati Bearcats 8-9
Cincinnati has clinched the 9-seed and will be playing at Noon on Tuesday versus DePaul.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-10
Notre Dame could finish at the 10-seed. However, if they were to lose tomorrow against St. John’s they could fall as far as 12th. If they win tomorrow, they wrap up the 10 spot. I will update more on this if Notre Dame does lose tomorrow night.
Seton Hall Pirates 6-11
With a win at Cincinnati Saturday Seton Hall would secure the 11 spot. There is no way the Pirates can get to the 10-spot, even with an Irish loss. The Pirates hold the 3-way tie with Georgetown and St. John’s and the head-to-head over both as well.
St. John’s Red Storm 6-11
With a win tomorrow against the Irish St. John’s would move up to 10th. If they lose, we will visit that after the game. They hold the tiebreaker over Georgetown but not with Seton Hall.
Georgetown Hoyas 6-11
Georgetown can only move up if the teams ahead of them lose. Georgetown finished 3rd in the 3-team mini conference and loses the head-to-head tiebreaker with both teams also.
x-South Florida Bulls 4-13
South Florida has clinched the 14-seed and will be playing at 9:00 pm Tuesday versus the 11-seed
x-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-16
Rutgers has clinched the 15-seed and will be playing at 7:00 pm Tuesday versus the 10-seed
x-DePaul Blue Demons 0-17
DePaul has clinched the 16-seed and will be playing at NOON on Tuesday versus Cincinnati.
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
x-clinched current spot in standings
LAST NIGHT:
Louisville Cardinals 95
Seton Hall Pirates 78
Louisville continues to push towards at least a share of the Big East regular season crown. This win puts them even with UCONN with one game remaining in Morgantown on Saturday night. Seton Hall falls into a three-way tie for 11th place by losing last night. They do hold every tiebreaking scenario with the other two teams (St. John’s and Georgetown).
West Virginia Mountaineers 82
DePaul Blue Demons 63
WVU clinched a bye on Tuesday and DePaul clinched last place with this game. WVU is currently 7th, but can work their way to 6th if everything falls their way in the last three days of the season. DePaul, well, they just want the season to end now.
Pitt Panthers 90
Marquette Golden Eagles 75
Pitt clinched a two day bye with this win and could get up to first with a win Saturday and some help from hated rival WVU Saturday night. Marquette falls into a tough spot by losing this game. The Eagles fall into a tie with Villanova, but Nova holds the tiebreaker, which would put Marquette into the Wednesday games.
TONIGHT:
Providence Friars @ Villanova Wildcats
7:00 ESPN/ESPN2 (check local listings)
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati (Clinched 9th seed)
Vs
16 – DePaul (Clinched 16th seed)
2:00
12 – St. John’s
Vs
13 – Georgetown
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers (clinched 15th seed)
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida (clinched 14th seed)
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Marquette
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Villanova
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
STANDINGS
AND
WHAT IS AT STAKE?:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
UCONN can finish either in 1st or 3rd place. There is no way the Huskies can finish in the 2 spot. UCONN can win the Big East conference title and gain the 1-seed to the conference tournament with a win in Pittsburgh on Saturday. If they lose, they would fall to the 3-seed
**-Louisville Cardinals 15-2
Louisville already knows that it will be seeded either 1 or 2, they cannot be any worse. If UCONN wins in Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon, the Cardinals are the 2-seed regardless of their game at WVU. If Pitt wins, Louisville must also win to get the 1-seed. If Pitt wins and Louisville loses, Louisville would lose out on the 3-team tiebreaker. Pitt would be 2-1, Louisville 1-1, and UCONN 1-2 in the mini-conference.
**-Pittsburgh Panthers 14-3
Pitt can finish 1, 2 or 3 still, but no worse then the #3 spot. Pitt is the 1-seed with a win at home against UCONN and a Louisville loss at WVU. Pitt finishes 2nd with a win and a Louisville win. Pitt would finish 3rd if they lose on Saturday, regardless of the outcome in Morgantown.
*-Villanova Wildcats 12-5
Villanova can finish either 4 or 5. To finish 4th Nova must either win today versus Providence or have Marquette lose on Saturday versus Syracuse. To finish 5th, the Wildcats would have to lose and Marquette would need to win.
*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-5
Marquette can finish either 4th or 5th. To finish 4th the Eagles would need to beat Syracuse at home Saturday and have Villanova lose at home to Providence tonight. If those things do not happen Marquette will be the 5-seed and have to play on Wednesday.
*-Providence Friars 10-7
Providence will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Friars finish 6th if they beat Villanova tonight, AND Syracuse and WVU both win on Saturday or if ONLY Syracuse wins. They can also finish with the 6-seed if all three teams lose their final game. Providence holds the 3-team tiebreaker due to having the best win when they beat Pitt. The Friars finish 7th if they win but WVU also wins and Syracuse loses. They could also finish 7th if WVU wins, but Syracuse and the Friars both lose. They finish 8th if they lose and Syracuse wins, regardless of what WVU does.
*-West Virginia Mountaineers 10-7
WVU will be somewhere between 6 and 8. WVU finish 6th if they beat Louisville Saturday and Syracuse loses to Marquette. The Mountaineers finish 7th if they win but Syracuse also wins, and Providence loses. They could also finish 7th if Syracuse wins and both Providence and WVU lose. They finish 8th if they lose and Providence wins, regardless of what Syracuse does. If Providence, Syracuse and West Virginia all lose then WVU gets the 7th seed. If all three teams win the winner of the Pitt-UCONN game would decide the outcome. If UCONN wins WVU would be 6th, if Pitt wins, WVU would 7th.
*-Syracuse Orange 10-7
Syracuse will be somewhere between 6 and 8. The Cuse finish 6th if they beat Marquette Saturday and Providence loses tonight. The Cuse finish 7th if Providence wins and WVU loses, regardless of whether the Orange win or lose. They finish 8th if WVU wins and Providence and Syracuse both lose. Syracuse also finishes in 8th if all three team finish with the same record.
x-Cincinnati Bearcats 8-9
Cincinnati has clinched the 9-seed and will be playing at Noon on Tuesday versus DePaul.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-10
Notre Dame could finish at the 10-seed. However, if they were to lose tomorrow against St. John’s they could fall as far as 12th. If they win tomorrow, they wrap up the 10 spot. I will update more on this if Notre Dame does lose tomorrow night.
Seton Hall Pirates 6-11
With a win at Cincinnati Saturday Seton Hall would secure the 11 spot. There is no way the Pirates can get to the 10-spot, even with an Irish loss. The Pirates hold the 3-way tie with Georgetown and St. John’s and the head-to-head over both as well.
St. John’s Red Storm 6-11
With a win tomorrow against the Irish St. John’s would move up to 10th. If they lose, we will visit that after the game. They hold the tiebreaker over Georgetown but not with Seton Hall.
Georgetown Hoyas 6-11
Georgetown can only move up if the teams ahead of them lose. Georgetown finished 3rd in the 3-team mini conference and loses the head-to-head tiebreaker with both teams also.
x-South Florida Bulls 4-13
South Florida has clinched the 14-seed and will be playing at 9:00 pm Tuesday versus the 11-seed
x-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-16
Rutgers has clinched the 15-seed and will be playing at 7:00 pm Tuesday versus the 10-seed
x-DePaul Blue Demons 0-17
DePaul has clinched the 16-seed and will be playing at NOON on Tuesday versus Cincinnati.
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
x-clinched current spot in standings
LAST NIGHT:
Louisville Cardinals 95
Seton Hall Pirates 78
Louisville continues to push towards at least a share of the Big East regular season crown. This win puts them even with UCONN with one game remaining in Morgantown on Saturday night. Seton Hall falls into a three-way tie for 11th place by losing last night. They do hold every tiebreaking scenario with the other two teams (St. John’s and Georgetown).
West Virginia Mountaineers 82
DePaul Blue Demons 63
WVU clinched a bye on Tuesday and DePaul clinched last place with this game. WVU is currently 7th, but can work their way to 6th if everything falls their way in the last three days of the season. DePaul, well, they just want the season to end now.
Pitt Panthers 90
Marquette Golden Eagles 75
Pitt clinched a two day bye with this win and could get up to first with a win Saturday and some help from hated rival WVU Saturday night. Marquette falls into a tough spot by losing this game. The Eagles fall into a tie with Villanova, but Nova holds the tiebreaker, which would put Marquette into the Wednesday games.
TONIGHT:
Providence Friars @ Villanova Wildcats
7:00 ESPN/ESPN2 (check local listings)
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati (Clinched 9th seed)
Vs
16 – DePaul (Clinched 16th seed)
2:00
12 – St. John’s
Vs
13 – Georgetown
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers (clinched 15th seed)
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida (clinched 14th seed)
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Marquette
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Villanova
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
BETology 3-4
This is The Rant’s daily look in at the Big East conference as we creep closer to the BET in New York City, which begins March 10th.
STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
**-Louisville Cardinals 14-2
*-Pittsburgh Panthers 13-3
*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-4
*-Villanova Wildcats 12-5
*-Providence Friars 10-7
*-Syracuse Orange 10-7
West Virginia Mountaineers 9-7
Cincinnati Bearcats 8-9
T-Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-10
T-Seton Hall Pirates 6-10
T-St. John’s Red Storm 6-11
T-Georgetown Hoyas 6-11
T-South Florida Bulls 4-13
T-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-16
T-DePaul Blue Demons 0-16
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
T-clinched a Tuesday game
LAST NIGHT:
Syracuse Orange 70
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 40
While I know that they beat only St. John’s, Cincinnati and Rutgers during this current streak, but Syracuse is playing some quality basketball. This is their third straight win by at least 24 points. Syracuse assured itself of not play Tuesday in the process. Syracuse right now is in the 7th spot, which they can fall no further than, but with a win Saturday at Marquette and a Providence loss at Villanova the Orange, who was once 5-6 in conference play after losing 6 of 8 would have 6th place locked up for the BET. Rutgers is in 15th and will stay there unless DePaul suddenly gets hot and beat WVU and Georgetown.
South Florida Bulls 70
Cincinnati Bearcats 59
So much for that big win against WVU last week for Cincinnati. The Bearcats followed that up with two pathetic efforts and are almost certainly out of consideration for the NCAA Tournament. There is no excuse for laying an egg like that in March, none! South Florida is the first team to lock up its spot in the BET. With the victoru tonight, the Bulls clinched the 14th seed. That puts them in the 9:00 game on Tuesday against the 11-seed.
St. John’s Red Storm 59
Georgetown Hoyas 56
So much for that big win over Villanova for Georgetown. The Hoyas followed the Bearcats lead and let whatever slim hopes they had at making the NCAA’s slip away and they let a 15 point second half lead slip away too. The Hoyas were up 45-30 with 10:20 remaining and proceeded to score six more points and only make one FG the rest of the way. In that time, they made on layup and missed the other six attempts from the field. St. John’s, who has been playing better, took advantage of Georgetown’s bad play. Despite scoring just one point in the first 10 minutes of the second half St. John’s still managed a win. The Red Storm are now in 12th place in the standings, one spot ahead of the Hoyas.
TONIGHT:
DePaul Blue Demons @ West Virginia Mountaineers
7:00 Regional TV
Seton Hall Pirates @ Louisville Cardinals
7:00 Regional TV
Marquette Golden Eagles @ Pitt Panthers
7:30 ESPN2
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Thursday:
Providence @ Villanova ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati
Vs
16 – DePaul
2:00
12 – St. John’s
Vs
13 – Georgetown
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida (clinched 14th seed)
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Villanova
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Marquette
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
**-Louisville Cardinals 14-2
*-Pittsburgh Panthers 13-3
*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-4
*-Villanova Wildcats 12-5
*-Providence Friars 10-7
*-Syracuse Orange 10-7
West Virginia Mountaineers 9-7
Cincinnati Bearcats 8-9
T-Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-10
T-Seton Hall Pirates 6-10
T-St. John’s Red Storm 6-11
T-Georgetown Hoyas 6-11
T-South Florida Bulls 4-13
T-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-16
T-DePaul Blue Demons 0-16
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
T-clinched a Tuesday game
LAST NIGHT:
Syracuse Orange 70
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 40
While I know that they beat only St. John’s, Cincinnati and Rutgers during this current streak, but Syracuse is playing some quality basketball. This is their third straight win by at least 24 points. Syracuse assured itself of not play Tuesday in the process. Syracuse right now is in the 7th spot, which they can fall no further than, but with a win Saturday at Marquette and a Providence loss at Villanova the Orange, who was once 5-6 in conference play after losing 6 of 8 would have 6th place locked up for the BET. Rutgers is in 15th and will stay there unless DePaul suddenly gets hot and beat WVU and Georgetown.
South Florida Bulls 70
Cincinnati Bearcats 59
So much for that big win against WVU last week for Cincinnati. The Bearcats followed that up with two pathetic efforts and are almost certainly out of consideration for the NCAA Tournament. There is no excuse for laying an egg like that in March, none! South Florida is the first team to lock up its spot in the BET. With the victoru tonight, the Bulls clinched the 14th seed. That puts them in the 9:00 game on Tuesday against the 11-seed.
St. John’s Red Storm 59
Georgetown Hoyas 56
So much for that big win over Villanova for Georgetown. The Hoyas followed the Bearcats lead and let whatever slim hopes they had at making the NCAA’s slip away and they let a 15 point second half lead slip away too. The Hoyas were up 45-30 with 10:20 remaining and proceeded to score six more points and only make one FG the rest of the way. In that time, they made on layup and missed the other six attempts from the field. St. John’s, who has been playing better, took advantage of Georgetown’s bad play. Despite scoring just one point in the first 10 minutes of the second half St. John’s still managed a win. The Red Storm are now in 12th place in the standings, one spot ahead of the Hoyas.
TONIGHT:
DePaul Blue Demons @ West Virginia Mountaineers
7:00 Regional TV
Seton Hall Pirates @ Louisville Cardinals
7:00 Regional TV
Marquette Golden Eagles @ Pitt Panthers
7:30 ESPN2
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Thursday:
Providence @ Villanova ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati
Vs
16 – DePaul
2:00
12 – St. John’s
Vs
13 – Georgetown
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida (clinched 14th seed)
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Villanova
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Marquette
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
BETology 3-3
This is The Rant’s daily look in at the Big East conference as we creep closer to the BET in New York City, which begins March 10th.
STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
**-Louisville Cardinals 14-2
*-Pittsburgh Panthers 13-3
*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-4
*-Villanova Wildcats 12-5
*-Providence Friars 10-7
Syracuse Orange 9-7
West Virginia Mountaineers 9-7
Cincinnati Bearcats 8-8
T-Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-10
T-Seton Hall Pirates 6-10
T-Georgetown Hoyas 6-10
T-St. John’s Red Storm 5-11
T-South Florida Bulls 3-13
T-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-15
T-DePaul Blue Demons 0-16
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
T-clinched a Tuesday game
LAST NIGHT:
Villanova Wildcats 77
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 60
The Irish all but eliminated themselves from the NCAA Tournament with this loss to Villanova. At 7-10 in the conference, Notre Dame would have to make a huge splash in the BET and probably win at least three games and make it to the championship. Villanova is sitting pretty right now. Villanova will be no worse then the 5-seed, but could easily move up into the top 4 depending on how Pitt and Marquette finish out. Considering that those two teams play each other Wednesday one of them has to lose at least one more game, and Villanova will have the head-to-head tiebreaker over both. Villanova will finish out the season at home against Providence this Thursday. The Irish host St. John’s Friday to end the regular season.
TONIGHT:
Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ Syracuse Orange
7:00 ESPN 360
Cincinnati Bearcats @ South Florida Bulls
7:00 ESPNU
Georgetown Hoyas @ St. John’s Red Storm
7:30 Regional TV
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Wednesday:
Marquette @ Pitt ESPN2
Thursday:
Providence @ Villanova ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati
Vs
16 – DePaul
2:00
12 – Georgetown
Vs
13 – St. John’s
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Villanova
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Marquette
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
**-Louisville Cardinals 14-2
*-Pittsburgh Panthers 13-3
*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-4
*-Villanova Wildcats 12-5
*-Providence Friars 10-7
Syracuse Orange 9-7
West Virginia Mountaineers 9-7
Cincinnati Bearcats 8-8
T-Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-10
T-Seton Hall Pirates 6-10
T-Georgetown Hoyas 6-10
T-St. John’s Red Storm 5-11
T-South Florida Bulls 3-13
T-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-15
T-DePaul Blue Demons 0-16
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
T-clinched a Tuesday game
LAST NIGHT:
Villanova Wildcats 77
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 60
The Irish all but eliminated themselves from the NCAA Tournament with this loss to Villanova. At 7-10 in the conference, Notre Dame would have to make a huge splash in the BET and probably win at least three games and make it to the championship. Villanova is sitting pretty right now. Villanova will be no worse then the 5-seed, but could easily move up into the top 4 depending on how Pitt and Marquette finish out. Considering that those two teams play each other Wednesday one of them has to lose at least one more game, and Villanova will have the head-to-head tiebreaker over both. Villanova will finish out the season at home against Providence this Thursday. The Irish host St. John’s Friday to end the regular season.
TONIGHT:
Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ Syracuse Orange
7:00 ESPN 360
Cincinnati Bearcats @ South Florida Bulls
7:00 ESPNU
Georgetown Hoyas @ St. John’s Red Storm
7:30 Regional TV
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Wednesday:
Marquette @ Pitt ESPN2
Thursday:
Providence @ Villanova ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati
Vs
16 – DePaul
2:00
12 – Georgetown
Vs
13 – St. John’s
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Villanova
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Marquette
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
Monday, March 2, 2009
BETology 3-2
This is The Rant’s daily look in at the Big East conference as we creep closer to the BET in New York City, which begins March 10th.
STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
**-Louisville Cardinals 14-2
*-Pittsburgh Panthers 13-3
*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-4
*-Villanova Wildcats 11-5
*-Providence Friars 10-7
Syracuse Orange 9-7
West Virginia Mountaineers 9-7
Cincinnati Bearcats 8-8
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-9
T-Seton Hall Pirates 6-10
T-Georgetown Hoyas 6-10
T-St. John’s Red Storm 5-11
T-South Florida Bulls 3-13
T-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-15
T-DePaul Blue Demons 0-16
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
T-clinched a Tuesday game
THIS WEEKEND:
SATURDAY
Georgetown Hoyas 56
Villanova Wildcats 54
Is it crazy to think that Georgetown still might have some life left? The Hoyas are currently 40 in the RPI. They have played the toughest schedule in the nation. They have quality wins versus Memphis and Syracuse and on the road against Villanova and UCONN. Plus, they still have two more games remaining and they are against DePaul and St. John’s. I said last week that Georgetown had to split the Louisville and Villanova games, and then take care of business against DePaul and St. John’s. They did the tough part and got the split with Nova and Louisville. Now, they Hoyas could climb as high as the 10-seed and get Rutgers on Tuesday of the BET. If they can get hot and win these next three games, I think they are in the field of 64. As for Villanova, what is happening? Since being blown out in Morgantown this Villanova team has seemed incredibly average. A ten point win at home to Rutgers that could have gone either way with about 10 to play, surviving last second shots against Syracuse and DePaul for wins and then losing at home to Georgetown. This team looked like it could be a serious player in the BET, not I am not sold they will win a game there. Jay Wright has to find the reason for these struggles and fix them fast.
St. John’s Red Storm 84
DePaul Blue Demons 63
Can you believe that this was actually the Big East Game of the Week? Who is their right mind would want to sit down and watch these two teams play? DePaul is pathetic and honestly should not even be in the Big East. St. John’s at least has some players and show some effort and fight on the court. The Red Storm play Notre Dame and Georgetown to close out the year and could be the spoiler to one or both of them. St. John’s has a young team that has improved and with the BET and maybe a game or two in that new post-season tournament, the Red Storm could be a player in the Big East again in the new future.
UCONN Huskies 72
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 65
Notre Dame is a team a lot like Georgetown fighting for a spot to dance. Georgetown had an opportunity to improve their chances this weekend and took it. The Irish had the same chance and let it slip away. Notre Dame was within one point in the last minute of play, but missed their final three shots. Although ND has a better conference record than Georgetown, looking at the resumes, the Hoyas should get the nod if it came down to those two teams. Notre Dame has one quality win against Louisville, and that was at home. Their best road win was Providence. Tonight against Villanova becomes a “must-win” game if Notre Dame wants to get into the Big Dance. UCONN struggled in this game, but did enough for the W. The Huskies maintain the top spot in the standings and are off until they finish the season at Pitt. That game could be for the Big East Title (depending on what Louisville does this week against Seton Hall and West Virginia).
Pitt Panthers 89
Seton Hall Pirates 78
Pitt bounced back from the loss to Providence with an easy win against the Pirates. Pitt has two difficult games coming up this week. Pitt takes on Marquette Wednesday and UCONN Saturday. Both games are at home, where Pitt has yet to lose this season and currently has the third longest home win streak in the nation with 19 straight. The Panthers could move to the 1-seed in the BET with two wins, (if everything else in the conference play goes their way) or they could fall out of the coveted top 4 and find themselves playing Wednesday if they were to lose both games. The loss Saturday clinched a Tuesday game for Seton Hall. They could however move all the way up to the 9-seed (top seed of teams playing Tuesday) if they win out against Louisville and Cincinnati.
SUNDAY
Louisville Cardinals 62
Marquette Golden Eagles 58
The Cardinals clinched a 2-day bye with the win over Marquette. The worst Louisville can do right now is be a 3-seed. However, they have their eyes set on the regular season championship. Winning out will clinch at least a tie for the title, but a UCONN loss on Saturday give Louisville the out-right title and the #1-seed in NYC. Marquette is in a tough spot right now. The Golden Eagles are at the number 4 spot right now, and still have both Pitt and Syracuse remaining on the schedule. A loss to either of those teams and that could bump Marquette from a possible 2-day bye. Villanova sits 1-game behind the Eagles and would win the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Syracuse Orange 87
Cincinnati Bearcats 63
Syracuse seems to be playing better basketball over the past 2+ weeks. The Orange have won their past two games by a combined 53 points. You should take into consideration the competition, but they are play better ball now then they were a month ago. The Cuse have Rutgers and Marquette remaining and need every win they can get. Syracuse is currently sitting in the 7-spot, but there are still four teams vying for the Wednesday bye and only two spots available. Any slip up and the Orange could find themselves playing on Tuesday as the 9 or 10 seed. Cincinnati could have really cemented themselves as the top dog in this four team race with a win yesterday following the win over WVU on Thursday. Now the Bearcats are in the 9-spot (not one you would like to be in) as of now, but they do have two very winnable games remaining and the easiest schedule of the four teams. Cincy finishes the season at South Florida and home against Seton Hall.
Providence Friars 73
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 66
Providence followed up their win Tuesday against Pitt with another one against Rutgers. The win assured the Friars of a bye on Tuesday. Providence only has one game remaining, at Villanova on Thursday, so they cannot move up enough to get the 2-day bye. Providence is at the 6-spot now and with a win Thursday and a WVU loss this week, they will lock up that spot for the BET. Rutgers has Syracuse Tuesday, if the knights can pull of the upset in up-state New York then their season finale Saturday against USF will be for the 14-seed in the BET.
West Virginia Mountaineers 64
South Florida Bulls 50
WVU put a bad loss to Cincinnati behind them and beat up on South Florida. The win puts WVU in the 8-seed for the time being. West Virginia still has DePaul and Louisville to close out the season. Since they do not hold the tiebreaker with either Cincinnati or Syracuse, the season finale against Louisville could be the make or break game for the Mountaineers having an extra day off before playing in the BET.
TONIGHT:
Villanova Wildcats @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
7:00 ESPN
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Monday:
Villanova @ Notre Dame ESPN
Tuesday:
Rutgers @ Syracuse ESPN 360
Cincinnati @ South Florida ESPNU
Wednesday:
Marquette @ Pitt ESPN2
Thursday:
Providence @ Villanova ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati
Vs
16 – DePaul
2:00
12 – Georgetown
Vs
13 – St. John’s
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Villanova
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Marquette
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**-Connecticut Huskies 15-2
**-Louisville Cardinals 14-2
*-Pittsburgh Panthers 13-3
*-Marquette Golden Eagles 12-4
*-Villanova Wildcats 11-5
*-Providence Friars 10-7
Syracuse Orange 9-7
West Virginia Mountaineers 9-7
Cincinnati Bearcats 8-8
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-9
T-Seton Hall Pirates 6-10
T-Georgetown Hoyas 6-10
T-St. John’s Red Storm 5-11
T-South Florida Bulls 3-13
T-Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-15
T-DePaul Blue Demons 0-16
**-clinched a 2-day bye
*-clinched a 1st day bye
T-clinched a Tuesday game
THIS WEEKEND:
SATURDAY
Georgetown Hoyas 56
Villanova Wildcats 54
Is it crazy to think that Georgetown still might have some life left? The Hoyas are currently 40 in the RPI. They have played the toughest schedule in the nation. They have quality wins versus Memphis and Syracuse and on the road against Villanova and UCONN. Plus, they still have two more games remaining and they are against DePaul and St. John’s. I said last week that Georgetown had to split the Louisville and Villanova games, and then take care of business against DePaul and St. John’s. They did the tough part and got the split with Nova and Louisville. Now, they Hoyas could climb as high as the 10-seed and get Rutgers on Tuesday of the BET. If they can get hot and win these next three games, I think they are in the field of 64. As for Villanova, what is happening? Since being blown out in Morgantown this Villanova team has seemed incredibly average. A ten point win at home to Rutgers that could have gone either way with about 10 to play, surviving last second shots against Syracuse and DePaul for wins and then losing at home to Georgetown. This team looked like it could be a serious player in the BET, not I am not sold they will win a game there. Jay Wright has to find the reason for these struggles and fix them fast.
St. John’s Red Storm 84
DePaul Blue Demons 63
Can you believe that this was actually the Big East Game of the Week? Who is their right mind would want to sit down and watch these two teams play? DePaul is pathetic and honestly should not even be in the Big East. St. John’s at least has some players and show some effort and fight on the court. The Red Storm play Notre Dame and Georgetown to close out the year and could be the spoiler to one or both of them. St. John’s has a young team that has improved and with the BET and maybe a game or two in that new post-season tournament, the Red Storm could be a player in the Big East again in the new future.
UCONN Huskies 72
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 65
Notre Dame is a team a lot like Georgetown fighting for a spot to dance. Georgetown had an opportunity to improve their chances this weekend and took it. The Irish had the same chance and let it slip away. Notre Dame was within one point in the last minute of play, but missed their final three shots. Although ND has a better conference record than Georgetown, looking at the resumes, the Hoyas should get the nod if it came down to those two teams. Notre Dame has one quality win against Louisville, and that was at home. Their best road win was Providence. Tonight against Villanova becomes a “must-win” game if Notre Dame wants to get into the Big Dance. UCONN struggled in this game, but did enough for the W. The Huskies maintain the top spot in the standings and are off until they finish the season at Pitt. That game could be for the Big East Title (depending on what Louisville does this week against Seton Hall and West Virginia).
Pitt Panthers 89
Seton Hall Pirates 78
Pitt bounced back from the loss to Providence with an easy win against the Pirates. Pitt has two difficult games coming up this week. Pitt takes on Marquette Wednesday and UCONN Saturday. Both games are at home, where Pitt has yet to lose this season and currently has the third longest home win streak in the nation with 19 straight. The Panthers could move to the 1-seed in the BET with two wins, (if everything else in the conference play goes their way) or they could fall out of the coveted top 4 and find themselves playing Wednesday if they were to lose both games. The loss Saturday clinched a Tuesday game for Seton Hall. They could however move all the way up to the 9-seed (top seed of teams playing Tuesday) if they win out against Louisville and Cincinnati.
SUNDAY
Louisville Cardinals 62
Marquette Golden Eagles 58
The Cardinals clinched a 2-day bye with the win over Marquette. The worst Louisville can do right now is be a 3-seed. However, they have their eyes set on the regular season championship. Winning out will clinch at least a tie for the title, but a UCONN loss on Saturday give Louisville the out-right title and the #1-seed in NYC. Marquette is in a tough spot right now. The Golden Eagles are at the number 4 spot right now, and still have both Pitt and Syracuse remaining on the schedule. A loss to either of those teams and that could bump Marquette from a possible 2-day bye. Villanova sits 1-game behind the Eagles and would win the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Syracuse Orange 87
Cincinnati Bearcats 63
Syracuse seems to be playing better basketball over the past 2+ weeks. The Orange have won their past two games by a combined 53 points. You should take into consideration the competition, but they are play better ball now then they were a month ago. The Cuse have Rutgers and Marquette remaining and need every win they can get. Syracuse is currently sitting in the 7-spot, but there are still four teams vying for the Wednesday bye and only two spots available. Any slip up and the Orange could find themselves playing on Tuesday as the 9 or 10 seed. Cincinnati could have really cemented themselves as the top dog in this four team race with a win yesterday following the win over WVU on Thursday. Now the Bearcats are in the 9-spot (not one you would like to be in) as of now, but they do have two very winnable games remaining and the easiest schedule of the four teams. Cincy finishes the season at South Florida and home against Seton Hall.
Providence Friars 73
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 66
Providence followed up their win Tuesday against Pitt with another one against Rutgers. The win assured the Friars of a bye on Tuesday. Providence only has one game remaining, at Villanova on Thursday, so they cannot move up enough to get the 2-day bye. Providence is at the 6-spot now and with a win Thursday and a WVU loss this week, they will lock up that spot for the BET. Rutgers has Syracuse Tuesday, if the knights can pull of the upset in up-state New York then their season finale Saturday against USF will be for the 14-seed in the BET.
West Virginia Mountaineers 64
South Florida Bulls 50
WVU put a bad loss to Cincinnati behind them and beat up on South Florida. The win puts WVU in the 8-seed for the time being. West Virginia still has DePaul and Louisville to close out the season. Since they do not hold the tiebreaker with either Cincinnati or Syracuse, the season finale against Louisville could be the make or break game for the Mountaineers having an extra day off before playing in the BET.
TONIGHT:
Villanova Wildcats @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
7:00 ESPN
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Monday:
Villanova @ Notre Dame ESPN
Tuesday:
Rutgers @ Syracuse ESPN 360
Cincinnati @ South Florida ESPNU
Wednesday:
Marquette @ Pitt ESPN2
Thursday:
Providence @ Villanova ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday:
UCONN @ Pitt CBS
DePaul @ Georgetown ESPNU
Louisville @ West Virginia ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati
Vs
16 – DePaul
2:00
12 – Georgetown
Vs
13 – St. John’s
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Villanova
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Marquette
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
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