BETology 2-25

BETology 2-25
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 9th.
STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
**Syracuse Orange 13-2
*Villanova Wildcats 12-3
*Pittsburgh Panthers 10-5
*West Virginia Mountaineers 10-5
Louisville Cardinals 9-6
Georgetown Hoyas 9-6
Marquette Golden Eagles 9-6
Seton Hall Pirates 7-8
Cincinnati Bearcats 7-8
Connecticut Huskies 7-8
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-8
South Florida Bulls 6-9
St. John’s Red Storm 5-10
Providence Friars 4-11
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 4-11
DePaul Blue Demons 1-14
**Clinched Double-bye
*Clinched opening round bye

LAST NIGHT:
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH 68
Pitt Panthers 53

Notre Dame shot lights out and Pitt failed to take advantage of a huge size advantage inside as the Irish get their 7th conference win of the season. Oddly enough with the crazy tiebreakers and teh crowded standings in the middle of the Big East ND actually dropped a spot in the BET seeding after winning tonight. Notre Dame was in the 10th spot, but with Cincinnati also winning it caused a 4-way tie at 7-8 in conference play. So after the tiebreaker ND finishes 4th of 4. Notre Dame finishes with three tough games, @ Georgetown, home versus UCONN and @ Marquette. The loss does not directly effect Pitt as they stay in the 3 spot, however their chances of winning the conference are all but over now. They also have to be aware of the 3 teams tied, just one game behind them, all battling for the 4th spot and a double bye in the BET. Pitt however holds the tiebreaker over every team in the top 10 in the standings except Georgetown, who beat them head-to-head.

CINCINNATI BEARCATS 74
DePaul Blue Demons 69

Cincinnati survived what would have been a terrible loss in the Bearcats hopes for an NCAA bid. The win puts Cincy into a crowded 4-way tie for the last opening round bye of the tournament with Seton Hall, UCONN and Notre Dame. Cincinnati has a favorable record against those teams and is currently in the 9th spot after tonights win. Cincinnati plays three teams ahead of them to finish the regular season. These next three games @ WVU, home versus Villanova and @ Georgetown could make or break the Bearcats season. With the loss tonight DePaul all but locked up the 16 seed in the BET for the second straight year. 1 more loss or 1 Rutgers win the rest of the way out will clinch it for them.

MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES 63
St. John's Red Storm 61
(OT)

Marquette has now won 4 straight road games in Big East play. This win helps teh Golden Eagles keep pace with Georgetown and Louisville just one game back of WVU and Pitt for the coveted double bye. Marquette has the easiest remaining schedule of the two schools it is tied with includinga head-to-head match-up with Louisville next Tuesday in Milwaukee. The loss for St. John's is their second straight home loss and it keeps them one game behind South Florida in the standings. St. John's finishes the season with Pitt at home before going to Syracuse and DePaul.

VILLANOVA WILDCATS 74
South Florida Bulls 49

Villanova took advantage of the Pitt loss and extended their lead in the standings to 2 full games over Pitt and WVU. Nova clinches a double bye with one more win or one more Georgetown loss. South Florida had won four straight to get to .500 in Big East play, but has since lost 4 of 5 and finds themself stuck behind a big group fighting for the 8th and final bye spot. USF does have a easy schedule to finish out and could still make a run at that spot if they sweep their last three games vs Providence, @ DePaul and home against UCONN.

THIS WEEKEND:
SATURDAY
Pitt @ St. John's, NOON, Big East Regional
Notre Dame @ Georgetown, NOON, CBS
Cincinnati @ West Virginia, 2:00 pm, Big East Regional
DePaul @ Rutgers, 4:00 pm, ESPNU
Providence @ South Florida, 7:00 pm, ESPN360.com
Villanova @ Syracuse, 9:00 pm, ESPN
SUNDAY
Marquette @ Seton Hall, NOON, Big East Regional
Louisville @ Connecticut, 2:00 pm, CBS


UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
MONDAY:
Georgetown @ West Virginia, 7:00 pm, ESPN
TUESDAY:
Villanova @ Cincinnati, 7:00 pm, ESPN2
South Florida @ DePaul, 7:30 pm, ESPNU
Louisville @ Marquette, 9:30 pm, ESPNU
WEDNESDAY:
UCONN @ Notre Dame, 7:00 pm, ESPN

BETology:
TUESDAY
March 9th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati
Vs
16 – DePaul
2:00
12 – South Florida
Vs
13 – St. John's
7:00
10 – UCONN
Vs
15 – Rutgers
9:00
11 – Notre Dame
Vs
14 – Providence

WEDNESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
8 – Seton Hall
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Louisville
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – Marquette
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Georgetown
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner

THURSDAY
March 11th:
NOON
1 – Syracuse
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – West Virginia
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Villanova
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner

Check back tomorrow for another update!