BETology 2-20

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 12-2
Louisville Cardinals 11-2
Pittsburgh Panthers 11-2
Marquette Golden Eagles 11-2
Villanova Wildcats 9-4
Providence Friars 8-6
West Virginia Mountaineers 7-6
Syracuse Orange 7-6
Cincinnati Bearcats 7-6
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 5-8
Seton Hall Pirates 5-8
Georgetown Hoyas 5-8
St. John’s Red Storm 3-10
South Florida Bulls 3-10
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-12
DePaul Blue Demons 0-13
*-clinched a 1st day bye

YESTERDAY:
Duke Blue Devils 76
St. John’s Red Storm 69
This is basically another win for the Big East. Coach K said earlier in the season that the ACC is better than the Big East, yet in his two games vs Big East teams his top-10 ranked team has struggled mightily against teams currently in 12th and 13th place the Big East. When Duke beat Georgetown in Cameron Indoor Stadium earlier in the year it was no real surprise. The Hoyas have a total of ONE road victory in 2009 and that came two days ago against South Florida. The real surprise is that Duke couldn’t beat the Hoyas worse than they did. In the Hoyas other nine losses this season they have lost by an average of 9.1 ppg. Duke a top ten team and one of the top dogs in the ACC beat them by less. Then Duke goes to New York City to play St. John’s last night. Sure Duke gets the win, as expected, but they only won by 7. Yes I know, a win is a win. But consider this. That was the smallest margin of defeat that St. John’s has had this year. Their average margin of defeat in Big East play is 15.6 ppg. That includes wins by Cincinnati and Seton Hall, teams that are in the middle to low end of the Big East are beating St. John’s more handily then the all-powerful Duke Blue Devils. So Coach, do you still think that the ACC is better than the Big East. Based on your two outcomes versus Big East teams this season, the Blue Devils would be about 10th in the Big East standings right now.

Villanova Wildcats 82
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 72
Villanova was able to stay within two games of the first place clump atop the standings in the Big East with this win last night. They also have created a little separation with the next pack of teams. The Wildcats currently sit in 5th place, with a 1½ game cushion on Providence who is in the sixth spot. Villanova has a very favorable schedule down the stretch, and should be the favorite to win all five games. If they were to do that, they may be able to steal that last two-day bye if one of the four teams ahead of them falters. As for Rutgers, well they clinched a spot in the first every Tuesday of the Big East Tournament. Congratulations Scarlet Knights!

GAMES THIS WEEKEND:
SATURDAY:
Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Providence Friars
NOON Big East Game of The Week

Louisville Cardinals @ Cincinnati Bearcats
2:00 Regional Television

South Florida Bulls @ UCONN Huskies
2:00 Regional Television

Marquette Golden Eagles @ Georgetown Hoyas
2:00 ESPN

DePaul Blue Demons @ Pitt Panthers
7:00 Regional Television

SUNDAY:
Villanova Wildcats @ Syracuse Orange
1:00 CBS

West Virginia Mountaineers @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights
3:00 Regional Television

Seton Hall Pirates @ St. John’s Red Storm
5:00 Regional Television

UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
Saturday:
Marquette @ Georgetown ESPN
Sunday:
Villanova @ Syracuse CBS
Monday:
Louisville @ Georgetown ESPN
Wednesday:
UCONN @ Marquette ESPN
Rutgers @ Notre Dame ESPNU
Thursday:
West Virginia @ Cincinnati ESPN/ESPN2 (check your local listings)

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 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:005 – Villanova
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 – 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!