2-10 BETology

We had a crazy night last night in the Big East, so let’s not waste any time and see what happened.

LAST NIGHT RECAP:
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH 89
Louisville Cardinals 79
OVERTIME
This was the 5th time in the last 9 meetings between these two teams that went to overtime and the Irish came out on top largely in part to Louisville going scoreless from the 1:22 mark left in regulation to the 1:04 mark of the overtime session. During those 5+ minutes Notre Dame went from down 2 to up 14. Notre Dame now has a full game separation over the rest of the conference behind Pitt in the #2 spot. The Irish have won 6 straight, but now go on the road for 3 straight hoping to improve on their 2-3 road record for the season. The loss drops Louisville into a mix of 5 teams all within 1 game of each other fighting for the double byes. The Cardinals schedule doesn’t get any easier with Syracuse and Connecticut both traveling to Kentucky and a trip across the river to Cincinnati in the next 10 days.

GEORGETOWN HOYAS 64
Syracuse Orange 56
The Hoyas take this round in the Big East’s best rivalry game. The win gives Hoyas coach John Thompson his first win in six tries at the Carrier Dome. It also marks the first time since 2002 that the Orange have lost 3 straight at home. Georgetown, winners of 7 straight after starting the conference season 1-4, is now right in the thick of the chase for a double bye. The Hoyas currently sit alone in 3rd place with a half game lead over Villanova and Louisville and a full game lead over UCONN and Syracuse. Georgetown has a very manageable schedule remaining and have put themselves in a great position to earn that double bye. The Cuse however are in a downward spiral. Syracuse is now losers of 5 of 7 after starting the season 18-0. The Orange go on the road next to Louisville. Syracuse still has two other tough road games on the schedule at Villanova and Georgetown. Being just one half of a game ahead of 3 other teams for 7th place, Syracuse could find themselves playing on opening day in New York if they don’t figure out what’s wrong.

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS 77
Villanova Wildcats 76
Rutgers held 2 leads the entire game, once at 5-4 three minutes into the game and the final at 77-76 with :00.8 left. Villanova had this game wrapped up before Corey Fisher committed the biggest sin in basketball, fouling a jumper shooter. But that wasn’t the worst of it, he fouled the jumper shooter while he was attempting a desperation game tying 3 pointer. He made the shot and then the go-ahead foul shot for the win. The Rutgers comeback was impressive. The Scarlet Knights went 8-17 from beyond the arc during this game, but made them when they counted making 6 of 7 in the final 4 minutes. Rutgers, at 4-8, is still a ways behind the front runners in the conference and are almost assured to be playing on Tuesday in New York, but if they string some wins together, they could get themselves a favorable match-up in that opening day game. Rutgers has 3 of their next 4 at home. Villanova finds themselves battling for a double bye but could be in danger of missing out on any bye. Currently they sit tied for the 4th spot, but only 1 game out of the missing any bye. Next up for Villanova is Pitt at home Saturday.

MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES 59
South Florida Bulls 58
Marquette found themselves in a battle in a game that really should not have been that close. The Golden Eagles trailed on the road in Tampa by 16 in the second half but used a full court press to create turnovers and finish the game on a 31-14 run. Marquette forced 18 turnovers, many in the second half when they used a trapping press to change the pace of the game. Marquette keeps themselves in the thick of the Big East race with the win improving to 6-5 in conference play. That puts them just 1 game out, and some favorable tie-breakers away from getting a double bye in New York. The Golden Eagles have a very favorable schedule the rest of the way out with games against Georgetown and UCONN the only two against teams ahead of them in the standings. As for South Florida, this doesn’t do much for them as they have all but clinched being in New York on Tuesday. The Bulls would pretty much have to win out to avoid Tuesday in NYC, but that seems very unlikely with 2 games against Pitt, as well as 1 against Notre Dame and Georgetown still on the schedule.


STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
Pitt Panthers 10-1
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 @ Villanova
2/16 vs South Florida
2/19 @ St. John’s
2/24 vs West Virginia
2/27 @ Louisville
3/2 @ South Florida
3/5 vs Villanova
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9-3
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 @ South Florida
2/19 @ West Virginia
2/23 @ Providence
2/26 vs Seton Hall
2/28 vs Villanova
3/5 @ Connecticut
Georgetown Hoyas 8-4
Remaining Schedule:
2/13 vs Marquette
2/16 @ Connecticut
2/19 @ South Florida
2/23 vs Cincinnati
2/26 vs Syracuse
3/5 @ Cincinnati
Villanova Wildcats 7-4
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 vs Pitt
2/15 @ Seton Hall
2/19 @ DePaul
2/21 vs Syracuse
2/26 vs St. John’s
2/28 @ Notre Dame
3/5 @ Pitt
Louisville Cardinals 7-4
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 vs Syracuse
2/16 @ Cincinnati
2/18 vs Connecticut
2/22 @ Rutgers
2/27 vs Pitt
3/2 vs Providence
3/5 @ West Virginia
UCONN Huskies 6-4
Remaining Schedule:
2/10 @ St. John’s
2/13 vs Providence
2/16 vs Georgetown
2/18 @ Louisville
2/24 vs Marquette
2/27@ Cincinnati
3/2 @ West Virginia
3/5 vs Notre Dame
Syracuse Orange 7-5
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 @ Louisville
2/14 vs West Virginia
2/19 vs Rutgers
2/21 @ Villanova
2/26 @ Georgetown
3/5 vs DePaul
Marquette Golden Eagles 6-5
Remaining Schedule:
2/13 @ Georgetown
2/15 vs St. John’s
2/19 vs Seton Hall
2/24 @ Connecticut
2/27 vs Providence
3/2 vs Cincinnati
3/5 @ Seton Hall
West Virginia Mountaineers 6-5
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 vs DePaul
2/14 @ Syracuse
2/19 vs Notre Dame
2/24 @ Pitt
2/27 @ Rutgers
3/2 vs Connecticut
3/5 vs Louisville
Cincinnati Bearcats 6-5
Remaining Schedule:
2/13 vs St. John’s
2/16 vs Louisville
2/19 @ Providence
2/23 @ Georgetown
2/27 vs Connecticut
3/2 @ Marquette
3/5 vs Georgetown
St. John’s Red Storm 5-5
Remaining Schedule:
2/10 vs Connecticut
2/13 @ Cincinnati
2/15 @ Marquette
2/19 vs Pitt
2/23 vs DePaul
2/26 @ Villanova
3/2 @ Seton Hall
3/5 vs South Florida
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 4-8
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 vs Seton Hall
2/19 @ Syracuse
2/22 vs Louisville
2/27 vs West Virginia
3/2 @ DePaul
3/5 @ Providence
Seton Hall Pirates 4-8
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 @ Rutgers
2/15 vs Villanova
2/19 @ Marquette
2/26 @ Notre Dame
3/3 vs St. John’s
3/5 vs Marquette
Providence Friars 3-8
Remaining Schedule:
2/13 @ Connecticut
2/17 vs DePaul
2/19 vs Cincinnati
2/23 vs Notre Dame
2/27 @ Marquette
3/2 @ Louisville
3/5 vs Rutgers
South Florida Bulls 2-10
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 vs Notre Dame
2/16 @ Pitt
2/19 vs Georgetown
2/26 @ DePaul
3/2 vs Pitt
3/5 @ St. John’s
DePaul Blue Demons 0-11
Remaining Schedule:
2/12 @ West Virginia
2/17 @ Providence
2/19 vs Villanova
2/23 @ St. John’s
2/26 vs South Florida
3/2 vs Rutgers
3/5 @ Syracuse

TODAY:
Connecticut @ St. John’s 7:00 pm, ESPN

TOP TV GAMES OF THE WEEK:
SATURDAY:
Syracuse @ Louisville NOON, ESPN
Pitt @ Villanova 9:00 pm, ESPN

BETology:
TUESDAY
March 8th:
NOON
9 – West Virginia
Vs
16 - DePaul
2:00
12 – Rutgers
Vs
13 – Seton Hall
7:00
10 – Cincinnati
Vs
15 – South Florida
9:00
11 – St. John's
Vs
14 – Providence

WEDNESDAY
March 9th:
NOON
8 – Marquette
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 - Louisville
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Connecticut
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner

THURSDAY
March 10th:
NOON
1 - Pitt
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Villanova
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Notre Dame
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – Georgetown
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner

Check back tomorrow for another update!