Big East Tournament Live-Blog Session 4

BIAH is back for Session 4 of the Big East Tournament. Tonight, we have #7 seed West Virginia taking on #10 Notre Dame, followed by #6 seed Syracuse playing #11 seed Seton Hall. Remember, if you have any questions or comments be sure to email me at ContactBIAH@gmail.com.

- It is a final - Cuse 89, SHU 74

- This one is basically over Syracuse is up 20 and it is turning into the Jonny Flynn show. He has 19 and 11 right now. If I am Boeheim, I get my starters off the court. Saves their legs, and avoids anymore run-ins on the court.

- Stat of the game right now: Syracuse is shooting 56% from the floor, 50% from the three, and ... 35% from the line?

- 30-10 run since the first tech

- Seton Hall's transition D has been pathetic. I wish I could see that stat right now. Anyone watching on TV know the Cuse transtion points?
- Jonny Flynn is throwing some amazing passes right now. And did anyone see Devo's reaction to making that three? Half Zorron half King Kong?

- The Orange have opened up a 59-47 lead with 12:25 left. 15-2 run since everything happened.

- The Cuse have a new bounce in their step. Ever since the scrums they have been a step quicker and more aggressive than SHU. When you are more motivated, talent will always take over. And the Cuse is more talented.

- A huge block by Onuaku and a dunk by Ongenaet and this place is rocking.

- OK, so Walters or SHU got a hit with an intentional, and Devo and Harvey both got techs. Let's clean this up, it was a great game to watch before that mess. And Devo hits a three in Harvey's and talks all the way back down court.

- It is getting really chippy out here. Ongena2t got fouled very hard going to the rim on the next possession, and Flynn and Devo got into with a couple Seton Hall players. I couldn't see exactly who it was, but Devo and a SHU player both were at each others throat (literally) and each player looked like they got hit in the face.

- A little fracas there. Garcia and Onuaku were jawing, and Onuaku started clapping in Garcia's face. Garcia, obviously, reacted by slapping his hands, and a little pushing and shoving later, and both picked up techs.

- Paul Harris is in Boeheim's dog house for something. This is the second time today he was pulled early in the half and ripped into by Boeheim.

- SHU starts out the half with a couple threes to take a 37-36 lead, and Flynn missed two wide open looks at the other end. This whole stand and clap thing until the first basket is pretty dumb. I did, however, see Bleacher Report and CBS writer Jameson Fleming standing and clapping (kidding...).

- Earlier today, I was talking with someone about Jonny Flynn's prospects as a pro. My opinion was that he will latch on somewhere and be a spark plug off the bench a la Eddie House or Ronnie Price. I think he is just too short to ever be a starter in the league. He has the athleticism, he can shoot, he is an excellent passer, he can make plays in the open floor, and he has looked solid as a defender in the short period when the Orange goes man. But 5'10" is 5'10".

When he does struggle, it is when he is forced to play in the half court against a set defense. I think he settles for too many jumpers. But he does have some NBA ready moves - his crossover is viscous and he can step back and pop going left or right. I see him as a career 8-10 pts and 4-5 asts guy coming off the bench.

- Halftime - 36-31. Jonny Flynn has 15 and 5 dimes, while Robert Mitchell has been the best player on the floor for SHU with 12 points and 9 boards.

- Syracuse is shooting themselves in the foot from the line. They are 3-10. 33-28.

- Gerry McNamara is here. His 2006 tournament was probably one of the top five performances I have ever seen on this level. When he was shown on the big screen, the crowd went nuts.

- Under 4 timeout and SHU has cut the lead to 29-24. It has been a combination of two things - SHU being able to slow down the Cuse running game (they have been far less effective in the half court) and being able to penetrate against the zone as opposed to settling for jumpers.

- The last three possessions, SHU has been able to penetrate into the lane and find Garcia at the rim for an easy two. So much for great defense.
- We are at the under 8 timeout, and the Cuse are up 25-16. SHU has slowed the Orange down a bit, but the are still having a lot of trouble on the offensive end putting the ball in the basket. They are shooting just 33% from the floor and are 2-10 from deep.

- The Orange are moving very well in their zone tonight. Seton Hall isn't getting much coming easy.

- 18-10 at the under 12 timeout.

- This is absurd. That shot going over the back board was the Hall's best defense. Six straight baskets on essentially unimpeded fast breaks. I guarantee Bobby Gonzalez is ripping the Pirates a new one about getting back on defense.

- Syracuse now has four baskets in transition. They are running the floor beautifully. The three passes Flynn threw to set up the lay-ups were perfect. He is so good in the open floor.

- that was the first good offensive possession for the Cuse since the Pirate timeout. It ended a 7-0 run.

- I don't think three's off of the first pass are what Boeheim really wants. They've gotten them the last two possessions.

- Eight straight for the Orange. They are up 8-3. They sure did not come out flat tonight. Flynn is as fired up as I have ever seen him, and Harris has been up off the bench twice cheering his teammates on.

- That sub was quick. Boeheim was laying into both Harris and Jackson.

- Seeing Onuaku's free throws in person, they are three times as ugly. I mean, both of them hit the back board first outside the square.

- We are about to tip for the second game, it is all Cuse fans in here. People are still filing in, but right now it looks to be about 3/4 full, with 2/3 of them in Orange. I wouldn't be surprised if it was capacity tonight.

- It is over. Ruoff had 25 to lead WV while Ebanks added 7points, 18 boards, and 5 assists, Bryant had 17, and Butler had 20 points. Gody led the Irish with 27 and 8 boards, while K-Mac had 17 and 5 dimes.

- This one is all but done, but to their credit ND is still fighting hard. 73-62 with 46 seconds left.

- Ruoff with a huge and-1 to push it back to 10. That could be it folks.

- That is the last timeout for the Irish.

Jones has done as good of a job on Gody 1-on-1 that I have ever seen. True, the big fella has 21 this half, but none oif that has come with Jones guarding himstraight up.

- We are at the under 4 timeout and ND has the ball under the basket with a chance to cut the lead to six or seven. WV hasn't hit a field goal in a while, which is why the Irish have been able to climb back into this one. They still have a long way to go (nine) and not much time to do it (3:56).

- Four straight stops for ND and they have it to 8.

- Harangody can cut it to ten. He has 23 on the game and 19 in the second half.

- Gody is trying to take this game over. He has the last 9 for ND, and has a free throw for a three-point play coming. ND has the lead down to 61-48, but they still are not getting stop, just on a streak offensively. Like I said before, ND needs to string together stop if they plan on coming all the way back.

- Story of the game in three possessions: ND cuts the lead to 14 with back to back threes, but allows Bryant, who is now 4-7 on the night, to line up a three from the top of the key. Back to 17

- Brey picks up a tech. It didn't look like a terrible call from where I am tonight. It seems like that is the frustration of the season boiling over. I mean, I am on the other side of the court in the 200 section and I heard him yell bull sh*t.

- Under 12 timeout, WV is up 54-36. ND just does not have what it takes right now. They aren't defending as WV is getting any look that they want. And when you are hitting 10-18 threes, you cannot give that team any look they want.

- The arena is really filling up now. 3/4 full.

- Everytime ND makes a push, W has an answer. The Irish are in big trouble if they don't start stringing together some stops.

- It is 46-32 and Tory Jackson just picked up his third foul on Butler shooting a three terrible foul, and WV builds their lead to 17. Butler has 20

- 41-30 at the under 16 timeout. ND is a different team offensively. Stronger with the ball and much more assertive when they cut/drive. And they are hitting their shots. ND ball after the timeout.

- Huggins is not happy about that. Ruoff stayed to long helping Jones with Harangody. He initial help was necessary as it prevented a lay-up, but after Jones blocked the shot a Gody reposted, you have to get back to your man, especially when it is K-Mac.

- ND with a little push here at the start of the half. The lead is down the 39-27 and Gody has the last four points. Don't want to let him get hot.

- What was the name of the guy/movie where al he ate was McDonalds for a month? Because he is definitely here, and was definitely just put up on the big screen.

- Ryan Ayers uses a timeout to save a loose ball. ND now has just one left.

- It is funny being in the arena and seeing the gane get dekayed for a minute because they have to clear out the lighting when the announcers are talking post halftime.

- Louisville just received its trophy for the Big East regular season title.

- Halftime score is 36-18. Bryant leads all scorers with 13. WV is shooting just 36% from the field, but they are 8-17 from three, which has helped them build this lead.

- I wish I had something insightful to say about this game, but it is really simple - WV is getting open three's and hitting them while ND has struggled to get the looks they want and Harangody has nt been effective. WV is also killing them on the glass. Ebanks has 9 alone.

- WV has opened up a 20 point lead 31-11. Harangody is being shut down by Jones 1-on-1. Who woulda thought. And Bryant answers a K-Mac three with one of his own. WV is 8-16 in the half from deep.

- You want an idea of how WV is dominating the boards? Three Mountaineers went down on the o-glass on that possession, and trailed the 5-2 ND break. Jackson missed a three from the corner (terrible shot by the way), and two WV guys got the board and threw a runout for Ebanks, who drew K-Mac's second foul.
- Under 8 timeout. The score is 23-6. WV is firing on all cylinders right now. ND can't do anything they want on the offensive end as the Mountaineers are playing their trademark Huggy Bear defense. On the offense end, they are shooting the lights out as they have already hit five threes. ND is shooting 12%.

- This is the most people that have been in the arena yet, but it is still only about half full. Butler hits a three and it is 23-6 with 9 left.

- Ruoff is on fire. His third three puts WV back up 15.

- Jackson answers with a three of his own and we head into the first TV timeout with a 17-5 WV lead.

ND is getting destroyed on the backboards. Both ends. WV is just too big, too strong, and too athletic. Story of the ND season.

- Ruoff bangs another three in transition this time. How do you not locate him.

- Before Harangody took a breather, WV was going 1-on-1 against him defensively. Not sure if that is really a good idea.

- Alex Ruoff picks up an assist for a Butler lay-up then bangs a three and WV goes up 12-2. Truck came up holding his wrist and grimacing after that possession. He is back in, something to keep an eye on.

- I'm not really a Notre Dame supporter in anyway, but I do love their fight song. I don't know what it is, that song is catchy.

- We are at the first TV timeout, and West Virginia is dominating action, going up 7-2. ND was held scoreless foru almost four minutes to start the game before a bucket to beat the shot clock by Luke Harangody ended the Mountaineer run.