Maybe, just maybe, the Big East tournament worked. Is it possible the two best teams made the final?

West Virginia head coach Bobby Huggins isn't one to take the time to reflect on his life.

He hails from Midvale, OH, a place he describes as "500 people, two stoplights, nine bars", the kind of place where you learn life lessons from a guy in a pick-up truck.

"I got in a truck with this guy one time," Huggins recalled after the game, "I looked and he didn't have a rear-view mirror. I said 'You don't have a rear-view mirror.' He said 'I don't back-up. We're going forward, son.' And that's kind of how I've lived my life."

Tonight, at least, there is no doubt Huggins will be heeding his own advice.

Hopefully, Huggins never reflects on wearing this suit.
(photo credit: Digital Headbutt)

West Virginia has no time to bask in the glory of their 53-51 win over Notre Dame in Friday's second Big East semi-final. Exactly 21 hours after Tory Jackson's potential game-winning three-pointer bounced off the rim, the Mountaineers will have to take the court again, this time against Georgetown, who just may be the best eighth-seed in the history of conference tournaments.

This is the Big East tournament, after all. And the Big East just may be the toughest league in the country.

"What the people in this league have done over the years," Huggins told reporters. "It's the best league in the country. I've been around enough and been in the other leagues."

"When you're in the other leagues, you say 'Man, it ain't that good.' Then you get in here."

It makes you wonder.

One of the prevailing theme's yesterday from writer's covering the Big East Tournament had to do with the double bye, or more specifically how three of the four teams that had earned the double bye had lost in their first game, making it five in the two years we've had a double bye.

The reason why varied. Some believed it was because the team's that had played were in rhythm. Others believed it was an advantage to get rid of the jitters of playing in Madison Square Garden.

Could the answer simply be the league is that good?

That the teams playing on the first day aren't that far behind the teams getting one bye; and that the teams getting one bye are just as good as the teams getting double byes?

Sitting here at Madison Square Garden, I can't help but think that we may just be getting the Big East's two best teams tomorrow.

Georgetown has whooped both Duke and Villanova this season. Last night, they knocked off the tournament's No. 1 seed with a thrilling comeback. Three great wins over three great teams, no question about it.

But tonight may actually be the Hoyas most impressive win of the season.

I know that, after reading that, you likely think I'm an idiot, that I'm stretching the facts to make my story better. You may very well be right.

But keep in mind that this Marquette team doesn't get blown out. Coming into this game, the Golden Eagles were 22-10. Of those 10 losses, not a single one had come by double digits, their largest defeat a nine point setback coming at the hands of rival Wisconsin. Of their seven Big East losses -- which came by a total of 21 points -- the worst was a seven point loss to Pitt.

This Marquette team battles, they fight, and they scrap. Buzz Williams' team doesn't know the meaning of quit.

And tonight they got run out of the gym.

"They absolutely annihilated us," Williams said after the 80-57 loss.

What about West Virginia?

Da'Sean Butler had 24 points in WVU's win over Notre Dame.
(photo credit: Star Ledger)

The Mountaineers just knocked off the hottest team in the Big East, beating Notre Dame at their own, slowed-down, game. They aren't going to win many beauty contests with the way they play. West Virginia is the basketball equivalent of a old, beat-up pickup truck. They aren't going to run you off the floor, but they'll run over you, through you, and can ding you throw at them.

West Virginia lacks quality point guard play, but they make up for it with their ability to defend -- this 1-3-1 zone that Huggins is using is so effective with the length of the Mountaineers -- and how hard they hit the offensive glass. And when Da'Sean Butler plays like he has the last two games, this Mountaineer team is awfully tough to beat.

Bob Huggins doesn't reflect.

I do. And when I look back at this week, I don't know if there are two teams I would rather see play for the Big East Tournament title tomorrow.