Big East Tournament

Bracket

#8 Villanova vs. #9 Syracuse
Winner plays #1 Georgetown

#5 West Virginia vs. #12 Providence
Winner plays #4 UConn

#7 Pitt vs. #10 Cincinnati
Winner plays #2 Louisville

#6 Marquette vs. #11 Seton Hall
Winner plays #3 Notre Dame

Favorites - Georgetown and Louisville. On the last Saturday of the regular season, Georgetown beat Louisville by three at home in what was essentially the Big East regular season championship game. No team in the country was playing better than Louisville in the last month of the season as they got healthy and gelled as a team, but Georgetown has been the model of consistency this season, winning game after game but never blowing anyone out.

Sleepers - Syracuse and Providence. Two teams decimated by injuries this year. Jim Boeheim has already proven that he can take a team on a run through the conference tournament, doing it as a #9 seed in 2006. they have already beaten Georgetown (the second round match-up) this season, and with guys like Jonny Flynn, Donte Greene, and Paul Harris, they have a number of players that can carry the 'Cuse. Providence was picked as a top-8 team preseason, but lost Sharaud Curry for the season, and have had numerous other players miss game time. As their sweep of UConn proves (the team they would face in the second round) they can beat anyone in the conference on any given night.

Most Intriguing Match-up - Villanova vs. Syracuse. This is almost an elimination game for these two teams. Syracuse may be in right now, but a first round win would go a long way to shoring up that bid, especially with Villanova being one of those bubble teams they're battling with. 'Nova probably has to beat Syracuse and Georgetown to get in

My Pick - UConn. Call me a homer all you want. I really think the Huskies have it this year. They get the first round bye, they play tough D, they don't rely on jump shots as much as other teams so tired legs won't have as much of an affect (actually, it may even help as UConn's best offense tends to be throw it up, and go get the rebound), and I love AJ Price down the stretch of close games. Sticking with the Huskies.