Conference Tournament Preview: The Big East

Where: Madison Square Garden

When: March 9th-13th

Final: 9:00 pm ESPN




Favorite: Syracuse Orange

The Orange have to be considered the favorite to win the Big East tournament. They won the conference. They are the only team from the league to spend any time as the No. 1 team in the country. They are all but a lock to become one of the four No. 1 seeds. Bottom line - this team is good, and you don't need me to explain that to you.


And if they lose?: Villanova Wildcats, West Virginia Mountaineers

Both Villanova and West Virginia are teams that are inherently flawed. The Wildcats struggle on the defensive end and lack an interior presence. West Virginia doesn't have great back court play and struggles at times on the offensive end. But that said, the one thing both of these teams have is great players. Scottie Reynolds has grown form a chucker to one of the best all-around combo-guards in the country. He is smart with the ball, he is an excellent shooter, and he has the ability to take over a game and carry Villanova. Da'Sean Butler is the same way. While he plays as more of a combo forward than a shooting guard, Butler has proven over and over again the ability to lead WVU and to hit the big shot.

Scottie Reynolds and West Virginia played a classic on Ssd

There are a couple keys for these two teams. If Villanova is serious about making a run through the Big East tournament, they are going to have to get their fouling under control. The Wildcats still pressure the ball well and can get out and run in transition with the best of them, but if they are putting opponents on the foul line early and often, they are going to struggle. West Virginia's key seems to be the 1-3-1 defense that Bobby Huggins employs every so often. Using it has won game against Villanoa and Louisville already this season. The advantage is a result of the length of the West Virginia team.


Don't discount: Georgetown Hoyas

Georgetown has been inconsistent all season. They have some great wins, some terrible losses, and have been struggling of late. But one of the biggest causes of their recent struggles was Austin Freeman's in ability to stay in the lineup. Well, now we have a reason. Freeman was diagnosed with diabetes last week, and once healthy, put 24 points as Georgetown whooped Cincinnati by 27 points. The Hoyas will be at full strength this week, and when they are, this team can beat anyone.


Sleeper: UConn Huskies

UConn's issues hasn't been talent; its been effort. The Huskies simply have not played hard or with any urgency consistently this season. But that doesn't mean that this team lacks the talent. Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, and Kemba Walker have proven what they can do when they are playing well, namely beat Texas, Villanova, and West Virginia. Its a tall task, but if Jim Calhoun can get these guys playing hard, UConn is a team that could make a run at MSG.

Names you need to know:

• Dominique Jones, South Florida: Jones single handedly carried the Bulls from obscurity to the bubble. While their tournament dreams are all but finished, this is a Bulls team that has proven the ability to knock off some of the best in the Big East, and Jones is the biggest reason why.


• Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette: Marquette has snuck up on people this year. After losing their talented backcourt, not much was expected. But Marquette has just about played their way into the tournament, needing one win in the Big East tourney to end the uncertainty. Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler are likely the names you know from Buzz Williams squad, but keep an eye on Johnson-Odom. He is the epitome of what Marquette like to do offensively. They spread the floor, looking for penetration and kick-outs, a system that Johnson-Odom has thrived in. A crafty lefty getting to the rim, he has proven to be as deadly of a shooter as there is in the Big East. He's not the guy that will carry Marquette, but a couple big games from him could be the difference between an early exit and a run to the weekend.


• Brad Wanamaker, Pitt: When people talk about the Pitt Panthers, the names you invariably are going to hear are Ashton Gibbs, Jermaine Dixon, and Gilbert Brown. But the guy that may be the most valuable on this team is Wanamaker. He does everything for them - he can defend multiple positions, he can shoot the ball, he makes plays with the dribble, he can pass. He may not be the best player on Pitt, but he could very well be the most valuable.
  


• Hamady Ndiaye, Rutgers: The seven foot Ndiaye has been a lot of fun to watch this season. Ndiaye still has a long way to go before he develops into an NBA caliber player, but right now he is as good of a shot blocker as you are going to find at this level.