March Madness Predictions....Sleepers....Who's overrated?

THE BIG EAST - My Votes/Picks

       I just want to start this out by saying this has been one of the most enjoyable years to watch the Big East.  There is no doubt this is the best and deepest conference in the NCAA, and I agree that setting a record of possibly having 11 teams as locks to get into the NCAA Tournament has been earned at this point.  Marquette is most likely the 11th team to get that spot in the tournament, but they deserve it with huge wins against SU, West Virginia, Notre Dame, and a monster win against UConn on the road last week.  Marquette plays everybody tough and even the best of teams in the Big East know they're in for a battle every time they match up with Darius Johnson-Odom and my favorite, Jimmy Butler.  Even West Virginia with their total lack of scoring, has been able to get solid conference W's with their hard nosed tough team defense.  How can you keep Bobby Huggins out of the NCAA Tournament with wins over Georgetown, Purdue, Cincy, and Notre Dame by 14.

       It's been said a lot this year, but it's true, as the Big East has gotten stronger and impossible to predict each night, the rest of the conferences have gotten weaker.  The PAC10, ACC, and SEC are typically solid major conferences, however, this year these 3 all don't have much to show for themselves.....here's a question for you to think about....how would DUKE do if they were in the Big East this year???  One game doesn't provide any guarantees, but they did get blown out by 15 against an unranked St. Johns team.
  Syracuse has been a roller coaster this year, but sitting at 12th in the AP and winners of 6 of their last 8 you can't complain.  Brandon Triche should get the award for Most Improved Player in the conference this year, as he's gone from a quiet role player to a flat out scorer in crunch time, almost 90% from the free throw line as well.  With opposing defenses focusing on Joseph and Jackson, Scoop and Triche have recently kept me from pulling my hair out....it's definitely a love-hate relationship with Scoop...I love ya right now pards. 

My Big East Picks:

Player of the Year: Kemba Walker  (Besides a small stretch that he struggled, he's put up big numbers throughout the year, sorry Hardy fans)  

Most Improved: Brandon Triche

Coach of the Year:  Steve Lavin no doubt (The Johnnies simply haven't been an important piece of the Big East in almost a decade, so Coaches do matter)

Sleeper in the Big East Tournament:  Cincinnati (athletic, well coached, hit 3's, and rebound with 

Who will win the Big East Tournament: St. Johns (they're ripping it up their last 10 games and flat out blowing people off the court...solid teams too.  Playing at home doesn't hurt either in the tournament)

Biggest Collapse since midseason:  What has happened to NOVA...wow, blown out last night vs. Notre Dame.


The double-double award:  BIG RICK JACKSON (One of SU's most improved players over the course of his career, right there with Demetrius Nichols and Kris Joseph)

Cockiest player who didn't do ANYTHING until this year:  Ben Hansbrough.....do you shave yet son?


Big East High Game Scorer in Big East play *Record:  Marshon Brooks with 52 points....I would say pass the ball, your team blows, but I don't know any other player on your team....keep shooting.


Don't let me shoot 3's in your face award:  Tie between Tim Abromaitis (he must use Proactive) and Ashton Gibbs (I love my set shots)


Your Season Could Be In Serious Jeopardy Award:  Georgetown (Losing Chris Wright for a couple weeks and the uncertainty of his play once he returns should scare any G-Town fan, he's their floor general and 2nd leading scorer)


Current Big East Standings:

BIG EAST	Pct	Overall	Pct
^Pittsburgh	13 - 3	.813	25 - 4	.862
^Notre Dame	13 - 4	.765	24 - 5	.828
Louisville	11 - 5	.688	22 - 7	.759
St. John's	11 - 5	.688	19 - 9	.679
Syracuse	11 - 6	.647	24 - 6	.800
Georgetown	10 - 7	.588	21 - 8	.724
Cincinnati	9 - 7	.563	22 - 7	.759
Connecticut	9 - 7	.563	21 - 7	.750
West Virginia	9 - 7	.563	18 - 10	.643
Marquette	9 - 7	.563	18 - 11	.621
Villanova	9 - 8	.529	21 - 9	.700
Seton Hall	5 - 11	.313	11 - 17	.393
Rutgers	4 - 12	.250	13 - 15	.464
Providence	3 - 13	.188	14 - 15	.483
USF	3 - 13	.188	9 - 21	.300
DePaul	1 - 15	.063	7 - 22	.241

 

NCAA Tournament Dreams Made

     In an always exciting but more importantly an incredibly unpredictable 2010 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament, the only Number 1 seed remaining in the field is the Duke Blue Devils out of the Atlantic Coast Conference at (32-5) overall.  The Number 1 overall seed in the tournament, the Kansas Jayhawks out of the Big 12 Conference, were ousted in the 2nd round by the Northern Iowa Panthers in a game in which the Panthers controlled throughout and simply handed it to the heavily favored Jayhawks.  Most notably, Northern Iowa Senior Guard Ali Farokhmanesh went from a no namer to the biggest name in college basketball overnight, as he hit the best shot of his career by nailing a shot from distance with 30 seconds left in the game to push the Panthers lead to 4.  Kansas couldn't recover after that.  The win was also enough to have Northern Iowa provide Head Coach Ben Jacobsen to a 10 year contract extension.  That moment in the tournament completely carved up everyone's brackets, except for maybe those Northern Iowa faithful. 

          The Northern Iowa win over Kansas would have been the biggest story of the tournament if it weren't for the recent success of the Butler Bulldogs, a 5 seed that has made their first NCAA Tournament Final Four in school history.  Butler (32-4), out of the Horizon League, has overcome the likes of the Number 1 seeded Syracuse Orange in the Sweet Sixteen and the Number 2 seeded Kansas State Wildcats in the Elite 8.  Butler stand out forward Gordon Hayward has played like a star throughout March Madness and has spelled trouble for each opponent he's faced, scoring 17 points against Syracuse and 22 points versus Kansas State.  Hayward is averaging 15 points and over 8 rebounds on the year, however, his 6'9'' frame, toughness, and quickness has provided him with the tools necessary to play all positions on the floor.  His transition defense and aggressiveness on the offensive end has been the main reason Butler has looked to him during clutch times in the game.  Even though he has a baby face, opponents don't want to step up to Gordo, as he'll either drive around you or shoot well over the top.  Butlers approach towards team defense feeds their offense and has propelled them towards a legitimate shot at the National Championship game.

      The West Virginia Moutaineers are the Number 2 seeded team in the East bracket and won the Big East Championship in New York City this year.  However, their biggest win so far being their huge victory over the Number 1 seeded Kentucky Wildcats 73 to 66 in the Elite 8.  The West Virginia alum and Head Coach Bobby Huggins has led West Virginia to it's first Final Four appearance since 1959 when they were led by Hall of Famer Jerry West.  Nonetheless, the biggest story of this Elite 8 matchup between the only Top 2 seeds to make it to the Elite 8 for their region, is the fact that backup Guard Joe Mazzulla scored 17 points and started the game due to the injury of starting Guard Darryl Bryant.  Mazzulla had not attempted a three point field goal this year until the game against Kentucky, when he drained a 3 pointer in the first half.  Mazzulla continued his attack of the Wildcats defense, as he made defenders pay dearly for leaving driving lanes open while Kentucky defenders attempted to fall into a help defense position against more notable scorers such as Da'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks.  The second huge factor in the game was the fact that the Wildcats couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from three point land, as they shot a hurrendous 4 of 32, which is an abismal 12% from beyond the arc.  It was evident throughout the game that Kentucky's inexperience played a role in the overall outcome of the game, however, I don't think it played as much of a role as people might think.  Kentucky's aggressiveness and raw talent had allowed them to steamrole through their conference schedule and the first three rounds of the NCAA tournament, however, the experienced, long, and athletic Mountaineers front line disrupted the scoring attack and outside shooters of the Wildcats.  Ultimately, allowing the Moutaineers to grind out the game and play their style of play.  The transition game of the Wildcats was not able to play a role in the outcome, as the West Virginia defense was suffocating. 

      There is no doubt that this NCAA Tournament has been flipped upside down, and has allowed the lower seeds to have a phenomenal shot at a National Championship.  The Number 6 seeded Tennesee Volunteers and the injury ridden 5th seeded Michigan State Spartans will play for a shot at a Final Four appearance, while Duke will attempt to continue a shot at Coach K's 4th National Championship if they can advance against the Number 3 seeded Baylor Bears from the Big 12 Conference.  If the trend continues, Baylor will eliminate the 4th Number 1 seed from the tournament, however, we will see if the tournament shockers continue.  I must say, all of these upsets definitely provide evidence of the large expanse of talent across America.  Those trends are great for the game of Basketball and certainly for March Madness in years to come.

March Madness at it's Best!! Cuse Rolls over the Zags

Sunday Scores:

-Duke Bull Dozes Cal: 68 to 53 

-West Virginia outlasts Missouri: 68 to 59

-Ohio State beats Georgia Tech: 75 to 66

-Purdue huge OT win over Texas A&M: 63 to 61 because of end of game layup by Chris Kramer (he had 17 to lead Purdue)

*The CUSE over Gonzaga: 87 to 65  (SU 54% from the field, Gonzaga 14% from 3 point land on the game) (Wesley Johnson player of the game with 31 points and 14 rebounds / Andy Rautins had 24 points and made some clutch 3 point field goals.  Rautins was 5 of 9 from distance)

-Michigan State beats Maryland: 85 to 83 with last second 3 pointer by Korie Lucious
(**HUGE News: Kalin Lucas injured in game and questionable for Sweet 16 Game this week, ankle injury)

-Xavier barely holds off Pittsburgh:  71 to 68

**Cornell shocks Wisconsin: 87 to 69 with a barage of 3 pointers from Wittman (Big Time Sweet 16 matchup against a young Kentucky Wildcats squad that just beat Wake Forest by 30 points)  Can Cornell continue their season and move past the Wildcats?  I think they can....

Remaining Field Breakdown:  Sweet Sixteen Games played Thursday and Friday, March 25th and 26th

Midwest:

Northern Iowa(9) vs. Michigan State(5)
Ohio State(2) vs. Tennessee(6)

West:

Syracuse(1) vs. Butler(5)
Kansas State(2) vs. Xavier(6)

East:

Kentucky(1) vs. Cornell(12)
Washington(11) vs. West Virginia(2)

South:

Duke(1) vs. Purdue(4)
Baylor(3) vs. Saint Mary's(10)

Final Four Predictions:

Kentucky(1)
Ohio State(2)
Syracuse(1)
Baylor(3)

Response to SJ Regarding The Cuse

Thanks for the input SJ