Big East March Madness Preview

Could There be Three Big East Teams in the Final Four?

For the first time since 1985, at least three teams from the Big East Conference have a legitimate chance of making it to the Final Four. The Connecticut Huskies, Pittsburgh Panthers and Louisville Cardinals have all ranked in the Top 10 for most of the NCAA basketball season, giving bettors a true “Beast” to wager on during March Madness. The Villanova Wildcats, Marquette Golden Eagles, Syracuse Orangemen and West Virginia Mountaineers are also all expected to get at-large invitations to the Big Dance, and the Providence Friars are sitting on the bubble with a winning league mark.

Consider that some sportsbooks allow you to bet on what conference you believe will win the national championship, and a wager on the Big East seems to be a no-brainer considering the depth and quality of teams who will represent the league in the NCAA tournament this year. No conference in America has shown better inside play and defense than the Big East, starting with top-ranked UConn and 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet. Pitt isn’t far behind with future NBA power forward DeJuan Blair leading the way. Blair got the best of Thabeet in a 76-68 win at UConn back on February 16th with 22 points and 23 rebounds, and the rematch is set for Sunday.

The key for the Panthers all season has been whether or not Blair can stay out of foul trouble, and the regular-season finale against the Huskies will likely be no different. UConn head coach Jim Calhoun had complained that Blair was too physical in the first meeting, but that toughness could go a long way in the postseason because so many college teams lack that type of size.

“I’m praying, I hope,” Blair said of being able to avoid foul trouble. “I’m trying to get in good with all the refs, maybe smile and crack a joke or two with them. I hope they call a good game.”

Rick Pitino’s Cardinals may be the most intriguing team in the Big East tournament because of how well they have come together down the stretch. They have won 16 of 17 road games against unranked opponents heading into Saturday’s game at West Virginia and will claim at least a share of the Big East crown with a victory. A win by Pitt over the Huskies on Sunday would give Louisville the #1 seed in the Big East tournament, but all three teams along with Villanova have already earned two days off before the tourney gets underway. This will be the first time all 16 teams in the league will have the opportunity to play their way into the NCAA tournament.