Full Court Press: Big East Championship

Preston Knowles and Louisville play for second Big East title in three years tonight against UConn. (Photo courtesy of USA Today)

After four days, fourteen games, and countless memories that will last a lifetime; the Big East tournament reaches its conclusion tonight at Madison Square Garden as Connecticut looks to win an unprecedented five games in as many days against 2009 Big East champion Louisville, who makes its return to the title game for the first time since cutting down the nets at the Garden against Syracuse in 2009. With tipoff just 30 minutes away, we'll get you caught up before the ball goes up in the air.

Connecticut Huskies (9th seed, 25-9)

Head Coach: Jim Calhoun

Probable Starting Lineup:

PG: Kemba Walker (6-1 Jr., 23.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 43% FG, 81% FT, 34% 3pt)

SG: Jeremy Lamb (6-5 Fr., 10.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 47% FG, 78% FT)

SF: Roscoe Smith (6-8 Fr., 6.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 37% FG, 78% FT)
PF: Alex Oriakhi (6-9 So., 10.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 51% FG, 63% FT)

C: Charles Okwandu (7-0 Sr., 2.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 45% FG, 53% FT)

Key Reserves:

G Shabazz Napier (6-0 Fr., 8.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 39% FG, 76% FT, 35% 3pt)

F Jamal Coombs-McDaniel (6-7 So., 6.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 44% FG, 81% FT)

Keys To Victory:

One For The Thumb - No team has ever attempted to win five games in as many days to win its conference tournament, so the Huskies have made history no matter what happens tonight. Jim Calhoun's team has already played their way into the top half of whatever regional they are selected into tomorrow night, at least as a 4 seed and maybe even a 3 with a win tonight.

Gerry Who? - Every year, the name Gerry McNamara gets brought up when legends are made during the Big East tournament after the Syracuse guard singlehandedly lifted the Orange from the #9 seed that UConn is playing as this week to a conference title. This year, Gerry Mac is being overshadowed by Kemba Walker. The Rice High School product is averaging almost 28 points per game this week in victories over DePaul, Georgetown, Pitt and Syracuse; and the scary concept to the casual fan is that Walker isn't done yet. The point guard and first team All-Big East selection has gone for at least 20 in six straight games, and UConn will need his explosiveness one more time to win their first conference championship since 2004.

Unsung Heroes - The UConn bench has yielded a star performance each night this week. From Alex Oriakhi's double-double to Tyler Olander's career night last night against Syracuse, it seems like Jim Calhoun has found a different reserve to pick up the pieces when Walker is unable to find a road to the basket. With a Louisville lineup that plays guard-heavy, it wouldn't be surprising to see Shabazz Napier be the go-to guy off the bench for Calhoun tonight as he continues to capitalize on his audition to crack the Huskies' lineup when Walker almost certainly declares for the NBA Draft this June.

Louisville Cardinals (3rd seed, 25-8)

Head Coach: Rick Pitino

Probable Starting Lineup:

PG: Peyton Siva (5-11 So., 10.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 45% FG, 67% FT)
SG: Preston Knowles (6-1 Sr., 14.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 38% FG, 81% FT, 39% 3pt)

SG: Chris Smith (6-2 Jr., 9.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 45% FG, 69% FT, 40% 3pt)

SG: Kyle Kuric (6-4 Jr., 10.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 52% FG, 83% FT, 45% 3pt)

PF: Terrence Jennings (6-10 Jr., 9.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.9 BPG, 53% FG, 66% FT)

Key Reserves:

G Mike Marra (6-5 So., 6.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 33% FG, 79% FT)
C Gorgui Dieng (6-10 Fr., 5.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.9 BPG, 62% FG, 56% FT)

Keys To Victory:

Bombs Away - Even during the days of Taquan Dean and Francisco Garcia, Pitino's Cardinals have always been an outside threat; and at 36 percent from beyond the arc this season, Louisville is no different. The Cards, much like UConn on their bench, have found a different shooter to step up every night. One night it could be Kyle Kuric, Mike Marra the next, or senior leader Preston Knowles the night after. Fellow guard Chris Smith, who also shoots 40 percent from three-point range, is also a potent and capable weapon if Louisville looks to bury the Huskies with early daggers.

Board Meeting - UConn had been getting outplayed on the glass before this week during Big East play, and Louisville needs to continue that trend if they have any hope of raising a trophy at the Garden for the second time in three years. The good thing for the Cardinals is that after Alex Oriakhi, UConn's rebounders aren't as strong as some of the other teams in the conference. Louisville outlasted a scrappy Marquette team and a shooting threat in Notre Dame to get this matchup; and although the primary target will be stopping the one-man show that is Kemba Walker, the Cardinals need to get the advantage in the rebound department to effectively put UConn away.

Special K - Preston Knowles entered this season as Louisville's lone senior, which helps Rick Pitino next season in that the rest of the team comes back next year. However, what people did not expect from Knowles was his ability to step up and be among the more underrated players in the conference in the absence of Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith, who graduated following last season. Knowles may look like a streaky shooter on paper; but is anything but on the court, as the senior is a feared man any time the ball is in his hands.

So, Who Wins?

In one corner, you have a team that has literally run the gauntlet by winning four games in as many days. On the other bench lies a team that is simply the best one standing after the early exits of Pittsburgh and Notre Dame, who were regarded as the class of the Big East throughout the year. The deciding factor in this matchup is overall depth of each side. UConn has solid players after Walker, but Jim Calhoun's squad still has not been able to find their way for long stretches during a game if their star is exposed. This alone is enough to tip the scales in favor of the Cardinals, who will take advantage of a fatigued UConn en route to a second conference championship in three years before they are the favorites to make it three out of four next year.

Your Final: Louisville 78, Connecticut 69

Big East Semis: An Insider's Guide

UConn and Syracuse meet in Big East tournament for first time on this stage since their six-overtime epic in 2009. (Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times)

After a 2-2 third day in the Big East tournament yesterday, we now shift our sights to the semifinals tonight. Actually, there was some of that going on yesterday after Syracuse defeated St. John's to secure a final four matchup with Connecticut, prompting me to be among the first to say the following two words when I came across my redstormsports.com colleague Ralph Bednarczyk in the press room:

Six overtimes.

That's right, tonight marks the first time UConn and the 'Cuse have seen each other at Madison Square Garden since the instant classic that produced this T-shirt in upstate New York. (Photo courtesy of CNYcentral.com)

Here we go with two games that will determine who faces off tomorrow night for a conference title.

#9 Seed UConn vs. #4 Seed Syracuse - The Kemba Walker express returns to the "World's Most Famous Arena" for the fourth time in as many days to take on an Orange team that was taken to the limit by St. John's even after Johnnies swingman D.J. Kennedy tore his ACL six minutes into the game. Walker is also one of just four players on either side (teammate Donnell Beverly and Rick Jackson and Kris Joseph of Syracuse being the others) to have actually played in the six-overtime marathon, as Syracuse guard Scoop Jardine was injured that year and medically redshirted.

#2 Seed Notre Dame vs. #3 Seed Louisville - Both teams used decisive quarterfinal wins to propel themselves into this meeting, and the Fighting Irish will most likely secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a win tonight. Louisville will be looking to avenge an 89-79 defeat at the Joyce Center earlier in the regular season in a game the Cardinals had chances to win in regulation before Notre Dame forced overtime. Pay close attention to a matchup between Louisville's Kyle Kuric and Scott Martin of Notre Dame on the perimeter, as whoever makes the most threes will likely be the winner.

The Way I See It: Predictions

UConn defeats Syracuse

Louisville defeats Notre Dame

Big East Quarters: An Insider's Guide

Big East Player of the Year Ben Hansbrough leads Notre Dame into action against Cincinnati tonight in Big East tournament quarterfinals. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

So we've reached day three of the Big East tournament; and if you're keeping track of our predictions, you'll see a 7-1 record. The quarters mark the debuts of the four double-bye recipients on the Madison Square Garden floor this week as the strongest conference in the country draws closer to crowning a new champion, which is now guaranteed following last night's Marquette win over reigning titleholder West Virginia.

#9 Seed UConn vs. #1 Seed Pitt - The Huskies proved their DePaul win was no fluke with a decisive 17-point victory over Georgetown yesterday, but that victory has been downgraded in the absence of Hoya guard Chris Wright, who is still out with a broken hand. On the other bench, the Panthers have been the class of the Big East all season thanks to impressive campaigns from Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker. While Kemba Walker alone changes the complexion of any game, the matchup to watch will be the inside battle between UConn's Alex Oriakhi and Gary McGhee of Pitt.

#5 Seed St. John's vs. #4 Seed Syracuse - The Johnnies make their return to the final eight for the first time since 2003 against a Syracuse team that handed them their only loss at the Garden this season. In what will be a battle in every sense of the word, the winner of this game will be the team that exhibits the most versatility. Syracuse has four players averaging double figures in points per game; and when St. John's gets four to score at least ten, they're 11-0. Adding to the already thick plot is the fact that the Orange are the one Big East team that St. John's ten-man senior class has yet to beat.

#7 Seed Cincinnati vs. #2 Seed Notre Dame - It was said on last night's ESPN broadcast that Bearcats coach Mick Cronin told his team that they weren't getting any respect. Unfortunately, it's true; and for a coach like Cronin that deserves every bit of success he gets as much as the players do, it's a shame. Notre Dame is on the inside track to a top seed in the NCAA Tournament if they can get the chips to fall in the right places this week, and all eyes will be on conference player of the year Ben Hansbrough against a lightly regarded Cincinnati backcourt.

#11 Seed Marquette vs. #3 Seed Louisville - The Golden Eagles all but sealed an NCAA Tournament appearance with last night's victory against West Virginia. Next up for Buzz Williams and Marquette is a Louisville team that has overachieved despite injuries to almost everyone on the squad to the point where coach Rick Pitino had to practice with team managers. The guard play will take center stage here, as a banged-up Cardinal frontcourt and undersized Marquette inside game will yield to the backcourts.

The Way I See It: Predictions

UConn defeats Pitt

St. John's defeats Syracuse

Cincinnati defeats Notre Dame

Louisville defeats Marquette

Never Mind Charlie, Mike's A Winner

Rutgers coach Mike Rice meets the media minutes after Scarlet Knights lost heartbreaking Big East tournament game against St. John's. (Photo courtesy of Newark Star-Ledger)

The world has been overexposed to the word "winning" over the past two weeks after the ludicrous and pathetic behavior displayed by Charlie Sheen, and recently by disgraced former Manhattan and Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez after his comments toward new Pirates boss Kevin Willard. (Click here to see exactly what Gonzo had to say) Fortunately for those who still hold the concept of winning in a high regard, in central New Jersey resides a man who embodies the true meaning of a winner despite an intensity that is often misconstrued for hysterics. They say that true genius is misunderstood. Whoever coined that adage may very well have known what was to come in the career of Mike Rice.

After a three-year tenure at Robert Morris in which he led the Colonials to consecutive Northeast Conference championships in his first head coaching job following various stops as an assistant coach for over fifteen years following his 1991 graduation from Fordham, Rice replaced Fred Hill this spring as the head coach at Rutgers University, and has transformed the Scarlet Knights from Big East doormat to scrappy upstarts in less than a year. His critics may be unable to see past his fiery on-court persona that includes emphatically tossing his blazer within the first ten minutes of a game, but such displays only drive home the fact that the 42-year-old Rice is just far more driven than his counterparts. More importantly, behind the passionate and intense demeanor lies a man who, once you get to know him, is among the nicest and classiest people you would ever want to know.

Last October at Big East media day, I met Rice for the first time inside Madison Square Garden as he unveiled his intentions for the new era of Rutgers basketball, and I honestly did not know what to expect. After an interview that lasted nearly nine minutes, I was able to sense that Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti may have tapped into a gold mine when he plucked Rice out of Pittsburgh and Robert Morris. The best was truly yet to come for a program that had seen better days, but not since their players' parents were college students themselves. I will admit to only taking a passing interest in the Scarlet Knights during the first month of the year, and was honestly a little surprised to see how well Rice had his team playing in the nonconference portion of the schedule. The coach unexpectedly won me over for the first time six weeks later.

Rice's former Robert Morris squad made its way into Brooklyn on December 4th of last year to take on St. Francis; and for those who don't know, I am the Terriers' public address announcer for home basketball games. On the way back to press row during halftime, I noticed a familiar face doing an interview with the Colonials' radio broadcast team. I'll never forget my reaction, which was me asking St. Francis SID Dave Gansell "Is that who I think it is?" Sure enough, it was Mike Rice, who was in attendance cheering his old players on; even jumping up over six feet in the air (or at least it looked that way) when Robert Morris drew a foul and a three-point play in the second half. St. Francis won the game 65-63, (ironically, that was the final score of today's St. John's-Rutgers game, which I'll get to later) but my postgame activity was what made me embrace an up-and-coming coach who was slowly molding his program into his own image.

When I said hello to Rice, he remembered me from our Madison Square Garden encounter, and told me such before I even had an opportunity to reintroduce myself. Being in my position as an aspiring broadcaster in a field where getting noticed is an eternal struggle, the fact that a coach, let alone one in charge of a Big East team, was able to remember me goes a long way with me. I spent a good five minutes with Rice talking about his team and the strides they had made, wished him luck in his upcoming game against Marist; and told him I would be in attendance to see Rutgers host North Carolina three weeks later at Madison Square Garden. That game against the Tar Heels was the second instance in which Rutgers won me over; only this time it wasn't the coach, it was a player. North Carolina dominated from start to finish, but Rutgers had frustrated Roy Williams' team enough to the point where the Tar Heels had difficulty finishing down the stretch and also found it hard to contain Rutgers forward Jonathan Mitchell, who finished with 20 points. Watching "J-Mitch" evolve over the course of the night proved to be an eye-opener for me, as the Scarlet Knights had a diamond in the rough who not only made contested shots and NBA-range threes, but embraced the inherent challenges in taking them. Leaving the Garden that night, I immediately circled February 2nd as a must-watch game; as the combination of Rice and Mitchell would be inside Carnesecca Arena that night to face my alma mater of St. John's.

The St. John's game was the third in which Rutgers won me over. About three hours prior to tipoff, (I'm usually among the first media members in the arena on game night, as it's a routine from my play-by-play days that I've never broken away from) I noticed a familiar face on the bench watching pregame shootaround. Seconds later, I was courtside greeting Mike Rice and welcoming him to Queens. Again, the coach remembered me from St. Francis; and asked me how things were going for me. Rice's team put on a valiant display later that night as well, coming back to tie the Red Storm in the final seconds before Justin Brownlee won it for the Johnnies on a reverse layup that he took with a broken thumb. Jonathan Mitchell, who has since become my favorite player in the Big East because he is so good yet so underrated, scored 21 in the losing effort for the Scarlet Knights. The fourth and final time Rutgers won me over came this afternoon.

When the bracket for the Big East tournament was finalized Sunday night and St. John's had drawn the No. 5 seed, all I could hope for was that Rutgers would defeat Seton Hall in the preceding 12/13 matchup. A Rutgers win would enable me to cover a rematch with St. John's in the Big East tournament, and I wanted to see it for many reasons. However, the selfish desire to see Rice and Mitchell one more time was the primary motivation. I didn't get to see Rice until the postgame press conference, which was an event in itself. After the aforementioned Justin Brownlee stepped out of bounds with 1.7 seconds remaining in regulation with St. John's up two, (I got an official game time from my friend and colleague Chris Carlin after the game) he then threw the ball into the crowd; but the officials, who had missed at least two other calls that Rutgers should have received, called neither and the game was over. Even as a St. John's alum and broadcaster, I couldn't help but think that St. John's had won a game it shouldn't have. (At least not at that moment) I'm sure more than one person in the Madison Square Garden media room was expecting a harangue directed toward the officials from the perceived loose cannon that is Mike Rice. Instead, the coach took the high road and proved just how much of a great person he is by surmising the last-second happenings with a succinct "it is what it is," although he did admit there was a mistake. You can see the end of this one for yourself by just pressing play below.

I had already regarded Rutgers to be the Rocky Balboa of the Big East in that although they lost the battle against St. John's, (Apollo Creed in this instance) they ultimately won the war. Mike Rice may be 0-for-2 against the Red Storm, but his maintaining composure at a time where mortal men would have melted under pressure only adds to the many reasons why he is a man to be respected and idolized. It just goes to show you that in a world where we unfortunately celebrate the out-of-control escapades of celebrities in a society where TMZ has become a credible news source, there really are true winners walking this planet, people that are great in their profession; but even better human beings. People like Mike Rice, who will lead Rutgers into the promised land much sooner rather than later. Gatorade had its world-famous "Be Like Mike" advertising campaign featuring Michael Jordan in the early 1990s; but in 2011, we should aspire to be like another Mike. Not many are made like Mike Rice, which is all the more reason why he should be appreciated.

The next time Charlie Sheen says he is winning, he shouldn't look in the mirror. Instead, he should just turn on a Rutgers basketball game and take a look at a true winner in Mike Rice.

Big East 2nd Round: An Insider's Guide

Dwight Hardy looks to send St. John's into Big East tournament quarterfinals with victory against Rutgers later today. (Photo courtesy of ESPN)

Four teams advanced, four more make their debuts today. Fresh off a Big East tournament opener that saw a 15 seed shock their way into the second round, day two should provide just as much entertainment. Since we're about thirty minutes away from tipoff between UConn and Georgetown, let's get it started.

#9 Seed UConn vs. #8 Seed Georgetown - The Huskies wasted little time proving they were the better team in their 97-71 victory over DePaul that saw Alex Oriakhi come to life off the bench for 13 points and 19 rebounds to lift Jim Calhoun's unit into the second round. Waiting for them is a Georgetown team that has hit the skids since losing Chris Wright to a broken left hand, making it even more important that Austin Freeman and Jason Clark have productive afternoons.

#13 Seed Rutgers vs. #5 Seed St. John's - The Scarlet Knights fought their way past Seton Hall even through overtime and Jeff Robinson's inefficiency, and Mike Rice gets the Johnnies as his reward. If you enjoyed yesterday's encounter with the Pirates, Rutgers should give you more of the same today as Jonathan Mitchell matches up with yet another dynamic scorer in St. John's guard Dwight Hardy. In the one meeting between the two back on February 2nd at Carnesecca Arena, Rutgers tied the game at 56 before Justin Brownlee drove in for a reverse layup off his broken left thumb to give the Red Storm a two-point victory.

#15 Seed South Florida vs. #7 Seed Cincinnati - Anthony Crater and the Bulls are riding high after their first-round upset of Villanova, and now look to stop a Bearcats team playing for a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament. Since USF's frontcourt is one of the biggest in the conference, don't be surprised to see Anthony McClain early and often for Mick Cronin and Cincinnati.

#11 Seed Marquette vs. #6 Seed West Virginia - Marquette won their first battle last night by handily defeating Providence in a game the Golden Eagles started on a 17-0 run. Next up for Buzz Williams and company is the reigning Big East champions, who finished strong after languishing in the middle of the standings through most of the season. Pay close attention to the matchup at the point between Truck Bryant and Dwight Buycks. If the Mountaineers can control the tempo in the backcourt, the game is theirs for the taking.

The Way I See It: Predictions

UConn defeats Georgetown

St. John's defeats Rutgers

Cincinnati defeats USF

Marquette defeats West Virginia

Big East 1st Round: An Insider's Guide

Kemba Walker is first to take the stage today at Madison Square Garden as UConn opens up Big East tournament against DePaul at noon today. (Photo courtesy of ESPN)

At long last, the country's greatest conference tournament is upon us, as the Big East tournament starts this afternoon at Madison Square Garden. In just about two hours, the most unpredictable five days before March Madness gets unleashed with a bang as UConn and DePaul face off for the opportunity to meet Georgetown in tomorrow's second round. Without any further ado, here is a look at today's four first-round matchups.

#9 Seed UConn vs. #16 Seed DePaul - The Blue Demons come into this off a 48-point defeat at the hands of Syracuse, and are without the services of likely Big East rookie of the year Cleveland Melvin, who was injured last week. DePaul has dropped 52 of 54 Big East games in the regular season over the last three years; but the year in which they went 0-18 (2008-09) was the year in which the Blue Demons shocked the world and defeated Cincinnati in the opening round of the tournament. Big East Player of the Year candidate Kemba Walker leads the Huskies into battle fresh off his 34-point effort in a near-miss Saturday afternoon against Notre Dame; and with Melvin out, it gives Alex Oriakhi an advantage on the boards.

#12 Seed Seton Hall vs. #13 Rutgers - The war of the four first-round games comes between the two New Jersey programs that split their home-and-home series in the regular season. Seton Hall comes in on fire after winning their last two against St. John's and Marquette in a torrid shooting display, while Mike Rice's Scarlet Knights will display their usual gritty style that will attempt to wear the Pirates down. Seton Hall's three guards will create a mismatch in favor of Rutgers, especially in the key matchup between senior sharpshooters Jeremy Hazell and Jonathan Mitchell.

#10 Seed Villanova vs. #15 South Florida - Only in the Big East can a team like the Wildcats be a No. 10 seed; and although Jay Wright's team hasn't been itself lately, they should be the better team against a USF squad still trying to find their way without superstar Dominique Jones, now of the Dallas Mavericks. The key to victory here is the battle of the big men, as the Bulls' Augustus Gilchrist and Jarrid Famous square off against Antonio Pena and Mouphtaou Yarou of Villanova.

#11 Seed Marquette vs. #14 Providence - The team with everything to lose and everything to gain this week is the Golden Eagles. No matter which of their four jerseys they wear at the Garden this week, Marquette is playing for their postseason lives after an uncharacteristic slide to end the regular season. With one (maybe two) wins, they are safely in the NCAA Tournament; but if Friars guard Marshon Brooks gets a few open looks, it could be over faster than Marquette can say "NIT."

The Way I See It: Predictions

UConn defeats DePaul

Rutgers defeats Seton Hall

Villanova defeats South Florida

Marquette defeats Providence

Bracketology

It's here at long last...all projections are up to the minute. Please note that all conference championships that have yet to be decided in the real world have been awarded to the team with the best conference record here just for the sake of preventing arguments. Hopefully I've succeeded in that department. For those unable to see each team clearly, I'll list each one here:

East Regional

1) Ohio State

2) North Carolina

3) Purdue

4) St. John's

5) Kansas State

6) Cincinnati

7) Vanderbilt

8) Connecticut

9) Illinois

10) St. Mary's

11) Washington

12) Richmond/Virginia Tech

13) Oakland

14) Morehead State

15) Bucknell

16) Texas Southern/Middle Tennessee

Southeast Regional

1) Duke

2) Notre Dame

3) Louisville

4) Wisconsin

5) Syracuse

6) Temple

7) Texas A&M

8) Missouri

9) Villanova

10) UAB
11) VCU
12) Gonzaga

13) Belmont

14) LIU
15) Boston University

16) UNC-Asheville

Southwest Regional

1) Kansas

2) Texas

3) Florida

4) San Diego State

5) Xavier

6) Old Dominion

7) Utah State

8) UCLA
9) Tennessee

10) Florida State

11) Michigan

12) UTEP/Marquette

13) Iona

14) Charleston

15) Long Beach State

16) Northern Colorado/Bethune-Cookman

West Regional

1) Pittsburgh

2) Arizona

3) BYU

4) Kentucky

5) UNLV

6) West Virginia

7) Georgetown

8) George Mason

9) Georgia

10) Butler

11) Michigan State

12) Clemson

13) Harvard

14) Indiana State

15) Kent State

16) McNeese State

Enjoy!

NEC Tournament Semifinals: An Insider's Guide

Healthy once again after elbow injury caused him to miss half the season, Quinnipiac's Justin Rutty leads Bobcats' charge into NEC tournament semifinals. (Photo courtesy of New Haven Register)

We're down to four in the Northeast Conference tournament; and all four higher seeds were victorious in Thursday night's quarterfinals, thereby making our predictions an even 2-2. We continued to learn a lot more about the four remaining programs in their first postseason game two days ago, and both matchups will be interesting pairings that really could go either way.

#1 Seed LIU vs. #4 Seed Central Connecticut State - The conference's most productive offense draws the NEC Player of the Year for the second time in eight days, as the Blackbirds face the unenviable task of attempting to contain Blue Devils forward Ken Horton. Central is vulnerable if Horton and fellow big man Joe Efese get into foul trouble, a factor that nearly cost Howie Dickenman's unit the game against St. Francis (NY) Thursday night. Central also appears to have hit the wall after a hot start, while LIU does not appear to show signs of fatigue anytime soon. The Blackbirds have a decided advantage in the backcourt and a slight edge up front, but this game will be a lot closer than people envision it turning out to be.

#2 Seed Quinnipiac vs. #3 Seed Robert Morris - The Colonials withstood an all-out charge from Wagner at the end of regulation to prevail and face the Bobcats in Hamden, but Andy Toole's squad is highly susceptible to a bounce after Quinnipiac barely broke a sweat in their quarterfinal win over Mount St. Mary's. Deontay Twyman and James Johnson continue to be an effective 1-2 guard punch, and Justin Rutty should have his way with a Colonials interior game that doesn't match up to the inside presence brought forth by Tom Moore's frontcourt.

The Way I See It: Predictions

LIU defeats Central Connecticut State

Quinnipiac defeats Robert Morris

Just A Reminder: Bracketology makes its debut next week, most likely Sunday or Monday!

NEC Tournament Quarterfinals: An Insider's Guide

LIU forward Julian Boyd has already risen above the odds, and now leads his Blackbirds into NEC Tournament, still looking for their first conference title since 1997. (Photo courtesy of ESPN)

Tournament preview number two here, and this one is close to home for me given my affiliation with St. Francis College. The Northeast Conference is still looking for its first NCAA Tournament win aside from the two play-in victories they have picked up with Monmouth (2006) and Mount St. Mary's, (2008) and depending on who represents the NEC in the field of 68, it could easily happen. Keep in mind that the tournament format in the NEC is an interesting one, with the higher seed getting a home game in each round. Therefore, unless top-seeded Long Island University wins both their quarterfinal and semifinal games, there really won't be any homecourt advantage. The tournament is also not conventionally bracketed, as the field reseeds a la the NHL playoffs. In other words, the lowest remaining seed plays the highest remaining seed. Without any further ado...

Those Who Missed The Tournament: Sacred Heart, Monmouth, Fairleigh Dickinson, Bryant University (Bryant is still reclassifying from Division II and will not be a full-fledged NEC member institution until the 2012-13 season)

#1 Seed LIU vs. #8 Seed St. Francis University (PA) - What else can you say about the Blackbirds other than the fact that they're probably the biggest surprise in the New York City area outside St. John's? Jim Ferry's uptempo offense would give any team fits in the Big Dance, never mind a Red Flash squad that had to win their last two games against Wagner and Mount St. Mary's (no easy task) just to make the field. Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere carry LIU up front, while seniors Kyle Johnson and David Hicks anchor a strong and stingy backcourt. Speaking of their guards, pay attention to freshman reserve Jason Brickman, who gets quality minutes alongside clutch shooter C.J. Garner, who defeated St. Francis College (NY) on a mid-range jumper with half a second left in regulation three weeks ago.

#2 Seed Quinnipiac vs. #7 Seed Mount St. Mary's - Former Georgetown assistant Robert Burke has done a solid job in his first year at The Mount, and has forward Shawn Atupem to lead his squad into battle against a Bobcats team that was picked to win the conference before the season started. Quinnipiac backcourt tandem Deontay Twyman and James Johnson can go for 20 points each on any given night, and senior forward Justin Rutty is finally back at 100 percent after missing half the season with an elbow injury, factors that should play to Tom Moore's advantage as the Bobcats will probably secure a semifinal date at their palace of an arena, the TD Bank Center in Hamden, Connecticut.

#3 Seed Robert Morris vs. #6 Seed Wagner - Here's another salute to first-year coaches. Andy Toole, who at 30 is the youngest head man in the country after replacing Rutgers coach Mike Rice, has picked up the pieces after a rocky start with the Colonials. However, his star guard Karon Abraham is out for the year, forcing Robert Morris to rely on the shooting of Velton Jones and rebounding prowess of Russell Johnson. On the other side of the bench is Wagner, coached by another college rookie in Danny Hurley. The Seahawks faded down the stretch, but don't count them out, especially if Chris Martin returns to his veteran form tonight. The Verrazano Warriors also need leading scorer Tyler Murray to have a big game while big men Orlando Parker and Naofall Folahan avoid foul trouble. In what will definitely be a physical matchup, the confrontation on the bench will be just as entertaining to watch; as both Toole and Hurley are not afraid to be demonstrative.

#4 Seed Central Connecticut State vs. #5 St. Francis College (NY) - I'll be on hand live from New Britain to call this game along with Seth Cantor as coverage begins at 6:45 on the Terrier Sports Network. (Listen live at sfcathletics.com) NEC Player of the Year Ken Horton leads the Blue Devils back home to the Detrick Gym to take on a Terrier team that beat them a week ago tonight at the Pope Center in Brooklyn by the final of 75-65. Horton is a tall order, though. Having gone for 27 against St. Francis last week, he can burn any team from anywhere on the court; and he reminds me a lot of former Marquette forward Lazar Hayward. Glenn Braica is the last of four rookie coaches in this year's tournament, and he leads an underrated and complete starting five into Connecticut tonight. Ricky Cadell looks to add to his new school-record point total while Akeem Bennett will be proving why he was the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, and Stefan Perunicic will be firing from beyond the arc. The key to this game will be the Terriers' role players. If Dre Calloway can score and reserves Travis Nichols and Akeem Johnson can take over the game the way they have during St. Francis' current four-game win streak, the matchup is theirs for the taking. This is clearly the best quarterfinal matchup in my opinion.

The Way I See It: Predictions

LIU defeats St. Francis (PA)

Quinnipiac defeats Mount St. Mary's

Wagner defeats Robert Morris

St. Francis (NY) defeats Central Connecticut State

Keep it here this weekend for a preview of the NEC semifinals, which take place on Sunday afternoon at the on-campus venues of the two highest remaining seeds.

Arch Madness: An Insider's Guide

Adam Leonard, one of the best shooters you've never heard of, looks to fire Missouri State into NCAA Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Evansville Courier & Press)

If you're a regular reader to this portal for college hoops information, you're probably aware of my feelings toward the Missouri Valley Conference. Now that the Valley's regular season has concluded, it's time to preview the ten-team extravaganza in St. Louis formally known as the Missouri Valley Conference championship tournament; but more commonly (and better) known as "Arch Madness." Arch Madness has been one of the most compelling and enjoyable conference tournaments in recent years, and this year is no exception. Top-seeded Missouri State comes in as the favorite, with Wichita State and reigning tournament champion Northern Iowa looking to knock the Bears off the throne as they pursue the reward of an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

#1 Seed - Missouri State - Former Purdue guard Cuonzo Martin has turned the Bears around after just four years in Springfield, and could potentially face his former school in the NCAA Tournament with the right seeding for both teams. Kyle Weems is the player that grabs most of the attention after being named Player of the Year in the Valley, but Missouri State is arguably the most complete team of any mid-major in the country after their star forward. Will Creekmore gives the Bears some added punch on the frontline, while Nafis Ricks and Adam Leonard provide a scoring and shooting tandem in the backcourt. Watch this man, however: Jermaine Mallett. The 6-3 senior guard is the unsung hero in the Bears' rotation, shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc. If Mallett gets open like he did last Saturday in Missouri State's regular season finale against Wichita State, watch out.

#2 Seed - Wichita State - The Shockers could make the Valley a two-bid league even without a championship win, but it won't be as easy as it looked about a month ago. J.T. Durley and David Kyles are the only Shockers averaging double figures in points per game, yet it's point guard Joe Ragland that is on a hot streak. If you really know me well, you'll know that I consider Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall to be one of, if not the, most underrated coaches in the country. It's highly doubtful he leaves Kansas, (this is just his fourth year there) but a run into the Big Dance could propel Marshall to a marquee job he could solidify his already impressive resume with.

#3 Seed - Indiana State - The Sycamores are still known as Larry Bird's alma mater that miraculously played for a national title in 1979, and that probably won't change much even if they make it into the championship. The impressive part of this team is the cast of role players that has blended together to vault Indiana State into a third-place finish in the regular season. Look for junior swingman Carl Richard to carry the Sycamores this week.

#4 Seed - Northern Iowa - The Panthers don't have last year's NCAA Tournament darling Ali Farokhmanesh anymore, but Anthony James has the same marksman tendencies Farokhmanesh put on full display in the Panthers' improbable run to the Sweet 16 last season. Kwadzo Ahelegbe is a first-team All-Valley player, and Jake Koch gives coach Ben Jacobson an extra body inside while providing a valuable scoring presence in the paint.

#5 Seed - Creighton - Former Northern Iowa coach Greg McDermott has resurfaced in Omaha, and he will lead the Blue Jays into Arch Madness against his former team in Friday's quarterfinal matchup. McDermott's son Doug is just a freshman; but he looks like the next star in the Valley, averaging over 14 points and seven rebounds a night in a frontcourt that he shares with Rutgers transfer Greg Echenique. If there's a name on the Creighton bench that jumps out at the casual fan, it's senior guard Kaleb Korver, whose older brother Kyle electrified the Blue Jays and the Valley before embarking on a successful career as an NBA utility player.

#6 Seed - Evansville - The Purple Aces are largely one-dimensional. As sophomore guard Colt Ryan goes, so too does the team. Junior forward Kenny Harris does provide a solid rebounding force inside, but Evansville is still at least one or two pieces away from being a serious contender.

#7 Seed - Drake - Three years ago, the Bulldogs were a 5 seed in the Big Dance when current Providence coach Keno Davis led the boys from Des Moines through the Valley with a 28-win season. I got a chance to see the Bulldogs in their blowout loss against St. John's in the Great Alaska Shootout; and believe it or not, the 43-point margin of victory didn't expose the team's shortcomings as much as I expected it would. Rayvonte Rice is the man who makes Drake's motor run, but the Bulldogs' 36 percent clip from beyond the arc is highlighted by Ryan Wedel and Ben Simons, who are also high-percentage shot-takers and free throw shooters in addition to outstanding long-range threats.

#8 Seed - Southern Illinois - My, how things change. It seemed like yesterday when the Salukis were consistently on top of the world in the Valley. However, SIU alum Chris Lowery's squad has been amazingly mediocre in the four years following their last Valley championship back in 2007. Mamadou Seck is a double-double threat on any given night, and senior leading scorer Carlton Fay is playing like he has something to prove. It will be a tough road for the Salukis if they are intent on returning to glory; as Missouri State will await them in the quarterfinals should they get past their first-round opponent, who gets profiled next.

#9 Seed - Illinois State - As good as the Redbirds have shown they could be, it just hasn't translated to success on paper this season after their 4-14 record in the Valley. Even if Illinois State gets the better of in-state rival Southern Illinois in the first round, Missouri State will ultimately prove to be too much for them in the quarters.

#10 Seed - Bradley - Patrick O'Bryant has come and gone, but senior guard Andrew Warren has filled the scoring void left by the Braves' former big man. Aside from Warren, however, it's anybody's game when it comes to putting points on the board. One positive for Bradley is their ball control, averaging just 12 turnovers a night.

The Way I See It: Predictions

1st Round: Drake defeats Bradley, Southern Illinois defeats Illinois State

Quarterfinals: Missouri State defeats Southern Illinois, Wichita State defeats Drake, Indiana State defeats Evansville, Creighton defeats Northern Iowa

Semifinals: Missouri State defeats Creighton, Wichita State defeats Indiana State

Championship: Wichita State gets here more so because Northern Iowa and Creighton (who I feel are both stronger tournament teams than the Shockers) are on the other half of the bracket. However, their attempt for retribution won't be successful. It only took me about eight minutes Sunday (I was at the St. John's-Villanova game the day before, forcing me to DVR the aforementioned Missouri State-Wichita State game) to be convinced that the Bears were not only for real, but also a legitimate threat to wear Cinderella's glass slippers on the dance floor this year. One of the most complete mid-majors in the country is clearly the better unit of the two, and it will show in St. Louis as the clock will strike midnight for Gregg Marshall and company.

And So It Begins...

Gordon Hayward's near-heroics will be hard act to follow in this year's NCAA Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Time Magazine)

Happy March, everyone. It's the greatest time of the year if you're a college basketball fan. Therefore, I'll take this time to let you all know what to expect here in the days and weeks to come. With conference tournaments starting up as early as Thursday, you'll see previews and recaps, along with bracketology projections that I'll try to make as close to real time as possible. With that being said, all I can leave you with is this:

Enjoy the madness!

A Philadelphia Story That's Similar, But Different

Villanova and St. John's have always been similar to some degree, and still are with potential GQ cover boys Jay Wright and Steve Lavin on the sidelines. (Both photos courtesy of New York Daily News)

For most of the last two decades, you could look at Villanova and St. John's and see many glaring similarities between the two teams, almost as if one school wished it could be the other. The Red Storm held the edge in this rivalry back in the mid-to-late 1990s when Felipe Lopez and Ron Artest were going up against Kerry Kittles and Michael Bradley, only to have the Wildcats turn the tables in the 2000s on the way to winning eight of ten against the Storm, including the last six. In fact, the last time St. John's tasted victory against the Wildcats was back on February 11, 2003, which was also the last time (before this season) the Red Storm defeated Duke. See any familiar trends here?

If St. John's has taught us one thing this season, it's that records are meant to be broken. With a resurgence that has rejuvenated a once-apathetic fan base into the rabid Redmen of old, coupled with its first national ranking since the year 2000, the Johnnies are back; and making a statement for themselves by winning games against Top 25 teams that past incarnations of the boys from Queens would have fallen to pieces against. Led by a local conquering hero in Bronx native and senior guard Dwight Hardy and breakout star swingman Justin Brownlee, these are not your daddy's Johnnies. Head coach Steve Lavin is also following his own yellow brick road to redemption after his triumphant return to the college coaching ranks this past March, while simultaneously redefining the art of coaching, not to mention defying convention with his fashion statements. Since January 30th, Lavin and his staff have taken to wearing sneakers on the court along with deciding to forgo wearing a tie. Originally intended to support the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative, the trend has taken on a life of its own, and the Red Storm is 7-1 in that stretch; with quality wins over Duke, Connecticut and Pittsburgh over that eight-game period, and the coach isn't reverting to the old look anytime soon. "I felt I was doing a more effective job of teaching," Lavin said after his St. John's team upset then-No. 4 Pittsburgh last week at Madison Square Garden. And they call Phil Jackson the Zen Master.

Tomorrow in Philadelphia, Lavin faces a coach similar to him in both appearance and approach as Jay Wright now enters his tenth year on the Main Line since leaving Hofstra to go to Villanova. There are other similar matchups, namely a battle of the Bronx at the point guard position between Hardy and Villanova's Corey Fisher; but it's the glamour matchup of the men in the suits that gets the most attention, and has since the Pitt game last week after Lavin said in his postgame press conference that Wright was the George Clooney of coaches and Lavin's hero. "I'm attracted to Jay, and my wife knows it," joked Lavin when asked about the upcoming matchup with Villanova. The fun didn't stop there, however. At yesterday's pregame press conference on the St. John's campus, Lavin wore a bracelet bearing the phrase "WWJayD?," a satire of the "What Would Jesus Do?" slogan; a gift given to the coach by St. John's athletic communications staff member Mariel Brady.

While St. John's has come in winning five in a row and seven of their last eight, Villanova has struggled recently by losing three of five and playing close games every time out since their 16-point win over West Virginia three weeks ago tomorrow. Both teams have inexplicable losses; but whereas St. John's has seemingly held it together since their collapse against Fordham in December, the Wildcats have dropped close affairs to Rutgers and Providence, both of whom are in the lower half of the Big East standings. Moreover, the City of Brotherly Love has seen two consecutive losses at home, while St. John's has won its last two on the road.

The keys to victory are where the few differences are illustrated, though. For St. John's, it's simple: Get the most out of the matchup zone defense that has stifled the majority of its Big East opponents, while also limiting open looks from beyond the arc and limiting their tendency to foul. The Johnnies also need to get the Villanova big men into foul trouble the same way they did against Gary McGhee of Pittsburgh. For Villanova, it's not the guards this time around. I know you'll read this and think there's something wrong with me given that 'Nova has always been a guard-oriented team; but against a team like St. John's, the Wildcats' strength is in their frontcourt. Antonio Pena and Mouphtaou Yarou are bigger than Brownlee and Dwayne Polee, (who will likely be matched up against them at the opening tip) as well as reserves Justin Burrell and Sean Evans. If Villanova can establish a strong inside game within the opening minutes, they will have already won half the battle; and if the Coreys (Fisher and Stokes) are even moderately effective, this game could be a runaway before it even gets underway.

The lineups, style and coaches can all be compared more than they could be contrasted. Even the student sections are among the best in the Big East, as St. John's "Johnny Jungle" is able to go head-to-head with 'Nova Nation for forty minutes. Yet in this matchup of similarities, there are many differences between the two, (some have been mentioned above) and the winner will be the team that can exploit the differences better than the other.

Full Court Press: Syracuse-Villanova Preview

Corey Fisher, who singlehandedly lifted Villanova over DePaul, gets chance to do it again as Wildcats host Syracuse tonight at Wells Fargo Center. (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)

If Big East basketball teaches you anything, it is to expect the unexpected at all costs. Remember when St. John's was consistently in the lower half of the conference? I do, and now the Red Storm are ranked 23rd in the country. To expand on that, not many expected Villanova to walk into the Carrier Dome and handily defeat a Syracuse team that was still undefeated five days before that matchup. One month after an 83-72 win in upstate New York, it's the Wildcats' turn to host the Orange in the back end of a home-and-home series between two ranked teams looking to improve their NCAA Tournament seeding; and so the preview begins.

#17 Syracuse Orange (22-6, 9-6 Big East)

Head Coach: Jim Boeheim

Probable Starting Lineup:
PG: Scoop Jardine (6-2 Jr., 12.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 41% FG, 66% FT)
SG: Brandon Triche (6-4 So., 11.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 44% FG, 81% FT)
SF: Kris Joseph (6-7 Jr., 15.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 46% FG, 71% FT, 39% 3pt)

PF: Rick Jackson (6-9 Sr., 13.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 58% FG, 51% FT)
C: Fab Melo (7-0 Fr., 2.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 55% FG, 37% FT)

Key Reserves:

F C.J. Fair (6-8 Fr., 6.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 55% FG, 58% FT)

G Dion Waiters (6-4 Fr., 5.9 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 37% FG, 85% FT)
F James Southerland (6-8 So., 5.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 41% FG, 75% FT, 36% 3pt)

C Baye Keita (6-10 Fr., 2.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 56% FG, 48% FT)

Keys To Victory:
Not Now, Chief, I'm In The Zone - Any analysis of Syracuse begins (and sometimes ends) with their world-famous 2-3 zone defense that mystifies opponents throughout the night. The key to the Orange while not controlling the ball is junior forward Kris Joseph, who is the centerpiece to the defense as its 6-7 wing man. Syracuse's guards are also known for closing to the three-point line faster than most other teams, something Villanova backcourt partners Corey Fisher, Maalik Wayns and Corey Stokes must keep in mind if they are intent on crushing the Orange a second time.

The Jackson 5 - Rick Jackson may be a power forward, but he plays like a dominating center. With an average of 13 points and 11 rebounds a night, Jackson is the man who runs the offense once the ball gets inside. Not afraid to use his physicality to his advantage, Jackson takes high-percentage shots while also displaying his all-around talent with his unusually high (for a big man) assist and steal totals; and he'll be playing with a little extra incentive tonight, as he and high school teammate Scoop Jardine return home to the Philadelphia area where they grew up for what will be the last time in their collegiate careers.

Charity Begins At Home - At just 66 percent, Syracuse isn't exactly one of the most efficient teams from the free throw line. In fact, only Joseph (71 percent) and Triche (81 percent) are the only starters shooting over a 70 percent clip. Given that Villanova is much more proficient at the stripe, (77 percent as a team) the bigger key here will be to keep Jackson and the platoon of Fab Melo and Baye Keita out of foul trouble, as free points at the line will tip the victory closer into the hands of the Wildcats.

#14 Villanova Wildcats (21-6, 9-5 Big East)
Head Coach: Jay Wright

Probable Starting Lineup:
PG: Corey Fisher (6-1 Sr., 16.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 45% FG, 78% FT, 39% 3pt)
SG: Maalik Wayns (6-2 So., 13.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 41% FG, 82% FT)
SG: Corey Stokes (6-5 Sr., 14.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 43% FG, 94% FT, 42% 3pt)
PF: Antonio Pena (6-8 Sr., 10.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 50% FG, 73% FT)
C: Mouphtaou Yarou (6-10 So., 9.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 49% FG, 67% FT)

Key Reserves:

G Dominic Cheek (6-6 So., 5.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 36% FG, 76% FT)
G James Bell (6-5 Fr., 2.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 49% FG, 92% FT, 36% 3pt)

C Maurice Sutton (6-11 So., 2.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 61% FG, 60% FT)
F Isaiah Armwood (6-7 So., 2.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 48% FG, 63% FT)

Keys To Victory:

The Coreys - Definitely not lost boys, Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes have been the backbone of this team, and have become the heart and soul of Villanova basketball just as last year's senior pair of Scottie Reynolds and Reggie Redding were. Fisher has vaulted himself into consideration for the Big East player of the year award, joining a short list of fellow guards Kemba Walker, (UConn) Ben Hansbrough, (Notre Dame) and the red-hot Dwight Hardy. (St. John's) Fisher comes into this matchup fresh off a career-high 34 points against DePaul, a game in which he redeemed himself after committing a late foul in regulation by draining the game-tying three and taking over in overtime.

Guard U - That has been Villanova's nickname over the years, and head coach Jay Wright has made no secret of intimating his desire to play "four quick," with one forward on the court. Wright emphatically assured me at Big East media day that we would see this kind of a lineup during the season, and has not disappointed yet. If the Wildcats do indeed run their "four quick" set, expect Dominic Cheek to be the first option off the bench; and it's quite possible if 'Nova draws fouls on the undersized (at least after Melo and Keita) Syracuse big men.

Bigger And Better Than Ever - It's usually the smaller players that command most of the attention on the Main Line, but Jay Wright has done an impressive job with reforming his frontcourt after the departures of Taylor King and Jayvaughn Pinkston. Antonio Pena is in the midst of his best season, while sophomore Mouphtaou Yarou is one of the most improved players in the country, let alone the Big East.

So, Who Wins?

In the world of the Big East, it's actually a safe bet to say each game will be highly competitive, and just leave it at that. However, both teams will have something to play for immediately following this game; which makes tonight all the more important. Syracuse continues their road trip by heading down to our nation's capital for a Saturday matinee with Georgetown, while Villanova remains inside the Wells Fargo (formerly CoreStates/First Union/Wachovia) Center for a Saturday contest against 23rd-ranked St. John's, making their long-awaited return to the polls for the first time since November 2000, when yours truly was a freshman in high school. (For a more detailed look at the long road traveled by the boys from Queens, my friend and WSJU Radio colleague Dan Martin puts it into perspective here)

http://johnnyjungle.com/columns/over-the-airwaves/storming-top-25/

Back to the game at hand if I may. Syracuse is the gunslinging team with the zone defense, while Villanova is the guard-oriented squad with deceptive strength in every aspect of the game. This will be the epitome of knock-down, drag-out brawl, with Villanova just coming away victorious.

Your Final: Villanova 79, Syracuse 76

Full Court Press: Utah State-St. Mary's Preview

Mickey McConnell looks to shoot St. Mary's into a higher NCAA Tournament seed as Gaels host Utah State tomorrow night in BracketBuster matchup. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

This is probably the most unorthodox and unexpected pregame preview I've done, but it never hurts to branch out. In one corner is a team fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance and poised to take over as the dominant team in their conference; the other home to a team that has managed to hang around the lower part of the Top 25 over each of the last several years. Two perennial tournament participants, one underrated nonconference matchup as we gear up for an entertaining stretch run. Without any further ado...

#24 Utah State Aggies (24-3, 12-1 Western Athletic)

Head Coach: Stew Morrill

Probable Starting Lineup:

PG: Brockeith Pane (6-1 Jr., 11.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 43% FG, 78% FT)
SG: Pooh Williams (6-4 Sr., 9.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 39% FG, 79% FT, 39% 3pt)

SF: Tyler Newbold (6-5 Sr., 6.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 41% FG, 76% FT, 35% 3pt)

PF: Tai Wesley (6-7 Sr., 14.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 59% FG, 72% FT)

C: Nate Bendall (6-9 Sr., 5.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 49% FG, 70% FT)

Key Reserves:

G Brian Green (6-1 Sr., 10.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 46% FG, 76% FT, 45% 3pt)

F Brady Jardine (6-7 Jr., 8.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 55% FG, 63% FT)

Keys To Victory:

A Different World - Moraga, California is a long way from Logan, Utah; but despite the geographical disparity, the two schools are somewhat similar. Utah State will have to navigate the crowd without the support of its notorious student section, which is easier said than done. If the Aggies need any pointers on how to play an NCAA Tournament-caliber game at the McKeon Pavilion, all coach Stew Morrill needs to do is reach out to Steve Lavin, whose St. John's team gave the Gaels all they could handle back in November in a hard-fought five-point loss.

Shoot 'Em Up - The Aggies don't hesitate to show you that they're one of the more proficient groups of marksmen, shooting 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc, compared to 39 and 31 for their collective opponents, respectively. Big men Tai Wesley and Brady Jardine are the high-percentage shot takers for Utah State, shooting 59 and 55 percent from the field respectively, while fellow forward Nate Bendall isn't that far behind with his 49 percent clip.

Green Means Go - Not at the opening tip, but definitely at some point. Guard Brian Green is the Aggies' top sub, averaging just under 11 points per game in just 25 minutes. Green is the long-range threat on this team, as 59 of his 92 field goals are trifectas. Since he's not as inclined to dish it out as some of his teammates are, it wouldn't be a surprise if he hooked up with Clint Steindl in a battle from behind the line.

#23 St. Mary's Gaels (22-5, 10-2 West Coast)

Head Coach: Randy Bennett

Probable Starting Lineup:

PG: Mickey McConnell (6-0 Sr., 16.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 52% FG, 89% FT, 47% 3pt)

SG: Matthew Dellavedova (6-4 So., 12.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 41% FG, 88% FT, 37% 3pt)
SF: Clint Steindl (6-7 Jr., 7.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 43% FG, 50% FT, 42% 3pt)
PF: Rob Jones (6-6 Jr., 13.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 47% FG, 75% FT)
C: Tim Williams (6-9 So., 5.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 56% FG, 70% FT)

Key Reserves:

F Mitchell Young (6-9 So., 10.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 62% FG, 57% FT)
F Kenton Walker (6-9 Jr., 6.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 54% FG, 57% FT)
G Stephen Holt (6-4 Fr., 5.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 41% FG, 83% FT)

Keys To Victory:

Spread Offense - With four members of their regular rotation averaging double figures and a balanced unit whose nightly median is 80 points per contest, it's no secret that St. Mary's is a hardwood version of the Millrose Games. A track meet for any opponent who faces them, the Gaels have broken 70 in all but three games this season; including 12 where they have gone for over 80. Moreover, if you thought Utah State's shooting numbers were impressive, St. Mary's blows them out of the water with clips of 50 percent from the field and 39 from three.

Mac Attack - Those who know me well know that I've used that expression to describe the St. John's women's basketball team that Kim Barnes Arico has built from the ground up into a perennial NCAA Tournament contender. This time, however, the term will be used to describe Mickey McConnell. The Gaels' senior point guard has an all-around stat line that will simply make you say "OH BABY." Seriously. I knew the kid was good, (having seen his breakout NCAA Tournament last year, and that was with Omar Samhan stealing his spotlight) but not this good. Averages of 17 points, six assists, a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio, 52 percent from the field and 47 percent from the land of the three-ball are numbers that don't pop up overnight. It's just a shame he and Jimmer Fredette are seniors. With Brigham Young moving into the West Coast Conference next year, just imagine the show Mickey and The Jimmer would put on twice each season.

Bloomin' Onions - Randy Bennett became known for his Australian pipeline when Patty Mills was his first superstar player in Moraga. Now, Bennett has a pair of Aussies in sophomore Matthew Dellavedova and junior Clint Steindl; both of whom are also as trifecta-talented as McConnell. Dellavedova reminds me a lot of a shorter and slightly more productive Chase Budinger during his days at Arizona, only with a higher assist total and lower rebound total. Steindl has blossomed into a pure shooter who can (and will) kill from long range if given the opportunity, as evidenced by his 22-point performance against the debut of the St. John's matchup zone in what turned out to be his coming-out party.

So, Who Wins?

It will be a packed house at the McKeon Pavilion one way or another; and while the two teams appear to be evenly matched on paper, it won't be as close as some may think. I mentioned that both schools have turned themselves into NCAA Tournament regulars, but Utah State will need a national championship performance from their unit to take the Gaels down. Both are experienced, but St. Mary's is loaded with just a little more. In fact, look for McConnell to singlehandedly make the difference in this one as the Gaels play themselves away from a prospective 7/10 or 8/9 game in the Big Dance and closer to maybe a 5 or 6 seed.

Your Final: St. Mary's 78, Utah State 67

The Definition Of Survivor

He's been through it all, but Rick Pitino has managed to remain at the top of his game with no signs of fading away anytime soon. (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)

It hasn't been an easy life for Rick Pitino in recent years, and the Louisville coach will be the first one to tell you that. From the day he returned to the college ranks at Kentucky after a brief tour of duty with the New York Knicks to a career that included a stop with the Boston Celtics before ultimately landing with the Cardinals, Pitino has seen his share of controversy; and has been at the center of it at times. Despite all the drama surrounding the 58-year-old Brooklyn native, be it the Karen Sypher incident or the loss of brother-in-law and close friend Billy Minardi in the September 11th attacks, Pitino has managed to remain what he has been for parts of four decades now: One of the elite coaches in the nation, getting the most out of a team that was not expected to do this much after losing two-thirds of its starting backcourt as well as its star forward after last season's NCAA Tournament appearance.

At Big East media day, Pitino retained his usual brutal honesty when saying that there would be certain players on this team asked to step it up this season in the absence of Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith and Samardo Samuels. So far, the contributions of Louisville's team as a whole have been impressive, especially when you consider the unusually high amount of injuries Pitino's squad has had to endure this season. When I asked the coach (a favorite of mine due to his refusal to hold anything back when asked a question) about the parts of the team that impressed him most through this point of the season on last week's Big East coaches' conference call, he had this to say:

"This team has been very rewarding to coach in terms of the talent they give. It's difficult to win in the Big East, period. You don't know where the next win is going to come. This team has weathered a lot of different storms to the point where we've practiced with managers."

- Rick Pitino on Louisville's performance

A big key to the Cardinals' ability to overcome adversity (besides their leader on the bench) is how Pitino approaches the rigorous Big East schedule, an 18-game endurance test that the coach breaks down into six segments of three games each. So far this season, including Louisville's stunning 73-67 victory at the Yum! Center against Syracuse yesterday, the Cardinals have won each of those segments by taking two out of three games. It is this approach that has silently landed Louisville at 8-4 in the Big East, good enough to earn the double bye in the Big East tournament that comes with being one of the top four teams in the conference if the season ended today.

Louisville's next segment comes against UConn, Cincinnati and Rutgers; and each one presents its own unique challenge. However, that's just fine for the Cardinals, given their ability to survive under the direction and leadership of a coach that has done that for over thirty years with no end to those tactics in sight.