It had to happen and it was the right thing to do, but the amount of people waiting for the start of the Big East Tournament that now includes all 16 teams for the first time, has all the excitement surrounding it as the MEAC Conference tournament, which also starts today. The first day is so lightly regarded, even the Big East Network isn’t going to telecast it, and instead it is available online at BigEast.tv, which would draw this response from Homer Simpson. “Woowhoo”.At least St. John’s, South Florida, Rutgers and DePaul are not shunned to some sort of basketball purgatory for having terrible season and will have a chance to compete, should they choose to do so. Three teams actually have something to play for, though it’s a reach, as Georgetown, Cincinnati and Notre Dame have the slimmest of chances to still be invited to the Big Dance. To even be considered part of that conversation, that would require a visit to the semi-finals, at least.
Cincinnati will face DePaul at high noon Eastern and it is hard to believe the Blue Demons will put up much of a fight after going zero for the Big East this season in 18 tries (6-12 ATS). DePaul has played with the enthusiasm of person finding out they are being laid off, but have to work two more weeks in order to get a two month severance package. On the year, DePaul is 8-18 ATS and Bookmaker.com has them as a rock solid eight-point underdog. The Bearcats are not exactly smokin’ coming in, with three consecutive losses and in need of OnStar to find the basket, as they have not converted over 38 percent from the field in last trio of tilts and are 0-8 ATS after playing two consecutive games as favorite over the last two seasons.
Immediately following, the next contest would have greater appeal if they ran ESPN Classic between Georgetown and St. John’s. This is actually the hot matchup of the day, with the Hoyas 3-3 in last six and the Storm 3-2 to close the year and 5-2 ATS in final seven tries. As you probably know, the fortunes of St. John’s altered when they caved in to political correctness and changed the school’s nickname away from Redmen. As a semi-educated adult, I know that has nothing to do with it, but can’t St. John’s start attracting a few kids from the city to at least be .500 and not have a sorry 6-13 ATS record against teams with winning records. Georgetown lost their confidence early in the Big East campaign and never regained it, finishing 7-11 and never met Wall Street-type expectations either with 4-14 ATS record in conference. The Hoyas and DePaul totaled 88 points in last game and G-Town is 0-8 ATS after playing a game where both teams score 65 points or less this season. Georgetown favored by six, smells like an upset.
In the evening, Notre Dame will bring its defenseless team into Madison Square Garden to take on Rutgers, a team that has given them trouble, at least when giving points. The Irish had a season reminiscent of the football team, high expectations, few results. Notre Dame did mange to defeat the teams they were supposed late in the season, including routing St. John’s by 19 as 11.5-point favorites, but they are just 1-7 ATS after a game where they covered the spread. Rutgers won two Big East games, including their last one over South Florida in a defensive classic (?) 45-42. The Scarlet Knights have shone to be pesky for Notre Dame with three covers in three losses the last three years and are receiving 11-points.
Oh, excuse me, I just yawned thinking about South Florida and Seton Hall. The Pirates looked like they might have some life when they won five games in a row in Big East action, however those wins all came against teams playing today and they finished 2-5, with one of the wins coming against tonight’s opponent. If you want to trace South Florida problems, it’s easier than finding fake Cartier watches in New York City. The Bulls shoot 39.8 percent from the field, make 29.6 percent from beyond the arc and convert 60.2 percent from the charity stripe. It’s no wonder USF is 5-14 ATS off a road loss. Seton Hall is a 5.5-point favorite and is 10-2 ATS in road games after covering two of their last three against the spread.
Opening day plays- Cincy, St. John’s, Rutgers and Seton Hall. Back here tomorrow for second round from MSG.
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