By: David Kay
1. Syracuse: 12-2, 25-2 (LWR: 1)
Kris Jospeh is league. Best sixth man in college basketball. He absolutely came up huge in their win against Georgetown. The loss at home to Louisville is still a bit of a head-scratcher.
Up Next: at Providence (Tues)
2. Villanova: 11-2, 22-3 (LWR: 2)
I am really starting to think this team is vulnerable for tourney time. Offensively, they look way to frantic at times, foul way too much, and can’t get a defensive stop to save their lives . Allow me to second guess Jay Wright here, but why does ‘Nova switch on EVERY ball screen. They are already an under-sized team in most match-ups and then they end up having Corey Fisher guarding a 6-10 guy down low on a switch.
Up Next: at Pitt (Sun), vs. South Florida (Wed)
3. West Virginia: 9-4, 20-5 (LWR: 3)
After trailing 4-2, WVU used a 23-0 run to snap a two-game skid. I am terrified of this team when it comes time to picking my brackets, but am thinking they might have “early exit” written all over them.
Up Next: vs. Seton Hall (Sat), at UConn (Mon)
4. Pitt: 9-4, 20-6 (LWR: 5)
I know Jim Boeheim is getting some serious pub for not only Big East Coach of the Year, but national Coach of the Year as well. I would throw Jamie Dixon’s name in that hat as well. For a team that lost as much as Pitt did to have the record they do proves that Dixon is one of the best coaches in the country.
Up Next: vs. Villanova (Sat), at Notre Dame (Tues)
5. Georgetown: 8-6, 18-7 (LWR: 4)
Nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback against Syracuse but fell just short. Add in a surprising loss at Rutgers and the Hoyas suddenly find themselves inching closer and closer to the dreaded middle of the pack in the Big East. A lack of consistency is going to be a major Achilles heel for this team come March.
Up Next: vs. Villanova (Sat), at Providence (Tues)
6. Louisville: 8-5, 17-9 (LWR: 7)
“Just when I thought you couldn’t possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this… and totally redeem yourself!” A week after losing by 19 at St. John’s, Louisville gets right back with an impressive win at the ‘Cuse and a gritty double-overtime win against Notre Dame. This is another team that will have me staring at my brackets for hours trying to figure out how deep they can and will go in the tourney.
Up Next: at DePaul (Sat), vs. Georgetown (Tues)
7. Marquette: 7-6, 16-9 (LWR: 6)
Their five-game win streak comes to an end and suddenly the climb gets even steeper to get into the tourney. Playing three road games in six days is the not the ideal way to start that hike.
Up Next: at Cincinnati (Sun), at St. John’s (Wed)
8. UConn: 5-8, 15-11 (LWR: 11)
Score only 48 points in a 12-point loss at home to Cincy, then win by eight at ‘Nova. If that isn’t a good enough explanation as to why I don’t gamble on college basketball, then I don’t know what is.
Up Next: at Rutgers (Sat), vs. West Virginia (Mon)
9. Cincinnati: 6-7, 15-10 (LWR: 10)
I am starting to think Mick Cronin is not a very good coach. This team looks completely inept on offense in the half-court. I hate to admit it, but I am starting to think I was completely off in thinking Lance Stephenson has stud NBA potential.
Up Next: vs. Marquette (Sun), vs. DePaul (Wed)
10. Notre Dame: 6-8, 17-10 (LWR: 8)
I will vehemently deny it if you ask me, but I was rooting for Notre Dame to beat Louisville because it would have helped my Marquette team. The Harangody injury was killer. They need a miracle to make the tournament and have a fairly tough finish to the regular season. It looks like they are heading back to the NIT.
Up Next: vs. Pitt (Wed)
11. Seton Hall: 6-7, 15-9 (LWR: 12)
Winning when Jeremy Hazell gets hurt twelve minutes into the game is a big deal even if it did come against St. John’s. The Pirates have quietly crept back in the NCAA Tournament conversation. And with two games left against Rutgers and a home game versus Providence, the door is still open… slightly.
Up Next: at West Virginia (Sat), vs. Rutgers (Tues)
12. South Florida: 6-7, 16-9 (LWR: 9)
Their NCAA Tournament hopes are still alive. Playing at Villanova will probably be a loss but their other four regular season games are very winnable (vs. St. John’s, Providence, UConn, and at DePaul.) If they finish 10-8 in conference, a trip to the dance could be theirs with one win in the Big East Tournament.
Up Next: vs. St. John’s (Sat), at Villanova (Wed)
13. St. John’s: 4-9, 14-11 (LWR: 14)
Another losing season. It’s becoming quite the regular thing for teams that call Madison Square Garden home, huh?
Up Next: at South Florida (Sat), vs. Marquette (Wed)
14. Providence: 4-10, 12-14 (LWR: 13)
In the midst of a seven game losing streak with a real possibility of losing out. This team has talent, but just not enough to compete in the Big East this year.
Up Next: vs. Syracuse (Tues)
15. Rutgers: 4-9, 14-12 (LWR: 15)
It is never a good thing when a team winning four conference games exceeds most people’s expectations.
Up Next: vs. UConn (Sat), at Seton Hall (Tues)
16. DePaul: 1-12, 8-17 (LWR: 16)
Their growing ineptness as a team just makes me more and more angry that they stole their lone win from my Marquette team.
Up Next: vs. Louisville (Sat), at Cincinnati (Wed)