The Big East Tournament tips today with four games featuring the bottom half of the conference. Seton Hall can still make its way to the dance with 2-3 wins this week.
The first round of the Big East basketball tournament begins today amidst rumors the last place team will represent the Pac-10 in the NCAA tournament. Okay, so it was me suggesting that idea. But when you think about how strong the Big East is and how weak the Pac-10 has been, you could make a compelling argument which we will do at another time and another place.
This next week will be critical for the teams in the middle echelon of the Big East like St. Johns, Connecticut, South Florida, Providence, Seton Hall, Providence and Cincinnati. Realistically, South Florida and Seton Hall are “bubble teams.” Some of the other schools have a shot at the N-I-T written while others are facing one and done scenarios.
Tonight, in the third game of the Big East opening day quartet of games, Seton Hall faces Providence. The Hall must win at least two or three games, or run the table and win the whole shooting match. Those two scenarios represent the only ways the Pirates will get a nod from the NCAA tournament committee.
Seton Hall opens against Providence, a team they beat on Saturday, 92-80. It was the Friars' 10th-straight loss, a stretch in which opponents are averaging 80 points, including five games in which Providence allowed over 90 points. Six of the Friars' last 10 losses have been by double-digits. They’re also 3-6-1 ATS over that same period.
Seton Hall has enjoyed a slightly better time of it. Over their last 10 games, the Pirates are 6-4 SU but just 4-6 ATS.
As far as a game plan goes, it’s as simple as throw the ball on the court and get out of the way. Both teams love to run and their scoring averages prove it. Providence is averaging 81.6 points per game while surrendering 81.3 ppg. Seton Hall is tickling the twine to the tune of 80.3 points per game while allowing 74 and change. The first half-court set you see tonight might be the last one, so enjoy it.
It’s unlikely though that Providence will have much success slowing down Seton Hall. Besides the 92 points they put on the Friars on Saturday, the Pirates laid 90 on Notre Dame and stung Marquette for 81 points.
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Jeremy Hazell is the go-to- uy for Seton Hall averaging 21 points per game while leading the team in steals. The reliable Herb Pope is a double-double machine for the Hall averaging 11 points and 11 rebounds per contest. Pope’s work on the board is a big reason that Seton Hall enjoyed a 42-27 rebounding advantage on Saturday.
Jamine Peterson is the offensive leader for Providence. He averages 19 points and ten rebounds per game but was held to just nine points and seven boards in Saturday’s loss. He’ll get perimeter help from guards Sharaud Curry and Marshon Brooks. Curry is averaging 15 points and three assists per game while Brooks is right behind with 14 points per game.
I’m not a hoops guru but I’ll play one right now. It’s not good thing to be playing on the opening day of most conference tournaments. It means you’ll be fighting and scratching and clawing to make it to the finals. It’s like an episode of “Survivor” only you’ve got to play it every day.
If you win Tuesday, you’ll face a heavyweight on Wednesday and on it goes. The big boys, aka Syracuse, Villanova, Pitt, Louisville, West Virginia and Marquette, will be rested and no doubt will be huge favorites over the early-round combatants. And now that I think about it, I might be on to something.
Let any Big East bubble team or team with .500 or better record take the place of any Pac-10 teams in the Big Dance. I’m pretty sure it will make for a better tournament.
Did I mention the “short turn-around factor?” The winner of tonight’s game will come right back tomorrow to face a rugged Notre Dame team. If you’re allowing yourself the guilty pleasure of looking ahead, then know this: Seton Hall beat Notre Dame in their only meeting, Providence didn’t.
The line opened up at Seton Hall -6 and has dipped ever so slightly to -5½ although -6 is the norm. The total opened at a whopping 169 but is now ranging anywhere from 168-166½.
What makes postseason conference tournaments so exciting is the very real possibility of an upset. The underdogs have bitten in the past and could be ready to bite again. In this matchup however, Seton Hall is the clear cut “Big Dog.”