The Big East Tournament, Georgetown’s last chance for an NCAA berth, gets under way on March 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Twelve teams, the top six from both the Big East East Division and the West Division, will compete for an automatic bid to the Big Dance. Pittsburgh and Connecticut will receive first round byes as the No. 1 seeds with their superior records, as will the No. 2 seeds in each division, most likely Miami from the East and Syracuse from the West. The battle for the last spot is between East teams Villanova and Virginia Tech, while West Virginia already knows it’ll be staying home.
To say this year’s tournament is anyone’s for the taking is an understatement. While Pittsburgh and Connecticut have been consistent all year, the talent of other teams will provide for some very exciting games. Boston College, while having an extremely disappointing year, has experience from last year’s tournament win. An athletic Miami team can explode for a win. Rutgers has shown they can beat good teams at home, but the road has caused them some trouble. St. John’s, an underrated team, will have the benefit of home-court advantage.
Georgetown has the talent, but has suffered in crunch time. Still, Big East Tournaments of the past have shown Georgetown players step up their game. Who’s going to be the next Allen Iverson, with 79 points in three games in 1996, or Dikembe Mutombo, with 27 rebounds against Connecticut in 1991? Since it is senior guard Kevin Braswell’s last tournament, look for him to come through, hopefully by giving sophomore forward Mike Sweetney as many touches as possible. One loss, and we’re playing in the NIT, but with a string of consistent basketball, a so-far dismal season could be salvaged.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Big East Tournament in New York City. It’s seen the likes of Chris Mullin, Sherman Douglas, Patrick Ewing, Ray Allen, Ed Pinckney, Alonzo Mourning and Kerry Kittles. This year is packed with stars in the making. Sophomore forward Caron Butler of Connecticut and junior guard Troy Bell of Boston College are finalists for the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year. Senior forward Ryan Humphrey of Notre Dame can control the paint, while junior guards Brandin Knight of Pittsburgh and Marcus Hatten of St. John’s are flat out scary.
Still, we have Mike Sweetney, who’s averaging almost a double-double, and that’s why there’s still hope. If there’s one other advantage Georgetown has, it’s that Connecticut, Miami, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Syracuse already know they’re going to receive bids to the NCAA Tournament. Head Coach Craig Esherick has the tools he needs to bring Georgetown a much-needed Big East Tournament victory.
The Hoyas will probably be seeded fourth in the Big East West Division. This means that their first-round opponent would be the fifth seed in the East Division, most likely Providence.
First round and quarterfinal action takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, March 6 and 7, at noon, 2 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The semifinals begin at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The championship game takes place on Saturday, March 9 at 8:00 pm.
Whether you’re partying in the Bahamas or having the time of your life in Europe, make sure to check in for highlights of the Big East Tournament. If Georgetown should happen to falter, don’t let it ruin your vacation, because the NIT is only a week away.
