Tourney talk

It’s tournament time, conference style. For the chance to dance, Big East teams first have to endure a stroll through Madison Square Garden, beginning tonight. Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Miami are NCAA Tournament locks, but the situation is fuzzier for the rest of the conference. Here’s a look at how the 12 competitors stack up.

1. Pittsburgh 25-4, 13-3

vs. SU: Pitt 72, Syracuse 57; Pitt 75, Syracuse 63

Difference makers: Jr. G Brandin Knight (15.6 pts, 6.9 asts); Jr. F Donatas Zavackas (11.4 pts, 5.5 rebs)

The skinny: The Big East’s regular season Cinderella story, Pitt finished the season winning 10 of 11 conference games. The Panthers’ 25 wins tied a school record, and they won their first division crown since 1987-88. They entered the regular season underdogs, but they enter the conference tourney as favorites.

2. Connecticut 21-6, 13-3

vs SU: Did not play.

Difference makers: So. F Caron Butler (19.6 pts, 7.4 rebs); Sr. F Johnnie Selvie (12 pts, 6 rebs)

The skinny: The Huskies are another team entering the tournament on a roll, winning six straight down the stretch to help them wrap up the East Division. If the Orangemen get past Villanova, they will meet the Huskies for the first time this season in the quarterfinals.

3. Miami 23-6, 10-6

vs. SU: DId not play.

Difference makers: So. F Darius Rice (15.3 pts, 6.1 rebs); Sr. F/G John Salmons (13.3 pts, 5.9 rebs)

The skinny: Miami’s 23 wins tied a school record and it notched 10 conference wins for the fourth time in five seasons, but the ‘Canes have been a perennial tournament disappointment, with a 5-10 record in the Big East tourney. But Miami is 3-0 combined against the teams it could face in the quarterfinals — Georgetown and Providence.

4. Notre Dame 20-9, 10-6

vs. SU: Syracuse 56, Notre Dame 51; Syracuse 68, Notre Dame 65

Difference makers: Sr. F Ryan Humphrey (18.9 pts, 10.6 rebs); Fr. G Chris Thomas (16 pts, 7.5 asts)

The skinny: The Irish finished with their third consecutive 20-win season but faltered somewhat down the stretch and closed the season 3-3. That included losses to Rutgers, Syracuse and St. John’s. In its final contest, Notre Dame needed a 19-4 run to finish the game to beat Providence, 76-68. Still, if Humphrey dominates, the Irish could be a serious contender.

5. St. John’s 19-10, 9-7

vs. SU: Did not play

Difference makers: Jr. G Marcus Hatten (19.8 pts, 5.3 rebs); Sr. F Anthony Glover (10.8 pts, 6.8 rebs)

The skinny: Behind Hatten, the Big East’s third-leading scorer, the Red Storm put together an impressive season in relative anonymity. Hatten is at his best in conference play, where he averages 22.3 points. St. John’s, though, stumbles into the tournament on the heels of a 15-point loss to Villanova. The Johnnies will meet Seton Hall, who they fell to, 63-61, in the regular season, in the first round.

6. Georgetown 18-10, 9-7

vs. SU: Georgetown 75, Syracuse 60; Georgetown 75, Syracuse 69

Difference makers: So. F Mike Sweetney (19.3 pts, 10.1 rebs); Sr. G Kevin Braswell (14.7 pts, 5.9 asts)

The skinny: The Hoyas have put together a fairly successful season behind the dominant Sweetney, but their Big East Championship chances seem slim given their poor record against some of the conference’s best. Georgetown’s combined record against the teams above is 1-5.

7. Syracuse 20-10, 9-7

Difference makers: Sr. F Preston Shumpert (19.9 pts, 5.8 rebs); Jr. G DeShaun Williams (17.4 pts, 4.3 asts)

The skinny: Like it or not, the Orangemen head to the Big East Championship a bubble team. How many games do they need to win to qualify for the NCAA Tournament? That’s yet to be determined. This much is for sure: The first game against Villanova is a must. Shumpert dropped 23 points on Boston College in a losing effort Sunday. If he can start shooting well again, the rest of the Orangemen may follow suit.

8. Boston College 19-10, 8-8

vs. SU: Boston College 69, Syracuse 65

Difference makers: Jr. G Troy Bell (22 pts, 89% FT); So. G Ryan Sidney (14 pts, 7.8 rebs)

The skinny: Like Georgetown, BC has struggled against the best in the Big East. Two losses to Connecticut in its last five games ended the Eagles’ bye chances, but they remain a contender because of Bell, the Big East’s leading scorer. Last year, the Eagles won three games in New York City by an average of 21 points.

9. Rutgers 18-11, 8-8

vs. SU: Syracuse 87, Rutgers 66; Rutgers 82, Syracuse 74

Difference makers: Jr. G Jerome Coleman (16.9 pts, 3.3 rebs); Sr. F Rashod Kent (10.4 pts, 10.1 rebs)

The skinny: The Scarlet Knights have knocked off some quality teams at the rowdy RAC in Piscataway, N.J., but away from their friendly confines they’re 1-7 in conference play. Despite the emergence of Coleman as one of the Big East’s best, Rutgers’ inability to win away from home makes it doubtful to be selected for the NCAA Tournament.

10. Villanova 16-11, 7-9

vs. SU: Villanova 67, Syracuse 61

Difference makers: Jr. G Gary Buchanan (17.9 pts, 92% FT); Jr. F Ricky Wright (14.3 pts, 8.2 rebs)

The skinny: The Wildcats roll into the tournament off back-to-back wins over Syracuse and St. John’s. Still, two games can’t mask what was an inconsistent season for coach Jay Wright’s young team. Buchanan’s right Achilles injury leaves his status up in the air. If he can’t go, more pressure lands on the shoulders of sophomore guard Derrick Snowden, who played well against Syracuse.

11. Providence 15-15, 6-10

vs. SU: Syracuse 73, Providence 66

Difference makers: Jr. G Abdul Mills (14.6 pts, 3.3 rebs); Sr. G John Linehan (12.5 pts, 4.5 stls)

The skinny: The Friars boast a talented guard duo, but that won’t be enough to carry them far. One team Providence would like to play is St. John’s, who the Friars have beaten twice this year. But a win over first-round-opponent Georgetown seems unlikely.

12. Seton Hall 12-17, 5-11

vs. SU: Syracuse 85, Seton Hall 70; Syracuse 73, Seton Hall 71

Difference makers: So. G Andre Barrett (16.9 pts, 5.1 asts); Sr. G Darius Lane (12.5 pts, 4.7 rebs)

The skinny: First-year coach Louis Orr’s squad ended the season with six straight losses. You could probably make that seven after a loss to St. John’s today.

Tourney talkIt’s tournament time, conference style. For the chance to dance, Big East teams first have to endure a stroll through Madison Square Garden, beginning tonight. Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Miami are NCAA Tournament locks, but the situation is fuzzier for the rest of the conference. Here’s a look at how the 12 competitors stack up.

1. Pittsburgh 25-4, 13-3vs. SU: Pitt 72, Syracuse 57; Pitt 75, Syracuse 63Difference makers: Jr. G Brandin Knight (15.6 pts, 6.9 asts); Jr. F Donatas Zavackas (11.4 pts, 5.5 rebs)The skinny: The Big East’s regular season Cinderella story, Pitt finished the season winning 10 of 11 conference games. The Panthers’ 25 wins tied a school record, and they won their first division crown since 1987-88. They entered the regular season underdogs, but they enter the conference tourney as favorites.

2. Connecticut 21-6, 13-3vs SU: Did not play.Difference makers: So. F Caron Butler (19.6 pts, 7.4 rebs); Sr. F Johnnie Selvie (12 pts, 6 rebs)The skinny: The Huskies are another team entering the tournament on a roll, winning six straight down the stretch to help them wrap up the East Division. If the Orangemen get past Villanova, they will meet the Huskies for the first time this season in the quarterfinals.

3. Miami 23-6, 10-6vs. SU: DId not play.Difference makers: So. F Darius Rice (15.3 pts, 6.1 rebs); Sr. F/G John Salmons (13.3 pts, 5.9 rebs)The skinny: Miami’s 23 wins tied a school record and it notched 10 conference wins for the fourth time in five seasons, but the ‘Canes have been a perennial tournament disappointment, with a 5-10 record in the Big East tourney. But Miami is 3-0 combined against the teams it could face in the quarterfinals — Georgetown and Providence.

4. Notre Dame 20-9, 10-6vs. SU: Syracuse 56, Notre Dame 51; Syracuse 68, Notre Dame 65Difference makers: Sr. F Ryan Humphrey (18.9 pts, 10.6 rebs); Fr. G Chris Thomas (16 pts, 7.5 asts)The skinny: The Irish finished with their third consecutive 20-win season but faltered somewhat down the stretch and closed the season 3-3. That included losses to Rutgers, Syracuse and St. John’s. In its final contest, Notre Dame needed a 19-4 run to finish the game to beat Providence, 76-68. Still, if Humphrey dominates, the Irish could be a serious contender.

5. St. John’s 19-10, 9-7vs. SU: Did not playDifference makers: Jr. G Marcus Hatten (19.8 pts, 5.3 rebs); Sr. F Anthony Glover (10.8 pts, 6.8 rebs)The skinny: Behind Hatten, the Big East’s third-leading scorer, the Red Storm put together an impressive season in relative anonymity. Hatten is at his best in conference play, where he averages 22.3 points. St. John’s, though, stumbles into the tournament on the heels of a 15-point loss to Villanova. The Johnnies will meet Seton Hall, who they fell to, 63-61, in the regular season, in the first round.

6. Georgetown 18-10, 9-7vs. SU: Georgetown 75, Syracuse 60; Georgetown 75, Syracuse 69Difference makers: So. F Mike Sweetney (19.3 pts, 10.1 rebs); Sr. G Kevin Braswell (14.7 pts, 5.9 asts)The skinny: The Hoyas have put together a fairly successful season behind the dominant Sweetney, but their Big East Championship chances seem slim given their poor record against some of the conference’s best. Georgetown’s combined record against the teams above is 1-5.

7. Syracuse 20-10, 9-7Difference makers: Sr. F Preston Shumpert (19.9 pts, 5.8 rebs); Jr. G DeShaun Williams (17.4 pts, 4.3 asts)The skinny: Like it or not, the Orangemen head to the Big East Championship a bubble team. How many games do they need to win to qualify for the NCAA Tournament? That’s yet to be determined. This much is for sure: The first game against Villanova is a must. Shumpert dropped 23 points on Boston College in a losing effort Sunday. If he can start shooting well again, the rest of the Orangemen may follow suit.

8. Boston College 19-10, 8-8vs. SU: Boston College 69, Syracuse 65Difference makers: Jr. G Troy Bell (22 pts, 89% FT); So. G Ryan Sidney (14 pts, 7.8 rebs)The skinny: Like Georgetown, BC has struggled against the best in the Big East. Two losses to Connecticut in its last five games ended the Eagles’ bye chances, but they remain a contender because of Bell, the Big East’s leading scorer. Last year, the Eagles won three games in New York City by an average of 21 points.

9. Rutgers 18-11, 8-8vs. SU: Syracuse 87, Rutgers 66; Rutgers 82, Syracuse 74Difference makers: Jr. G Jerome Coleman (16.9 pts, 3.3 rebs); Sr. F Rashod Kent (10.4 pts, 10.1 rebs)The skinny: The Scarlet Knights have knocked off some quality teams at the rowdy RAC in Piscataway, N.J., but away from their friendly confines they’re 1-7 in conference play. Despite the emergence of Coleman as one of the Big East’s best, Rutgers’ inability to win away from home makes it doubtful to be selected for the NCAA Tournament.

10. Villanova 16-11, 7-9vs. SU: Villanova 67, Syracuse 61Difference makers: Jr. G Gary Buchanan (17.9 pts, 92% FT); Jr. F Ricky Wright (14.3 pts, 8.2 rebs)The skinny: The Wildcats roll into the tournament off back-to-back wins over Syracuse and St. John’s. Still, two games can’t mask what was an inconsistent season for coach Jay Wright’s young team. Buchanan’s right Achilles injury leaves his status up in the air. If he can’t go, more pressure lands on the shoulders of sophomore guard Derrick Snowden, who played well against Syracuse.

11. Providence 15-15, 6-10vs. SU: Syracuse 73, Providence 66Difference makers: Jr. G Abdul Mills (14.6 pts, 3.3 rebs); Sr. G John Linehan (12.5 pts, 4.5 stls)The skinny: The Friars boast a talented guard duo, but that won’t be enough to carry them far. One team Providence would like to play is St. John’s, who the Friars have beaten twice this year. But a win over first-round-opponent Georgetown seems unlikely.

12. Seton Hall 12-17, 5-11vs. SU: Syracuse 85, Seton Hall 70; Syracuse 73, Seton Hall 71Difference makers: So. G Andre Barrett (16.9 pts, 5.1 asts); Sr. G Darius Lane (12.5 pts, 4.7 rebs)The skinny: First-year coach Louis Orr’s squad ended the season with six straight losses. You could probably make that seven after a loss to St. John’s today.

Published on March 5, 2002 at 12:00 pm