NCAA Match Previews: Large East

5:41 pm, March 12th, 2013 For more NCAA Conference Tournament previews browse the RotoExperts manual to March Madness. MAJOR EAST CONFERENCE Madison Square Garden Mar. 12-16 GEORGETOWNRecord: 24-5, 14-4Best meeting wins: LouisvilleWorst conf. losses: at South FloridaNon-conference: Win a UCLA (neutral), Loss a Indiana (neutral )Current run: Won 12 of last 13NCAA Outlook: 1-seed should they win tourney, 2-seed otherwiseQuick note: After two straight failures to start off Big East play, Georgetown has been scorching warm through the last two weeks, gathering both easy and nail-biting benefits. Otto Porter Jr. has gotten a lot of the attention in this stretch a he single-handedly downed the Orange in the Carrier Dome, and has placed herself perfectly for Big East Player of the Year a but his teammates, such as Markel Starks and DaVauntes Smith-Rivera, also deserve praise for assisting Georgetownas excursion. However, the Hoyas have slipped up against inferior opponents, like Villanova and South Florida, with turnovers (15 against USF, 22 against Villanova) and deficiencies in getting to the free-throw line (only 10 efforts against USF, 8 against Nova) the culprit. LOUISVILLERecord: 26-5, 14-4Best discussion wins: at SyracuseWorst conf. losses: at VillanovaNon-conference: Win a Missouri, Loss a noneCurrent run: Won seven straightNCAA Outlook: 1-seed should they gain tourney, 2-seed otherwiseQuick note: Since a midseason swoon leading to three straight losses and a five-overtime game that resulted in a disappointed, Louisville has been on a split recently, rattling down seven straight victories. The important thing has been big person Gorgui Dieng, whose averaged seven and 15 points rebounds over Louisvilleas last five games. If he can remain healthy a and if the ever-inconsistent Peyton Siva can bring his A-game to MSG this week a Louisville can make some noise in the final Big East Tournament. MARQUETTERecord: 23-7, 14-4Best convention wins: GeorgetownWorst conf. losses: at CincinnatiNon-conference: Win a Wisconsin, Loss a at Green BayCurrent run: Won four straightNCAA Outlook: 2/3-seed if they win tourney, 4-seed if they win one gameQuick note: Marquette doesnat have many failures, but its most obvious ones are an earlier season close defeat to Green Bay and an absolute stomping at the hands of the Florida Gators. However, Marquette has been hot recently, whipping Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Notre Dame over the past couple of weeks and squeaking out an win against St. Johnas last week-end at Madison Square Garden, where the Big East Tournament will be presented. PITTSBURGHRecord: 24-7, 12-6Best conference wins: SyracuseWorst conf. losses: at RutgersNon-conference: Win a Lehigh, Loss a noneCurrent run: Won four straightNCAA Outlook: 3-seed if they win tourney, 4-seed if they win one gameQuick note: Since losing at home to Notre Dame, Pitt has been playing better with four wins in a row to finish the normal time. However, these benefits came against the Big Eastas basement teams (St. Johnas, USF, Depaul). Pittsburgh has tested it could play traveling using their big win at Georgetown. They rank eighth in the world in helps per game, thanks partly to place guard Tray Woodall who's also their top scorer. The difference will be proven by it during Championship Week, if they force opponents to their slow rate. SYRACUSERecord: 23-8, 11-7Best meeting wins: at LouisvilleWorst conf. losses: at UconnNon-conference: Win a' North Park State, Loss a TempleCurrent run: Lost four of last fiveNCAA Outlook: 3-seed if they win tourney, 5-seed if they win one gameQuick note: Syracuse has been completely horrific recently a' aside from a on Senior Night against DePaul, theyave slipped four out of these last five. Sure, these beats got at the hands of mostly positioned opponents a Georgetown (twice), Louisville and Marquette a' but their inability to defeat good groups is unquestionably worrisome. Their footing should be regained by them in front of an NY-friendly crowd this week at MSG, but their lack of a presence inside and irregular guard play from Brandon Triche and Michael Carter-Williams will mean their ruin earlier instead of later in the NCAA tournament. NOTRE DAMERecord: 23-8, 11-7Best meeting wins: LouisvilleWorst conf. losses: at St. Johnas, at ProvidenceNon-conference: Win a Kentucky, Loss a' St. JoeasCurrent run: Lost two of last threeNCAA Outlook: 4/5-seed if they win tourney, 7-seed if they win one gameQuick note: Apart from victories against then-No. 8 Kentucky in November and then-No. 21 Cincinnati in January (oh, and their 5-OT epic win against Louisville), Notre Dameas agooda benefits are now actually few and far between. The Fighting Irish also provide some bad losses at St. Johnas and Providence which hurts their general rAsumA. All eyes will be on Jack Cooleyas last Big East activities this week, but senior guard Jerian Grant (13.4 PPG, 5.7 APG) will be the key to Notre Dameas success. VILLANOVARecord: 19-12, 10-8Best conference wins: GeorgetownWorst conf. losses: at Seton HallNon-conference: Win a' St. Josephas, Loss a ColumbiaCurrent run: Lost two of last threeNCAA Outlook: 10/11-seed when they get one gameQuick note: Nova can't lose in their first game against St. Johnas, simple enough. If they do, they can easily be broken out and off the bubble of the NCAA Tournament. This is a staff that excelled in the home (benefits vs. Louisville, Georgetown), but struggled mightily on the way (Seton Hall). They could cause problems against Louisville, but itas still undetermined the way the Wildcats may perform on a neutral court. CINCINNATIRecord: 21-10, 9-9Best conference wins: at PittsburghWorst conf. losses: St. JohnasNon-conference: Win a Oregon, Loss a noneCurrent run: Lost three of last fiveNCAA Outlook: 10-seed should they win one gameQuick note: Somehow, the Bearcats still end up as a No. 10 seed in many area forecasts. This is a team that's lost six of these last eight games. They donat have a decent gain since beating Marquette in the home in overtime in January. If they canat win that game they get Providence in the very first round and is likely to be on the edge of the bubble. PROVIDENCERecord: 17-13, 9-9Best meeting wins: Notre DameWorst conf. losses: DePaulNon-conference: Win a' none, Loss a BrownCurrent run: Won three of last fourNCAA Outlook: Last four in if they gain two gamesQuick note: The Friars require a couple of wins to make the Big Dance and that starts with Cincy in their first game. The Bearcats are already beaten by them by four points per month ago in the home. They have won seven of these last nine games which is nearly the contrary of Cincinnati. The problem for them is that if they do win this game, theyall need to confront Georgetown in the quarterfinals. Prediction: Although Otto Porter might have had Syracuseas number back in the Carrier Dome a couple weeks ago, I really believe the Orange could enact their revenge should they achieved the Hoyas in the semifinals, getting the last laugh within their Big East rivalry. I say since I also imagine Georgetown getting disappointed inside their first game against a Cincy staff keen to restore their early-season form and show themselves, could, though. On one other side of the group, try to find Marquette and Louisville to generally meet in the semifinals, with Pitinoas Cardinals progressing to the Championship game against Boeheimas Orange. Louisville compared to. Syracuse, one last time in the Big East until the ACC steals them both away. The victor? Louisville, who adopts the NCAA tournament on a winning streak and primed for a No.1 seed. Convention competitions are beginning to pick up, make sure to check back for Pac 12 and Big 10 previews later this week.