A Eulogy for the Big East

If there’s one thing that this college basketball season can be remembered for, it’s the merry-go-round whirlwind of realignment. After the announcement in 2011, Syracuse and Pittsburgh finally have abandoned the Big East for the ACC, while Connecticut is now part of the new American Athletic Conference. As Memphis also joined this new conference, their old Conference USA went from twelve to sixteen teams. The once mighty Big East deflated from fifteen to ten teams, and the ACC has become stronger. Xavier, Butler and Temple have also parted ways with the Atlantic 10. For serious fans, the new Big East makes up a nice conference focused specifically on basketball. For the casual college basketball fan, it’s hard to keep track.

Being from Boston, I always felt the Big East was the best conference in college basketball. Until UMass made their run in the early 1990s, Boston College was the biggest and most consistent college basketball program in the area, and their roots were in the Big East (even though BC was one of the first teams to jump ship in 2003). This was all resonated in ESPN’s most recent 30 for 30 documentary Requiem for the Big East. 

The conference had some great rivalries over the years, with the core being Syracuse and Georgetown, which began in the early 1980s with Patrick Ewing’s Hoyas and Pearl Washington’s Orangemen. The conference tournament at Madison Square Garden was always a special event to look forward to, and every year it always seemed to have classic games with many memorable moments. Last season the Big East sent eight teams to the NCAA Tournament. This year that number is cut in half. For this writer, it’s the sad end of an era.

As much as things have changed, the tournament is made up of many of the same familiar faces (Duke, Kansas) along with some surprises (Virginia, Wichita State). We all know that nothing is ever certain when filling out your bracket, and this year should be no different. If I can offer any advice, bet on teams that are playing well going into the tournament and as always, look out for those twelve seeds. As for my picks, I’m going with the Florida Gators over the Louisville Cardinals in the national championship. But before we get that far, let’s have a look at each region.

South

Player to Watch: Andrew Wiggins, Kansas

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Dayton vs. Ohio State

Most Anticipated Potential Matchup: Kansas vs. Florida

Team with the Best Chance to Ruin Your Bracket: New Mexico

The biggest question out of the South region is which Syracuse team will show up for the tournament. Is it the team that started off 25-0 or the one that finished the season 2-5? They have the potential to make a run to the Final Four or lose in the first round. I wouldn’t be surprised with either outcome. A team to keep an eye on is New Mexico, who cruised through the Mountain West tournament and has won eight of their last nine games. They could definitely provide problems for Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen. Overall this is Florida’s region to lose, who haven’t lost since the beginning of December. Coach Billy Donovan knows what it takes to win, and he should have the Gators in the Final Four and eventually playing for a national championship.

East

Player to Watch: Shabazz Napier, Connecticut

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Harvard vs. Cincinnati

Most Anticipated Potential Matchup: Michigan State vs. Virginia

Team with the Best Chance to Ruin Your Bracket: North Carolina

There are some tough teams in the region, beginning with the number one seed Virginia. They play defense as well as anybody, and won both the ACC regular season and tournament. Iowa State has the chance to go deep as well, with a high scoring offense that has won eleven of their last fourteen games. North Carolina has a chance to do some damage as well. Before losing the last two games of the season, the Tar Heels were winners of twelve straight, and they have regular season wins over Louisville, Kentucky, Michigan State and Duke. But one of my general rules for the tournament is never bet against Tom Izzo, who has been to the Final Four six times. The Spartans are coming off the Big 10 title, and should make their way to North Texas with a matchup against Florida.

West

Player to Watch: Doug McDermott, Creighton

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Oklahoma State vs. Gonzaga

Most Anticipated Potential Matchup: Creighton vs. Arizona

Team with the Best Chance to Ruin Your Bracket: Baylor

I can appreciate what Sports Illustrated was trying to do by recreating the classic 1977 Larry Bird cover with Doug McDermott. 

It’s obvious the McDermott can score, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. As good as he is, he’s never reached the Sweet Sixteen in three seasons. Could that all change this year? I think it does. The Bluejays toughest challenge will be Wisconsin, but behind McDermott, Creighton should move on to the Elite Eight. Similar to Florida, this is Arizona’s region to lose. The West has to be the weakest region in the tournament, and the Wildcats couldn’t have asked for a better draw to make a Final Four run. They’re biggest obstacle will be their second round game against either Gonzaga or Oklahoma State, but they should make it to North Texas.

Midwest

Player to Watch: Jabari Parker, Duke

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: NC State vs. St. Louis

Most Anticipated Potential Matchup: Duke vs. Michigan

Team with the Best Chance to Ruin Your Bracket: Kentucky

Every year there’s a region that’s loaded. This year it’s the Midwest, with Duke, Michigan, Louisville and undefeated Wichita State. If the Shockers are going to continue their miraculous season towards a Final Four berth, they have the toughest road out of all the number one seeds. Going undefeated during the regular season is a remarkable task, but Wichita State didn’t play a ranked team all season in the Missouri Valley Conference, and I’m not about to jump on the bandwagon. I don’t see them advancing past the winner of Kentucky and Kansas State in the second round. Everyone is balking that Louisville is a four seed, and deservedly so. The defending champions are on a tear, winning their last five games by an average of twenty-nine points. This is definitely the toughest region, but Louisville has the talent to advance to the Final Four and eventually play for their second straight national championship.