February Goes to the Big East

I am dedicating the month of February to the Big East because in my opinion, it figures to be the most exciting conference with multiple teams on the bubble or hanging on to tourney hopes by a thread. Now, I am not saying it's the best conference this year (that belongs to the Big 12), but there are many teams who need a big February to be dancing come March.  Let's look at these teams.

Marquette Golden Eagles (13-8, 4-5)- Best win: vs. Georgetown, at 19. UConn  Worst defeat: at DePaul.  Hardest games left: a three-game road trip versus two bubble teams potentially a third. Cincinnati, St. Johns, and Seton Hall.  Outlook: I think they will be a solid position going into the Big East Conference Tournament likely needing one win to help their cause and another to solidify it. In addition, they cannot drop a home game to South Florida or DePaul.   CHANCES: Probably

Cincinnati Bearcats (14-7, 5-4)-  Best win: vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Maryland  Worst defeat: at St. Johns   Hardest games left: Ending the year at 6. West Virginia, vs. 2. Villanova, and at 8. Georgetown. Outlook: They still have to play Cuse and Nova albeit it both at home, also add in the other two top 10 teams. It could be shaky for the Bearcats come March. If they could win one of two against the Orange or the Cats, they would be in great shape.  CHANCES: Maybe

Louisville Cardinals (14-8, 5-4)- Best win: vs. Cincinnati  Worst defeat: at Seton Hall  Hardest games left: home/away with 4. Syracuse  Outlook: Also the Cards have to face Georgetown, UConn, Marquette, and the Orange to end the year.  Likely, if they can come out 3-1 in that stretch and win the games they are suppose to, they may become locks for the tourney.  CHANCES: Not Likely

Notre Dame Fightin' Irish (15-7, 4-5)- Best win: vs. West Virginia Worst defeat: at Rutgers  Hardest games left: at 8. Georgetown Outlook: They have some tough games like Marquette but only two ranked teams left in Gtown/Pittsburgh on their schedule with a variety of road/home games.  The Irish cannot afford any more hiccups on the road like last Saturday.  CHANCES: Probably

South Florida Bulls (15-7, 5-5)- Best win: at 8. Georgetown Worst defeat: vs. Central Michigan  Hardest games left: at 2. Villanova  Outlook: The Bulls might be the suprirse team of the season now winning five straight games, they face one ranked team left plus the equal amount of home/road games. I think this team needs to split those four road games for them to be a factor. CHANCES: Maybe

UConn Huskies (13-9, 3-6)- Best win: vs. (then) 1. Texas Worst defeat: at Louisville  Hardest games left: at 4. Syracuse, at 2. Villanova  Outlook:  The Huskies have a ton of tough road games left and with the uncertainty of Jim Calhoun, it doesn't look promising for UConn.  CHANCES: Not good.

If you are scoring at home, I think the two teams who can control their own destiny are Marquette and Notre Dame. In addition, I think South Florida and Cincinnati both have chances to make some waves of their own. When it's all said and done I think the Big East only gets seven teams in. 

-Charlie.