Big East Tournament: Cincinnati Looms Large Heading into Toughest Test

The Big East Tournament is one last taste of pressure before the all-important big dance. The Cincinnati Bearcats have already put on their dancing shoes. 

The Bearcats played No. 8 Marquette like a team that had nothing to lose, not like a program that was trying to prove something. 

By the end of a stirring performance, they had me believing that they could indeed crack into the field for March Madness.

More than that, I was fully convinced this squad was ready to shine at the Big East Tournament. 

The Bearcats will take on Villanova in a couple of days, but it was their win against Marquette that has most people buying into Cincy, lacing up the sneakers for an even greater chance at epic upsets in the NCAA tournament. 

The Bearcats kept Marquette to 61 points and lived off a flurry of layups to get to their 72. It was all about confidence and an assertive attack that saw JaQuon Parker drive the lane for a career-high 28 points. 

If the Bearcats are going to make the tourney and do some damage, they have to play the way they did against Marquette, with an aggressive demeanor that puts even the best teams on their heels. 

The important thing is to make it to the dance on Selection Sunday. That is something that nobody can guarantee at the moment, but there is enough to think they will do just that. 

ESPN's Eamonn Brennan agrees. 

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It is growing increasingly difficult to see just how the committee would justify keeping the Cincinnati Bearcats out of the NCAA tournament...Cincinnati has now picked off Marquette, Georgetown (at Georgetown), Louisville and Notre Dame. The first two are top-10 bubble teams. The latter two are safely in the tournament field. 

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There are a few teams still on the bubble headed into conference tournaments, but none are more intriguing than Cincinnati. 

I see great things for them when they take on all comers at the Big East tourney. A great showing there should put little doubt as to the next step in this program's future. 

After upsetting some teams in New York, it's time to take their confidence to another level deeper into March. 

I certainly hope this is the case, because a team like Cincinnati makes the tournament far more interesting to watch.