Big East Tournament Bracket 2012: Breaking Down Each Game

It's championship week once again, and it couldn't be more exciting.

Arguably the best college basketball conference, the Big East is hosting its annual championship tournament to settle who gets the conference's automatic bid to March Madness.

Will it be the favorite, Syracuse, who went 30-1 in the regular season? Or what about Marquette, whose relevance in college basketball is starting to become expected? Or maybe the dark horses of Georgetown, Cincinnati or Notre Dame?

Over the next 15 slides, I will take you through every game and decide who will win the Big East Tournament. 

Opening Round: No. 16 DePaul vs. No. 9 UConn

This matchup looks familiar to college basketball fans: It's the same one that kicked off last year's Big East Tournament.

The Huskies are coming into the tournament winning just four out of their last ten, with five of those losses coming against Top 25 teams.

Jim Calhoun's team relies heavily on sophomore Jeremy Lamb, who contributes on average 17.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. UConn no longer have Kemba Walker to carry the load and are coming into the game with little momentum. However, I still think the Huskies can get it done.

DePaul is the basement of the Big East. DePaul only won three of its 18 conference games and lost by 26 the last time they faced UConn. The Blue Demons utilize Cleveland Melvin (17.4 ppg) and Brandon Young (14.8 ppg) for the majority of their scoring.

The Blue Demons ended a nine-game losing streak with a win in the season finale, but they still don't have enough momentum to upset UConn.

This game is an exact replica of last year's tournament, and I expect the outcome to be the same as well. UConn will win this game by double-digits.  

Opening Round: No. 13 Pittsburgh vs. No. 12 St. John's

This is a battle between teams that have been underwhelming after last year's performances, yet I still expect them to put on a show. 

Pittsburgh was the No. 1 seed last year and has now fallen to No. 13. Senior Ashton Gibbs has put the team on his back through the struggles, averaging 15.4 ppg. The Panthers' offense this year has only put up on average 69.1 points per game, which is four points lower than last season's mark.

The story gets worse in conference play. The Panthers score 64.1 points per game while allowing 67.7 points. They have the ability to play better than that, and I believe the tournament will give the team a little kick start. 

St. John's was the No. 5 seed last season but is back playing on day one again. The Red Storm come into this game on a two-game losing streak, one of which was a 20-point loss to Pitt at Pittsburgh. While this will be a neutral site, the Red Storm need to use that loss as motivation.

The freshman-heavy lineup is led by leading scorers D'Angelo Harrison (17 ppg) and Moe Harkless (15 ppg). The Red Storm will have to get production from all five starters as well as the bench to put the Panthers away.

While this is a low-seed game, I think it will be a good one. Pittsburgh will expose the youth of the Red Storm and will pull off the "upset."

Opening Round: No. 15 Providence vs. No. 10 Seton Hall

Seton Hall needs a good run in the Big East Tournament to help secure a spot in March Madness, while Providence would be happy with just a win.

Seton Hall has some quality wins and some horrible losses. They are currently one of the last four in, and a loss to Providence would knock them straight out of the March Madness picture.

Senior tandem Herb Pope and Jordan Theodore lead the Pirates' offense with 15.5 and 16 ppg, respectively. Pope is also a rebounding machine, averaging 10.3 per game. Seton Hall can dominate the boards, and those secondary points will be a key to winning against the Friars.

Providence battled with DePaul for the worst of the Big East. The Friars won only four games in Big East play, but two of them were in their last three games.

When these two teams faced off in the early part of conference play, the Pirates won by nine points.  Even with the scoring ability of Providence's Vincent Council and Ladontae Henton, I don't see this game being very close.

The Pirates are going to leave everything out on the court in order to make it into March, and I think that will be a major factor in their win over Providence. 

Opening Round: No. 14 Villanova vs. No. 11 Rutgers

Villanova and Rutgers were playing on Tuesday last season, and they are back at it again this year.

Villanova have lost five of their last six, which is not the way any team wants to enter the league tournament. However, the single win in that stretch was a six-point win against Rutgers.

Maalik Wayns has carried the Wildcat offense this season with 17.5 ppg, with Dominic Cheek supporting him with 13.2 ppg. The Wildcats have put up 70-plus points in their past three games, and if they do that against Rutgers, they should be able to pull out the win.

Rutgers also has not been playing well of late. They are 2-7 in their last nine games, four of which were against top 25 teams. They only won those two games by a combined score of four points.

The Rutgers' offense is one of the worst in the nation, averaging 66 points per game. Their leading scorer, Eli Carter, averages 13.5 ppg, but the next highest, Myles Mack, only scores 9.9 ppg. In order to win against the Wildcats, the Scarlet Nights need to have their young team produce in all categories.

Rutgers is a team with nothing to lose, while the Wildcats need to avenge their first round loss from last year. I see the Wildcats and their experience moving on to day two.  

Second Round: No. 9 UConn vs. No. 8 West Virginia

This matchup will be a slug fest of teams that have some potential.

UConn comes into game two after a double-digit win against DePaul. The game is definitely going to be a morale booster for a team that has been under-performing all season.

The Huskies will play both games early, so they shouldn't be too tired from the first game. Besides, they won on all five days last year. They should be at 100 percent for day two.

West Virginia was one loss away from not getting a first round bye. The Mountaineers have won four out of their last eight, including a nail-biter against Providence. However, they couldn't put away a Marquette team that lost 55 percent of its scoring for half of the game.

The Mountaineers play streaky basketball, which could potentially help them in the tournament. Kevin Jones is a major reason for the success of the team, averaging 20 ppg and 11 rebounds. Darryl Bryant is right behind him with 17.1 ppg. The problem is whether West Virginia can sustain pressure on UConn rather than just scoring in bunches.

West Virginia has the ability to take out the Huskies, and I think their having a go-to guy when the game's on the line will benefit the Mountaineers. I pick them to win in a thrilling game.  

Second Round: No. 12 Pittsburgh vs. No. 5 Georgetown

Georgetown cannot be happy with themselves. Coming into the Marquette game, they were a No. 4 seed. When they lost by 14 points, they dropped to No. 5. 

Despite that loss, the Hoyas have been very consistent over their last twelve games, going 9-3.

Georgetown is led by senior Jason Clark and junior Hollis Thompson, who average 14.3 ppg and 13 ppg, respectively. The Hoyas have a history of losing to teams that are below them, but they should be able to hold off Pitt.

The Panthers are coming off of a "upset" over St. John's, but this is mainly for a morale boost. The Panthers are playing back-to-back afternoon games and should be rested enough to give the Hoyas a good game. However, the lack of scoring will hurt against a team that has the ability to hold teams under 60 points. 

In their only conference meeting, the Panthers won by twelve. That will be their only victory, as Georgetown will put the game away fairly early in the second half. 

Second Round: No. 10 Seton Hall vs. No. 7 Louisville

Louisville had such high hopes coming into the season, but they had to settle for a No. 7 seed and a second-round game against Seton Hall. 

Louisville has not fared well in the final few games, losing three of their last four with the only win coming against Pitt. The Cardinals have spread around their scoring, with three players averaging over 10 ppg. The leader, senior Kyle Kuric, has 12.9 ppg.

The last meeting between the two teams saw Louisville come out with a nine-point win. Louisville is primed to do so again.

Seton Hall comes off of a double-digit win against Providence and is desperate to get another W. A win against Providence is expected; a win against Louisville may be the extra push Seton Hall needs to get into the final bracket.

Louisville had a chance to be a No. 1 seed this year. But now they have to work hard to get to the championship gas, and a win against Seton Hall is the way to start. 

Second Round: No. 14 Villanova vs. No. 6 USF

The Bulls have gone from the basement of the Big East to a first-round bye, which will help them in the long run.

South Florida comes into the tournament with a decent amount of momentum, winning six of their last eight games. Even with the momentum, the Bulls are going to need to step up their game, as they only score on average 59.5 points per game. That is 325th in the nation.

The Bulls' leading scorer, Augustus Gilchrist, only averages 9.9 ppg. They rely on stingy defense to help them win games, and the game against Villanova will be no different. 

Villanova comes off an upset on Rutgers, a team that was considered the favorite. The Wildcats will put  their offensive ability to the test against the Bulls.

South Florida will most likely out-rebound the Wildcats, and that will be the difference, along with foul trouble. The Wildcats will have to turn to their senior leaders to win this game.

The Bulls are an underrated team that needs a win to keep their spot in the tournament. A win against Villanova is a step in the right direction. 

Quarterfinals: No. 8 West Virginia vs. No. 1 Syracuse

The double-byes are upon us, and Syracuse is the first to show us what it really means to be dominant. 

The Orange went 30-1 this season, and their only loss came was by nine points to Notre Dame while Fab Melo was suspended. Had he not been suspended, the Orange may be undefeated right now.

Syracuse is offensively led by Kris Joseph with 14.1 ppg and lead rebounder Fab Melo with 5.8 rebounds. Melo's height advantage will be a big factor in favor of the Orange.

After their second-round win against UConn, sealed by Kevin Jones' game-winning shot, the Mountaineers will have a huge amount of momentum. They will come out strong and put up a lead, but Syracuse will come back.

It will be a battle for Syracuse, but the No. 1 seed will come out with a high-single-digit win. 

Quarterfinals: No. 5 Georgetown vs. No. 4 Cincinnati

Georgetown comes into this game, after what should be a relatively easy win over Pitt, set for a rematch against the team that knocked them out of a double-bye.

The Cincinnati Bearcats secured their No. 4 spot by beating Villanova and have won seven of their last nine. One of those losses was to Marquette by 17 points after being up by 12 in the first half.

The Bearcats are led by Sean Kilpatrick (14.6 ppg ) and Dion Dixon (13.5). They can also dominate the boards with Yancy Gates bringing down 9.4 rebounds per game. These three are the major reasons why the team has been so successful, and Cincinnati will rely on them to continue through the tournament.

The Hoyas come into Round Three with a nearly-guaranteed win against Pitt. However, they will be put to the test against this Cincinnati team, since Georgetown is a bit undersized. The Hoyas will be looking to take control of the game early, hoping to show that they are among the Big East's elite.

Georgetown will come out strong and be able to spread around the scoring, proving they are better than the team that lost to the Bearcats by four earlier in the year. I expect Georgetown will pull off an upset in overtime. 

Quarterfinals: No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 2 Marquette

Since Marquette joined the Big East, it has never had a double-round bye. The Golden Eagles will take full advantage of it.

Marquette is led by Big East Player of the Year Jae Crowder and fellow member of the Big East First Team Darius Johnson-Odom. DJO averages 18.3 ppg, while Crowder adds 17.6 ppg and 7.9 rebounds.

The Golden Eagles dominated Georgetown in the final game of the regular season, and that momentum will carry on to the tournament. 

Louisville comes off a game that they should win fairly easily. The Cardinals have always played the Golden Eagles extremely well and will be looking to avenge a game where they gave up a 16-point lead.

The Cardinals will come out guns hot, and if the Golden Eagles don't come out ready to play, they could be in trouble.

However, the Golden Eagles have finally started to play complete basketball games, and they will put the nail in the coffin for the Cardinals' title hopes. 

Quarterfinals: No. 6 USF vs. No. 3 Notre Dame

Notre Dame finds itself back in the double-bye round, while USF is sniffing out its first chance at the Big East semifinals.

Notre Dame has a catch-22 story. The Fighting Irish have won 10 of their last 12 games, but both losses come within the past three games.

The Irish are led by Tim Abromaitis (14 ppg and 7 rpg) and Jack Cooley (12.5 ppg and 9.2 rpg). They know how to play and get into a groove on the long rest, and they should come out hot against the Bulls.

This is unfamiliar territory for the Bulls, who very rarely make it to the top half of the Big East Tournament. The Bulls are a young team that will play with their emotions in the final games of the Big East. They will do nearly whatever it takes to make it to the Big Dance. A win against Notre Dame would solidify their spot. 

Notre Dame won their original meeting this season by 11. The Bulls will make the score closer, but the clock will strike midnight on their Cinderella run in New York.

Semifinals: No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 5 Georgetown

The Orange and the Hoyas will meet for the second time this season, looking for a spot in the title game.

The Orange come into the game having defeated West Virginia, a team that Syracuse should have a relatively easy time putting away. Fab Melo will do the same to the Hoyas that Yancy Gates did for the Bearcats—own the boards. Kris Joseph will be in usual form and will seem like he can never miss. However, the advantage could lay in the Hoyas' favor.

If there was any game that should scare Syracuse, it should be this trap game. The Orange dealt a three-point overtime loss to the Hoyas. Coming that close will be the ultimate fire for the Hoyas to play with. They will come out from the gates ready to show the Orange that their win was just a fluke.

This grudge match will be a bloodbath. The two teams will battle it out, but I think the key lies in rebounding, and Fab Melo will lead the Orange to the title game.  

Semifinals: No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 3 Notre Dame

If Syracuse vs. Georgetown was a bloodbath, this game will be a total war.

Marquette comes into the game beating what some believe to be an unofficial rival, the Louisville Cardinals. That game is a great tune-up game for the game against the Irish.

Marquette had trouble shutting down the Irish's three-point game in the 18-point loss at Notre Dame earlier in the year. The Golden Eagles will again rely on DJO and Jae Crowder, but bench player Todd Mayo will also become a factor in the game. 

Notre Dame had a very good game against the Golden Eagles in conference play because of Pat Connaughton. He had a monster game, scoring 23 points with eight rebounds. This was also without Davante Gardner. The key for the Irish to win is to lock up Gardner and not allow him or Crowder to rebound.

This Marquette team is totally different from the team Notre Dame faced back in February. Marquette will avenge their loss in South Bend and be in the title game for the first time in program history. 

Championship Game: No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 2 Marquette

This is easily going to be the best game of the Big East Tournament—and quite possibly the best game in all of the conference tournaments. 

Syracuse, up until this game, will not have been tested for a full 40 minutes. The game against Georgetown will force the team to play well for the majority of the game and capitalize on the Hoyas' mistakes, but Marquette will force them to play a full game.

Fab Melo will have his work cut out for him against Davante Gardner, and Kris Joseph will be pushed to the brink by the Marquette defense.

Marquette will also be forced to play a full 40-minute game, something that has very rarely happened this season. Davante Gardner will be an issue because of his recent injury.

But Daruis Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder have had to carry this team for a long time now. They are the best tandem in college basketball, and with Junior Cadougan leading the team in assists, the Golden Eagles will be very hard to beat.

In their original meeting, Marquette was down by 23 but was able to cut the lead to three. The leadership of DJO and Jae Crowder, Buzz Williams' coaching and the team's chemistry is unmatched in college basketball at this time.

The Golden Eagles are getting hot at the right time. They will win an absolute nail-biter, and be the Big East Conference Champions for the first time in program history.