Big East Tournament 2012: 3 Teams That Must Impress to Bolster NCAA Chances

When the Big East Tournament goes down this week, these teams will all have to bring it in a big way. If they don't, we're not going to be seeing them much at all in the NCAA tournament. 

Some teams, like Syracuse, Notre Dame and Marquette, have very little to gain or lose at Madison Square Garden this week. This group isn't that fortunate. 

South Florida

Of the three teams here, the Bulls are the only squad that actually may not make the tournament without a good run. But with a win on Wednesday and at worst a reasonably close loss against Notre Dame on Thursday, USF should be just fine. 

As of right now, Joe Lunardi of ESPN has them as a No. 12 seed, squaring off with UNLV in the first round and then likely Florida State in the second. If their trip is going to get beyond that opening weekend, then the Bulls need to at least get past the Irish into the semifinals. 

But they can't afford to look ahead to Notre Dame. A loss from USF in their first game and it's hard to imagine them even being a part of the NCAA tournament. 

Louisville

Louisville will certainly be a part of the NCAA tournament, but just how long they will be involved remains to be seen. We'll know better at the end of the week. 

As of right now, Lunardi projects the Cardinals as a No. 5 seed and in a bracket with some of the more inconsistent teams in the country. 

But a loss on Wednesday or even a close win followed by a convincing defeat against Cincinnati and this all changes. For a No. 5 seed, the absolute last place that anyone wants to go is down. Doing to likely means an exit a least a round earlier. 

A good run from Louisville, and the Cardinals can easily jump up to a No. 4 seed or better. But at the very least, they need to hold serve. 

Cincinnati

With the possible exception of Kentucky, the last team any squad wants to see early in the tournament is North Carolina. Right now, the Lunardi has the Tar Heels and Bearcats squaring off in the second round. 

By moving up out of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup or even into another bracket, Cincinnati has a much better chance of advancing out of the second round and into the Sweet 16. 

The good news and bad news for the Bearcats is one and the same. They have a two-game bye, meaning they will be coming in rested, but also against a team that could be red hot. But if Cincinnati can't overcome that, we're not going to be seeing a lot of them in the NCAA tourney.

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