Big East Tournament: Every Team's Biggest X-Factor

In less than 24 hours, the Big East Tournament will commence and take the world by storm. In that time, stars will be born, dreams will be crushed and a champion will be crowned.

The question is, who are the biggest X-factors that will define the outcome of every tournament game?

To be clear, an X-factor is not necessarily the star of the team. In fact, you could often label a one-dimensional role player as the key to team success.

So who is the "it man" for every Big East contender?

No. 14 DePaul Blue Demons: Donnavan Kirk

Position: Center

Class: Junior

2012-13 Season Averages

25.6 MPG, 6.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 41.4% 3PT

Brandon Young and Cleveland Melvin are going to make their mark as scorers and all-around playmakers.

The question is, will they have the help to win even one game in the Big East Tournament? For that answer, look to Donnavan Kirk.

The Blue Demons are 3-3 when Kirk scores in double figures. Two of those losses came in overtime.

Both of those games were against Notre Dame.

If DePaul is to get by St. John's—another team it went to overtime against—it could potentially upset the Fighting Irish. The key, of course, is Kirk's production.

Against the Red Storm on Jan. 30, Kirk blocked five shots. Against the Irish on Feb. 2, he finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Less than two weeks later, Kirk had 16 points and two blocks against Notre Dame.

With Young and Melvin producing at a high rate, Kirk's contributions could be enough to elevate DePaul to victory.

The question is, can he mix his rim protection with scoring? If so, DePaul is a dangerous team to play.

No. 13 USF Bulls: Anthony Collins

Position: Point Guard

Class: Sophomore

2012-13 Season Averages

8.8 PPG, 6.4 APG, 2.3 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 39.1% 3PT

When it comes to the South Florida Bulls, point guard Anthony Collins makes them go. He's a borderline elite facilitator with improved court vision and a responsible style of play.

When it comes to how USF can win a Big East Tournament game, however, Collins will need to do something other than distribute.

He'll need to shoot.

As a team, USF is shooting 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. Collins, meanwhile, is hitting 39.1 percent.

Unfortunately, he's only attempted 23 three-point field goals all season.

If the percentage matches the capability, Collins could will South Florida to a W. If it doesn't, however, the Bulls will struggle.

The definition of an X-factor.

No. 12 Seton Hall Pirates: Aaron Cosby

Position: Point Guard

Class: Sophomore

2012-13 Season Averages

12.4 PPG, 3.0 APG, 2.5 RPG, 39.2% 3PT

When Brandon Mobley went down for the season, the Seton Hall Pirates lost an elite three-point shooter and the team's leading shot-blocker.

As a result, the Pirates were left without, arguably, their second-best player. In turn, the X-factor is whoever can provide star player Fuquan Edwin with support.

That player appears needs to be Aaron Cosby.

Cosby has been a quality source of offense for the Pirates, averaging 12.4 points and 3.0 assists on 39.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc. If Seton Hall stands any chance of making a run, he'll need to up all of those numbers.

Edwin will keep the Pirates in a game against any caliber opponent. Whether Seton Hall can win, however, rests on the shoulders of our X-factor.

Cosby.

No. 11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Jerome Seagears

Position: Guard

Class: Sophomore

2012-13 Season Averages

26.7 MPG, 6.2 PPG, 2.6 APG, 2.0 RPG, 37.3% 3PT

Jerome Seagears is hardly a star. In fact, he's been an average contributor on a below average team.

Until recently.

Seagears has been reaching double-figure scoring quite often since dropping 21 on the Connecticut Huskies on Jan. 27.

Most recently, he scored 10 huge points for Rutgers during their 56-51 win over Seton Hall on March 8. This is the type of effort that the Scarlet Knights need to see from Seagers come the tournament.

If his three-ball is falling, Rutgers has a chance at achieving victory. If he can't provide support to Myles Mack and Eli Carter, however, the Scarlet Knights will lose.

Plain and simple.

No. 10 St. John's Red Storm: Chris Obekpa

Position: Center

Class: Freshman

2012-13 Season Averages

25.5 MPG, 3.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, 4.1 BPG, 0.8 SPG

For those who don't already, Chris Obekpa is a name worth knowing.

The freshman big man is currently averaging 6.0 rebounds and 4.1 blocks in 25.5 minutes of action per game. In turn, he's become one of the most intriguing young prospects in the nation.

More applicably, he's become St. John's X-factor.

Obekpa played a key role in St. John's near-upset of Marquette on March 9. In 28 minutes, he tallied seven rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Tallying seven swats will be difficult, but Obekpa can lead St. John's to an upset of Villanova if he can defend the interior in such a dominant fashion.

Something tells us he'll step up.

No. 9 Cincinnati Bearcats: Cashmere Wright

Position: Point Guard

Class: Senior

2012-13 Season Averages

12.8 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.6 SPG

As a team, the Cincinnati Bearcats rank 172nd in scoring offense and 306th in field-goal percentage. Their numbers rest at 67.6 points and 40.3 percent shooting, for those curious.

A major reason for their shortcomings on offense is the team's irritating tendency to fall into isolation sets.

In order for the Bearcats to limit these self-inflicted wounds, point guard Cashmere Wright must step up. Considering he's the second-leading scorer on the team, that may come without saying.

The difference here, however, is that Wright is needed more for his passing than his scoring touch.

As of Jan. 19, the Bearcats were 16-3. Since then, they're 5-7.

A major reason for this poor form of play is the fact that Wright is averaging just 2.3 assists per game in that time.

Prior to that time, he'd been averaging 3.5 dimes—a full 1.2 more.

That may not seem like a major difference, but it is. It's the difference between Cincinnati going ISO and relying upon a facilitator.

It's on Wright's drive-and-dish abilities to secure a W via efficient offense.

No. 8 Providence Friars: LaDontae Henton

Position: Power Forward

Class: Sophomore

2012-13 Season Averages

13.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.1 SPG

The Providence Friars have won seven of their past nine games. A major reason for their success is the play of one individual.

Combo forward LaDontae Henton.

Center Kadeem Batts is the life of Providence. As the team's leading scorer, that should be evident enough.

The key to the Friars' recent success, however, has been their ability to dominate the interior by virtue of a balanced attack. Henton is the source of that balance.

Henton has 11 double-doubles on the season. Three of those have come during their past five games.

Do we need to spell it out any further than this?

No. 7 Villanova Wildcats: Darrun Hilliard

Position: Shooting Guard

Class: Sophomore

2012-13 Season Averages

11.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.6 SPG

JayVaughn Pinkston and Ryan Arcidiacono have garnered the headlines for Villanova in 2012-13. The fact of the matter is, this team goes nowhere without Darrun Hilliard.

His defensive prowess is a major reason why.

Hilliard is currently averaging a team-high 1.6 steals per game. The fact of the matter is, the 6'6" wing is doing much more than stealing passes.

Against Georgetown on March 6, Hilliard played a major role in holding National Player of the Year candidate Otto Porter to 6-of-16 shooting.

Hilliard can play the 2 and 3, which is something he will need to do against St. John's. With his ability to play the passing lanes, Hilliard will inevitably create transition scoring opportunities.

That could be the difference between victory and defeat.

No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Eric Atkins

Position: Point Guard

Class: Junior

2012-13 Season Averages

11.7 PPG, 5.9 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 43.0% 3PT

Jack Cooley and Jerian Grant are considered by the general public to be the stars of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Rightfully so.

With that being said, point guard Eric Atkins is the difference between Notre Dame facing an early upset and making a run for the title. Just check the numbers.

The Fighting Irish are 15-2 when Atkins has at least five assists.

For the season, the Irish are 23-8 overall. Through basic math, you can see that Notre Dame is 8-6 when Atkins fails to top five assists.

How much more of an X-factor could you ask for?

No. 5 Syracuse Orange: James Southerland

Position: Forward

Class: Senior

2012-13 Season Averages

13.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG

The Syracuse Orange have not been performing well as of late. They've lost five of their past nine games and have slipped all the way to fifth in the Big East

James Southerland's inability to re-acclimate himself with the team upon returning from academic ineligibility.

Southerland is shooting just 37.7 percent from the field since returning. He's doing so on an average of 11.8 field goal attempts per game.

Prior to this stretch, Southerland was shooting 49.4 percent from the floor.

Not coincidentally, Syracuse won by more than 20 points in each of Southerland's individual best games during this recent stretch. Both of those outings saw the big man top 20 points.

If Southerland is able to provide consistent scoring contributions during the tournament, Syracuse could win it all.

If not, the Orange will continue to struggle.

No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers: Steven Adams

Position: Center

Class: Freshman

2012-13 Season Averages

23.0 MPG, 7.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.1 BPG

For months, NBA scouts and analysts have marveled as Steven Adams displayed superstar potential in rare flashes. As a player averaging 23.0 minutes per game, that's all we can expect.

On a national stage, however, it's time Adams makes the leap and returns to his lottery pick projection.

For the season, Adams is averaging 7.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks on 57.8 percent shooting from the floor. Unfortunately, he's also become a victim of the Hack-a-Shaq.

Adams is shooting 41.9 percent from the free-throw line.

For Pittsburgh to make a run through the Big East tournament, Adams must step up and post double-double type numbers with a quality defensive effort. If he's unable to do so, the Panthers will lose earlier than they would have liked.

It all rests on this New Zealand product's broad shoulders.

No. 3 Marquette Golden Eagles: Davante Gardner

Position: Forward/Center

Class: Junior

2012-13 Season Averages

21.3 MPG, 11.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 57.7% FG, 84.8% FT

At 6'8" and 290 pounds, Davante Gardner is one of the most powerful players in the Big East. As it turns out, he's also one of the most efficiently skilled big men.

Gardner is averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.3 minutes of action. More impressively, he's shooting 57.7 percent from the floor.

That and his 84.8 percent free throw shooting—take notes NBA big men.

If Gardner is able to step in and provide a consistent interior scoring option, Marquette will be a difficult team to beat. Marquette's presence will create lanes for Vander Blue to hit and attack the basket.

If he's unable to do so, however, the Golden Eagles' title dreams will be shattered.

No. 2 Louisville Cardinals: Luke Hancock

Position: Guard/Forward

Class: Junior

2012-13 Season Averages

21.9 MPG, 7.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 37.0% 3PT

The Louisville Cardinals have suffered severely from the graduation of sharpshooter Kyle Kuric. Without him, their half-court offense has become inconsistent, at best.

They're shooting 32.3 percent from beyond the arc.

In order to make a run in the Big East Tournament, it's imperative that current sharpshooter Luke Hancock makes his mark. Fortunately, he's done just that in recent games.

Hancock is averaging 2.4 three-point field goals made on 66.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc during the past five games.

If Hancock can replicate these performances throughout the tournament, Peyton Siva's drive-and-dish abilities will be maximized. As a result, the Cardinals will find the offensive production to win it all.

The pressure is on Hancock to rain the threes.

No. 1 Georgetown Hoyas: D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera

Position: Guard

Class: Freshman

2012-13 Season Averages

24.8 MPG, 9.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG

Over the past 13 games, D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera is averaging 12.4 points per game. It's no coincidence that the Georgetown Hoyas are 12-1 in that time.

Now that's an X-factor.

Smith-Rivera has emerged as one of the best sixth men in all of college basketball. With every minute he plays, the Hoyas appear to be more alive than the minute prior.

Smith-Rivera's ability to step up and lead the second unit could be the difference between the No. 1 seed falling apart down the stretch and winning the Big East crown.

Smith-Rivera and Otto Porter are a lethal pairing along the perimeter. The key for DVSR, however, is to alleviate the pressure on Porter.

With teams certain to double-team the National Player of the Year candidate, it will be on Smith-Rivera to step up in a major way.