Big East Tournament 2015: Dates, Top Players to Watch in Upcoming Event

If you are waiting for classic Big East tournament matchups at Madison Square Garden like the ones between Jim Boeheim's Syracuse squads and John Thompson's Georgetown teams, you may have to check ESPN Classic. 

Gone are the Syracuses, Louisvilles, Notre Dames, Connecticuts, West Virginias, Boston Colleges and Pittsburghs from the league. That doesn't mean the 2015 Big East tournament will be without drama, though.

Villanova is going for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament as the dominant team in the league. Plus, always-dangerous squads like Butler, Providence, St. John's and Xavier represent serious threats to the Wildcats.

Oh, and Georgetown is still there. 

With that in mind, here is a look at the dates and some players to watch at the 2015 Big East tournament. A full schedule and bracket can be found here, courtesy of the Big East.

2015 Big East Tournament

Dates: Wednesday, March 11 – Saturday, March 14

Location: Madison Square Garden; New York

TV: Fox Sports 1

Top Players to Watch

D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown

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Coming into the 2014-15 season, no player in the Big East was expected to be as productive on the floor as Georgetown's D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera.

He was named the Big East Preseason Player of the Year because of his ability to score, hit from three-point range and set up teammates. However, the Hoyas went through a rough patch in the nonconference schedule, lost a couple of early league games to Xavier and Providence and were largely forgotten about.

Not anymore. 

Georgetown has won three games in a row and has climbed into second place in the Big East. Hoyas247 noted that Smith-Rivera has been monumentally important during that stretch:

On the season, he is averaging 15.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game behind 38.3 percent shooting from three-point range. He may not win the Big East Player of the Year, but he seems to be hitting his stride as the season enters the stretch run. 

That is a scary proposition for the rest of the conference, especially if the Hoyas can seize a top-two seed in the league tournament.

LaDontae Henton, Providence

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Few things in college basketball are more enjoyable to watch than an elite scorer taking over a game, and nobody in the Big East scores more points per game than Providence's LaDontae Henton.

Behind Henton's 20.3 points and 5.9 rebounds a night, the Friars are battling for a spot in the NCAA tournament. A handful of wins in the Big East tournament would go a long way toward securing that nod on Selection Sunday, but it has been an up-and-down campaign during conference season.

Head coach Ed Cooley discussed his team's tournament prospects, via Brendan McGair of The Pawtucket Times:

"

The Big East ... I think that teams that can get to 9, 10, 11 (league) wins solidifies an at-large berth. That's what the goal is and that's what the mission has been. You may not win all your games, but we do want to finish .500 or better in order to give ourselves the best chance going into the Big East Tournament to be a NCAA Tournament team.

"

If that is going to happen, the Friars are going to need Henton and teammate Kris Dunn (who is also in the top 10 in the Big East in scoring at 15.1 points per game) to light up the scoreboard, especially at the Big East tournament. 

In the one-and-done nature of the postseason, a lethal scoring combination can be more than enough to carry a team deep into the conference or NCAA bracket. That is exactly what Providence has at its disposal.

D'Angelo Harrison, St. John's

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Speaking of teams that are on the bubble and could use a win or two in the Big East tournament, St. John's will rely on superstar D'Angelo Harrison to carry it deep into the bracket.

The Red Storm are on the right path after winning five of six games, and Harrison scored in double figures in all five of those victories, including a 33-point performance against DePaul. His 18.4 points per game are second in the conference, and few players in the league or even country can hit from deep or attack the rim as effectively as he does.

Harrison's consistency is what stands out the most. He has averaged 16.8, 17.8, 17.5 and now 18.4 points a night in his four seasons on campus and is the true definition of a go-to scorer. That type of scoring consistency will be critical when teams are playing back-to-back games in the conference tournament and tired legs become a factor. 

Tyler R. Tynes of SB Nation noted that Harrison stands above the rest of the Big East guards in at least one category:

"

D'Angelo Harrison is the only Big East guard named to the Jerry West Watch List for the nation's best college shooting guard. Interesting.

— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) February 19, 2015"

The Red Storm will likely be squarely on the bubble when the Big East tournament arrives. They may be the most fascinating team in the entire field because of the pressing need to rack up wins, and Harrison will be the key to that happening.

If he starts racking up 20-25 points a night in the Big East tournament, St. John's could surprise some of the top seeds.

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