Much of the talk on this blog during February and March centers around the battle between the Big East and the ACC for college roundball superiority. Some bloggers (like the Borg) point out the 7 NCAA berths for the ACC as a sign of conference superiority while others (like me) point to 2 of the last 4 Champions as evidence of Big East superiority.
The truth is that early tournament results show that NEITHER conference may be the best this year.
Through two rounds, the PAC-10 has won 70% of their games and has 3 schools (Oregon, UCLA, and USC) in the Sweet 16. Only the SEC has had better results, winning 78% of their games and likewise placing 3 teams (Florida, Vanderbilt, Tennessee) in the Sweet 16. The Big 12 has been a surprise, winning 71% of their games and placing 2 strong teams (Kansas and TXAM) in the Sweet 16.
Between the two power conferences of the east, the Big East has outplayed the ACC.
The Big East, without perennial powers UConn and Syracuse, still won 56% of their games and has 2 teams (Georgetown and Pitt) still alive for the championship. The ACC has won only half of their games and has only North Carolina remaining. Duke exhibited their overrating once again as one of only 2 teams (along with Notre Dame) to lose to a higher seed in the entire first round of the tournament (9 over 8 does not count), extending their losing streak to 4 games to end the season. That is Duke’s SECOND 4-game losing streak of the season, with 3 of the 4 losses coming against unranked teams.
The Big East also won the only head-to-head matchup between the conferences with Georgetown easily downing Boston College 62-55. Since leaving the Big East in 2005, the Eagles have ended their season against a former Big East rival in both 2006 and 2007. It appears that Georgetown will have to knock off another ACC team to reach the Final Four as they and UNC are only a win each against a 6 and 5 seed respectively to meet in the Regional Final.
March 19th, 2007
I was extremely happy to see Georgetown advance to the Sweet 16, as they are the BEast’s best chance at a 3rd NCAA championship in the last 5 years (though Kansas is looking really hard to beat right now). The fact that it came against a former-BEast member in BC was a nice side benefit as well.
In the Not Invited Tournament, Syracuse is hosting New Mexico State in a matchup of two former-NCAA championship coaches (Steve Fischer – 1989 Michigan & Boeheim) and there’s a buzz that the attendance record for an NIT game may be broken tonight. From Syracuse.com:
I am still very disappointed that Syracuse didn’t make the NCAA tournament, but I couldn’t be prouder with the 17,000 fans who saw the first round win over South Alabama and the number of fans who appear to be coming out for tonight’s game. Even more impressive about the first number is that last week’s game was during Syracuse’s spring break. That’s community fan support that fans of some teams on this blog can only dream about.
March 19th, 2007
Success is the best revenge.
Nobody wants to go to the NIT (insert Gary Williams rant here), but if you get left out and have to settle for the NIT, at least go hard and win the GD thing, instead of rolling over and dying like Providence did. That way, you can thumb your nose at the selection committee and hang a banner in your rafters.
I, for one, will be rooting for a WVU-SU final in the Garden.
March 19th, 2007
“Georgetown easily downing Boston College???” Uhm.. WHAT?! Did you actually WATCH the game??!! It was a ONE POINT game, with 2:30 to go. G’town jumped out to an early lead in the first half, and from then until about 5 or 6 min to go in the game, BC dictated the action and tempo. Tony Snow is NOT your PR guy, last time I checked. Just ’cause you say something, doesn’t make it so. It wasn’t until the double technical with about 6 or so minutes to go, that the momentum changed. I haven’t looked at a clock, but I’d wager that BC led for more of the game than did G’town. That’s not an “easy” win, by any stretch of the imagination – even your warped mind, Walter Mitty.
I liked your Gary Williams rant joke, however.
SWEAT GARY SWEAT! SWEAT GARY SWEAT!!
And now, on to the Womens’s NCAAT, where Duke may actually have a chance to cut down some nets this season. :-p
March 20th, 2007
When a game is over with more than 2 minutes to go . . . it is an easy win.
Yes, I I DID watch the game. IT wasn’t that close, but that doesn’t matter, G’Town won.