Projecting the Big East Tournament

The Big East Tournament begins in less than 24 hours, so we've finally decided to give in and give our best guess as to how the tournament will break down.
So here goes. Feel free to mock, as always.

First Round:
No. 8 DePaul vs. No. 9 Villanova: The Blue Demons need this game to have any shot at the NCAA Tournament. Much like Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, it has been either Good Demons or Bad Demons this year with no middle ground. We're betting on the Good Demons at least for a game as New York native Sammy Mejia has a big game. Score: DePaul 71, Villanova 67.

No. 5 Syracuse vs. No. 12 Connecticut: This matchup would be a Big East final most years. The Orange have won seven straight Big East Tournament games and two straight conference titles. Plus, they've won 5 of 6 games. UConn is still too young. Score: Syracuse 68, Connecticut 58.

No. 7 West Virginia vs. No. 10 Providence: The Mountaineers have faded as the season has went on, while the Friars have been very erratic. Still, Providence forward Herbert Hill has shown he can carry a team when necessary. Plus PC beat WVU in the regular season. Expect Hill to have a McNamara (as in Syracuse's Gerry) like run this week. Score: Providence 65, West Virginia 60.

No. 6 Marquette vs. No. 11 St. John's: Welcome to Injuryville. Marquette guard Jerel McNeal looks like he won't play in the Big East Tournament. Same goes for St. John's all-league forward Lamont Hamilton. The loss is bigger for the host Red Storm, who see their return to the Big East Tournament short-lived. Score: Marquette 80, St. John's 65.

Quarterfinals:
No. 8 DePaul vs. No. 1 Georgetown: Win this game and DePaul gets serious consideration for the NCAA Tournament. Too bad Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green are in the way. The Hoyas return to their form from two weeks ago and take Blue Demons' star forward Wilson Chandler out of the game. Score: Georgetown 71, DePaul 60.

No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 5 Syracuse: This might be the toughest game in the bracket to predict. The Irish played their best game of the year at Syracuse and put up more than 100 points in the Carrier Dome. Since then, the Orange have played better and when they play well can be dangerous inside. That happens to be the place Notre Dame has struggled with this season. But we get the feeling the Irish will win a close one off a Colin Falls three-pointer. Score: Notre Dame 70, Syracuse 67.

No. 10 Providence vs. No. 2 Louisville: No team has turned around as much as the Cardinals, who went from one of the conference's biggest disappointments to surprises in the span of a month. In the Big East Tournament, there is always a surprising run by a senior, though, and much like Ricardo Greer (Pittsburgh) and McNamara, Hill is that guy this year. Score: Providence 71, Louisville 66.

No. 6 Marquette vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh: McNeal's injury will hurt Marquette here, especially since it looks like Panthers' center Aaron Gray is healthy and ready to play. Pittsburgh has been a good Big East tourney team in the past, so we're going with the Panthers. Score: Pittsburgh 77, Marquette 70.

Semifinals:
No. 1 Georgetown vs. No. 4 Notre Dame: Remember how we discussed Notre Dame's struggles against superior post men. Well...this will be a problem. Georgetown beat Notre Dame from the outside during the regular season. Look for the Hoyas to go inside this time and use Hibbert to dominate. Score: Georgetown 69, Notre Dame 61.

No. 10 Providence vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh: Hill will be on the All-Tournament team, but the Friars' run ends here. Gray neutralizes him and Levon Kendall and the rest of the Panthers outplay the Friars to end the chance at another Syracuse Special. Score: Pittsburgh 75, Providence 64.

Final
No. 1 Georgetown vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh: This will match up the top two centers in the league and two of the top players in the country. Pitt has the experience in these types of games, having played in the Big East final last year. This time, behind Gray, they win it. Score: Pittsburgh 75, Georgetown 70.

What do you think will happen?
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette