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March 9, 2008

With all conference games wrapped up for the season, the Big East Tournament field has been set. We play in the best slot possible, 7 pm, as the #7 seed against #10 Cincinnati. The full bracket (via Card Chronicle):

Wed., Mar. 12 Thurs., Mar 13 Fri., Mar 14 Sat.,Mar 15
Noon
8) Villanova
9) Syracuse
Noon
1) Georgetown
Semifinals, 7pm Finals, 8pm
2 pm
5) West Virginia
12) Providence
2 pm
4) Connecticut
7 pm
7) Pittsburgh
10) Cincinnati
7 pm
2) Louisville
Semifinals, 9pm
9 pm
6) Marquette
11) Seton Hall
9 pm
3) Notre Dame
Out: Depaul, South Florida, Rutgers, St. John’s

Cinci couldn’t be coming off a worse game; they were pummeled 96-51 at Connecticut earlier today. It is very possible that for Pitt to win the tournament we would have to go through the top 3 seeds. Let’s at least win the first one though.
But hey, it’s Madison Square Garden, our home away from home.





Gray is on espn tonight vs Detroit.

Comment by Joey T 03.09.08 @ 9:14 pm

I look at that board and the only team I think we absolutely couldn’t beat is Marquette. And maybe Rutgers…but they aren’t playing. :’)

Comment by geeman2001 03.09.08 @ 9:47 pm

great seeding

Comment by scoocher 03.09.08 @ 9:54 pm

man, there are gonna be some upsets.

Comment by Darren Morningstar 03.09.08 @ 10:16 pm

I like the Draw!

See you in the garden, I am leaving tomorrow!

Comment by Bugsby 03.10.08 @ 8:37 am

Hi. I’m just wondering, since I didn’t have a chance to see them play: what is it about Marquette that makes those guys such a bad matchup for us? Fast play-making guards?

IN any case, go Seton Hall!

Comment by Derek 03.10.08 @ 10:52 am

Derek – I would say Marquette has fast guards and tall guys (Fitzgerald) who can shoot from the outside and big guys who are “weak” but quick. And a small quick guard (Cubillon) who is automatic if he’s uncovered.

Comment by Kevin 03.10.08 @ 11:29 am

i agree with kevin. marquette has a dangerous combination of quick guards who can get into the paint and taller big men who can draw our 4s and 5s away from the basket.

they are a team you really have to grind and frustrate. which means a lot of activity on the defensive end and really crashing the boards. two things we haven’t done much of lately.

i think we take care of cincy wednesday and the rematch with UL is interesting. our team with a little bit of confidence and energy can beat anyone. lets hope they show it at msg.

Comment by ECH 03.10.08 @ 11:49 am

Playing MU in the BET would require they win a game or two, which as we all know is impossible.

Comment by In My Seat 90 Minutes Before Kickoff 03.10.08 @ 12:13 pm

I don’t know why we are talking about marquette. They would need to beat both SH and ND and we would need two wins as well. We’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here. Let’s beat Cinn first. As you recall, they beat us already in a game we should have won. I don’t want to be saying the same thing after Wed night.

Comment by TMGPanther 03.10.08 @ 12:22 pm

What bars are the Pitt fans going to be at? And how much do you think tickets for wednesday are going for scalping them?

Comment by Drew 03.10.08 @ 2:19 pm

I know we’re not in the national title discussion or anything this year, but I have been thinking about the inability to get over the hump in winning BET title games (save the one drubbing of UConn) and the correlation to the NCAAs. I thought this post from CardChronicle was particularly insightful, and was the kind of analysis I really didn’t want to have to do at lunch just to answer my question….props to the poster, Mike, and really, CardChronicle is always a good read…(everything after this is quoted from the aforementioned site)

People nowadays are always bringing “facts” into arguments, and since I’m a sucker for fads (anyone wanna compare pogs later?), I’ll go ahead and share a few for you all to wrap your heads around (literally).

Three of the four national semifinalists a year ago were conference tournament champions. UCLA – which lost to California in the Pac-10 quarterfinals – was the lone exception.

There were 12 conferences that sent multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament in 2007. Of those 12, only three (WAC, A-10, Pac-10) had a team that didn’t advance to its conference tournament championship game advance further in the NCAA Tournament than a team that did. Of those three teams, only UCLA won more than one game.

All six BCS conference tournament champions advanced to the Elite Eight last season. The other two quarterfinalists were Memphis – which won the Conference USA Tournament – and UCLA.

The combined NCAA Tournament record of the six BCS conference tournament champions in 2007 was 24-5. Of those five losses, only one (Kansas’ Elite Eight loss to UCLA) came against a non-fellow BCS conference tournament champion.

Seven of the last ten national champions have won their conference tournament. North Carolina in ’05, Syracuse in ’03 and Maryland in ’02 are the exceptions.

Ten of the last 16 Final Four teams have been conference tournament champions, and three of those six teams that didn’t win their league title played in the same conference as the fellow semifinalist which did.

Comment by Maz 03.10.08 @ 2:36 pm

woohoo!!! I’m so excited for the BE tourney! I’m working and gaming all week (I luckily will only be 2 blks from MSG so easy to go see a game, then back to teaching the world to sing!!)

I second Drew– where are we hanging at? My brother is coming into town for this and I wanna show him a good time.. isn’t it Stouts on 33rd usually?

Comment by Caroline 03.10.08 @ 4:14 pm

My friend and I are also coming to the tourny this year! This is our first B.E. tourny and we’re seniors at Pitt. We’ll be lookin for good bars for Pitt fans as well. Drew, Caroline, — let us know whats good, if you dont mind hangin with some youngins. Ill be checkin this site throughout the week for recommendations. thanks.

Comment by Matt D 03.10.08 @ 4:23 pm

I went to the BE tourney last year and there’s a bar called Rosie O’Grady’s (not sure what street) where all the Pitt people usually go to after games … Hillgrove and Groat are usually regulars there after games too … Always a good time

Comment by jtads14 03.10.08 @ 4:23 pm

Vote for Ramon’s game winning shot against WVU

link to ncaasports.com

Comment by Fcuk Paterno 03.10.08 @ 5:09 pm

Feel-good Pitt hoops nugget of the day:

Antonio Graves is tearing up the French “Pro-A” league. Playing on a team that includes former New Castle HS star David Young, Shaun Fein of Georgia Tech, Terence Dials who was Big Ten POY a few years back, Jeff Trapagnier who had a cup of coffee with the Cleveland Cavs a few years ago, and Curtis Withers of UNC-Charlotte, Graves has played 9 games since having his contract purchased from the Pittsburgh Xplosion. He’s played 291 minutes, scoring 193 points (21.4 a game) while hitting on 56.667% from the field, 18-34 (52%) from 3 point land, and 84% from FT land. Yeah, you read that right, 84% from the charity stripe. Most of those numbers lead the team, and his points are the most scored by anyone on the team, despite the fact that most other players have played 15-20 games. He’s been named the Eurobasket.com France Pro-A league player of the week twice, including on a 40 point performance against the league’s 1st place team in which he scored 7 of the last 9 points of the game, icing it with a FT with 5 seconds left that “put Pau back in playoff contention.” (Pau being his team.) In that game he went 12-19, 3-5 from 3, and 13-15 from FT. Antonio Graves getting to the line 15 times…that’s just awesome.

Antonio Graves was always a class act, I got to talk to his mother a few times at the Pete, and nobody worked harder than AG at improving himself. I must say I’m surprised at how well he’s doing, but also proud of him as a Pitt alum and wish him nothing but the best.

Comment by Maz 03.10.08 @ 6:24 pm

This will be my 6th straight year at the BET. To all those first time attendees you made a wise decision to make the trip. Win or lose it’s a great experience, although Pitt’s track record the past 7 years has helped make the experience amazing. Last year, following Pitt’s comeback win again L-ville in the semis, the Pitt pep band actually set up outside the Garden immediately after the game and began playing the Pitt fight song. It was incredible and very loud,echoing off of every corner of the entry to MSG. One of my best BET memories outside of the BET Championship game win against UCONN.

There is something about Pitt at the Garden, it’s truly been a second home during these past 7yrs. Even though it’s been a shaky season I wouldn’t be suprised if Pitt makes another deep run in the BET

As far as bars are concerned, the Pitt Alumni Association usally has an event going at Stoudt. Which is basically across the street from the Garden. If you Google Stoudt you’ll find the exact location. Always a strong Pitt turnout.

Comment by BET-Veteran 03.10.08 @ 7:40 pm

I’m the one who got the MU talk going, but not on purpose. My only intent was to comment that Pitt has as much chance as anyone to win this thing. If we do happen to end up facing MU, it means we’re doing something right to get that far.

Comment by geeman2001 03.10.08 @ 9:00 pm

If Pitt Plays with HEART like they played against G-town we can win this tourney, I love our draw, Louisville can be beat if only Pitt plays with Heart,diving for the ball, out rebounding bigger players , wanting the ball more than the other team. This is what makes winners,d-fense,fighting for your life. This is it, Lets go Pitt

Comment by Buzz 03.10.08 @ 9:28 pm

watched duke/unc on saturday. i swear rod rutherford was sitting next to eli manning! anyone else???

Comment by SH98 03.11.08 @ 12:23 am

For the youngins attending: yeah, Stout (not Cliff Stoudt) pregame at 133 W. 33rd (right by the Garden). Post-game (probably better on Thursday if Pitt plays that night) I’d recommend Brother Jimmy’s – not the new one on 8th Ave near the Garden but the old school one on 2nd Ave uptown between 77th & 78th. For the younger guys. Suck it up and take a cab uptown. Fun bar.

Comment by C.G. 03.11.08 @ 9:48 am

i’d rather have seen seton hall than vaughn and cincinnati, but i think the team will get the W. also, there’s a really cool article about sam young’s brother going for the maryland high school state championship at:

link to sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Comment by christopher 03.11.08 @ 10:16 am

Pomeroy BE Tournament Preview

link to basketballprospectus.com

Big East

Qtrs Semis Final Champ
1 Georgetown 100 77.7 49.1 27.3
2 Louisville 100 75.5 45.2 26.2
6 Marquette 90.4 55.8 28.7 15.4
4 UConn 100 55.2 24.3 10.5
3 Notre Dame 100 42.8 17.1 7.2
5 West Virginia 81.6 41.3 18.4 8.1
7 Pitt 81.2 23.0 8.6 3.1
9 Syracuse 60.9 15.3 5.7 1.7
8 Villanova 39.1 6.9 1.9 0.4
12 Providence 18.4 3.4 0.6 0.09
10 Cincinnati 18.8 1.6 0.2 0.02
11 Seton Hall 9.6 1.4 0.2 0.02

Format: All games at Madison Square Garden, March 12-15.
Most likely championship matchup: Georgetown vs. Louisville (22%)

The Big East won’t be a cakewalk for any team, which is what happens when you have five solid teams that are similar in strength. I believe Marquette would be the first team to go 4-0 in two different conference tourneys if they were to pull this off. Back in ’97, they won the CUSA Tourney by winning four games in four days.

Comment by Dave in Orlando 03.11.08 @ 12:16 pm

First MU would have to win ONE tourney game – something they haven’t been able to do in YEARS except for the one DWade year. Then you can start talking about winning 4 in a row. That’s 4 more than they’ve won in any tourney in half a decade.

“Numen Flumenque” is latin for “one and done.”

Comment by Stuart 03.11.08 @ 5:15 pm

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