I’ll hit on the disappointing, but frustratingly predictable loss to Georgetown later. For now, the spectacle that is Big East, um, growth.

I don’t think anyone really thinks John Marinatto is a good commissioner of the Big East. The only debate really seems to be whether he is thoroughly incompetent or merely completely overmatched. The addition of Memphis — without even making them come to the Big East for the 2012 season — should have resolved the issue into the category of thoroughly incompetent. But in case anyone had any lingering doubts, the press conference today should be the clincher.

Temple joining is not the issue. It makes sense. Heck it is more reasonable than elevating Villanova at this point. Er, what?

The BIG EAST Conference Board of Directors also unanimously voted to continue working closely with Villanova University regarding its FBS football future and, in doing so, take into account its longstanding relationship and many contributions to the Conference over the past three decades to give all due consideration to a football membership application.

The Conference also fully supports the extensive, thoughtful and thorough process that Villanova is utilizing to evaluate its football program. To validate the BIG EAST Conference’s support of Villanova and its potential admission as a football program, the Conference has committed to offer financial assistance to cover future costs incurred by Villanova to exploring BIG EAST football membership.

In addition and to further demonstrate its support and consideration, the Conference will pledge to waive the football entry fee if Villanova is admitted within the next three years into the Conference as a football playing member, provided that it satisfies the Conference’s requirements for membership and the NCAA’s requirements for membership. We are confident that Villanova’s process will result in an outcome that’s in the best interest of the University and its accomplished athletics program.

I suppose it may be the cost of getting Temple into the Big East and resolving the schedule problems for the football schools in 2012, but given the money the Big East is giving up to help Villanova, then maybe it would have been cheaper to just pay Boise State’s exit fee from the MWC?

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Have to do another open thread. Responsible for picking up kids from school and taking them to afterschool activities today. DVR time once more.

Hoyas are playing better than they were when Pitt took them out in late-January. Really don’t know what Pitt will look like today. Will Nas and Tray be okay playing a second straight day? Can Pitt play well for a second straight day? Is Pitt in the head of Georgetown?

Game should be sometime around 2:30 on ESPN.

Not exactly a lot of time to do hard-hitting questions and answers, but since the last Q&A exchange (man, I was really down on J.J. Moore at that point of the season) was followed by a Pitt win why not. I’m stunned by how spooked the Hoya fans are by Pitt because of the recent history. It would be nice if the players were equally spooked.  Casual Hoya wanted to have another go. You can see my responses here.

Seriously. What the hell happened in the last meeting? I still can’t figure it out. [Editor note: Check the box score. It really goes against much of what we have seen most of the season. Pitt dominated so much inside, while getting nothing on the perimeter. Nas and Zanna even hit 7-8 FTs.]

Thank goodness! I thought it was just me! Georgetown was off defensively in that game and I’m not sure why. Henry Sims and Nate Lubick were getting beat to their spots down low and Pitt had a bunch of backdoor layups and alley-oops when the Hoyas were forced to help and double. In fact, Pitt looked very Georgetown-like in that game. Georgetown’s defensive lapses ultimately prevented the Hoyas from clawing all the way back from what was a double-digit deficit, but they did show signs of life in the 2nd half and I have to think (read: hope and pray to the high heavens) that the result won’t be the same again.

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