Big East Bubble Watch: 2/13/2010

LOCKS: Syracuse, Villanova, Georgetown, WVU, Pitt

I believe the Big East will get 7 - that leaves 2 spots for the NCAAs...here are the competing teams and remaining schedules - it is integral that UConn wins games against the following bubble teams down the stretch. Any games between Big East bubble teams are asterisked.

LOUISVILLE:
2/14 @ Syracuse
2/17 vs. ND (*)
2/20 @ DePaul
2/23 vs. G'Town
2/28 @ UConn (*)
3/2 @ Marquette (*)
3/6 vs. Syracuse

SOUTH FLORIDA
2/13 @ Marquette (*)
2/16 vs. Cincy (*)
2/20 vs. SJU
2/24 @ Villanova
2/27 vs. Providence
3/2 @ DePaul
3/6 vs. UConn (*)

Marquette:
2/13 vs. USF (*)
2/18 vs. Pitt
2/21 @ Cincy (*)
2/24 @ St. John's
2/28 @ Seton Hall
3/2 vs. L'Ville (*)
3/6 vs. ND (*)

UCONN:
2/13 vs. Cincy (*)
2/15 @ Villanova
2/20 @ Rutgers
2/22 vs. WVU
2/28 vs. L'Ville (*)
3/3 @ ND (*)
3/6 @ USF (*)

Notre Dame:
2/14 vs. St. John's
2/17 @ L'Ville (*)
2/24 vs. Pitt
2/27 @ G'Town
3/3 vs. UConn (*)
3/6 @ Marquette (*)

Cincinnati:
2/13 @ UConn (*)
2/16 @ USF (*)
2/21 vs. Marquette (*)
2/24 vs. DePaul
2/27 @ WVU
3/2 vs. 'Nova
3/6 @ GTown

Looking at it briefly, L'Ville has a brutal schedule, but on the same hand, have the most opportunities to push their way in the tourney. I think if UConn wins all their "Big East bubble games" and WVU, you can put them right on the NCAA bubble. If they beat Nova on the road, obviously, that will be make a better case. Road games are crucial - specifically the last 2 against ND and USF.

Projected Big East Tourney Bracket 2/8/10

Here is the projection of the Big East Tournament:

Tuesday
Game 1: #9 Notre Dame v. #16 DePaul
Game 2: #12 Providence v. #13 Seton Hall
Game 3: #10 Connecticut v. #15 Rutgers
Game 4: #11 Cincinnati v. #14 St. John's

Wednesday
Game 5: #8 Marquette v. Notre Dame-DePaul winner
Game 6: #5 Pittsburgh v. Providence-Seton Hall winner
Game 7: #7 South Florida v. Connecticut-Rutgers winner
Game 8: #6 Louisville v. Cincinnati-St. John's winner

Thursday
Game 9: #1 Syracuse v. Game 5 winner
Game 10: #4 Georgetown v. Game 6 winner
Game 11: #2 West Virginia v. Game 7 winner
Game 12: #3 Villanova v. Game 8 winner

Friday
Game 13: Game 9 v. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 v. Game 12 winner

Saturday
Game 15: Game 13 v. Game 14 winner

PPI Rankings - February 8, 2010

#1 Syracuse
#2 Kansas
#3 West Virginia
#4 Kentucky
#5 Butler
#6 Duke
#7 Villanova
#8 Kansas State
#9 Northern Iowa
#10 New Mexico
#11 Georgetown
#12 Wisconsin
#13 Texas
#14 Purdue
#15 Brigham Young
#16 Michigan State
#17 Rhode Island
#18 Gonzaga
#19 Pittsburgh
#20 Tennessee
#21 Saint Mary's
#22 UNLV
#23 Utah State
#24 Xavier
#25 Old Dominion
Others receiving votes: Temple, Vanderbilt, Florida, Charlotte, Missouri, Richmond, Ohio State, Siena, UAB, Clemson, Wichita State, Texas A&M, California, Baylor, Wake Forest