Games #189-190. Three days in, and we’re finally to the Big Easts quarters in MSG today. You’ll struggle to find as many good early NCAA matchups.
12 pm. UConn vs. Pitt. Can any Big East fan forget the battles these two programs had in the early 00’s in the Big East Tournament? This season’s matchup should be just as entertaining. The first time these two played, Pitt was at full strength and UConn was still basically a one-man show. As a result, the Panthers won by 15 at home. This time around, Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb are both playing some of their best basketball of the season, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel has finally found his shooting touch, and Alex Oriakhi is being, well, Oriakhi. Throw in the loss of Talib Zanna to a broken thumb, and there is no reason that we can’t get a good old fashioned Big East battle.
2:30 pm. St. John’s vs. Syracuse. The Johnnies lost one game at the Garden in Big East play, and that came to Syracuse. Its a little bit counterintuitive when you think about it. St. John’s has big guys that can crash the glass and versatile, play-making forwards that can sit at the high post and find open men. The issue is that St. John’s lacks effective perimeter shooters. Dwight Hardy is, for all intents and purposes, it. St. John’s looks like they may be regressing back to the mean after a sizzling finish to the regular season. Syracuse is an enigma. The key today? Which Scoop Jardine and which Kris Joseph show up.