Durzblog

Six Overtime Classic Caps Memorable Day at the Garden

The Big East Tournament was where it was at yesterday. The best conference tournament in the land, reminded everyone of how good it can be last night. The thirtieth BET has become a very memorable one.

It started off innocently enough with Providence laying down for Louisville. The Friars played themselves into the NIT with a tough loss to the Carinals, who are now on a mission for the Big East double -- and will be favored to do so. Villanova in the second game, grabbed control early and threw it away in the second half. Some sharp shooting by Marquette brought them all the way back from 17 down. Jerel McNeal had the ball with the seconds ticking away and tried to end it with a hastily taken jumper, Nova rebounded and with no timeouts remaining -- went down and got an uncontested lay-up at the buzzer to move onto the semis..

After the intermission, Pitt and WVU took the floor. Blair was in foul trouble throughout and Devin Ebanks had a Garden coming out party. Huggins gang won the backyard brawl going away. With the bracket opened up a bit, Connecticut took the floor looking to get a win in the tournament for the first time in 3 years. Its being tabbed an all-time classic and it was quite a game. Right now its feeling more like an all-time kick in the groin. The one good thing you can say from a Uconn perspective is that Kemba Walker and Stanley Robinson (season high 28 points) seem ready to play important roles in the NCAA's. Last night's game though, once they got it to overtime, was a game of many missed opportunities. Credit the Orange for having the heart to keep coming back in this six overtime thriller and to Johnny Flynn for refusing to quit, but if you are Uconn you have to be looking at the stats from the foul line, 24-for-42. Disgusting.

The game was the longest in the history of the Big East and second longest in Division-1 basketball history.

The BET is officially wide open, Nova v Louisville followed by West Virginia and Syracuse tonight starting at 7:00

Uconn will be left to wait for their NCAA seed on Sunday. They threw away the one seed and the East Regional. The ladder is for the best.


Yesterday's Finals
Louisville 73 Providence 55

W. Virginia 74 Pittsburgh 60

Villanova 76 Marquette 75

Syracuse 127 Connecticut 117
6OT