BEast Championship Primer

[jesmu84]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9039218/previewing-picking-winners-second-week-conference-tournaments-college-basketball

The favorite: Georgetown, Louisville and Marquette split the regular-season crown, but Louisville is carrying the most momentum into the final edition of the Big East tournament in its traditional format. The Cardinals concluded the regular season with seven consecutive wins. Their defense is ranked first in adjusted defensive efficiency per Pomeroy, and they're just as good as and probably better than the crew that reached the Final Four last season. The Big East tournament has been a catalyst for previous national champions, and that could be the case with Louisville in 2012-13.

The top challengers: Georgetown is an equally capable foe in this field. The Hoyas whipped Syracuse by 22 points on Sunday. They held Big East opponents to a league-low 56.9 PPG during the regular season, and they're led by national player of the year candidate Otto Porter Jr. (16.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.0 BPG and 2.0 SPG). Marquette has been one of nation's toughest squads (3-1 in overtime games, undefeated at home), but the Golden Eagles haven't played like contenders outside Milwaukee. Perhaps Syracuse (1-4 in its past five games) will wake up in the Garden. Pitt and Notre Dame have defeated some of the nation's best teams in 2012-13. And Villanova (victories over the Big East's tri-champions) is a true sleeper in the field.

My pick: The Cardinals have the mojo (and defense) necessary to win the Big East tournament title. They've certainly encountered obstacles that spurred doubts about their postseason potential, but they're rolling right now. I'll take the Cardinals.

[MU82]

Marquette has been one of nation's toughest squads (3-1 in overtime games, undefeated at home), but the Golden Eagles haven't played like contenders outside Milwaukee.

It's a reasonable, unbiased viewpoint. It's hard to argue with this at all.

So, once again, Buzz's lads need to prove themselves.