The quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament takes place today and we will see the Cincinnati Bearcats take on the Georgetown Hoyas. The game is scheduled for a 12:00 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on ESPN. Currently the Odds for the game have Georgetown favored by 5 points while the total sits at 122.
Analysis: The fifth-ranked Hoyas seek a bit of retribution, for last years double OT loss to Cincinnat when they meet the Bearcats in the quarterfinals again at Madison Square Garden today. Georgetown held the Bearcats to 2-of-21 shooting from beyond the arc in last season’s thriller, but suffered a 72-70 setback on Cashmere Wright’s game-winning shot with 7.6 seconds left. The top-seeded Hoyas got some payback when the teams met Feb. 15. That win was part of their 11-game winning streak. Although Georgetown saw that streak end at Villanova on March 6, The Hoyas overcame an 0-2 start in conference play to finish in a three-way tie for first. Coach John Thompson III was named Big East Coach of the Year while sophomore Otto Porter Jr. (16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2 steals) became the fourth player under Thompson to be awarded Big East Player of the Year. Although Porter led the team in scoring, rebounding and steals, Georgetown primarily relies on the conference’s second-best field-goal percentage defense (37.7) and scoring defense (57.3), both of which rank among the top 11 in the country.
Cincinnati’s double-overtime victory over Georgetown in the Big East tournament last season paved the way for the Bearcats’ runner-up finish. The ninth-seeded Bearcats improved to 3-0 all-time in the second round of the Big East tournament with Wednesday’s 61-44 win over Providence. Senior guard JaQuon Parker (11.3 points, 5 rebounds) recorded his second career double-double Wednesday and has emerged as a key player down the stretch for the Bearcats. Although the Bearcats are only 4-4 over their last eight games, Parker – who is shooting 40.9 percent on 3-pointers over that stretch – is averaging 13.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in that span after posting 10.5 and 3.6 marks, respectively, over his first 24 games. Cincinnati held Providence to 1-of-16 beyond the arc, the third time a Cincy opponent was held to one or zero 3-pointers. Cincinnati has won six of its last nine Big East tournament games.
Pick: Im looking at the Hoyas in this one. This team has been dominant this year and while they did lose at Villanova in their second to last home game, they did bounceback and flex their muscles in their 22 point home win over Louisville in their season finale. This team plays great defense and should have little problems shutting down a poor shooting Cincinnati squad that has scored 61 points or less in 9 of their last 10 games during regulation, while averaging just 54.3 ppg (regulation) during that stretch. Now they face a Georgtown squad that just held the league's top scoring to just 39 points. No way the Cats put up more than the 55 they put up in the season's lone meeting between the teams. The Hoya offense is average at best, while the Cats defense is very solid, but I still don't see Cincinnati coming up with enough points to keep this one close.
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