If you are attending the Big East tournament from March 2-6 at the XL Center in Hartford, this will interest you.
Notre Dame is first in the Big East (13-1) with games left against South Florida and UConn.
UConn is currently second (12-2) with games left against Marquette and Notre Dame
St. John’s is third (11-3) with games left against Villanova and Georgetown
Georgetown is fourth (10-4) with games left against Syracuse and St. John’s
What does this mean?
Well, you figure Notre Dame beats USF and UConn beats Marquette. You figure St. John’s can handle Villanova.
That brings us to Monday, with ND still holding a one-game lead over UConn, and UConn holding a one-game lead over St. John’s.
* If Notre Dame beats UConn and St. John’s also beats Georgetown, the Big East finishes ND, St. John’s and UConn – in that order because St. John’s get the tie-breaker over the Huskies.
*If UConn beats Notre Dame and St. John’s also beats Georgetown, the Big East finishes ND, UConn, St. John’s because ND beat St. John’s during the season and UConn did not.
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6 Responses to Big East Still a Big Mish-Mosh
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That is all well and good, but look what happened last year – UCONN beat Notre Dame three times, twice in home and away games and again for the Big East title…
but guess who had the last laugh? Notre Dame beat UCONN in their 4th matchup.
As far as I am concerned, the Big East tournament is the the warmup for the NCAA’s and then all bets are off.
No matter where UCONN finishes in the Big East, UCONN has the raw talent and the coaching and the will to go further than any other Big East team – including Notre Dame and St. John’s and anyone else for that matter.
If Stokes and Dolson are PERMITTED to play together, UCONN will go head to head with anyone, including Stanford, Notre Dame, and Baylor – yes Baylor.
The bench rocked tonight against Pitt because they got some much needed playing time.
You cannot score, rebound, make steals or assists or block shots if you are on the bench.
I am not sure about Baylor but Stanford and Notre Dame use their respective benches quite effectively – UCONN does not – at least they did not until tonight.
Some of the bench appears to be in Detention Hall and as soon as Geno tells them detention is over, UCONN will start playing better against their major opponents.
Look at what Johnson did tonight – 8 points in 7 minutes – and Geno seldom gives her the time of day.
I do not know of a coach in America who would not be happy with a bench that outscored the starters in a given game.
Geno, these bench “stars-in-the-making” are your secret weapons – use them and you will win – keep them in D-Hall and one of the better teams will make you wish you had played the bench more.
Kevin, most of the bench points were scored by KML and Stokes, who do get quite a few minutes (35 and 24, respectively, in the SJU game, for example). The idea that the secret to further success is more minutes for the rest of the bench is frankly laughable. Sure, they looked good last night against Pitt, playing against a bunch of freshmen and sophomores who were already demoralized be being 40+ points down. But in games against better teams, those bench players are quickly exposed.
Buck can defend, pass and rebound some but can’t score much. Banks has a strong upside but is still raw and prone to TO’s. Engeln and Johnson are basically practice players. That’s really no knock on them… they would start for about 80% of the teams in WCBB, and they can certainly play against bottom-feeder Big East teams. But they aren’t the answer in the NCAA tournament.
Bottom line, several teams are substantially deeper than UConn — ND is one. That’s just the way it is.
I agree with you Jon, Uconn’s bench doesn’t compare to those of the other top teams. Sure they can score against Pittsburgh, but they don’t get the same results against stronger teams. Geno has said time and time again, “If you can’t score, you’re not gonna play”. They played last night because he knew they could score against Pittsburgh – they don’t play against the top teams becasuse they can’t score against them. Plain and simple. Our bench players wouldn’t be getting any time if they were on Notre Dame’s bench either – they just aren’t of the same caliber.
Kevin’s comments are typical of the Geno-haters and Jon and Blair responded accordingly. I like Johnson but she’s not ready for prime time, especially on defense. She scored 8 points mainly layups because Pitt was so bad.He played everyone because he didn’t want to further embarrass a team that hasn’t won a game all season long..he is a merciful and caring guy. If he started Johnson against ND they would eat her alive. Why can’t we just give Geno credit for who he is and what he’s accomplished at UCONN and let him coach the team; if he screws-up, I assure you that he would own up to it as he’s done in the past.
Good points all. My biggest objection is that all the other 4 or 5 very good teams have several bigs in their lineups. Stokes gets the most playing time of the tall bigs on the bench but mostly to relieve Dolson – noe nt her.liment her.
I surely am not a Geno hater – I just do not have confidence in his 1 big strategy. Dolson cannot play on an equal footing with ND’s 3 bigs or Stanfords 3 bigs or Baylor’s 2 bigs because Stokes is so seldom in the game with Dolson.
I was only complimenting the fact that the bench got playing time and scored because if not, and when the 5 starters get into serious foul trouble, the bench, except for KML and Stokes will not have sufficient experience to fill in.
Also, just because a person differs about one strategy that a superior coach is implementing does not make that person a coach hater.
The 1 big 4 small strategy works against 90 – 95 percent of the teams UCONN faces – but that strategy will also from making it to the final four.
Don’t get me wrong, I want them to go all the way and I believe they are capable of going to the final four and beyond, I just do not believe the starting lineup, as is, will be able to do it.
If stokes gets more playing time, especially WITH Dolson and not just to give Dolson a breather, asd if KML gets added playing time and Doty gets somewhat less playing time, UCONN can and will win it all.
It is disappointing that when someone disagrees with coach that others simply write that person off as a Geno hater. That is so right wing in action.