Crunch time has arrived, and for the 12 teams in the Big East Tournament that starts Wednesday night, it’s a chance to grab an automatic bid to the NCAA dance.
The stakes are high for schools like DePaul, Providence and Marquette, who don’t have the résumé to grab an at-large bid. But all they need is four wins.
Of course, it’s a difficult path for the underdogs. They’ll have to navigate through the likes of undefeated and top-ranked Louisville, a formidable and peaking Georgetown side or a rejuvenated Notre Dame.
Add in the inconsistent but talented Connecticut, and it’s a tough path to navigate for those who didn’t qualify for a first-round bye. The champions will raise the trophy and book their trip to the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 14 at Red Bull Arena – but first round action begins tonight.
Three Favorites
Louisville – The Cardinals are the No. 1 team in the country with a flawless 9-0 conference record, and have a number of attacking threats, including freshman Dylan Mares and junior Colin Rolfe.
Connecticut – The Huskies are hands down the most talented team in the conference, that didn’t translate to success in the Big East. Tony Cascio and Carlos Alvarez lead the attack, while Josh Ford is as stable as any 'keeper in the nation.
Georgetown – The scrappy, organized and hard-working Hoyas didn’t lose a conference game this year. And while the road to the final goes through UConn, Georgetown has already shown it can defeat a talented team like the Huskies.
Three Dark Horses
South Florida – One of the lowest seeds in the bracket, South Florida does have returning All-American 'keeper Jeff Atinella to call on. But he’ll need help, particularly from Bernardo Anor and Shawn Chin to win on the road. The Bulls have the talent, it’s only a question of whether they can rise to the occasion.
Notre Dame – The Fighting Irish battled through a slow start to emerge with a good enough in-conference record to secure a first-round bye. That could prove decisive, as they’ll have to upset Louisville to make the final.
St. John’s – Unbeaten in their last six, the Red Storm have once again underachieved with a talented roster, led by Tadeu Terra. They could be peaking at the appropriate time, however, and could make a run.
Players to Watch
F Tony Cascio, Connecticut – While there is a wealth of attacking options at UConn – Carlos Alvarez, Stephane Diop and Mamdou Diouf among others – Cascio is the leader of the pack. The tall, lanky forward led the Huskies with nine goals and will look to finish the chances the others create for him in crunch time.
D Aaron Maund, Notre Dame – Dillon Powers may be the most recognized name on the team, but Maund, a tough defender, will have to be on his game for the Irish to make any noise in the tourney.
F Colin Rolfe, Louisville – While freshman Dylan Mares stepped up this year, leading the Cardinals in goals scored, junior striker Rolfe can finish chances as well as create them.
M Tadeu Terra, St. John’s – The Brazilian playmaker must shine for the Red Storm to keep their season alive. Terra’s five goals and five assists in the regular season led St. John’s, but the senior must be even better in the tournament.
MBernardo Anor, South Florida – A playmaker and goal-scorer, Anor’s slow season – just five goals on the year – is another reason for USF’s struggles. If he can get things going offensively, the Bulls will certainly surprise the opposition.
Schedule (all times ET)
November 3
Providence vs. Villanova, 2 p.m.
Marquette vs. St. John’s, 7:30 p.m.
South Florida vs. West Virginia, 7 p.m.
November 4
DePaul vs. Connecticut, 7:30 p.m.
November 6
Providence/Villanova vs. Georgetown, 1 p.m.
Marquette/St. John’s vs. Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
South Florida/West Virginia vs. Louisville, 7 p.m.
November 7
DePaul/Connecticut vs. Cincinnati, TBA
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