Hoya Paranoia | The Hoya's Sports Blog

1. No. 5 Georgetown (23-5, 13-4)

The Hoyas’ turnover-filled loss to Villanova means that a win at home against Syracuse is most likely necessary if John Thompson III and the boys are to capture their first Big East regular season title since 2008. Louisville and Marquette have identical 13-4 league records, but Georgetown holds the tiebreaker over both squads. On Saturday, the Golden Eagles travel to MSG for a match up with St. John’s and Louisville hosts Notre Dame; however, a noon tip-off time for GU means that the league could already be decided by the time things get underway in NY and Kentucky. I would bet the house that JT III and Otto Porter will be named Big East Coach and Player of the Year; then again, I would have bet the house that Henry Sims wouldn’t make the NBA.

2. No. 8 Louisville (25-5, 13-4)

Rick Pitino’s Cardinals are quietly peaking at the right time, having won nine out of ten since a three-game losing streak in late January. Louisville is a complete team with a savvy senior point guard in Peyton Siva (5.9 assists per game), a high scoring two-guard Russ Smith (18.4 points per game), and imposing big men Chane Behanan and Gorgui Deng (a combined 17.1 rebounds per game). The Cardinals certainly have the experience and balance to repeat last year’s postseason success.

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The most recent edition of ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology has eight Big East teams dancing as Villanova is one of the last few teams in while St. John’s finds themselves just barely on the outside looking in.

1. No. 7 Georgetown (22-4, 12-3)

Otto Porter Jr. and the Hoyas picked up the most satisfying victory of JT III’s reign in the Carrier Dome last weekend and followed it up by outlasting a resilient UConn squad in double overtime. Quite simply, Georgetown has the best player and coach in the conference this season. Porter Jr. is the best player the Hilltop has seen since Iverson, and JT III’s offensive and defensive systems could not be running smother with this roster of physical guards and versatile post players. Wins over Rutgers, Nova and S*racuse to close out the season along with a trip to the Big East Tournament title would give the Hoyas a strong case for a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.

2. No. 10 Louisville (23-5, 11-4)

The Cardinal started 16-1 before three straight loses at the end of January removed them from the national spotlight. Well the semifinalists from last season have quietly won seven of eight and are a game behind Georgetown for first. Rick Pitino and his squad will look to avenge a 70-68 loss at home to ‘C*se back on January 19^th when they visit the Carrier Dome on Saturday. Junior guard Russ Smith out of Brooklyn is second in the Big East in scoring at 18.4 a contest.

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1. No. 15 Georgetown (18-4, 8-3)

Georgetown did not win a Big East game with Greg Whittington and his 12.1 points, seven boards, and two assists per game in the lineup, but the Hoyas are 8-1 without him. Friday in Cincinnati will be a true test for JT III and the boys. Remember that the Bearcats bounced Georgetown from the Big East quarters in double OT a year ago and have won four straight in this series. Wins against Cincy and then DePaul mid-week would be enormous for GU ahead of next Saturday’s trip to S*racuse for a matchup with Jim Boeheim and his band of plagiarizing shop lifters.

2. No. 6 Syracuse (20-4, 8-3)

‘C*SE has more wins than the Hoyas, but their non-conference schedule was typically anemic. Boeheim’s boys have lost three of five, on the road in Philly, Pittsburgh, and Storrs, and are lucky for the chance to catch their breath against Seton Hall and Providence ahead of their clash with Georgetown. To nobody’s surprise, the Orange’s James Southerland won an appeal against an academic suspension.

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