While most of the sports fans in America turn the attention to the Super Bowl, this is the time every year, when Jets fans like me try and tune out the non-stop pregames and focus on Big East hoops. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be all about the Colts and Bears by Sunday morning. But today, it’s all about the roundball.

There are 6 games today, so here’s an overview of what you should be doing on the day before Super Sunday. And of course I thought I’d be nice and offer some thoughts and predictions, and we’ll see how I do.

Noon - Louisville @ Villanova (ESPN)- This is probably the best game of the entire weekend, and considering that it starts in about an hour, I’m pretty damn fired up. Both teams have been playing well of late, and I think Louisville has the better team. But give me Nova in this game. They have one of the best crowds in the conference and the team has to be ready for a big win. I know there’s no formula for this pick, but this game is practically a toss-up and I just have a feeling about the home team in this one. Look for Nardi to hit a three in the last minute to stretch the lead to three possessions and for the Wildcats to win by about 7.

Noon - West Virginia @ Seton Hall (ESPN Full Court) - West Virginia’s been sliding of late, but I think they’ll get back on track here. And yes Donald, your boy Joe Alexander will do well this afternoon. The Pirates will put up a fight, but WVU wins.

Noon-Rutgers @ UConn (ESPN Full Court) - UConn can’t shoot. They are one of the worst shooting teams in the Big East that I’ve seen in a while. But, Rutgers is real, real bad. Makes you want to watch this game, doesn’t it? They’d finish near the bottom of some Mid Major Conferences, and this game is not at the RAC. UConn by about 15.

2PM- Providence @ Marquette (ESPNU) - I don’t get ESPNU so I won’t be watching this one, but considering that PC already beat MU once this year, I don’t think this game will be close. Also, Marquette is apparently retiring Dwayne Wade’s jersey. Sorry PC fans, but you’ve got no shot in this one. By the way, can someone tell me please why Wade is leaving Miami for Wisconsin this weekend?

4PM - DePaul @ Syracuse (ESPN FullCourt) - I’ll take the Cuse in this game. They’ve been realing of late, but they’re the better team, and the Dome should be loud today considering people in Upstate NY don’t have much else to look forward to on this cold winter afternoon. So they might as well go nuts for their Orange.

8PM - Notre Dame @ USF (no TV) - I thought about making the 2 hour drive down to watch this game, but then I thought better of myself, and realized that I’d be driving 2 hours to go see USF. Sorry Bulls, you get no love from me. The Irish will win by 15 tonight.

St. John’s will beat Cincinnati tomorrow afternoon as well, in a game that is on ESPN Full Court, but nobody will watch.

OK, time to go get the grill started. The next two days are going to be awesome!

Categories: Commentary, Big Willie Style