Getting a little bit of a late start on the week’s slate of games. Hopefully, everyone who had off today for the holiday enjoyed their time and reflected for at least a minute upon the work of Dr. Martin Luther King.

As far as the matchups this week go:

Most people had Marquette knocking off Louisville at home this afternoon. I did too. The Golden Eagles were impressive in their comeback today.

Take Syracuse tonight against Pitt. Pitt is not a good team at all right now, and Syracuse is #1 in the nation. That makes this pick elementary.

To close out the night, Rutgers hosts Notre Dame and I’ll take the Scarlet Knights at home. I love the RAC, and I think it’ll work in the Knight’s favor this evening.

TUESDAY

Only one game is on the slate on Tuesday, and it shouldn’t be much of a contest. Take the Hoyas on the road over the Blue Demons.

WEDNESDAY

In a rematch of an NCAA second round match from last year, UConn hosts Cincinnati. And although the Bearcats would like some revenge, I don’t think they get it as the Huskies should pull this one out.

I also have been waiting on Villanova to begin improving but I don’t think this is the night it happens. Seton Hall should be able to take this one on the road.

Finally, look for the USF Bulls to win another one at home over the Red Storm. That’s a long flight down to Tampa and I see the Johnnies being a little sluggish in this one.

Should be some great basketball this week as the season standing continue to shake out.

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There’s quite a few interesting matchups this weekend, and it starts early with UConn traveling to Notre Dame. Take the Huskies on the road over the Irish.

Cincinnati plays host to Villanova and should take care of business at home.

Marquette also hosts Pitt, and I’m done picking the Panthers, as they’ve burned my selections too many times. I’ll take Marquette, which might be good for Pitt.

WVU hosts Rutgers, and although the knights have been playing good basketball recently, I still don’t trust them on the road. Take the Mountaineers in this one.

Louisville hosts DePaul and although the cards have been a mystery of late, I think they’ll handle the Blue Demons.

Finally, Syracuse hosts Providence and although I believe the Cuse will get pushed again, I think they’ll win.

And then on Sunday, Georgetown squares off in a game with St. John’s that the Hoyas should win.

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What’s the deal with Ryan Boatright? Suspension…. Play a few games…. Suspension again. Did  UConn check this kid out before taking him? Watching the UConn games it seems as though he committed to every school in the country before settling at UConn. And the NCAA seems to be bent on following his every move. Why didn’t they do a full investigation the first time? You would think that UConn would be doing a complete study of everyone they recruit after what happened there a couple years ago. It is embarrassing to see the goings on here. Either declare the player eligible or ineligible and move on.

Is there some problem at Pitt? Watching the Panthers play the last few weeks it seems that the players aren’t motivated to play or win. The game against Rutgers was one of the poorest performances ever from a Pitt squad.  Missing layups and firing air balls from the perimeter. Allowing opposing guards to drive to the basket unmolested. Getting schooled on the boards at home by Rutgers? What’s the deal here?

Seton Hall rolls along only to be edged by USF. And it shouldn’t have come down to a missed free throw by Jordan Theodore at the end. The Hall had a 10 point lead and saw it float away late in the second half.

Louisville loses by 30 at Providence? I know that winning on the road is tough in the Big East but this is a team that hadn’t won a game in the league against a top 10 team. This had me scratching my head.

How is Mike Brey winning without Tim Abromaitis? Even though the Irish fans get impatient with Brey he has to be one of the elite coaches in the country to continually win with the stringent requirements for student athletes in South Bend. Could Calhoin or Boeheim win it all if they were constrained with the entrance requirements Brey has to deal with? Don’t think so.

And so it goes…. Just another Big East season….. And another set of questions to be answered.

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College football is stupid. Not the games, not the crowd, not the players, just the ridiculous way they determine their “champion.” If college basketball did it the same way, the Big East would have the national champion for the past 5 years, just like the SEC has done in football. Thank goodness the NCAA settles their basketball championship on the court. Tonight we’ve got games that actually matter, not a game chosen by old white men in suits and ties.

MONDAY

UConn has struggles recently, but I think they’ll right the ship tonight against West Virginia.

We’ve got another great game this evening between the Hoyas and the Bearcats and I think the Hoyas will get it done at home tonight.

TUESDAY

Providence is at home against Louisville and although the Friars will put up a fight, I’ve got the Cards rebounding from their loss against PC.

Notre Dame has been surprising so far and I think they’ll hold serve at home against the Bulls of USF.

Finally, Seton Hall is at home against DePaul and I think they’ll continue their winning ways at home.

WEDNESDAY

Three more games Wednesday night begin with the Orange traveling to Villanova. Clearly the class of the league so far, Syracuse has looked very impressive. I think Villanova will hold their own against the Orange, but I think SU will pull it out.

Marquette should be able to win their home game against St. John’s.

Pittsburgh will FINALLY get things going and defeat Rutgers with a home victory.

FRIDAY

Seton Hall travels to Tampa for a strange Friday night game and I think the Pirates will have trouble here. However, they’ll win close. The weather’s nice in Florida right now and this trap game tells me to take the USF Bulls against the spread.

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I’m a little tardy getting this pix in. Sorry about that. And I admit, I had Gtown winning the first game, so I’ll take the L on that one. From this point on:

I’ll take Cincinnati at home against St. John’s.
Look for Marquette to keep it close against the Orange, but I’ll stick with Syracuse to pull it out at home.
UConn goes into a very dangerous RAC, but they’ll win a close one at Rutgers.
Look for Louisville to win at home against the Irish.
Seton Hall goes on the road to Providence and I think the Pirates will get it done on the road. These are the games Seton Hall will have to come up with on the road if they are going to legitimately contend this year.
On Sunday, I think Villanova will be able to take the victory against DePaul.

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