Big East Championship Semis Preview

So…is a New York minute the equivalent of six overtimes? Well, it was last night as the Big East Championship continues to shock. The quarterfinal round had a little bit of everything…starting with a beatdown, then a buzzer-beater, followed by a shocking upset, and concluding with the longest game in tourney history. It was one hell of a Thursday. Can Friday live up to the hype? I guess we’ll have to see. Here are the picks.

Yesterday: 3-1

Overall: 9-3

(4) Villanova vs. (1) Louisville: This is now the Cards tourney to win. It is also incredibly important for them to do so if they want a top seed in the Big Dance. Both teams are coming off good wins, but the Wildcats expended much more energy in dispensing Marquette. The Cards snuck past Nova earlier this year, and expect another gem. Both teams match-up well. The Wildcats can break the tough pressure with experienced guards. Meanwhile, Louisville should be able to own the paint. The difference may come down to coaching...and…well…sorry Nova fans.

Prediction: 64-59 Louisville

(7) West Virginia vs. (6) Syracuse: The big question is what does Syracuse have left? After a six OT game (not to mention playing back-to-back nights) what could they still have in the tank? The Orange match-up well with WVU, but it will be tough if they can’t get a transition game going. The Mountaineers have to make sure they keep their composure after beating their biggest rival. WVU needs to also forget that Syracuse is coming off a marathon game. If all things were equal the Orange would be the favorite. However, the legs of the big men will fail them as WVU pulls one out late.

Prediction: 80-73 West Virginia

Editor's note...The summery and score have been changed from the original article. Same team winning though.