The Big East Manages to Become More Confusing

Not that you’re really able to pronounce anyone “dead” in the Big East these days, but UConn was certainly not in the best condition after Saturday’s home loss to Cincinnati. (OK, maybe you can pronounce DePaul dead. Moment of silence? Moment of silence.) But there was UConn on Monday night, coming off an absolutely terrible game, complicating the top of the league by beating Villanova.Villanova is in the middle of a tough close to the season that will either solidify them as a No. 1 seed or drop them down to the No. 2 or 3 line. With games at Pitt, Syracuse and Cincinnati, plus a home contest against West Virginia to close the season, this isn’t an easy stretch. UConn couldn’t have been considered a “gimme,” but it wasn’t one the Wildcats should lose, particularly at home and following a 48-point effort by the Huskies on Saturday. Does it put a ding in the league’s chances to land two No. 1 seeds? Sure. But there is plenty of resume building to be done with the above listed teams remaining on the schedule, so continue to fill out that top line in pencil.

Now Syracuse and Villanova hold 11-2 records, but the real mess starts at the third spot in the league. Six teams -- West Virginia, Pitt, Georgetown, Marquette, Louisville and Cincinnati -- are within two games of each other. Of those six, Cincinnati is probably the biggest pretender of the bunch. It’s not intended to be a shot at UC, but each of the other teams listed has a big scalp to their credit this season.

The latest media mock NCAA selection placed seven teams in the field of 65. Notably in: South Florida. Notably out: Cincinnati and Louisville. The beauty of having so many teams in play for a spot is that there will be a game of great consequence almost every day from here on out. Just look at the next week. All times eastern.

Wednesday, Feb. 17: Notre Dame at Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN2. The Cardinals are trying to make up for some early-season struggles. Kicking Notre Dame when they’re down -- Luke Harangody could miss the game -- is essential.

Thursday, Feb. 18: Syracuse at Georgetown (7 p.m., ESPN2) and Pitt at Marquette (9 p.m., ESPN2): The significance of the first tilt is obvious. For the Cuse, it’s a league title. For Georgetown, it’s trying to erase the smudge left by last weekend’s loss to Rutgers. Pitt’s stop at Marquette is another shot at home for the Golden Eagles, who have let West Virginia and Villanova escape by a total of three points.

Friday, Feb. 19: Take a day to yourself, because the weekend is stuffed.

Saturday, Feb. 20: St. John’s at South Florida (noon) and Louisville at DePaul (2 p.m., ESPNU). Neither South Florida or Louisville can lose these games if they harbor aspirations of making the field.

Sunday, Feb. 21: Villanova at Pitt (noon, CBS) and Marquette at Cincinnati (2 p.m., Big East Network/Local). Equal parts upper crust and bubble hopes close out the weekend. This will be Villanova’s first game since Monday night’s loss at home against UConn. Cincinnati needs a win to get on the right side of the bubble, and taking care of a winnable home game is essential when your final three regular season games look like this: at West Virginia, home against Nova, at Georgetown.

I could go on with this for a while, but you get the point. Just as it was last season, the Big East will continue to be appointment viewing for any self-respecting college hoops fans the rest of this season.

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