There was plenty of action to go around on the first day of the 2012 Big East Tournament. Eight teams squared off with dreams of obtaining the conference championship and entry into the 2012 NCAA Tournament, but only four were able to advance. The others will be heading home or following Wednesday’s second round as spectators.
Big East Tournament 2012 Bracket Update: UConn, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, Villanova Advance
Bill Hanstock is a writer, author and Emmy Award-winning producer. He began writing for SB Nation in 2011.
In the game that kicked everything off, the ninth-seeded Connecticut Huskies easily dispatched the No. 16 seed DePaul Blue Demons by a final score of 81-67. Connecticut will advance to the second round on Wednesday to face off against the eighth-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers.
Tuesday's second opening-round contest saw the No. 13 seed Pittsburgh Panthers trounce the No. 12 seed St. John's Red Storm by a final of 73-59. Pittsburgh will take on the No. 5 Georgetown Hoyas in the second round on Wednesday.
The pair of night games began with the No. 10 Seton Hall Pirates squaring off against the No. 15 Providence Friars. Although Providence opened the game by going on a 9-0 run, things quickly went south for them. The Pirates ended up coasting to a 79-47 win. Seton Hall will meet the No. 7 Louisville Cardinals on Wednesday.
In the nightcap, the No. 14 Villanova Wildcats stunned the No. 11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights with a massive second half en route to a 70-49 win. Villanova will take on the No. 6 South Florida Bulls in the second round.
You can find the complete Big East 2012 Tournament bracket by clicking right here.
For complete coverage of the 2012 Big East Tournament, stay tuned to this StoryStream or visit SB Nation’s dedicated NCAA basketball hub. For all things Big East Conference, you can always stop by Big East Coast Bias.
See More:
