2016 Big East Tourney - Thursday Quarterfinals...

[FenwayFriar]

In a pregame interview with smokeshow Molly McGrath, Coach Cooley called MSG "Dunkin' Donuts South." I love it! This team plays so well in this building. And our fans will be rocking the place. Real excited for this one!

[stever20]

So which is it? PC looking great or Butler looking awful? Not what you want for Butler......

[kmacker69]

So which is it? PC looking great or Butler looking awful? Not what you want for Butler......

Butler is playing sloppy as hell on O and over helping on D... Still in it, but need to play with some confidence and toughness now or it's going to get ugly quick with Bentil and Dunn shooting well!

[stever20]

I thought the Fox commentator had an interesting comp for Cooley in Izzo from Michigan St. Hadn't thought about that- but I totally get it.

[DudeAnon]

Sort of rooting for PC here. A win pushes both teams off the 8/9 seed line. Also, PC needs to get some momentum before the tourney. I just don't have much faith in this year's Butler team. But I would never bet against them, they always seem to turn it on when it counts.

[stever20]

Sort of rooting for PC here. A win pushes both teams off the 8/9 seed line. Also, PC needs to get some momentum before the tourney. I just don't have much faith in this year's Butler team. But I would never bet against them, they always seem to turn it on when it counts.

dangerous thing with that- Butler would fall sub 50 RPI and man they don't look good at all. Going to Dayton seems like it could be a very realistic chance.....

[DudeAnon]

Sort of rooting for PC here. A win pushes both teams off the 8/9 seed line. Also, PC needs to get some momentum before the tourney. I just don't have much faith in this year's Butler team. But I would never bet against them, they always seem to turn it on when it counts.

dangerous thing with that- Butler would fall sub 50 RPI and man they don't look good at all. Going to Dayton seems like it could be a very realistic chance.....

Not sure thats such a bad thing. Like I said, I don't have too much faith in Butler. Dayton would give them an easy shot to get an NCAA win. And its close by so their fanbase could show up. I also have a theory that the First Four actually serves to kick start the team that wins (see VCU, Dayton etc.)

[stever20]

Sort of rooting for PC here. A win pushes both teams off the 8/9 seed line. Also, PC needs to get some momentum before the tourney. I just don't have much faith in this year's Butler team. But I would never bet against them, they always seem to turn it on when it counts.

dangerous thing with that- Butler would fall sub 50 RPI and man they don't look good at all. Going to Dayton seems like it could be a very realistic chance.....

Not sure thats such a bad thing. Like I said, I don't have too much faith in Butler. Dayton would give them an easy shot to get an NCAA win. And its close by so their fanbase could show up. I also have a theory that the First Four actually serves to kick start the team that wins (see VCU, Dayton etc.)

your theory is spot on I think if you win. every year a team has won in the first 4 and gone on to win at least 1 other game- if not more. I wouldn't say it'd be an easy shot- their opponent could be like a Pitt, UConn, Cincy, or one of the others like a Wichita maybe....

[DudeAnon]

yea, "easier" was the more appropriate word.

[jaxalum]

Glad that Nova won. As stated earlier by a Nova fan, the media pundits are looking for reasons to delegitimize the Big East at every turn. Exhibit A. That ridiculous article after Xavier lost to Seton Hall, (a few days earlier X had defeated #1 Nova) the basic narrative being that the Big East is not a "Major Conference". The absolute epitome of a trap game, a mentally and emotionally decimated X team, and a Seton Hall team playing for a certifiable punched ticket to the dance. Not to mention the Pirates had been playing some great ball lately and there were less than a handful of teams in the country that would have beaten them that day.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/111800/xavier-may-have-lost-1-seed-but-helps-big-east

Doug Gottleib Tweet:
Nova and Xavier are nice teams- probably 4th in ACC,Big 12-- Big Ten maybe higher depending on schedule

Is there a more colossal uber ass bag wastoid rotten festering deusche pile of horse dung in all of the NCAA then Doug Gottlieb?

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the second round Nova game in the NCAA Tournament (the "real" second round game to advance to the Sweet 16). As a conference partner, I will definitely be feeling the nerves as this will be hands down their biggest game of the year, and won or lost most likely between the ears for the Wildcats. If they can clear that hurdle, then watch the f#ck out. Nerves/stress probably most notably affect a teams shooting more than any other facet. A loose Nova squad equals relaxed shooters. And we know what that means.

Can't decide who to root for, Butler or Providence? What is the outcome that best serves the conferences interests? Butler is 100% in the dance, right?

How are the crowds looking?