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No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Syracuse, today, noon. This game keeps the winner's NCAA tournament hopes alive and says to the loser, "Welcome to the NIT." Each team won on the other's home court during the season, but the Villanova Wildcats have to tighten up a defense that allowed the Orange to shoot 62.8 percent in their last meeting.
No. 5 West Virginia vs. No. 12 Providence, today, about 2:20. The Mountaineers need a win to erase any doubt as to their NCAA qualifications. WVU went 11-7 in the league but only 2-5 against the six Big East teams that are considered NCAA locks. The Friars squeaked in on the final day after DePaul lost.
No. 7 Pittsburgh vs. No. 10 Cincinnati, tonight, 7. The Panthers defeated Georgetown on Jan. 14 but haven't had a signature win since. They welcomed back guard Levance Fields in mid-February, and he is getting better every game. The Bearcats are carrying a five-game losing streak, including Sunday's 96-51 shellacking at Connecticut.
No. 6 Marquette at No. 11 Seton Hall, tonight, about 9:20. The Marquette Golden Eagles swept the Pirates this season but have lost two of three since a five-game winning streak. Seton Hall was embarrassed by lowly Rutgers in its season finale, its seventh defeat in its last nine games.
Here is a look at the top four seeds that will begin play tomorrow:
No. 1 Georgetown, playing Villanova-Syracuse winner. Looking to maybe jump into a No. 2 NCAA seed by winning the tournament, the regular-season champion Hoyas are one of the top teams in the nation in points allowed and field-goal percentage defense.
No. 2 Louisville, playing Pittsburgh-Cincinnati winner. The Cardinals had their nine-game win streak ended in the season finale against Georgetown but have the defense and depth to come out of New York with the postseason trophy.
No. 3 Notre Dame, playing Marquette-Seton Hall winner. Behind conference player of the year Luke Harangody, the Fighting Irish play an enjoyable, fast-paced brand of basketball. The big question is how they will do away from home. They were 7-6 on the road.
No. 4 Connecticut, playing West Virginia-Providence winner. The Huskies had a 10-game win streak broken last month by Villanova and lost to Providence twice. But they have the league's premier shot blocker in 7-foot-3 Hasheem Thabeet.
- Joe Juliano
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