Can The Big East Send 11 Teams Dancing?

Anyone who makes a bet on college basketball at BetUs during the next month will likely run across a team from the Big East, which has to be considered the best conference in the country. They already hold the record when it comes to having the most teams in the NCAA Tournament with eight in 2006 and 2008. This year, they look ready to shatter that with a mind-blogging 11 teams, and not only is it possible, it’s likely.

Right now, there are eight Big East teams in the top 25: Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Georgetown, Syracuse, Villanova, Louisville and St. John’s. The shakiest team in this list is Villanova thanks to a late-season slide, but a good showing in the Big East tournament will make everyone forget about that. Next is Cincinnati, West Virginia and Marquette, who all have nine wins in the Big East heading into the final weekend of the regular season, and you have to think that 10 wins would clinch their spot. The Bearcats will host Georgetown, the Mountaineers will welcome Louisville to Morgantown, and Marquette will wrap up the regular-season slate at Seton Hall, so all three have games that are winnable and in the case of Cincinnati and West Virginia, they would be another win over a ranked team.

As for Seton Hall, it really is a shame that they’re in the Big East as they’re likely the best 18-12 team you have ever seen. However, when you’re five games below in your conference, you’re not going to get a ticket for the Big Dance. Rutgers would even prosper in another conference, which shows you just how deep and grueling the Big East is. Remember, there is a committee who makes the picks for Selection Sunday and like the SEC in football, biases can be swayed if you are constantly called the best conference in the country, which the Big East has going for it. If they don’t put at least 10 teams in the NCAA Tournament, we would be shocked and stunned.