Louisville getting defensive
Maybe more so than any other conference in the nation, teams in the Big East fight, scratch and claw to finish in the top four of the standings by the end of the season. Those teams automatically qualify for the quarterfinals in the Big East Tournament, receiving a two-day bye in New York City.
After two wins this week, No. 11/11 Louisville is setting up nicely to receive that bye.
Currently sitting at 11-5 and tied for third in the Big East, the Cardinals now control their destiny and even have a chance at winning the conference.
Coach Rick Pitino’s squad has topped the 100-point mark three times this season and has scored 86 or more points eight different times, but recently the Cardinals have used spectacular defensive efforts to pick up wins.
Last week, Louisville began with an impressive win over Rutgers on Tuesday, taking down the Scarlet Knights 55-37 on the road. Louisville held Rutgers to just 29.5 percent shooting (13-of-44) and forced 18 turnovers for the game.
The Cardinals carried that performance into Sunday afternoon when they took down No. 4 Pittsburgh 62-59 in overtime. The win marked Louisville’s sixth over a ranked opponent and kept the Panthers from clinching the Big East regular season championship.
The Cardinals now rank fifth in the Big East in points per game allowed (65.6) and field goal percentage defense (41.5 percent).
One of the main reasons for Louisville’s performances on the defensive end has been sophomore guard Peyton Siva. He ranks third in the Big East with 2.1 steals per game.
“He has quick hands at the defensive end,” Pitino said of Silva. “Not only has he made great strides in becoming a better player, but he is a point guard who really thinks the game. We’re real proud of his advancement.”
Louisville will need to keep its defensive prowess going when it hosts Providence Wednesday night. The Friars rank second in the Big East with 73.1 points per game.
Syracuse back on track
Three weeks ago, the No. 12/12 Syracuse Orange (24-6, 11-6 Big East) lost a pair of games against ranked opponents, Georgetown and Louisville, dropping them to 7-6 in conference.
Last week, coach Jim Boeheim’s crew redeemed itself by going on the road and taking down then-No. 15/14 Villanova and No. 11/11 Georgetown.
Junior guard Scoop Jardine and senior forward Rick Jackson, natives of Philadelphia, came up big for the Orange in their first game of the week, a 69-64 win over Villanova.
Jackson, a potential Big East Player of the Year candidate, scored 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting, while Jardine finished with 20 points, four rebounds and six assists in his homecoming.
The duo was right back at it on Saturday afternoon when they took down the Chris Wright-less Georgetown Hoyas 58-51.
Jardine was everywhere, scoring 17 points, grabbing four rebounds and handing out seven assists, in the absence of the Hoyas’ senior guard — who is out with a broken left hand.
Jackson gave another quality performance in the Orange’s second win, going for 12 points and seven rebounds.
Boeheim made it clear that the upperclassmen give Syracuse the opportunity to be a dangerous team.
“The key for us is those four guys playing well (Jardine, Brandon Triche, Kris Joseph and Jackson),” Boeheim said. “If our four veteran guys play well, then we have a chance.”
With just a home game against DePaul (7-21, 1-15 Big East) remaining on their Big East schedule, the Orange should get to 12-6 and have a chance to obtain a double-bye in the Big East Tournament. Either way, they will have plenty of momentum heading to New York City.
Player of the Week: Marshon Brooks
The senior wing has been Big East Player of the Week before, but this is a no-brainer. Though his Providence Friars fell to then-No. 9/9 Notre Dame 94-93 on Wednesday, Brooks put together the best performance of the year. He scored a Big East-record 52 points on 20-of-28 shooting, including six 3-pointers, and still managed five rebounds and four assists.
Brooks struggled against Marquette, for his standards, scoring 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting in an 86-62 loss. The best player no one has heard about is averaging 25.1 points this year and is hitting 49.6 percent of his shots.
Unless Providence wins the Big East Tournament, it will not be playing in the NCAA Tournament with a 14-15 record, and that’s too bad. Brooks is the real deal.
Game of the Week: Villanova at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh should wrap up the Big East regular season championship with a win over South Florida on Wednesday, but rest assured the Panthers will be bringing it when they close out their season against Villanova.
The Wildcats have struggled lately, losing their last three games, but still have plenty to play for as they try to finish in the top half of the Big East. At 9-7, they are tied with four other teams for seventh place.
The Panthers took down Villanova on Feb. 12, 57-54. Pittsburgh senior guard Brad Wanamaker led all scorers with 21 points, while four players scored in double figures for the Wildcats.
