I have to miss the UConn-ND game so the wife can get some TV time, and I get the computer. I am more curious about the Villanova-Providence game, anyways.

VT-Pitt: I came away from this game very, very impressed with Virginia Tech. Pitt had more talent and stronger personnel, but VT never gave up. They kept making runs at Pitt. They shot nearly 45% for the game, despite their best player, Matthews limited to only 30 minutes because of foul problems and fouling out with nearly 7 minutes left in the game. Their second best player, Gordon, shot better than 50% for 14 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds despite his own foul troubles and a bum ankle. I’m actually going to wish the basketball team well in the ACC.

Offensively, Pitt looked pretty good. They shot better than 50% from the field. Page had a solid game. You could see some real spring in his jump. Maybe he was being honest, when he said he was just tired (Though if that’s so, maybe Dixon should not have let him play 37 minutes when there’s another game tomorrow?). Troutman and Krauser both had their typically solid games. Jaron Brown was the scoring leader with 20 points (including an impressive 7-9 from the free throw line). Taft looked great everywhere except at the free throw line where he was an abysmal 0-6. Take out his Free throws and Pitt was about 72% from the line. Pitt definitely looked more for the inside baskets, to take pressure off of Page, Krauser and Brown. The only red flag was that Pitt was outrebounded by VT 34-32. VT had been outrebounded the previous day by Rutgers 39-23. Pitt wasn’t just slower to the ball, it seemed that Troutman and Taft were having trouble getting positioned properly on the offensive end because they were trying to score more.

Post game quotes from both sides. VT Coach Seth Greenberg was highly complimentary to Jaron Brown. Pitt Coach Jamie Dixon refused to take credit for Pitt’s big run to start the second half.

BC-Syracuse: As I said, “This should be a great game. I give the edge to Syracuse, but a BC win wouldn’t be a shock.” I hedged, but stuck with the favorite. Some were a little cockier.

he post season is finally here, and Syracuse’s defense of the 2003 NCAA National Championship now begins in earnest. Step one is getting past the surging Boston College Eagles and advancing in the Big East Tournament. Look for the poise and savvy of the more experienced Orangemen to win out over the youthful enthusiasm of the Eagles today, and for Syracuse to send BC off to the ACC once and for all with their tail feathers tucked between their legs.

Factual error: BC still has one more year in the Big East before slinking away from the Big East. Other errors were on the slight exuberance of fans.

Early in the game, it looked like BC would have no chance against Syracuse. Syracuse was hot at both ends. They were pushing the ball, passing, in total control. The defense had BC flustered and confused. At halftime, Syracues had a 32-23 lead. Many could be excused for thinking it would only get worse in the second half.

A funny thing happened. Syracuse only scored 22 points in the second half. Unfortunately, right now I can’t find a box score that shows the splits from first to second half. The Official one from BC is wrong. There are no first half numbers, and the second half numbers are the totals. For the game, BC was held to just over 35% shooting, and 0-9 from 3-point range. I’m pretty sure though that there is a skew. The big thing for BC was that they got to the free throw line, and made their shots. They went 17-24 at the line. ‘Cuse only got there 13 times and made 8. Of course, Syracuse shot almost 44% for the game and 4-10 from 3-point. BC also out rebounded Syracuse 32-25, which was a surprise.

In the post-game interviews, BC head coach Al Skinner refused to say anything about Pitt. Referring back to my post a couple days ago with Smizik and the Big East Tourney not mattering, let’s read how Syracuse coach Boeheim addresses that sort of stupidity

Q. Tough to lose the game, but do you like the rest, to have some rest to get ready for the NCAAs at all?

COACH JIM BOEHEIM: Stupid question. Next question.

Yeah, I like to lose. Yeah, I like to lose. Next question.

You haven’t asked a question… Go back to Syracuse, will you, please.

Somehow the transcript doesn’t capture his feelings completely.

Finally, I note that UConn beat ND 66-58.

The First Round of the BET was actually more exciting than I expected, with only Georgetown-BC not even being as close as the score indicated. My original picks can be found here.

Rutgers-VT: I watched this game very closely because the winner would face Pitt today. First time I actually saw either team all year. The play confirmed what I expected. VT has been a team that has played better as the season went on, and Rutgers just lacked something the longer VT hung around. VT showed that they can play a solid game, though their shooting was streaky. Not good in the first half, and not missing in the second. Matthews of VT had a bad game, but Rutgers just choked it away during the second half.

WVU-ND: I admit, I stopped paying attention to this game after about 10 minutes. So I missed the comeback and last minute excitement. This game explains why I didn’t think ND could beat UConn in the second round.

Villanova-Seton Hall: The big upset. Villanova finally pulls one out after failing to hold on. ‘Nova played the way it has in its last half-dozen games. Big early runs, looking like the upset is possible, but then not taking care of the ball and choking in the second half. This time they got the big run early, but Seton Hall got back in to the game before the half to only be down 2. I figured the second half would be all Hall. Not this time. Villanova did give up the lead, but did not collapse. They stayed in the game and in the last minute appeared to blow it on an inbounds play when Nardi banged knees and fell down as the ball skittered past him. Then Toney-El missed two free throws for Seton Hall, the last being a choked air ball. Wow. Great finish.

I spent most of the day watching a lot of the Big East Tournament, and just didn’t have the energy or time to post then. I’ll try to get to some impressions and also second round action tonight.

In San Antonio, a columnist there looks at Pitt as a source of inspiration for Texas A&M in basketball.

Five years ago, the Panthers entered the Big East tournament with a lame-duck coach and one of the most miserable programs in the league.

Today, they return to Madison Square Garden not only with the conference’s coach of the year, but also with a team good enough to make the Final Four.

Somewhere, Bill Byrne might be able to take some comfort in that.

Byrne, Texas A&M’s athletic director, is no doubt too preoccupied these days to worry about what’s happening a half-continent away. But this weekend, he’d be wise to take a quick glance at Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon — if not at the man, then at the message:

It can be done.

Granted, the Panthers never went 0-16 in conference play, and they never had to battle the kind of basketball apathy that has plagued College Station for much of the past two decades.

In Syracuse, they handicapped the field yesterday, and declared Pitt the favorite. They also anticipate a wild battle between Pitt and Syracuse in the semis — of course they expected that the Seton Hall vs. Providence match-up today would be the best and that didn’t happen (didn’t you also think that? Shut up!).

In the locals, the P-G wonders about the guard play of Pitt. Specifically, will it get out of its collective slump? Does Pitt change and look for the inside scoring with Troutman and Taft first? Good questions. Unfortunately, we don’t have an answer. There’s also a puff piece on Krauser back in NYC. The best story in the P-G today, is the one on Joe Lunardi, ESPN’s bracket expert.

The Trib focuses on the Hokies winning and basically playing with house money going into the game that is now only a few minutes away. Also a rumination piece about whether Dixon will get a new contract after the season is over (probably).