2024 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament
Championship
1st Place: Connecticut Huskies (30-3, 18-2 Big East) vs. third Place: Marquette Golden Eagles (25-8, 14-6 Big East)
Date and time: Saturday, March 16, 2024
Time: 5:30pm Central
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Leader in market statistics
Points: Cam Jones, 16.9 ppg
Rebound: Oso Ighodalo, 7.1 RPG
Assist: Tyler Kolek, 7.6 apg
Marquette Injury Note: As of this writing late Friday night time, there isn’t a official replace on Tyler Kolek’s standing. Head coach Shaka Smart stated Wednesday that Kolek will not be scheduled to play towards the All-American level guard in Thursday’s quarterfinals as he recovers from an indirect muscle damage, after which Kolek shall be obtainable for the remaining video games. I guessed it was uncertain and adopted up. Then it is the Big East Tournament. Kolek didn’t seem within the quarterfinals or semifinals. For now, I’m going into Saturday night time’s recreation anticipating Kolek to not play. His well being is crucial factor heading into subsequent week’s NCAA Tournament. ….But for him to win his second straight title within the Big East Tournament is fairly superior. Big issues too.
But I stated there isn’t a official replace on Tyler Kolek’s situation. I consider that is an unofficial replace:
Connecticut Stats Leader
Points: Tristen Newton, 15.2 ppg
Rebounds: Tristen Newton, 7.1 RPG
Assist: Tristen Newton, 5.9 apg
Wait a minute: As you sort/learn all of this, keep in mind that UConn was one of many clear prime three contenders for the nationwide championship and gained the league by 4 video games over Creighton and Marquette. It’s slightly ridiculous that Devin Carter beat Newton to win the Big East Player of the Year award.
KenPom.com Ranking
Market: #13
Connecticut: #2
Match Prediction: Market has a 30% likelihood of profitable with a predicted rating of 77-72.
Earlier this season: Connecticut dominated Marquette, profitable each Hartford and Milwaukee. The recreation on the XL Center ended Marquette’s profitable streak at eight, however it was in the end a disappointing displaying on the nationwide stage, with first-place University defeating the fourth-place Golden Eagles 81-53. After beginning 18-18, UW ended the primary half on a 24-8 run, however Marquette did not make consecutive baskets once more till lower than three minutes remained.
The second assembly had the identical ends in the win-loss column, however the paths to get there have been very completely different. #8 Marquette ripped off his 12-0 run towards the Huskies early in Milwaukee, however #2 UConn fought again together with his 21-7 burst and held his MU at virtually arm’s size from there. did. The second half obtained attention-grabbing as Marquette made 5 straight stops to get inside 5 factors with a minute left, however it was as shut as the ultimate recreation, 74-67. The drawback was, Marquette was with out Tyler Kolek for that recreation, and it got here 4 days after Oso Ighodalo needed to miss the sport with an sickness. If that is the case, I believe there have been only a few gamers on the group who may have given 100%, however the end result was nonetheless a lot nearer than the primary assembly.
How they obtained right here: As the event’s prime seed, UConn earned a bye into the quarterfinals and opened issues up with a recreation towards Xavier. They discovered themselves in a good spot after the primary tip, rapidly discovering themselves behind 10-0. ….and shortly after, a run of his personal gave him a 13-10 lead. They did not begin to draw back from the X-Men till the second half, and by the point the Huskies went on an 18-2 run within the second half for an 87-60 win, the result appeared determined.
St. John’s superior to Friday’s semifinals to face UConn. It was 52-47 on the break, so factors had been the secret right here. Perhaps the competitors modified when the Huskies went on a 13-2 run early within the second half. Because the Huskies had been main 69-56. The ultimate rating was 95-90, however the rating was 91-83 with lower than a minute left. It’s onerous to say that St. John’s actually put the Huskies in bother late within the second half, however this rating makes it appear to be it was shut.
Tempo-Free Fun: When I wrote the preview for the second UConn recreation, it was a comparatively easy preview. Either Marquette realized a number of classes from the primary matchup about what to do towards the Huskies, or they did not. On prime of that, Marquette both realized find out how to play with out Tyler Kolek within the final recreation or they did not.
Well, since I ended up with a loss, I believe I’ve to say that each shall be declared as “there have been no losses”. But it is onerous to say it was as a result of Marquette led Connecticut to victory, particularly given the truth that Kolek was on the sideline.It’s clear that issues went a lot better than they did in Hartford. Now, Marquette has three extra video games to get used to taking part in with out Kolec, however it’s clear they are much higher now than they had been on March sixth. Assuming Kolek continues to heat up your entire time, what is going to occur within the third assembly between these two if MU has had extra time to determine the Huskies and extra time to determine itself out? Is not it?
Or how Shaka Smart provides All-American level guards and tense torsos an opportunity to essentially see how they actually really feel, and the pent-up power of gamers who reside with emotion and power on the court docket. What occurs when it is time to spend? Interesting, proper?
Looking on the two video games, the tip result’s a bit unusual contemplating the trail UConn took to get there. Alex Karaban and Cam Spencer had been large behind the arc, making a mixed 10 of 16 3-pointers for the seven-point win. The two had little impression within the 28-point win, making a mixed 3-of-12 capturing from past the arc. I stated this on the time. If you had advised me Marquette would lose by almost 30 factors, I might have stated it was Karavan and Spencer operating wild that did it. But that is not what occurred, and the market stored it attention-grabbing and tight even after they did. Strange, proper?
UW had 13 turnovers, however the Huskies had 12 within the first matchup. According to KenPom.com’s fee statistics, the market was slightly crushed on the glass in Milwaukee, which is not stunning. Connecticut is a top-15 offensive rebounding group, in keeping with KenPom.com’s fee stats, and is not any slouch on protection both. An enormous purpose Marquette stayed inside screaming distance is probably going as a result of they made his UConn inefficient contained in the arc. At UW-Milwaukee, he shot lower than 39 p.c from 2-point vary. The important issues to notice are that Donovan Clingan is 3-for-9 and Stephon Castle is 2-for-7. If Marquette can discover a technique to replicate that and forestall Clingan and Karaban from every getting 4 further probabilities, that might be their ticket to the title. Of course, the consideration is whether or not Marquette could cause these issues on the within whereas Karavan and Spencer battle to get clear seems on the surface. If that they had gone 3-for-12 once more, Marquette in all probability would have gained in Milwaukee, contemplating different circumstances.
Marquette’s final 10 video games: 7 wins, 3 losses, and wins in every of their final 3 video games.
Connecticut State’s final 10 video games: 9-1, with solely a street loss at Creighton tripping them up.
All-time sequence: UConn leads 10-8.
Current profitable streak: The season sweep provides UW its second straight win towards Marquette and the Huskies have gained seven of their previous 9 video games. Shout out to Jeri Ryan.