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BIG EAST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT SEEDING:

1. Boston College
2. Connecticut
3. Syracuse
4. Villanova
5. Pittsburgh
6. Notre Dame
7. West Virginia
8. Georgetown
9. Providence
10. Seton Hall
11. Rutgers

This conference is stacked with NCAA tournament teams, and this tournament could be the most entertaining of all the conference tourneys. With Connecticut, Villanova, and Pittsburgh on the rise, and Boston College and Syracuse suffering some recent slip-ups, the Big East championship is up for grabs.

B.C. earned the top seed in the conference by playing physical basketball and relying on the play of All-Big East first team members Jared Dudley and Craig Smith. If the team can ride those two horses like they did earlier this year to wins over UConn and Syracuse, then the Eagles could lay claim to the championship trophy.

Connecticut is one of the hottest teams in the country right now, peaking at exactly the right time, something that is turning in to a Jim Calhoun trademark. The play of sophomore point guard Marcus Williams has keyed the resurgence of the defending national champions, and front- liners Charlie Villanueva, Rudy Gay, and Josh Boone have played inspiring ball, scoring, rebounding, and leading the nation’s top shot-blocking team (the three of them combine for 6.8 blocks per game). The Huskies, coming off of wins at Pittsburgh and at home over Syracuse, are the most dangerous team in this field.

Syracuse boasts tournament experience, which is why the Orange remain a threat to win the conference. All-Big East first-teamers Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara have been shouldering the scoring load all year, though, and they need someone else to help spread opposing defenses. A great tournament by someone like Josh Pace or Louie McCroskey could go a long way in determining whether Syracuse wins the conference or not.

Villanova and Pittsburgh are extremely dangerous as four and five seeds. Both teams have marquee wins this year and are NCAA tournament bound, and will be a tough out in this bracket. Teams will have fits defending Villanova’s trio of juniors, Randy Foye, Allan Ray, and Curtis Sumpter, who combine for 48 points a game. Pittsburgh sophomore Chris Taft finally broke out the last week of the regular season with big time performances against B.C. and Notre Dame, and he along with Chevon Troutman give Pitt a front line that can match up with anyone. Senior Carl Krauser running the point gives them an experienced leader whom the Panthers can depend on.

Teams that could provide a shakeup? Look no further than West Virginia and Notre Dame. While both should make the NCAA tournament, a win over one of the top teams would put both the Mountaineers and the Fighting Irish over the top and into the Big Dance. Notre Dame’s Chris Thomas and Colin Falls can be as streaky as it gets, and if they catch fire, they can take down any team in a one-and-done scenario.

If you want some serious March madness, buy a ticket to Madison Square Garden and check out the Big East conference tournament.