BIG EAST NOTES

There have been certainties in the Big East for the past two decades – that either Georgetown or Syracuse would reach the Big East semis, and that a 20-win season would ensure a berth in the NCAA Tournament. But now even the sure things aren’t so sure anymore.

For the first time in 22 years, neither flagship program advanced past the quarterfinal stage, with the Hoyas losing to Miami 84-76 in Thursday’s quarterfinal and the Orangemen getting bounced 78-64 by Villanova in Wednesday’s first round. With a Miami-Pittsburgh, UConn-Notre Dame semifinal matchup last night, there appears to be a changing of the guard.

That quartet seem to all have their NCAA tickets punched, but St. John’s, Boston College and Syracuse – all 20-11 – and Georgetown (19-11) are on the bubble, despite records that once would’ve assured them at-large NCAA bids.

In collegerpi.com’s latest mock bracket, the Red Storm were seeded ninth in the East Regional and the Eagles were seeded 11th in the West, but the Orangemen found themselves without an at-large berth. Since the Big East got its automatic bid in 1982-83, every league team with 20 wins has gone to the NCAAs. In fact, the only eligible 20-win team from a major conference not to get a bid was Alabama last year.

“It’s out of my hands. Whatever I think doesn’t matter,” said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.

And Hoyas coach Craig Esherick said, “This is a helpless feeling. We have three days where that’s all we’re going to be able to think about; whether the committee is going to pick us or not.”

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There are seven players on the All-Big East first team, and an inflated 18 on the three-tier all-star roster of a league that hardly warrants it, but there were still some griping about postseason honors. No. 7 Pitt, runaway winner in the West Division, got just one player on the first three teams (Brandin Knight), and BC’s Ryan Sidney, who led all guards nationally in rebounding and double-doubles (10), was jilted as well.

“It was absolutely a slap in our face that we’re 13-3 and we have one player out of 18 on the all-league team. You would think that a team winning is going to get a little more recognition,” said Coach of the Year Ben Howland.