Hopefully, all good things don’t have to end.
After four straight winning seasons — and a long weekend in Albany (are there any other kind?) at the MAAC Tournament — Howie Hoops returns in time for the Big East Tournament, Big Ten Tournament and every other big conference tournament.
It’s that magical time of year when we’re brought back together by basketball and brackets and pools, when afternoon happy hours last for hours and meaningless last-second shots mean as much as game-winning buzzer-beaters, when people I’ve never met alternate between calling me a friend and a fraud, a genius and a moron.
So, here’s to a great Season V for us all, now in Roman numerals in hopes of having the same success as other great traditions for which it has worked: Super Bowls, Wrestlemanias and Rocky movies.
Seton Hall (PK) over Marquette: Next season can’t come soon enough for the Pirates after their second-half meltdown, but next season won’t come until facing top-seeded Villanova in a rematch of last year’s quarterfinals, in which Seton Hall stunned the Wildcats. For one day, talent will be enough to win, facing a Golden Eagles team completely reliant on the shooting of Matt Carlino.
Creighton (-3) over DePaul: Even without Doug McDermott, the incredible Bluejays fans — who traveled so well last year — will heavily outnumber the non-existent base of the Blue Demons, who have lost seven straight. If only DePaul were located in a city with better basketball talent …
Rutgers (+10) over Minnesota: Though the Scarlet Knights have been predictably awful in their first year in the Big Ten, senior guard Myles Mack will have one more big performance, keeping it close in the final game of his career.
Fordham (+2) over George Mason: Playing close to home, the Rams won their first Atlantic 10 Tournament game in eons over Mason in the first round last year. This year, standout freshman Eric Paschall, who scored 21 points in Fordham’s 80-68 road win over the Patriots last month, will be the difference.
2014 record: 34-20-3
2011-14 record: 106-67-5
Follow @HowieKussoy on Twitter for bonus picks throughout March Madness
