There has never been a Big East Conference Tournament like this topsy-turvy, upset-laden, mad-dash, end-to-end, don’t-bet-your-pension, free-for-all in the Garden. Never.
No. 1-seed UConn? Gone.
No. 2-seed ‘Nova? See UConn.
No. 3 seed West Virginia? See ‘Nova.
No. 4 seed Marquette? See all of the above.
Syracuse (22-11), the No. 9 seed, had willed its way into last night’s championship behind an overrated player, who happened to knock down 6-of-10 3s in the 2003 NCAA championship game as a freshman.
Gerry McNamara should be more flattered by the numerous calls from young vixens offering marriage proposals and other, uh, trifectas, than insulted by the opinion of anonymous assistant coaches.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen a player have a better tournament than Gerry McNamara,” Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said after the Orange rallied from 15 down to beat Georgetown in Friday’s semifinal. “And I know I haven’t seen fans react to a player like this since The Pearl [Dwayne Washington, 1983-86].”
Pittsburgh (24-6), the No. 6 seed, blew a chance at a first-round bye by losing its regular-season finale to Seton Hall, snapping a 17-game home win streak and leaving the entire team relegated to the status of overrated.
Coach Jaime Dixon has taken a backseat in his own family to sister Maggie, who just led Army to its first-ever Patriot League title. The Post has received betrothal offers for Maggie Dixon, as well.
“Must be something in that family,” said Pittsburgh guard Carl Krauser of The Bronx. “The Coaching Dixons.”
This is certain: Whichever team won last night would mark the lowest seeded team ever to win a Big East crown in the Garden. Syracuse won it as a No. 6 seed in 1981 in the Carrier Dome. Whichever team won also would be the first to do so by winning four tournament games.
This is possible: If Pittsburgh wins, McNamara – who has scored 51 points, dished 27 assists and grabbed 11 rebounds – could be the second player from a team that doesn’t win the title to garner MVP honors.
Washington, the former Syracuse star and Brooklyn high school legend, won the honor in 1986 even though St. John’s bested the Orangemen in the title game. Walter “The Truth” Berry blocked a last-second Pearl layup to preserve the win.
This is to be treasured: The 2006 Big East Conference Tournament will be remembered for McNamara, who has done a little bit of everything, including getting his head coach to utter a profanity and his teammates to be awed by his clutch play.
“Gerry has been great the whole year,” said swingman Demetris Nichols. “I think this is the way to go out, you know. He started off, you know, good and he’s going out with a bang. That’s the way to go out. I’m proud of him.”
McNamara has spent the week trying to deflect attention. He’s lauded his teammates for stepping up, thanked the training staff for more ice baths than a polar bear and seemed somewhat oblivious to the love that’s cascaded down from the Garden fans, even those not wearing Orange.
McNamara has reminded every fan that some players can’t be measured by their vertical jump or height or dazzling dribble. Some players need only look at their championship ring and be driven to win another.
“If you want to call me overrated, that’s fine,” said McNamara. “But I’ve been successful and won, whether or not you like the way I play.”
UConn, ‘Nova, West Virginia and Marquette would say they like it just fine.
lenn.robbins@nypost.com
CLUTCH TOUCH
Wednesday
Hits off-balance 3 with less than a second left for a 74-73 win over Cincinnati.
Thursday
Hit game-tying 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in regulation during OT upset of No. 1-ranked UConn.
Friday
Hits 3-pointer with 41 seconds left (left) to pull Orange within one in 58-57 win over Georgetown.
