The Big East Tournament semifinals are made on a spectacle with a hoop

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They were the best four teams at a conference all season and each of them will hear their name invited to Sunday. But that’s not about it. It works, like Ucon The legend and the famous Jim Calhoun Basketball Hall said, “Being the best in your neighborhood.”

A stage for the semi -finals was set in the large eastern tournament, and the matches could not have been better, with number 6 St. John’s and no. 25 Market meeting only six days after Zuby Ejiofor And Johnnies ended on a regular season with his head in Milwaukee, followed by Ucon and Creighton, who hit the floor in the night drops for stories.

Rick Pitino and St. John Red storm They are at the top of the Big East Basketball Mountain currently, currently sitting at 28-4 and placing playing in the second semi-finals of the tournament in a conference after not doing so since 2000. The Red Storm achieved a total of their biggest victory in the regular part of the season with 27 wins and started postseason in its dominant form, cruising past Butler, 78-57.

It was a combination of defense on an elite level, a dynamic game with backcourt Rj luis and Kadr RichmondAnd an unusual desire and will to win, this led to the historic season of St. John.

On the other hand is Marquette, a team that showed America that he could still make noise in March after despair of 14 points against a desperate deficit against a desperate Xavier Tim and drawing a victory 89-87 Musketeers In the quarterfinal circle. Shaka Smart has an experienced team leading the guard of all conferences Kam JonesWho could be Kemba Walker in this tournament. Jones started an action with 28 points, five assists, while Stevie Mitchell He achieved 16, together with five thefts in the victory over Xavier. Having the elderly is invaluable at this time of year, and Smart, now in the fourth year at the helm, owns the guys he and his staff have developed.

But can Marquette finally cross Johnnies after being swallowed up in the regular part of the season?

The story in the previous two mathematics between these two teams this season is the low advantage of St. John. Johnnies surpassed Golden eagles In combination 26 to these two meetings, led by the big man Zuby Ejiofor, who in the first match overthrew 13 rebounds and followed that efforts in 12 rounds in the last game.

Then there was Luis, who enjoyed his life playing against Marquette. The junior guard has released a combined 45 points and 22 rebounds in two games against Golden Eagles this season. Marquette must hold St. John to 3 and limit offensive plates. If golden eagles can do it and trio David Joplin,, Chase Ross and Ben Gold They hit the appearance of the perimeter, this could result in Marquette to get a buyout. Remember: Marquette is 6-1 in the last seven playing tournaments.

The second semi -final game is a tire after Bluejays and Shells Each won the road in the regular part of the season, with Liam McNeeley Delivering 38 points in a victory of 70-66, February 11th. This marked the first Connecticut victory in Creighton, improved the record of Hurley Day at 4-8 against Greg McDermott.

Notice the record: 4-8.

This is because McDermott, now in his 15th season at the head of Jays, runs one of the best offensive systems in the country and his all-American center Ryan Kalkbrenner He has caused some questions for Huski in the last five years. It is only appropriate for Hurley and Uconn to get one final game against a big man in a match that has become a rivalry at a conference.

One big question: Will Creighton Point Guardian Steven Ashworth Return from a tough night in a double -over -time victory over a waxing? While the five-year-old senior equated the game to send it to the first session of overtime, he finished 3rd-in-12 from the field and the 2-o-10 from a 3-point range. This cannot be repeated that Jays has a shot.

In the meantime, UCONN is a peak at the right time, winning five direct matches. Alex Karaban’s Reemgence was big for this team, because Connecticut drove to a 73-56 victory over Villanov with 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Although this Huskies team is not what it was last year, you can feel their experience in these March moments, closing the quarterfinal victory over Villanova on race 22-5.

How will uconn -great man duo from Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Against Kalkbrenner, who had 32 points, nine rebounds and five blocks on Thursday? And which free team players will enhance under strong lights?

There is nothing like Friday night in Madison Square Garden with two tickets for the title of Big East Tournament in balance.

Marquette’s David Joplin said the best: “Games like this one in the big Eastern tournament, win or go home. There’s nowhere to go, there’s nowhere to hide.”

John Fanta is national basketball television and a Fox Sports writer. It covers the sport in various capacities, from the invitation of the games to the FS1 to serving as the leading host on the Big East Digital Network to provide comments on the field of 68 Media Network. Follow him on @John_fant.

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