CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2024. Up next: The Big East Tournament.
Madison Square Garden was the place to be during Championship Week. Fanbases from around the conference showed out and the quality of the games did not disappoint.
Even day one opened eyes as three-win DePaul almost took down a desperate Villanova squad, if not for Justin Moore’s late-game onions. 24 hours later, Justin Moore had another chance to be a hero but could not convert in the final seconds and Marquette, after having a buzzer-beater in regulation waived off, won in over time.
St. John’s and Providence fought their way into the conference semifinals, which is significant for their NCAA Tournament bubble status. In the end, though, it was a predictable championship, with UConn handling a shorthanded Marquette, 73-57.
In the process, the Huskies avenged their semifinal loss to the Golden Eagles one year ago and stamped themselves as the number one overall seed come Sunday evening.
CBB Review Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Tristan Newton, UConn
As we have emphasized, the thing that makes UConn so dominant is their plethora of stars. I could have told you earlier this week it would be Donovan Clingan or Cam Spencer or Alex Karaban and nobody would have blinked an eye. It just so happened that the way it played out, Newton was the headliner.
The fifth-year senior was in double figures in each of the Huskies’ four Big East tournament games. He was the lifeblood of the offense, particularly in the final two games, where he distributed 19 combined assists.
He hit some key foul shots throughout the St. John’s game, finishing 10-of-12 from the line with 25 total points. And in the first half of the championship, when the game was ugly and low scoring, it was Newton who you felt comfortable handling the ball, allowing things to eventually open up.
CBB Review All-Big East Tournament First Team
- G: Tristen Newton, UConn – 3 GP (17.0 PPG, 8.0 APG, 6.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 48.3 FG%, 44.4 3P%)
- G: Daniss Jenkins, St. John’s – 2 GP (19.0 PPG, 4.5 APG, 2.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG)
- G: Devin Carter, Providence – 3 GP (22.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 2.0 SPG)
- G: Kam Jones, Marquette – 3 GP (18.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 2.0 SPG, 41.2 3P%)
- C: Donovan Clingan, UConn – 3 GP (13.7 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.7 BPG, 64.0 FG%)
UConn’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Final Four
Isn’t that amazing? UConn wins a national title, loses a majority of their rotation, and is still in a position to go back-to-back the following March.
This time, I am predicting a Final Four loss for the Huskies for a couple of reasons. For starters, one could never expect a championship. Even if you are the best team, they are so hard to come by. This is why winning two straight rarely happens. (Florida was the last to do it in 2005-06 and 2006-07.)
I also want to emphasize that UConn may not be the best value pick in your bracket pools, as flawless as they seem, with them being the defending champs and the top seed and all. Try to find another one seed you like or if you want to separate yourself, the three to five lines are full of upside.
Still, you have to give credit where credit is due. The college basketball world currently runs through Storrs, Connecticut and Dan Hurley is emerging as one of the sport’s all-time greats.