MARCH MADNESS: ; The Big East in the Big Dance

It's no surprise to avid college basketball fans that Georgetown is the 2007 Big East Conference Champion as well as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Hoyas bring power, depth and athleticism to the game and have the potential to go far in the tournament.

In the Big East Championship game, the Hoyas showed exactly how the speed and athleticism of a deep inside game can tear down a team's defense, defeating Pittsburgh 65-42. Georgetown completely shut down Pitt star Aaron Gray, who had only one point in the first half.

The Hoyas then beat No. 15 seed Belmont University on Thursday in the first round of NCAA Tournament play. The team goes up against Boston College today.

Louisville was by far the hottest Big East team going into the postseason, winning seven straight games before losing to Pitt in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. The young team - it starts only one senior - went into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed and continued its success with a 78-58 win over Stanford on Thursday. It faces Texas A&M today.

Pittsburgh has continued to prove itself as a force to be reckoned with. A preseason favorite to win the Big East, Pitt is hoping to exceed expectations in the Big Dance. Seeded third in the West, the Panthers easily defeated Wright State on Thursday and today will play Virginia Commonwealth, who upset Duke on Thursday.

Other Big East teams in the tournament include Notre Dame, who played Winthrop University on Friday; Villanova, who played Kentucky on Friday; and Marquette who lost to Michigan State on Thursday.

Big South Conference winner Winthrop (10-0 in its last 10 regular season games) could prove to be a tough foe for the Irish, and Kentucky will be fierce against Villanova as coach Tubby Smith's job is on the line this season.

Both WVU and Syracuse, each with 22 wins, were snubbed by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, though. This is the first time since 2002 that Syracuse has not been a part of the 64-team spread. Instead, the Mountaineers and the Orangemen earned first and second seeds in the National Invitation Tournament.

UConn, who was by far the Big East's biggest flop, and Cincinnati also failed to make the cut. UConn began the season ranked 18th and reached as high as ninth before coasting out of the Top 25 and barely qualifying for the Big East tournament - where it lost in the first round to Syracuse. Cincinnati, who lost longtime coach Bob Huggins to Kansas State this year, spent most of the season in the basement with an 11-19 regular season (2-14 in Big East play) that put the team dead last in the conference.

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