Wide open. Anyone can beat anyone. Every game matters. Surprises will be the rule, rather than the exception.
Yes, yes, yes and yes.
But it's cliché to say it, and probably too easy to write it. So, let's just say this for the 2021 event at Madison Square Garden:
Expect something unexpected.
You're not convinced? Don't blame you. Since the Big East reconfigured itself for the 2014 Big East Tournament (won by Providence), Villanova has been the rule in this league – and not the exception. The Wildcats have won seven of the last eight regular season titles (including the last one) and have two national titles to go along with their league hardware.
Nova has won four of the six postseason tournaments (PC and Seton Hall the other two, last year was cancelled). They're predictably good. It would be easy to pick these Cats to win this postseason tourney…except for the fact they just lost their heart and soul in senior guard Collin Gillespie to an MCL tear two games ago.
They also lost his backup in Justin Moore to a rolled ankle against the Friars last weekend. If he's able to play, Nova can win this week, sure.
But maybe not.
Two-seed Creighton can score with the best of 'em and has at least five players on the roster who can hit from deep. They're also much improved defensively over previous versions and may have a little emotion on their side with the return of suspended coach Greg McDermott.
Or the coaches' headline-grabbing for the wrong reasons could be a distraction for these Blue Jays, too.
The trendy pick this week seems to focus on the old newcomer to the Big East this year, Connecticut. The Huskies have won four straight and six of seven heading into the Garden, which normally attracts rabid Husky fans by the thousands. That won't be the case this year, however, with only friends and family allowed in the building.
But UConn has the deepest backcourt in the league at present, and a strong candidate for Player of the Year in sophomore James Bouknight, joined by two transfers in ex-Rhody Ram Tyrese Martin and former Howard standout R.J. Cole.
These Huskies can shoot, defend the post and rebound, too. They're deep.
They'll meet the winner of Wednesday's Providence-DePaul game Thursday night at 9 pm.
Outside of the top three contenders – how about the hometown team in St. John's, playing on their home court…that they haven't played on ONCE this season? If the Johnnies have freshman phenom guard Posh Alexander return from his injured right hand – to go along with another POTY candidate in forward Julian Champagnie, the Big East's leading scorer – there's enough quickness there to kill a Cat.
Or a Blue Jay. Even a Husky.
And if you're looking for a team to come from the Wednesday night opening round and capable of winning four games in four days – like UConn did 10 years ago in 2011 with Kemba Walker on the way to a national title – why not Providence?
No, a national title isn't likely. But the Friars have an inside/outside combo in Nate Watson and David Duke (both 2nd team all-Big East selections) that finished third and second in the league in scoring.
Forget scoring…although that would be nice. PC's trouble this season has been defending.
Find a little salve for those defensive woes, the Friars could also find themselves playing for a Dance Ticket come Saturday night at MSG. Get by DePaul, they'd have to find a way to grind one out over the Huskies Thursday. And that could come as a surprise.
Which is usually the rule around the Garden, and not the exception.
The Pick: UConn (over St. John's)
The sleeper pick: The winner of UConn-PC in the Thursday quarterfinal wins the championship
