Pittsburgh, Marquette battle for coveted spot in Big East finals

Friday, March 14, 2008
9:30 PM - Madison Square Garden

#6 Marquette vs. #7 Pittsburgh

Both teams carried the torch for the lower seeds in the quarterfinals on Thursday, but now only of them will earn the right to face either Georgetown or West Virginia in Saturday night’s Big East tournament championship game.

Marquette has reached the semifinals on the strength of their defense, and Jerel McNeal. The Golden Eagles have shut down the top two scores in the Big East during the tournament. In the opening round, Marquette held Big East leading scorer and Seton Hall center Brian Laing to just six points on 3-of-10 shooting. Marquette followed that effort with one just as good, clamping down on Notre Dame forward and Big East player of the year, Luke Harangody.

The Golden Eagles got Harangody in early foul trouble, and help the Irish’s best weapon to 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting before fouling out. Next up for Marquette is Pitt forward Sam Young, who just happens to be behind Laing and Harangody, as the third leading scorer in the Big East.

Pittsburgh has won three straight and five of six, including beating Louisville for the third straight year in the Big East tournament. Pitt used a 12-2 run in overtime to outlast second seeded Louisville, 76-69. Young led Pittsburgh with 21 points and 12 rebounds, the second straight game Young has scored 21 points. Young went for 21 and six rebounds in Wednesday night’s opening round win over Cincinnati.

As good as Young has been for Pitt, Marquette brings to the table the best player so far in the tournament not named Joe Alexander. Jerel McNeal is averaging 24.5 points per game in the Big East tournament. McNeal went for 21 in the win against Seton Hall and 28 in the victory against Notre Dame. Marquette won the only meeting between the two teams on Feb.15 th, dropping Pitt 72-54 in Milwaukee. McNeal led Marquette with 17 points and Ousmane Barro added 14 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Young was a one-trick pony for Pitt, leading the Panthers with 18 points. No other Pitt player scored more than nine points, as Marquette held Pitt to 37 percent shooting.

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Marquette has won eight of their last 10, while Pitt is riding a three game win streak, and the Panthers have been winners of eight of their last 10. The winner will play either Georgetown or West Virginia in the Big East championship game on Saturday night.

by Frank Minniti
BigEast-fans.com Director of Content

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