Editor's note: Brian Edwards and Kevin Rogers previewed this week's conference tournaments in a Power Hours Special on Tuesday. Listen Now | Download MP3

Four schools advanced and four were sent home from the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Tuesday. Twelve teams remain with hopes of cutting the nets down Saturday night at MSG.

Eight of those teams will be in action today starting at noon Eastern. Fresh off a win over DePaul, South Florida will square off against Georgetown, followed by St. John’s vs. Marquette. The Red Storm haven’t tasted a victory against the Golden Eagles since 1967.

During the night session, Seton Hall will try to play its way into an NCAA Tournament invite by knocking off red-hot Notre Dame. Finally, Louisville and Cincinnati will go at it in the nightcap affair.

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**South Florida vs. Georgetown**

--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Georgetown (20-9 straight up, 13-12 against the spread) as a 7 ½-point favorite with a total of 132. However, as of early this morning, most betting shops had the Hoyas favored by 6 ½ with the total adjusted to 135 ½. Bettors can take USF to win outright for a plus-220 return (risk $100 to win $220).

--South Florida (20-11 SU, 19-9-2 ATS) won the lone regular-season meeting between these teams, capturing a 72-64 win at Georgetown as a 12 ½-point underdog. Dominique Jones was the catalyst, scoring 29 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.

--USF opened the Big East Tourney by beating DePaul 58-49 in the event’s lid-lifter at noon Eastern on Tuesday. The Bulls took the cash as 7 ½-point favorites. Jones had 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals for the winners. Mike Mercer, the transfer from Georgia who was a high school teammate of Philadelphia 76ers guard Lou Williams, added 14 points.

--Stan Heath’s team has won four in a row, going 3-0-1 ATS. As an underdog 14 times this year, USF owns an 8-5-1 spread record.

--Georgetown had lost four of its last five games both SU and ATS before trouncing Cincinnati 74-47 in its regular-season finale. The Hoyas easily covered the number as seven-point home favorites. After missing his team’s previous game due to being diagnosed with diabetes, Austin Freeman dropped a game-high 24 points on the Bearcats. Greg Monroe added 19 points and 15 rebounds.

--Georgetown has posted a 7-3 spread ledger in 10 games as a single-digit ‘chalk.’

--The ‘under’ is on a 5-2 run for the Hoyas, who have seen the ‘under’ go 13-12 overall for the season.

--The ‘over’ is 13-12 overall for the Bulls, but they have watched the ‘under’ cash in seven of their last 10 outings.

--Tip-off is scheduled for noon on ESPN.

**St. John’s vs. Marquette**

--LVSC opened Marquette (20-10 SU, 15-8-1 ATS) as a 3 ½-point favorite with a total of 128. As of early this morning, most books still had the number at 3 ½ with the total reduced to 127. Gamblers can take the Red Storm on the money line for a plus-150 payout (risk $100 to win $150).

--St. John’s (17-14 SU, 14-13-1 ATS) absolutely dominated UConn yesterday by a 73-51 count as a 4 ½-point underdog. The Red Storm wanted it more, defended harder and played with passion, while the Huskies went quietly into what promises to be a long offseason in Storrs (more in B-Nuggets below). Sean Evans paced the Red Storm with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

--Marquette has won nine of its last 11 games, compiling a 7-3-1 ATS record. This late-season surge has most likely assured the Golden Eagles of an at-large invite to the NCAA Tournament. However, if a few bubble spots are surprisingly taken during the course of the next five days, a loss here might cause this team some anxious moments when the pairings are announced. They go to MSG with an RPI of 59 after going 11-7 in Big East play.

--When these teams met in the regular season on St. John’s campus at Carnesecca Arena, Marquette won a 63-61 decision in overtime as a two-point road favorite. Lazar Hayward had 22 points and seven rebounds, while Jimmy Butler added 18 points eight boards. Butler’s baseline jumper at the buzzer gave the Golden Eagles the victory in the extra session.

--Marquette has won 10 in a row against St. John’s, which hasn’t beaten the Golden Eagles since 1967. In the last seven meetings dating back to 2003, Marquette is 5-1-1 versus the number.

--St. John’s went 10-7-1 ATS in 18 games as an underdog this season. Meanwhile, Buzz Williams’ squad has a

--The ‘under’ is 16-9 overall for St. John’s, although we should note a 3-1 ‘over’ surge in its last four games.

--This game will come off the board 30 minutes after the conclusion of USF-Georgetown. ESPN will have the telecast.

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**Seton Hall vs. Notre Dame**

--Seton Hall (19-11 SU, 8-16 ATS) disappointed its backers in gut-wrenching fashion during last night’s 109-106 win over Providence. The Pirates sprinted out to a 29-point lead with 13:36 left in the second half, only to see the Friars launch a furious rally that brought them to within three with a chance to tie at the buzzer. However, PU’s final shot was way off the mark, allowing Bobby Gonzalez’s team to survive although it failed to cover as a 5 ½-point favorite.

--The 215 combined points obliterated the previous Big East Tourney record (186 points) for a game that didn’t go to overtime. It also easily eclipsed the 166-point total for ‘over’ backers.

--Notre Dame (21-10 SU, 14-10-1 ATS) is riding a four-game winning streak and has taken the money in five consecutive outings. The Irish closed the regular season by collecting a 63-60 overtime win at Marquette as a 6 ½-point underdog. Carleton Scott had 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Tim Abromaitis had a team-high 18 points and nine boards.

--Notre Dame senior center Luke Harangody missed five straight games with a knee injury until returning against Marquette. According to head coach Mike Brey, Harangody will come off the bench for the rest of the year. ‘Gody, who averages 23.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest, had only five points and two boards in 11 minutes against the Golden Eagles.

--These teams squared off on Feb. 11 with Seton Hall taking out the Irish, 90-87. Notre Dame did manage to hook up its backers, however, as a 5 ½-point underdog. Jeremy Hazell poured in a game-high 35 points, draining 8-of-11 shots from 3-point range. In the losing effort, Irish senior guard Tory Jackson had 25 points and six assists.

--The ‘over’ is 7-0-1 in the last eight head-to-head meetings between these Big East rivals.

--The ‘over’ is 12-10-1 overall for the Pirates, cashing in each of their last four games.

--The ‘under’ is 13-11 overall for Notre Dame.

--ESPN will provide television coverage at 7:00 p.m. ET.

**Louisville vs. Cincinnati**

--Louisville (20-11 SU, 10-16 ATS) assured itself a bid to the NCAA Tournament by thumping Syracuse 78-68 as a one-point home underdog in the farewell to Freedom Hall this past Saturday afternoon. Kyle Kuric, who had only scored in double figures three previous times this year, came off the bench to enjoy a career performance. Mixing in several long jumpers and nasty dunks, Kuric made 9-of-11 from the field en route to a game-high 22 points.

--Cincinnati (17-14 SU, 7-19 ATS) burned its backers yet again in last night’s 69-68 win over Rutgers as an eight-point favorite. The Bearcats are now an atrocious 3-14 ATS in their last 17 contests.

--When these schools met on Jan. 24, Louisville won a 68-60 decision but the Bearcats covered as nine-point road underdogs.

--The ‘under’ is 14-11 overall for Cincy.

--The ‘over’ is 14-10-1 overall for the Cards, although the ‘under’ is 6-2-1 in their last nine games.

--The ‘under’ is 7-3 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings between these programs.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--I can’t pass on this chance to throw UConn senior guard Jerome Dyson under the bus after his pathetic performance in Tuesday’s listless loss to St. John’s. Seniors are supposed to lead, especially down the stretch in their final days of wearing a uniform. Regardless of whether or not Dyson and UConn go on to play in the NIT is irrelevant, the last four (meaningful) games as a Husky for Dyson have come and gone. In his farewell effort, Dyson committed nine turnovers and had just four points and two assists. During the last four games, Dyson had an abysmal assists-to-turnover ratio of 12/22.

--According to multiple reports this morning, Oregon head coach Ernie Kent has informed his players that he won’t be returning next season. Look for Gonzaga’s Mark Few to emerge as the Ducks’ top choice to replace Kent. Remember, Oregon is moving into a brand new state-of-the-art facility next season.

--Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo has suspended junior guard Chris Allen for at least the first game of the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans will face the Minnesota-Penn St. winner at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

--Oregon St. is 12-4 ATS in 16 underdog spots this season. The Beavers are nine-point 'dogs for Thursday's Pac-10 Tournament game against Washington. The Huskies, whose at-large hopes can't afford an 'L' here, have won four in a row both SU and ATS, including this past weekend's 82-70 win in Corvallis.

--Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks Ga. Tech's Derrick Favors will be better in the NBA than college.

Brian Edwards can be reached at briane@vegasinsider.com.

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