A day after the No. 3-ranked Syracuse Orange lost to the Pittsburgh Panthers (No. 5 in the AP poll and No. 4 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll) in a mid-season, Big East Conference contest, the Bracketologists released their latest 68-team NCAA Tournament fields. Currently, the Orange (18-1, 5-1) are seeded No. 1 in two major brackets and No. 2 in two other brackets. The St. John's Red Storm (11-4, 4-2), who haven't made an NCAA Tournament since 2002, are seeded No. 8 in two brackets and No. 7 in two others. The Big East is slated to earn between 10 and 11 teams to the dance.
According to Bracketology 101 and SI.com's Andy Glockner, the Orange deserve a No. 1 seed. However, Bracketology 101's results were posted on Monday, before the 'Cuse lost to Pitt, 74-66. But on Tuesday, after the game, Glockner believed that both programs have done enough to earn top seeds. Also, both brackets had the St. John's at No. 7.
The other two brackets, ESPN's Joe Lunardi and SB Nation's Blogging The Bracket by Chris Dobbertean, which both were posted Tuesday, has SU earning a No. 2 seed and Pittsburgh (17-1, 6-0) at No. 1. Also, both brackets have the Red Storm at No. 8.
Here's a breakdown of the Big East:
ESPN's Lunardi (11 Big East teams): Pitt (No. 1 seed), Syracuse (2), Connecticut Huskies (2), Villanova Wildcats (3), Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4), Louisville Cardinals (6), West Virginia Mountaineers (7), Georgetown Hoyas (7), STJU (8), Cincinnati Bearcats (9) and Marquette Golden Eagles (12).
Bracketology 101 (11): Syracuse (1), Pitt (2), UConn (2), 'Nova (3), ND (4), WVU (4), Louisville (5), Georgetown (5), STJU (7), Cincy (10) and Marquette (11).
Glockner (10): Pitt (1), SU (1), UConn (2), 'Nova (3), WVU (4), ND (4), Georgetown (5), Louisville (6), STJU (7) and Cincy (9).
Dobbertean (11): Pitt (1), SU (2), 'Nova (2), UConn (2), ND (4), WVU (5), Louisville (5), Georgetown (6), STJU (8), Cincy (10) and Marquette (11).