Big East Tournament

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WVU is the 5th seed; will take on Providence in first round

PROVIDENCE, RI -- On the heels of a thrilling win in its final game of the BIG EAST men’s basketball season, Georgetown has earned the top seed in the 2008 BIG EAST Championship Presented by Aeropostale.

The Hoyas were 55-52 winners against Louisville Saturday in what amounted to the conference’s regular-season championship game. The Hoyas captured their ninth BIG EAST regular-season title and their second in as many years.

Georgetown joins Louisville, Notre Dame and Connecticut as the top four seeds for the BIG EAST Championship, which begins Wednesday at noon Eastern at Madison Square Garden in New York. Those four schools receive byes to the Thursday’s quarterfinal round.

The Championship begins Wednesday with four first-round matchups. Villanova and Syracuse kick things off with a battle between the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds at noon, while No. 5 West Virginia meets No. 12 Providence to complete the afternoon session at 2 p.m.

The Wednesday evening session begins with No. 7 seeded Pittsburgh taking on No. 10 seed Cincinnati at 7 p.m., followed by No. 6 Marquette against No. 11 Seton Hall at 9 p.m.

Georgetown will await the winner of the Villanova/Syracuse game at noon in the first of four Thursday quarterfinals. No. 4 seed Connecticut has the West Virginia/Providence winner at 2 p.m., No. 2 Louisville draws the Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner at 7 p.m. and No. 3 seed Notre Dame faces the winner between Marquette and Seton Hall at 9 p.m.

Friday’s semifinals are scheduled for 7 and 9 p.m., while the championship game taps at 9 p.m. Saturday.

All games of the 2008 Championship will be televised live on ESPN.

Georgetown, which has won a conference-record seven BIG EAST Championships, will be going for its second straight sweep of the regular-season and tournament crowns. Connecticut has won six tournament titles, while Syracuse has won five.

2008 BIG EAST championship presented by Aéropostale

Wednesday, March 12 – First Round (ESPN)

Noon No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Syracuse
2:00 No. 5 West Virginia vs. No. 12 Providence
7:00 No. 7 Pittsburgh vs. No. 10 Cincinnati
9:00 No. 6 Marquette vs. No. 11 Seton Hall

Thursday, March 13 – Quarterfinals (ESPN)

Noon No. 1 Georgetown vs. 8/9 winner
2:00 No. 4 Connecticut vs. 5/12 winner
7:00 No. 2 Louisville vs. 7/10 winner
9:00 No. 3 Notre Dame vs. 6/11 winner

Friday, March 14 – Semifinals (ESPN)

7:00 Thursday afternoon winners
9:00 Thursday evening winners

Saturday, March 15 – Championship (ESPN)

9:00 Semifinal winners