Elite Eight 2009

The 2009 Elite Eight will be filled with the cream of the crop in college basketball, without a doubt. With all the favored teams getting into the Sweet 16, the 2009 Elite Eight will be filled with juggernauts. It just so happens that more than half of them may be from one conference, or
2009 Elite Eight Likely Dominated by Big East and Big 12
at the very least two. If results from last night's Sweet 16 action are any indication, the 2009 Elite Eight will turn into the Big East and Big 12 Invitational - as if this college basketball season was anything else.Out of the four teams to get into the Elite Eight last night, three of them were Big East programs. Connecticut once again breezed by in the NCAA Tournament with a win over Purdue, while Pittsburgh gutted out a win over Xavier, and Villanova dominated Duke.The 2009 Elite Eight will have one game completely made up of Big East teams, as Pittsburgh faces Villanova for the East Regional title. But that may only be the first Big East showdown at the end of the NCAA Tournament.Now it is time to seriously consider that the Final Four could be made up entirely of Big East schools. The 2009 Elite Eight is almost halfway full with Big East programs, with Pittsburgh, Villanova and Connecticut in. Tonight, Louisville is heavily favored against Arizona, and Syracuse has a showdown with Oklahoma.If both teams win, then five out of the eight Elite Eight teams will be from the Big East, by far a record. Not only that, the Final Fourmatchup could wind up having Louisville play Connecticut, with Syracuse facing the Pittsburgh-Villanova winner. Not even the 1985 Final Fourwith three Big East schools could match that.But for those sick of Big East schools, there is one alternative left. The Big 12 still has three schools in the running, with Missouri already in the Elite Eight. Kansas will play Michigan State to go along with Oklahoma facing Syracuse tonight.The 2009 Elite Eight could easily be made out of the five Big East programs, two Big 12 Schools in Missouri and Kansas, and just one leftover spot for either North Carolina or Gonzaga. Or there could be four Big East schools and three Big 12 ones, if Oklahoma beats Syracuse and Kansas wins over Michigan State.

Source:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1600306/2009_elite_eight_likely_dominated_by.html?cat=14