SEC 2, Big East 0

I know. It sucks.

Amidst a recently growing sentiment – at least in the local media – that perhaps the Big East isn’t all it’s cracked out to be, two members of the conference had a chance to flex some muscle last night against a couple worthy opponents on national TV in the second annual Big East/SEC Invitational.

But both South Florida and Marquette fell last night to Vanderbilt and Tennessee, respectively, on a “neutral” court. (OK, who we kidding here? Nobody’s really calling the Sommet Center in Nashville neutral when you’re playing Vandy or the Vols. And by the way, boooo you Sommet Center in Nashville.)

The Bulls got thumped by 19 against Vandy and A.J. Ogilvy, who had 20 and 13 on ESPN2. In the “feature game,” Marquette lost 80-68 to Tennessee, despite getting 30 from senior guard Wesley Matthews. Twelfth-year senior (is that right?) Dominic James was held to 8.

Fear not, Big East-backers. We got a chance for redemption tomorrow night. The featured games are Cincinnati vs. Mississippi State at 6:30 and Louisville vs. Ole Miss at 9:00 on another “neutral” court in Cincinnati.