CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST NCAA BASKETBALL CAPPERS ON THE PLANET & DAILY PLAYS!! \u2014><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Notre Dame vs. West Virginia 9:25 P.M Friday, March 12th<\/strong><\/p>\n Big East Conference Tournament Semi-Finals #5 seed Marquette takes on the #8 seed Georgetown Hoyas in the Big East Tournament\u2019s semi-finals tonight at Madison Square Garden. Both teams are coming off huge upsets that has them just one win away from advancing to the finals.<\/p>\n #7 seed Notre Dame will try and continue their march through the Big East Tournament when the take on #3 seeded West Virginia in the second semi-final game of the night at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n A few weeks back the Fighting Irish (23-10) were all but given up for dead in terms of making the NCAA Tournament but an impressive late season finish has brought them back to life. With solid wins over Pittsburgh (68-53) and Georgetown (78-64) and a 63-60 overtime thriller over Marquette to end the regular season they built some tremendous momentum heading into this tournament.<\/p>\n So far they have made the most of their new found life by beating Seton Hall 68-56 in the first round and shocking the #2 seed Panthers for the second time, 50-45. Notre Dame is led by senior F Luke Harangody and junior F Tim Abromaitis.<\/p>\n Harangody is averaging 22.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game and Abromaitis is averaging 16.6 points and 4.8 rebounds.<\/p>\n They also have a solid supporting cast which makes this team as dangerous as any heading into the NCAA\u2019s.<\/p>\n West Virginia (25-6) is the only top seed in the conference to survive their first game, but it took a dramatic game winning shot to do it. With their game against Cincinnati tied at 51, senior F Da\u2019Sean Butler sank a three pointer at the buzzer to give the Mountaineers a 54-51 win, allowing them to advance onto this game. Butler ended the night with 15 points and sophomore F Kevin Jones scored a team high 17 to lead the way.<\/p>\n On the season Butler is the team\u2019s leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game and Jones is averaging 13.6. Another vital part of their offense is sophomore F Devin Ebanks. Ebanks is averaging 12.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Back in early January, West Virginia actually lost to Notre Dame 70-68 in South Bend as the Irish held their top three scorers to a combined 30 points. Syracuse\u2019s loss yesterday might open the door for the Mountaineers to still have an outside shot at a #1 seed in the NCAA\u2019s if they win this tournament.<\/p>\n A win tonight over Notre Dame puts them in the finals; which is exactly where they need to be to give them a chance.<\/p>\n Betting Trends:<\/strong><\/p>\n Notre Dame is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games when playing West Virginia
\nNotre Dame +5 (-110)
\nWest Virginia -5 (-110)
\nOver\/Under 127<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/banners.bmaker.ag\/images\/book_basketball_260_180_0.gif?cmpid=13385_1355\")
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\nThese three players have been a force all season long and when they are on their game, the Mountaineers can beat any team in the country.<\/p>\n
\nThe total has gone UNDER in 5 of West Virginia’s last 5 games when playing Notre Dame
\nNotre Dame is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
\nThe total has gone UNDER in 5 of Notre Dame’s last 5 games when playing West Virginia
\nWest Virginia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
\nWest Virginia is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games when playing Notre Dame<\/p>\n