Between St. John’s, Rutgers, the Knicks, and the Nets, folks in the New York area haven’t had a chance to see much quality basketball this season. Fortunately, the hoop gods have given everyone a reprieve this weekend as the Big East, looking as strong as it has in several years, brings its season-ending tournament to Madison Square Garden.

Despite the fact that at least five Big East teams have all but assured themselves a spot in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, plenty is at stake. Three teams – Notre Dame, West Virginia, and Georgetown – are hanging by their fingernails to the proverbial bracket “bubble.” A first-round loss by any of the three would likely doom them to the NIT.

The bigger fish have plenty to play for, as well. Regular season co-champion Boston College could earn a no. 1 seed in one of the NCAA regionals if it wins the Big East title and Kentucky falters in the SEC tourney. With an early loss, on the other hand, B.C. could be seeded as low as no. 4 and sent to play out West.

The other four tournament certainties are in similar binds. Pittsburgh can make up for a season’s worth of underachieving, including an embarrassing loss to Bucknell, if it can capture the Big East title. The Panthers are seeded fifth or sixth in most mock NCAA brackets, but everyone is wary of their talent. They could ascend to as high as third with a strong performance in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Villanova is becoming a popular sleeper team in the NCAA tournament bracket. The only problem is that their talent and potential are no longer secrets. The Wildcats are now nationally ranked (no. 19) and will take a seven-game winning streak into MSG this weekend, thanks in part to the return of big man Jason Fraser. But they’ll need to play better than they did in their last visit to the Garden – a two-point squeaker over lowly St. John’s this past weekend.

Fans will get an early taste of high-level competition when Pitt and Villanova square off in tomorrow’s quarterfinals. The loser will likely end up as a no. 6 seed in the NCAAs, while the winner could move up to a no. 4, even if they fall to Boston College in the semis. The stakes are clear – the odds favor a Sweet 16 trip for the winner and an abrupt end to the season for the loser.

Those two aren’t the only teams gunning for a high NCAA seed. Jim Boeheim’s plucky Syracuse squad is ranked 13th nationally and could snag a no. 2 seed if they win this tournament. Yet they’ve again managed to hover under the radar – outside of Boeheim’s recent passing of the 700-win milestone, not many people are talking about them.

The Orange almost always fare better in the NCAA Tournament than in the Big East’s, because non-league opponents aren’t accustomed to Boeheim’s baffling zone defense (although the ‘Cuse has played more man-to-man this year than in the past). For evidence, look at what happened when teams got a second look at Syracuse this year – the Orange went 7-1 in the first half of the league schedule and just 4-4 in the second.

That said, high-flying senior forward Hakim Warrick, who was named the conference’s player of the year yesterday, and sharp shooting Gerry McNamara, a first team All-Conference selection, are a potent enough inside-outside combo to beat anybody.

Of course, no discussion of the Big East is complete without mentioning the defending national champs. Even with the departures of Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor – who are busy duking it out for NBA Rookie of the Year – UConn still managed to claim a share of the regular-season title. In Josh Boone and Charlie Villanueva, it has an imposing frontcourt capable of dominating the glass. The two are among five Huskies who average in double figures, led by junior swingman Rashad Anderson.

So Connecticut, Boston College, Syracuse, Villanova, and Pitt are locks to make the NCAA tournament. The question in today’s opening round will be whether anyone else can join them. The three-game slate features the Big East’s triumvirate of the bubble: Notre Dame, West Virginia, and Georgetown. All must win at least once.

The Irish are in the best shape. The only one of the three with a winning record in league play (9-7), they were also the first team to beat Boston College this season. However, Notre Dame only comes in 75th in RPI, the silly, outdated rating formula the NCAA selection committee uses to help rank teams. Thus, the Irish might need at least one more win to cement a bid. They should be able to get in provided they bludgeon lowly Rutgers in the opening round, but they can’t breathe easy unless they spring an upset of Syracuse in the quarterfinals.

West Virginia also looked to be in good shape – until its inexcusable loss to Seton Hall over the weekend. Now they probably need to win at least two games this week to get a nod from the selection committee. The opening-round game against Providence won’t be a cakewalk; the Friars are better than their record suggests and have a marquee player in Ryan Gomes, a two-time All-Big East first-teamer. Even if the Mountaineers beat Providence, their odds of a bid are less than 50-50 unless they vanquish Boston College in the quarters. West Virginia is capable of beating B.C., but put itself in a tough spot by making the game a must-win.

Then there’s Georgetown, which seemed a cinch to make the tournament three weeks ago but hasn’t won a game since. The Hoyas face Seton Hall today and are certain to walk the plank if they can’t beat the Pirates. Realistically, they need to get to the finals to avoid banishment to the NIT, and that doesn’t seem likely. Regardless, keep on eye on John Thompson’s team. With an outstanding freshman class led by forward Jeff Green, the Hoyas should be a major force next season.

So what can we expect this weekend? Here’s one man’s prognostication. I think Notre Dame and West Virginia will take care of business in the opening round, with WVU winning by the skin of its teeth. Georgetown’s slump will continue, however, as Seton Hall played well to finish the year and the Hoyas didn’t.

In the quarters, I like Notre Dame to upset Syracuse thanks to their familiarity with the zone, while UConn and Boston College should breeze past West Virginia and Seton Hall, respectively. The Villanova-Pitt showdown will come down to which Chris Taft shows up for the Panthers; I’ll vote for the disinterested, half-asleep one and take ‘Nova. Then in Friday’s semifinals, I’ll take Villanova to upset B.C. – they’ve played well against them twice – and UConn to top Notre Dame. And when it’s all said and done in Saturday’s finale, UConn will once again be on top.

While that outcome looks good on paper, the fun of a tournament is watching some underdogs catch fire and seeing the bracket go up in smoke. The most enjoyable part of college hoops is the one-and-done format, which makes every possession a high-stakes affair.

So even if you don’t have a team to root for, blow off work early, head to the Garden, and enjoy the show. With March Madness upon us, the only thing we’re guaranteed to expect is the unexpected.