And the amazement continues....

In case you hadn't heard, the University of Louisville Cardinals nailed down a double bye in the Big East Conference tournament Wednesday night, blasting Providence 87-60 to claim a Senior Night victory and close out a perfect slate of conference home games. Dating back to its Freedom Hall finale last season, U of L now has won 10 consecutive Big East home games.

Louisville received a surprise assist from Seton Hall the next night, as the Pirates upended St. John's 85-70. The Red Storm had been tied with the Cards for third place in the league, but now U of L, by virtue of an 88-63 pasting of the Johnnies on Jan. 19, has clinched the No. 3 seed in the Big East tourney.

Not too shabby for a squad the league's coaches predicted would finish eighth.

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My own picks for Big East men's basketball awards:

Coach of the Year: Rick Pitino, Louisville
Player of the Year: Brad Wanamaker, Pittsburgh
Freshman of the Year: Cleveland Melvin, DePaul
Most Improved: Kyle Kuric, Louisville

All-Big East: Brad Wanamaker, Pittsburgh; Kemba Walker, Connecticut; Austin Freeman, Georgetown; Rick Jackson, Syracuse; Alex Oriakhi, Connecticut

If I had a ballot, that's how I'd vote. I'd have Preston Knowles and Peyton Siva of Louisville on my second team, and Gorgui Dieng on my all-freshman team.