It was Newton or Baylor for me.
But I see why they landed on Carter. That team wasn't picked to be all that better than Seton Hall with Hopkins. They lose their best player, and Carter raised his game to a level I think most didn't think he possessed coming into the season. He was viewed as a defensive stalwart and solid offensive player preseason. He had to raise his game offensively to even keep that team competing for a bid once Hopkins went down.
Part of what I think played a role in this too is that all the Big East coaches seemingly love how Carter plays. How hard he goes every second he's on the floor. Cooley has waxed poetic about him all year, although that is one of his guys and I think he's recruiting him for next year. But after the Uconn/Prov game last week, you saw Hurley hugging him and talking to him for an extended period post-game. Pitino also went out of his way even after SJU beat Providence making some comment in the Braziller article about how Carter played hungrier and harder than his entire team (sure some of that is to motivate his guys, but no doubt he wanted to give the kid credit too).