coolpohle

Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Pitt, Notre Dame, and West Virginia will make it in for sure.

After that, it's anybody's guess really. Providence needs to make sure they take care of business against Florida St., and if they do, they should get in. Villanova isn't a lock by any means. That loss to NC State could haunt them. I don't know if they have what it takes on defense to be quite as good as a lot of people think.

Syracuse is going to have a tough time. Home losses to UMass and Rhode Island are probably going to be costly. UConn lost both of their non conference games against quality opponents, so they're going to have to make up some ground during conference play. However, they've still got a tough game @ Central Florida on tap before January. They need that one.

thatsnotgross

Well, the environment has definitely change... I'm seeing 8 teams and a possible 9.

My big east review I will have shortly.

I believe that there are 2 up and coming teams for next year and a possible 3rd for the Big East. Stay tuned

JuniorNoboa

I don't think that much has changed, really. Most people thought seven / eight teams early on simply due to the sheer size of the conference and that it was a fairly good year for the BE. And the only surprise team to be doing well is Cincinnati... obviously UConn has played better then exoected and perhaps Notre Dame, but they were solid tourney teams.

Plus its too way too early to call in:
West Virginia
Villanova

They both have LOTS of work to do, and one bad Big East loss, screws them up big time.

And Syracuse was in a perilous situation if the only went 10-8 in Big East play,,,, abd they know have to win on the road agaist a decent team, and beat two very good teams at home.

Syracuse is cooked.

There much more likely to get 6 then 9 to be honest.

Most likely is 8. but seven is quite possible as well.

thatsnotgross

Ahhh, what I meant was... the environment has changed from a few months ago. Some people thought the Big East weren't as good as advertised.

I think I will make this my Big East blog and on the big east forums about Big East teams.

thatsnotgross

I will have to disagree about ND because last year they were riding on 2 freshmen that didn't have the welcoming party that some herald freshmen had in the Big East and made it to the dance. Comparing them to UCONN's truckload of talented freshmen last year, ND was a surprise. This year, they were not, I didn't think they were going to decline.

They are a very dangerous team in the dance because they play like they are mid majors but with talent. They know how to use their big man, understand how to space out on the floor and goodness gracious, McNarley hit 7 for 10 beyond the arc. Very dangerous in the big dance.

UCONN, I like them but I don't think they will do much in the dance. I'll be surprised. They do have the talent and they have a leader in the point guard spot which is always a good thing. If you want someone to lead you far into madness thats with a point guard that can keep his composure in AJ price. But then again, UCONN has become thuggish in my mind (off court stuff).

Cincy is a surprised because they are a year away from making a big impact. They played some very good teams early in the year but a lot of their players that are getting heavy minutes are their upperclassmen. Next year they will have some inexperience but good players in their sophomore class and their cream of the crop Yancy Gates will be coming next year. Lets see how much of an impact they can do. They are 2 years away unless they can pull a ND of last year.

Yes you're right, I still have all 3 on my bubble including Pittsburgh. 10 wins may not be enough for Syracuse but 10 wins and a win in the first round will be enough.

Villanova is in the same boat. They will be a dangerous team in the big dance if they could get in. Unfortunately committee doesn't look at the 2 suspect calls at the end of the game.

WVU, was a surprise this year. I'll give Huggins all the credit. Huggins and Belein of course are two different philosophies and Huggins worked it very well.

Pittsburgh needs to get to 9 wins but the committee will have a tough time taking in a 9 win teams in the Big East (pittsburgh) + a duke win rather than a Syracuse team with 10 wins and doesn't have the glamour like resume like Pittsburgh.