Breaking Down the Big East Race
Mike DeCourcy - SportingNews.com
Jan 22, 2010
It is the opinion of Villanova coach Jay Wright that the difference between last year's Big East and this year's Big East is that the highs are not as high and the lows are not as low.
Or something like that.
"There's not much difference between us, Pitt, Georgetown -- and whoever's at the bottom," Wright said. "The disparity in talent of the teams is much smaller, and I think it's going to lead to a much more exciting conference."
That hasn't been true to date. Rutgers, DePaul and South Florida remain threatening mostly to each other. What has been evident is how little difference there's been among the five teams that slightly separated themselves -- and that's what makes the Big East race challenging to predict.
We'll try, anyway. Here are the leading contenders, in order of their potential to win the league:
Syracuse Orange
Big East record: 5-1
Road record: 4-0
Best win: at West Virginia
What's in their favor: Syracuse has the league's best combination of size and skill, the best defense and a bunch of road wins in the bank. Of the five trips remaining, only one of those games will be played on the court of a current contender (Feb. 18 at Georgetown).
What's against them: The biggest obstacle for Syracuse might be its continuing struggles against Louisville, which has beaten SU four consecutive times. Whether it's because the Cards know their way around a zone because they play it so much themselves, or because Rick Pitino once worked under Jim Boeheim, it's an issue, and it's compounded by the two remaining games the teams have on the schedule.
If the Cards could sweep, they not only could cost SU a title but also could lift themselves into the race.
Villanova Wildcats
Big East record: 6-0
Road record: 3-0
Best win: at Louisville
What's in their favor: The Wildcats' energetic style minimizes the physical toll of operating in a league as brutal as the Big East. They've been able to top 80 points in four conference victories.
Guard Scottie Reynolds has become the most difficult player in the league to defend. He was good for the occasional freakish outburst as a younger player but has become sophisticated enough to make that an everyday thing. He's averaging 21.8 points in Big East play.
What's against them: If you are a Villanova fan, you might wish for January to last forever. It's likely no team in the country faces as brutal a stretch as the one that begins with a Feb. 6 visit to Georgetown. If there are five remaining contenders for the Big East championship, the Wildcats play four in February. And they're the fifth. The schedule cannot possibly be more difficult.
Pitt Panthers
Big East record: 5-1
Road record: 3-0
Best win: at Syracuse
What's in their favor: The Panthers have the easiest remaining road schedule. Four of their six road opponents are under .500 in the league. The only contender they'll visit is West Virginia on Feb. 3.
That doesn't guarantee anything. Although the Panthers have been historically monstrous at the Petersen Center, Georgetown showed this week Pitt can be beaten at home. The Panthers also had to concoct a miraculous rally to defeat Louisville in the previous game.
What's against them: Pitt has won before with less talent than other contenders. In 2004, UConn had two of the top three picks in the NBA draft, Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, and finished second to the Panthers. But overcoming the talent deficit is still difficult to do.
Georgetown Hoyas
Big East record: 5-2
Road record: 2-2
Best win: at Pitt
What's in their favor: The Hoyas' patient approach to offense keeps them in most any game. Their two losses were by a combined eight points. And when they're forced out of their offense, as Seton Hall mostly accomplished with its scrambling approach, they might even be better because it cuts loose the talents of gifted point guard Chris Wright.
What's against them: Already 1 1/2 games out of first, the Hoyas visit Syracuse for this week's Big Monday game. They have four remaining games against contenders -- and three against dangerous mid-pack teams Louisville, Notre Dame and Cincinnati. Coach John Thompson is trying to build depth but has not been getting acceptable play out of most reserves.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Big East record: 4-2
Road record: 2-1
Best win: at Seton Hall
What's in their favor: Though they are 14-3, they've yet to approach their potential. Forward Devin Ebanks is averaging only 11.6 points and 7.9 rebounds.
Three remaining road games are against sub-.500 teams, and there are only four games against teams ranked in front of them. Whether WVU remains in contention might be largely based on two games against rival Pitt.
What's against them: The Mountaineers have struggled to develop an offense. Their three-forward lineup leaves them without a true post threat to draw defenders to the inside. The lingering shoulder issues with point guard Joe Mazzulla have diminished one of the league's toughest penetrators. They close with a road game at Villanova. It's hard to imagine they'd have it locked up before that -- and just as hard to picture them winning if they do not.
Mike DeCourcy is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at decourcy@sportingnews.com.
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