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The Daily OrangeIs this the best conference ever?
With seven Top 25 teams and plenty of national title contenders, many are calling this year's Big East the strongest conference
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 11/12/08, 7:36 PM EST Section: Basketball 2008
Rutgers finished last in the conference in 2007-08 with a dreadful 3-15 record (overall 11-20) but still reeled in Mike Rosario, a McDonald's All-American. The freshman guard from St. Anthony's (N.J.) High School is hailed as the ninth-best shooting guard coming out of high school, per Scout.com. Not many last-place teams can boast McDonald's All-Americans.
Providence, St. John's and Cincinnati can't run out any All-Americans, but they certainly have another year of experience and perhaps just as much talent. The Bearcats return last year's sixth-leading scorer in the conference, junior guard Deonta Vaughn. South Florida, the 15th place team last year, boasts the seventh-leading scorer, sophomore guard Dominique Jones.
"Two pro scouts watched St. John's practice that thought they were terrific," Pitino said. "Pro scouts. And St. John's isn't what everybody is talking about. They're young. They're tenacious. They're gifted and very talented.
"And I've got a sick feeling, because I wasn't counting them in the top 11 (in the conference)."
Pitino isn't the only coached worried for Big East play to arrive. Georgetown head coach John Thompson III and his No. 22 Hoyas may have the toughest start to their Big East schedule of any team in the league.
Within eight days from late December to early January, Georgetown will play the Huskies in Storrs, Conn., then travel back home to host Pittsburgh. With only one day to travel, the Hoyas will then go to South Bend, Ind., to battle the Irish. It's not a stretch to say Georgetown could start 0-3 in the conference.
Come Selection Sunday, Thompson hopes the selection committee realizes 9-7 or 8-8 in the Big East is entirely different than that of another conference.
"I worry about that and hope that late February, March that the committee understands that," Thompson said. "… Whatever, 9-7, in this league, in this league may be a lot better than teams from other leagues."
No conference has ever had more than eight teams selected to the NCAA Tournament. The Big East sent eight last year and in 2006. Considering the Big East has nine teams in the top 40, making it a realistic possibility to make history.
Providence, St. John's and Cincinnati can't run out any All-Americans, but they certainly have another year of experience and perhaps just as much talent. The Bearcats return last year's sixth-leading scorer in the conference, junior guard Deonta Vaughn. South Florida, the 15th place team last year, boasts the seventh-leading scorer, sophomore guard Dominique Jones.
"Two pro scouts watched St. John's practice that thought they were terrific," Pitino said. "Pro scouts. And St. John's isn't what everybody is talking about. They're young. They're tenacious. They're gifted and very talented.
"And I've got a sick feeling, because I wasn't counting them in the top 11 (in the conference)."
Pitino isn't the only coached worried for Big East play to arrive. Georgetown head coach John Thompson III and his No. 22 Hoyas may have the toughest start to their Big East schedule of any team in the league.
Within eight days from late December to early January, Georgetown will play the Huskies in Storrs, Conn., then travel back home to host Pittsburgh. With only one day to travel, the Hoyas will then go to South Bend, Ind., to battle the Irish. It's not a stretch to say Georgetown could start 0-3 in the conference.
Come Selection Sunday, Thompson hopes the selection committee realizes 9-7 or 8-8 in the Big East is entirely different than that of another conference.
"I worry about that and hope that late February, March that the committee understands that," Thompson said. "… Whatever, 9-7, in this league, in this league may be a lot better than teams from other leagues."
No conference has ever had more than eight teams selected to the NCAA Tournament. The Big East sent eight last year and in 2006. Considering the Big East has nine teams in the top 40, making it a realistic possibility to make history.
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