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Big East has few teams that are not hot
How hot are these guys? 9 conference teams make Top 25
By Shannon Ryan | Tribune reporter
8:20 PM CST, January 8, 2009
Given the climate of the Big East Conference, most of the teams could be divided into who's playing at surface-of-the-sun hot, who's causing third-degree burns and who's Miami Beach weather.

The hotter-than-ever conference has nine teams ranked in the Top 25 for the first time, including No. 1 Pittsburgh, which earned its first top ranking.

The 16-team conference has the third-highest RPI behind the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big Ten. It's an unprecedented time for the Big East, however, which is good and bad for teams trying to settle into the top tier and climb out of the cellar.



Who's hot
Connecticut (13-1, 2-1): After missing the first eight games of the season, Stanley Robinson has shown steady improvement. He posted a combined 18 points and 15 rebounds in the Huskies' last two victories. "He just makes us a better team," coach Jim Calhoun said. "He gives us that one and only three man."

Marquette (14-2, 3-0): A game after Jerel McNeal set a school record by nailing all seven three-pointers, teammate Wesley Matthews earned his own team record when he made all 10 of his shots at Rutgers. Stay tuned for the next act. Maybe someone goes 5-for-5 on half-court shots.

Notre Dame (11-3, 2-1): Further proof that Luke Harangody is "da man." He's ranked No. 1 in conference scoring at 24.1 points per game and second in rebounding at 12.1. No other Big East player is ranked in the top 10 of both categories.

Pitt (14-0, 2-0): The Panthers rarely take it easy. With eight days off before playing host to St. John's, they planned a refereed scrimmage. "We tend to do that when we have a long break," coach Jamie Dixon said.

Providence (11-4, 3-0): The Friars have won seven of eight and appear to be jelling under new coach Keno Davis. This is the first time they have started the conference season 3-0 since 1988-89, but the streak could end Saturday at No. 9 Georgetown.

Syracuse (15-1, 3-0): The Orange owns the seventh-best shooting percentage in the nation, connecting on 50.1 percent of its shots. It's tough to guard a lineup that boasts five double-digit scorers.

West Virginia (11-3, 1-1): The Mountaineers own the conference's top scoring defense at 56.6 points per game and have a plus-6.64 turnover margin. Playing careful and tough can translate into a lot of victories.

Villanova (13-2, 1-1): The Wildcats continue to pose matchup problems with their three-guard offense. Scottie Reynolds leads the crew with nearly 16 points per game and is coming off a 40-point performance, which secured an overtime win against Seton Hall.



Who's lukewarm
Georgetown (10-3, 1-2): The Hoyas certainly didn't get to ease into the conference schedule with three Top 10 teams. After winning at Connecticut, Georgetown lost at home to Pittsburgh and at Notre Dame. Up next: Providence, tied for first in the Big East, No. 11 Syracuse, at No. 2 Duke and No. 25 West Virginia.

Louisville (10-3, 1-0): Playing at Villanova will be the Cardinals' first real conference test. Facing three ranked league foes in the next four games will determine if they deserved the early Top 5 rankings before losing to three unranked teams.

St. John's (10-4, 1-1): Not sure how long those good vibes over beating Notre Dame will last. The Storm visits top-ranked Pitt on Sunday. Paris Horne, a sophomore guard-forward, gives a lift, averaging 13 points.


Who's cold
Cincinnati (10-5, 0-2): The Bearcats need to clamp down defensively on the perimeter. They allowed Providence to shoot 50 percent and Marquette to shoot 60 percent on threes. No surprise, Cincinnati lost both games.

DePaul (8-8, 0-3): Could it be? A third playmaker? Freshman forward Devin Hill is making an impact, returning from an ankle injury to score 10 points, grab nine rebounds and block four shots in a loss at Syracuse. "He obviously has done some terrific things at a young age," coach Jerry Wainwright said.

Rutgers (9-7, 0-3): Freshman Mike Rosario ranks seventh in the conference in scoring at 17.6 points per game, and defenses are starting to pay attention to the McDonald's All-American. "He has been the focal point of a lot of defenses we've seen," coach Fred Hill said. "People are not leaving him."

Seton Hall (9-6, 0-3): The Pirates need to improve on the boards. In their first three conference games, they lost the rebound battle 83-63.

South Florida (5-9, 0-2): The Bulls have the distinction of being the only conference team with a losing record. Scoring only 61 points per game won't help.

sryan@tribune.com