05-16-2009, 10:10 PM
Big East power rankings, post-spring edition
May 15, 2009 10:12 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Here it is, the day I've been dreading. It's time to roll out our post-spring Big East power rankings.
I saw five of the eight teams in person this spring, which you think would give me a good handle on revising my pre-spring rankings. Instead, I only grew more confused by seeing a bunch of flawed teams.
I'm going to approach this not as an evaluation of who I think will win the conference, because a lot of that will have to do with the schedule and which teams figure things out the fastest. I'm going to rank these teams based simply on where they are right now. I'm even going to cop out with some ties, because it's just too hard to filter (and really, with a seven-game schedule, there will be ties in the standings).
AP Photo/David Kohl
Mardy Gilyard paced the Bearcats last season with 81 receptions for 1,276 yards.
Deep breath. OK, let's give it a shot:
1. Cincinnati: Almost by default, I'm giving the top spot to last year's champs. The Bearcats should field an explosive offense with senior quarterback Tony Pike and receiver Mardy Gilyard leading the way. The big question of course was the almost entirely new defense, but I saw enough this spring to have faith that Cincinnati will be at least competent on that side of the ball.
2. Rutgers: I wrote before the spring that the Scarlet Knights may be a year away from being the best team in this league. And they still need to settle the quarterback situation and locate some help for Tim Brown at receiver. But everything else looks solid, including an offensive line that returns intact. Perhaps the timetable will be accelerated.
3. Pittsburgh: The offense looked putrid in the spring game, failing to score a single touchdown. Dan Marino isn't walking through that door at quarterback. Still, this may be the most overall talented team in the league, especially on the defensive side. Assuming Jonathan Baldwin doesn't miss serious time after his misdemeanor arrest, Pitt will find ways to score points.
T-4. West Virginia: Surprised to see the Mountaineers this low? Yes, they have playmakers on offense in Jarrett Brown, Noel Devine and some improving receivers. Yes, they have proven, veteran standouts on defense. But that offensive line scares me right now. So I'm curbing my enthusiasm.
T-4. South Florida: Matt Grothe and George Selvie give the Bulls the best returning duo in the league, but the team is young elsewhere. The offensive line is a huge question mark. The influx of talent coming to campus this summer should help. For once, South Florida might be better in November than September.
T-4. Connecticut: I ranked the Huskies sixth in my pre-spring poll before realizing that it's always a bad idea to underestimate Randy Edsall's team. I sense a quiet confidence in Storrs about this year, even with the loss of four first- and second-round NFL draft picks. I think the defense will be sound and deep. It will come down to how well Zach Frazer and the offense manage the new no-huddle attack.
7. Syracuse: Greg Paulus isn't enough to lift the Orange any higher from before the spring. There are still lots of holes on this roster from an overall talent standpoint, but I like the Orange to at least double their Big East win total this year. Of course, just two wins would accomplish that goal.
8. Louisville: I didn't see very much this spring to change my mind that it's going to be a long year for the Cardinals. They do have some impressive skill players at receiver and in the backfield, led by Victor Anderson. But they lack the necessary horses in the trenches right now.
May 15, 2009 10:12 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Here it is, the day I've been dreading. It's time to roll out our post-spring Big East power rankings.
I saw five of the eight teams in person this spring, which you think would give me a good handle on revising my pre-spring rankings. Instead, I only grew more confused by seeing a bunch of flawed teams.
I'm going to approach this not as an evaluation of who I think will win the conference, because a lot of that will have to do with the schedule and which teams figure things out the fastest. I'm going to rank these teams based simply on where they are right now. I'm even going to cop out with some ties, because it's just too hard to filter (and really, with a seven-game schedule, there will be ties in the standings).
AP Photo/David Kohl
Mardy Gilyard paced the Bearcats last season with 81 receptions for 1,276 yards.
Deep breath. OK, let's give it a shot:
1. Cincinnati: Almost by default, I'm giving the top spot to last year's champs. The Bearcats should field an explosive offense with senior quarterback Tony Pike and receiver Mardy Gilyard leading the way. The big question of course was the almost entirely new defense, but I saw enough this spring to have faith that Cincinnati will be at least competent on that side of the ball.
2. Rutgers: I wrote before the spring that the Scarlet Knights may be a year away from being the best team in this league. And they still need to settle the quarterback situation and locate some help for Tim Brown at receiver. But everything else looks solid, including an offensive line that returns intact. Perhaps the timetable will be accelerated.
3. Pittsburgh: The offense looked putrid in the spring game, failing to score a single touchdown. Dan Marino isn't walking through that door at quarterback. Still, this may be the most overall talented team in the league, especially on the defensive side. Assuming Jonathan Baldwin doesn't miss serious time after his misdemeanor arrest, Pitt will find ways to score points.
T-4. West Virginia: Surprised to see the Mountaineers this low? Yes, they have playmakers on offense in Jarrett Brown, Noel Devine and some improving receivers. Yes, they have proven, veteran standouts on defense. But that offensive line scares me right now. So I'm curbing my enthusiasm.
T-4. South Florida: Matt Grothe and George Selvie give the Bulls the best returning duo in the league, but the team is young elsewhere. The offensive line is a huge question mark. The influx of talent coming to campus this summer should help. For once, South Florida might be better in November than September.
T-4. Connecticut: I ranked the Huskies sixth in my pre-spring poll before realizing that it's always a bad idea to underestimate Randy Edsall's team. I sense a quiet confidence in Storrs about this year, even with the loss of four first- and second-round NFL draft picks. I think the defense will be sound and deep. It will come down to how well Zach Frazer and the offense manage the new no-huddle attack.
7. Syracuse: Greg Paulus isn't enough to lift the Orange any higher from before the spring. There are still lots of holes on this roster from an overall talent standpoint, but I like the Orange to at least double their Big East win total this year. Of course, just two wins would accomplish that goal.
8. Louisville: I didn't see very much this spring to change my mind that it's going to be a long year for the Cardinals. They do have some impressive skill players at receiver and in the backfield, led by Victor Anderson. But they lack the necessary horses in the trenches right now.
It serves us right. If I was a Tulsa fan I would be 
at UofL.