On Campus
Big East Preview
By Scott Procious

1. West Virginia: With one of the nation's best forward duos in Devin Ebanks and Da'Sean Butler, Bob Huggins has elevated his alma mater into the upper echelon of college basketball heading into the 2009-10 season. WVU is deeper and bigger this season, reminding many of some of Huggins' old Cincinnati teams, complete with black uniforms and off court problems.

Season Swings On: JUCO transfer Casey Mitchell will be asked to fill the void of Alex Ruoff and provide a perimeter threat to allow the rest to operate.

Nationally: Easily a top 10 team.

2. Villanova: Jay Wright's squad looks to return to the Final Four for a second consecutive season and they have the guards to do it. Senior Scottie Reynolds, last year's Elite 8 hero, returns as does budding star Corey Fisher, among others.

Season Swings On: How quickly the highly touted incoming freshman get up to speed, especially big man Mouphtau Yarou, whose talent and size could be the missing piece for the Wildcats.

Nationally: Come March, 'Nova is likely the team most will not want to face.

3. Connecticut: Jim Calhoun's Huskies are also looking for back-to-back trips to the Final Four. The returning core of Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson and Stanley Robinson all will be in the NBA this time next year.

Season Swings On: UConn traditionally leads the Big East in blocked shots; is freshman Alex Oriakhi ready to continue that tradition?

Nationally: Do not expect UConn to fall too far out of the hunt come March.

4. Louisville: Off court distractions aside, Rick Pitino's club still has plenty of talent- led by Samardo Samuels in the post-to be a force in the Big East.

Season Swings On: Will Edgar Sosa rise to the challenge of being a team leader as a senior and reach his potential?

Nationally: After back to back Elite 8 runs, maybe a small step back this season.

5. Cincinnati: Returning starters Deonta Vaughn and Yancy Gates are excellent building blocks, but freshman Lance Stephenson is a dynamic talent that gives Mick Cronin his most talented team since taking over at UC.

Season Swings On: Stephenson. First, the NCAA must rule on his amateur status and secondly, 'Born Ready' must be a team player on both sides of the court.

Nationally: Finally, a return to the NCAA Tournament with plenty of publicity with the exciting frosh.

6. Syracuse: Losses of Jonny Flynn, Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf push the Orange down but not out. Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson is poised to be an instant star in the Big East.

Season Swings On: Inexperience at point guard as either redshirt soph Scoop Jardine or true freshman Brandon Triche will run the show.

Nationally: Talent is there to be an NCAA team and you never count out a Jim Boeheim squad.

7. Pitt: The Panthers look much different from the team that broke through the Sweet 16 barrier in 2009, but a concentration on defense and unselfish play will always make Jamie Dixon's program a threat.

Season Swings On: Can Centenary transfer Chase Adams be a factor as a Big East point guard?

Nationally: Come February and March, do not be surprised to see Pitt back in the NCAA Tournament mix for a ninth consecutive season.

8. Seton Hall: Aliquippa native Herb Pope headlines three high-impact transfers-along with high scoring returnee Jeremy Hazell-that give Bobby Gonzalez a promising line-up.

Season Swings On: Can the model of building a team through transfer players be successful in the Big East?

Nationally: Individual talent potential is there for a big season.

9. Georgetown: Greg Monroe turned down a chance at the NBA lottery to return after the Hoyas disappointed last season. Team chemistry was lacking last year, as well as depth. The depth does not seem to be much better; will the chemistry improve?

Season Swings On: Can Chris Wright improve his decision making at point guard and be an extension of JT III on the floor?

Nationally: NCAA bubble team that could finish higher if all clicks.

10. St. John's: Norm Roberts is pointing towards this year as a breakthrough as a veteran team returns to make their mark in the Big East. The bad luck continues as Anthony Mason, Jr., is out 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury.

Season Swings On: Mason's return to health gives SJU a proven scorer to go with a tough defensive team.

Nationally: The potential to gel and become an NCAA team is finally there for Roberts.

11. Notre Dame: The Irish disappointed last season and lost Kyle McAlarney, Ryan Ayers and Luke Zeller. Despite Luke Harangody's return, the season ending injury to Scott Martin sets the team back significantly.

Season Swings On: Another scorer to emerge to take pressure off of Harangody. Teams will let him score 25, but if it takes 25 shots, it's tough for ND to win.

Nationally: NIT big looks to be waiting, again.

12. Rutgers: Last year's disaster has Fred Hill on very thin ice. Improvement should be seen in year 4, but it will only be gradual.

Season Swings On: If Greg Echenique moves into the upper echelon of Big East frontcourt performers, the Scarlet Knights will be more consistent.

Nationally: Reaching the NIT is an acceptable goal for the Scarlet Knights.

13. Marquette: With the graduation of senior guards Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Mathews, Buzz Williams is forcer to rebuild around Lazar Hayward and a promising freshman class. Injury to Junior Cadougan was a big blow to their chances.

Season Swings On: Freshman learning curve of Jeronne Maymon and incoming JUCO recruits such as Dwight Buycks and Darius Johnson-Odom needs to be small as MU needs their scoring.

Nationally: Better days are coming again, but a tough year lies ahead.

14. South Florida: Dominique Jones is a big time offensive talent, but the Bulls are still thin around him. Augustus Gilchrist and addition of Jarrid Famous should make frontcourt competitive.

Season Swings On: Frontcourt production from Famous and Gilchrist could elevate USF a few spots.

Nationally: Still a long climb into the national picture.

15. Providence: It is nearly a complete rebuild for Keno Davis in year 2, but he has solid holdovers in Sharaud Curry and Marshon Brooks to rely on. Youth and inexperience in the Big East is tough to overcome.

Season Swings On: Newcomers being better than anticipated.

Nationally: Davis is a rising star in the college coaching ranks, but this is a tough task this season.

16. DePaul: They might have been more talented last year and finished 0-18 in league play. While they are likely to win a couple games in the Big East this season, they are way behind the rest of the league.

Season Swings On: A lot of luck.

Nationally: The once-proud program is among the depths of major college basketball currently.