By: David Kay
1. Villanova: 4-0, 15-1 (LWR: 1)
They are healthy, at full strength, and Scottie Reynolds is exemplifying what it means to be a leader. ‘Nova is a Final Four team right now.
Up Next: vs. Georgetown (Sun), at Rutgers (Wed)
2. Syracuse: 3-1, 16-1 (LWR: 2)
After a pair of puff wins against South Florida and Rutgers, the ‘Cuse has a pair of monster road tests in the next three days.
Up Next: at West Virginia (Sat), at Notre Dame (Mon)
3. West Virginia: 4-1, 13-2 (LWR: 3)
After not showing up in the first half of their loss at Notre Dame, I give the Mountaineers credit for battling back and make it a close contest.
Up Next: vs. Syracuse (Sat), at Marshall (Wed)
4. Pitt: 4-0, 14-2 (LWR: 6)
This team has picked up right where they left off and massively exceeded expectations up to this point. Ashton Gibbs is “league” and Jamie Dixon is hands down the Big East Coach of the Year up to this point.
Up Next: vs. Louisville (Sat), vs. Georgetown (Wed)
5. Georgetown: 4-1, 13-2 (LWR: 4)
It is all about getting it done on the defensive end for the Hoyas. Austin Freeman has been big for JT3’s team and will need to come up huge this week playing at two brutal Big East road spots.
Up Next: at Villanova (Sun), at Pitt (Wed)
6. Notre Dame: 3-1, 14-3 (LWR: 7)
Luke Harangody makes me want to throw up violently. Now that I got that out of my system, the Irish have gotten off to a great start even though they narrowly escaped with two wins by a total of three points in their last two games.
Up Next: at Cincinnati (Sat), vs. Syracuse (Mon)
7. UConn: 2-3, 11-5 (LWR: 4)
The Huskies have not beat a ranked team this season and that includes back-to-back losses at Georgetown and home vs. Pitt. The talent is there. Jim Calhoun needs to pull them together.
Up Next: at Michigan (Sun), vs. St. John’s (Wed)
8. Louisville: 3-1, 12-5 (LWR: 9)
Rick Pitino busted out the white suit this week against Villanova and it didn’t work. Oh, the irony.
Up Next: at Pitt (Sat), at Seton Hall (Thurs)
9. Cincinnati: 2-3, 11-6 (LWR: 8)
The ‘Cats have three straight conference losses. What’s going wrong… their 28 three-point percentage is a great place to start.
Up Next: vs. Notre Dame (Sat), vs. South Florida (Wed)
10. Marquette: 1-3, 10-6 (LWR: 10)
Hopefully in their eight days away from game action, Marquette took a magic potion where they hit free throws and don’t blow late game leads.
Up Next: vs. Providence (Sun), at DePaul (Wed)
11. Seton Hall: 1-4, 10-6 (LWR: 11)
They have had a brutal start to conference play with their four losses coming to team ranked 12th or higher. Things won’t ease up with home games versus Louisville and Pitt on the horizon followed by three straight road contests.
Up Next: vs. Louisville (Thur)
12. Providence: 3-2, 11-6 (LWR: 12)
Before you overreact to their record, it should be known that their three conference wins have come against St. John’s, Rutgers, and DePaul. Still three wins in Big East is more than I would have anticipated at the start of the season.
Up Next: at Marquette (Sun)
13. St. John’s: 1-3, 11-5 (LWR: 13)
A home victory against Cincy was far from impressive but with DePaul in the batter’s box, the Red Storm should pick up a second straight win.
Up Next: vs. DePaul (Sun), at UConn (Sun)
14. South Florida: 0-4, 10-6 (LWR: 14)
The battle of winless teams in conference Saturday when the Bulls host Rutgers! Even I wouldn’t watch that game.
Up Next: vs. Rutgers (Sat), at Cincinnati (Wed)
15. Rutgers: 0-4, 9-7 (LWR: 15)
If they don’t beat South Florida Saturday, the Scarlet Knights do not have a winnable game until February 2nd when St. John’s comes to town.
Up Next: at South Florida (Sat), vs. Villanova (Wed)
16. DePaul: 0-4, 7-9 (LWR: 16)
Jerry Wainwright gets the axe. Mac Koshwal is hurt again. The Blue Demons are winless in the Big East. Yup, sounds about right.
Up Next: at St. John’s (Sun), vs. Marquette (Wed)