Toyminator's 2003-2004 Big East Conference Preview

Selection Sunday, 2003: Despite a successful season, the Big East gets jilted by the Selection Committee as only four teams make it to the Big Dance. Even Boston College, who wins their division, doesn't get an invite. Talk about a smack in the face! Well, three weeks later the Big East has the last laugh as Syracuse, a team that was underated and underestimated the entire season, beats some of the best teams in the country on its way to the National Championship. Even though superfrosh Carmelo Anthony got most of the publicity, the Orangemen won their title with great teamwork and everyone knowing and accepting their roles. Anthony may have moved on, but the returning players have the talent and the confidence to make a strong run at repeating this season. Of course, a talented and experienced UConn team that spanked the Cuse twice last season may have other plans!

Besides the two beasts at the top, the rest of the conference looks solid and should be quite competitive. Defending conference champion Pitt loses some quality seniors, along with their coach, but return plenty of talent and experience to make another run. Notre Dame will once again be tough to stop offensively with their dangerous combo of Chris Thomes outside and Torin Francis inside. Seton Hall and Providence are similar teams and will probably both be on the bubble come March. Though there are some real dogs near the bottom of the conference, the strength of the teams near the top should make this one of the better conferences in the country.

Lastly, the Big East will provide the country with some of the best and exciting players in the country. For example, look who is NOT on my All-Big East Team: Darius Rice of Miami, Andre Barrett of Seton Hall, Craig Smith of Boston College. These are some of the nation's top players at their respective positions, yet they can't even make first team in this conference! Add in some rising young talent in Billy McNamara, Kevin Pittsnogle, Jason Fraser and Denham Brown, and you can see why you should be keeping an eye on the Big East this season!

ON THE RISE: Providence
The Friars have been pretty quiet for the past few seasons, but that may be starting to change. Providence is not the most desired place for recruits to attend (other than from foreign countries), but Tim Welsh has done a good job getting some quality players the past few years. The development of players like Ryan Gomes and Sheiku Kabba, and the potential of blue chippers Donnie McGrath and Dwight Brewington should keep this program in the upper half of the conference this season and beyond.

IN DECLINE: Tie: Georgetown, St. John's
Take your pick! Both programs were carried by one superstar the past few years and now they're gone. Other somewhat talented players (Tony Bethel, Eric King) saw the writing on the wall and transferred away to avoid the losing that will certainly commence this season. I can see Craig Esherick being over his head, but Mike Jarvis used to be a good coach. He seems to have lost it! With little talent left, especially the young kind, it's safe to say that both programs will fall far down the standings this season and stay there for awhile.

1. UCONN

Strengths: Excellent team defense, led by Okafor. Good rebounding team. Good 3-pt shooting team. Loads of depth. Team quickness.
Weakness: Commit way too many turnovers. Inconsistent play. Poor FT shooting team.
Outlook: Everyone and their mother is picking the Huskies to win it all, as they should. This is probably the most talented team in the country. However, as we've seen the past two seasons, that doesn't mean they will win it all. In fact, this is a team that posted double-digit losses a year ago, so they're far from invincible. Either way, it should be a great season in Storrs!

2. SYRACUSE

Strengths: High scoring offense. Good shooting team. Aggressive team defense. Good ball distribution. Excellent coaching.
Weakness: Must cut down on turnovers. Very inexperienced bench. Loss of Anthony.
Outlook: No Anthony...no problem! Just bring in another killer freshman class to fill in the holes while the veterans continue to improve! There won't be much of a letdown here. The Orangemen may not repeat, but will defend their crown with honor!

3. NOTRE DAME

Strengths: High scoring offense. Good 3-pt shooting team. Good ball handling & distribution.
Weakness: Need better rebounding & inside scoring. Poor perimeter defense.
Outlook: The Irish lost some big time shooters, but return one of the best inside/outside combinations in the country in Thomas & Francis. If a third scorer can emerge, they will be a lock for the NCAA Tournament and should be near the top of the conference standings.

4. PITTSBURGH

Strengths: Excellent team defense. Balanced offense - usually take good shots. Good rebounding team. Good ball handling & distribution.
Weakness: Horrible FT shooting team. Little depth. Inexperienced coach.
Outlook: Ben Howland left plenty of horses in the stable so dont expect much of a fall this season. However, we'll see if he left the program in good enough shape so new coach Jamie Dixon can continue the Panthers' winning ways for years to come.

5. SETON HALL

Strengths: Excellent backcourt. Decent team defense that forces many turnovers. Solid bench.
Weakness: Weak frontcourt. Poor 3-pt shooting team. Too many turnovers.
Outlook: With the emergence of Kelly Whitney last season, the Pirates are just another big man (and Whitney improving his GPA!) away from making a run at the top of the conference. Even without one, their backcourt is stellar and should propel this team back into the NCAA Tournament this season.

6. PROVIDENCE

Strengths: Good inside/outside game. Awesome FT shooting team. Force many turnovers. Lots of experience & depth.
Weakness: Poor rebounding team. Poor ball handling & distribution. Struggle on the road.
Outlook: With the return of basically everyone, especially underated power forward Ryan Gomes, the Friars should be able to build on last season's success and make a run at the NCAA Tournament this season.

7. VILLANOVA

Strengths: Good rebounding team. Loads of young talent. Good FT shooting team.
Weakness: Terrible ball-handling & distribution. Weak team defense. Tend to underachieve.
Outlook: I was one of the few who predicted mediocrity from this team last season, but I won't be this season. After the whole phone call debacle, expectations are pretty low for the Wildcats. That may be a good thing and force them to start playing up to their potential!

8. WEST VIRGINIA

Strengths: Potentially high-scoring offense. Good ball handling & distribution. Decent team defense.
Weakness: Horrible rebounding team. Poor FT shooting team. Very inexperienced.
Outlook: Coach Beilein did a great job guiding this program away from the train wreck it was quickly becoming. With some decent young talent and a disciplined coach, this team could surprise a few people and end up playing in the postseason.

9. MIAMI

Strengths: Fresh, young talent with a side Rice! Good rebounding team. Good FT shooting team.
Weakness: Poor shooting team. Weak perimeter defense. Too many turnovers. Very inexperienced.
Outlook: The Canes' last season in the Big East won't be very memorable, but it won't be as bad as last season's debacle. If the young guys continue to improve, this team has a shot at making the NIT this season.

10. BOSTON COLLEGE

Strengths: Strong frontcourt. Good shooting and passing team. Limit their turnovers.
Weakness: Poor backcourt. Terrible team defense. Little depth. Loss of Bell & Sidney.
Outlook: Had everyone shown up who was supposed to, this team would have been battling on the bubble. However, reality struck this team pretty hard in the off season and they will struggle. Luckily, their frontcourt is good enough to keep them from falling any farther than this.

11. GEORGETOWN

Strengths: Solid team defense - force many turnovers. Good FT shooting team.
Weakness: Poor outside shooting team. Weak frontcourt without Sweetney. Poor ball handling & distribution. Questionable bench.
Outlook: The glory days of the Hoyas are over! Without Michael Sweetney to carry them anymore, look for a big decline this season.

12. ST. JOHN'S

Strengths: Decent backcourt. Force may turnovers. Good rebounding team.
Weakness: Horrible shooting team. Pitiful offense. Weak team defense. Little quality depth.
Outlook: Marcus Hatten was to St. John's as Michael Sweetney was to Georgetown! This team will truly struggle to score points and will be ugly to watch. How did Mike Jarvis allow this program to sink so low?

13. RUTGERS

Strengths: Good, aggressive team defense. Deep backcourt.
Weakness: Horrible shooting team. Big hole at PG - status of Wooten unknown. Weak frontcourt. Poor rebounding team. Too many turnovers.
Outlook: The Scarlet Knights took a turn in the wrong direction last season despite having some talent on board. With less talent now, don't look for this team to do much more than try to stay out of last place.

14. VIRGINIA TECH

Strengths: High scoring pair of wings. Good 3-pt shooting team.
Weakness: Terrible team defense. Very weak frontcourt with no center - little inside scoring. Questionable PG - poor ball handling & distribution. Poor FT shooting team.
Outlook: The Hokies showed some improvement last season and now have a decent coach. However, it won't change the fact that this will be the worst team in the conference. Thankfully, it is their last!

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Last updated on 10/20/03 by toyminator@prodigy.net