Creature Vs. Conference: An Orange on Why Syracuse Will Win the Big East

In case you’ve been hibernating through this winter, there’s a rumor making its way around the college basketball world that the Big East is loaded.

A simple check of the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll reveals nine teams (Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Syracuse, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Marquette, Villanova, Louisville, and West Virginia) currently residing in the Top 25.

To demonstrate the depth of the league, only four of the 16 teams remain unbeaten in conference play. Syracuse and Marquette occupy the top of the standings at 4-0, while Pittsburgh and Louisville are each 2-0.

So which of the Big East heavyweights will successfully navigate its way through the minefield that is league play to claim the conference title?

The answer to that question is about as clear as when the economy will recover.

But one team that has to be considered among the favorites is the Syracuse Orange.

Jim Boeheim’s bunch is off to a 16-1 start with conference wins over Seton Hall, South Florida, DePaul, and Rutgers, and out-of-conference wins over Florida, Kansas (in Kansas City), and at Memphis.

Before breaking down how the Orange can conquer the Big East, let’s take a look at the teams standing in their way.

The Contenders

Connecticut

Any team that has A.J. Price, Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrien, Jerome Dyson, and Kemba Walker on its roster has to be considered a favorite no matter which conference they play in. The Huskies are solid in all aspects of the game, and Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun gives them an advantage over most teams in the coaching department.

Georgetown

While the Hoyas don’t have a particularly deep bench, a team can do a lot worse than having a nucleus of Jessie Sapp, Austin Freeman, DaJuan Summers, Greg Monroe, and Chris Wright. Monroe has been lived up to the hype as one of the most sought-after freshmen in the nation.

The Hoyas play their usual stingy defense under a coach named John Thompson (stop me if you’ve heard that one before), and John III, unlike his father, toughens up his team with an aggressive non-conference schedule year after year.

Louisville

Coach Rick Pitino is looking for his second Final Four trip since returning to the Bluegrass State (much to the chagrin of Kentucky fans). This team just might accomplish the feat. The frontcourt of Earl Clark, Terrence Williams, and man-child freshman Samardo Samuels is one of the most athletic in the nation.

The Cardinals love to pressure other teams and convert turnovers into easy baskets. Louisville has been a disappointment so far this season, and the problem can be traced to lack of steady point guard play. For Pitino’s team to make a run, PG Edgar Sosa needs to play like he did in the win over Kentucky.

Marquette

Any talk about the Golden Eagles starts and ends with their superb three-guard lineup of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal, and Wes Matthews. Those three players alone ensure that Marquette has a chance to win every game they play.

The team can score (over 80 ppg)—that’s not the problem.  Size is, although junior Lazar Hayward (16 ppg and 8.5 rpg) does a good job inside and on the glass.

Notre Dame

No luck of the Irish needed in South Bend. Mike Brey’s team is just plain good. You want inside scoring and muscle? Luke Harangody is your man. You like guard play? Tory Jackson and Kyle McAlarney form one of the best backcourts in the country. Love three-pointers? As a team N.D. shoots them at 41 percent, fifth-best in the nation.

The only question for the Irish is whether they can play tough enough defense to beat the top teams in the league. Also, an early loss to St. John's has set them behind the rest of the pack.

Pittsburgh

No team in the conference takes defense as seriously as the Panthers. They truly grasp the notion that defense is played for 40 minutes. Levance Fields is one of the best floor generals in all of college hoops, and DeJuan Blair is a monster in the paint. Consider that the sophomore averages almost as many rebounds (12.5) as he does points (14.2).

Then there’s Sam Young, one of the most challenging players in the league to guard. Bring your lunch pail when you play Pittsburgh.

Villanova

Like Marquette, the Wildcats have great guards in Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher. Reynolds and Corey Stokes are both deadly from three, so zoning this team is not a wise decision.

Down low, they have senior Dante Cunningham (17.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg) to do the heavy lifting. With Jay Wright calling Xs and Os, Villanova certainly won’t be out-coached too often.

West Virginia

Despite taking it on the chin against Marquette (75-53) in their most recent game, Bob Huggins has himself a good foundation in Morgantown. He has one spectacular freshman in Devin Ebanks and two solid frosh in Kevin Jones and Daryl Bryant.

Senior Alex Ruoff and juniors Da’Sean Butler and Joe Mazzulla provide leadership for this young team. West Virginia is probably one star player away from really contending, but the Mountaineers certainly will have a say in the conference race.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?