(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Nine schools have dominated the top nine spots in the Big East since the league expanded to a nation-high 16 teams.
On average, Connecticut, Louisville, Villanova, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Georgetown, Notre Dame, West Virginia, and Marquette have held eight of the top nine spots in the standings over the past four years.
In only 2005-06, the year the league extended into the heartland to grab four Conference USA teams, did two of those nine teams finished outside the top nine.
In 2007-08, those nine teams ended the season holding down the top nine spots.
But, after the 2008-09 season, a season which Georgetown finished outside the top nine, this group of dominant teams suffered dramatic losses.
Of the top 30 scorers in the Big East last season, 20 played for the nine teams that have had a stranglehold on the conference. Of those 20, 15 have either graduated or skipped out on college ball to play professionally.
Notre Dame's Luke Harangody led the conference in scoring, but the team's second option and floor-spreader, Kyle McAlarney, is no longer there. Ninth-leading scorer Da'Sean Butler will be without the league's 15th best scorer, Alex Ruoff.
Marquette's Lazar Hayward, who ranked 10th in the league in scoring, won't have the trio of guards Wes Matthews, Jerel McNeal, and Dominic James to compliment him.
Finally, rising freshman Greg Monroe ranked 29th in the league in points per game, but loses fellow forward DaJuan Summers to the NBA.
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