The Bottom of the Big East Might Finally Compete in 2010

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Throw in a tank in the center, John Garcia, thrifty rising freshman guard Jordan Theodore, another transfer from Memphis in Jeff Robinson, and two solid incoming freshmen Jamel Jackson and Ferrakohn Hall—and Seton Hall will potentially have a 10-man rotation when Big East play starts. 

It's a rotation that should save Bobby Gonzalez's job.

Gonzalez does face one problem—the Pirates haven't played a lick of defense since 2005, and the team lost its top defender, Paul Gause.

The guard was one of the league's best defenders and was really the only reason Seton Hall's defense wasn't completely laughable.

Rutgers Is Taking Major Strides Forward

Last year, the first male McDonald's All-American suited up in Rutgers red. That freshman, Mike Rosario, found ways to score from anywhere and everywhere on the court.

Rosario's partner in crime, Gregory Echenique, is a load in the frontcourt and could give Big East centers fits if he continues to get in shape and develop his game.

Alongside Echenique, Hamady N'Diaye is an accomplished shot-blocker who is an offensive move or two away from being a dependable third or fourth option.

Rutgers also has two incoming freshman that will help bolster the frontcourt. Brian Okam is a top-15 center and Dane Miller is a top-40 power forward.

Rutgers won't be among the Big East's best, but the improvements on Fred Hill's roster should be enough to first save his job, and second, move Rutgers into the top half of the league.

For St. John's, the Time Is Now

St. John's had been irrelevant before the league expanded in 2006, but that should change quickly in 2010.

Five sophomores filled the Red Storm starting lineup in 2009. With two more rising sophomores in the rotation and a freshman, St. John's is poised to build off a strong 4-3 finish in the conference.

Norm Roberts is also on the verge of saving his job if he gets production out of one of the more experienced lineups in the league. Paris Horne is one of the league's craftier scores while Sean Evans and D.J. Kennedy have become dependable forwards.

Horne and Kennedy are the league's 11th and 12th best returning scorers, while Evans is the seventh best returning rebounder.

If point guard Malik Boothe can be consistent, Roberts will have one of the better distributors in league.

A top-five finish in the league isn't out of the question, nor is a return to the NCAA Tournament for the Johnnies.

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