Big East Basketball Power Rankings Jan. 6: Syracuse Orange Still Reign Supreme

With the Big East schedule now kicking into full gear, it's time for teams to either show up as contenders or pretenders in one of the nation's top conferences. 

So, which teams impressed this week and moved up the ladder? Ross Bentley and Chris Tripodi bring you another edition of the Big East power rankings.

1. Syracuse (16-0)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 1

The Orange just keep rolling along with convincing conference road victories over DePaul and Providence.

As one of only four remaining unbeaten teams in the nation, I'm not even sure their first loss would be enough to drop them from the top spot here.  

Jim Boeheim's squad will get Marquette at home on Saturday before traveling to Villanova to play the Big East's worst team on Wednesday. (Tripodi)

2. Georgetown (13-1)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 2

The Hoyas continued their outstanding season with two more wins this week over Providence and Marquette, and due to a loss by UConn, they find themselves all the way up to the No. 2 spot in the Big East rankings.

While Georgetown didn't look particularly impressive in either of those games (they had to come back from a double-digit deficit against Marquette), they found a way to win and continue their current 11-game winning streak. 

Up next for Georgetown are a couple of tricky games this week with West Virginia and Cincinnati, so we'll see if the Hoyas can hold on to the No. 2 spot with a couple more victories this week. (Bentley)

3. Louisville (13-2)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 3

Louisville picked up their first Big East win of the season with a 15-point victory over St. John's this week in their only game. 

The Cardinals' only two losses this year have come to Top 10 teams in Kentucky and Georgetown, so they still figure to be a top-notch team in the conference as the season continues. 

Louisville gets two games they should be able to handle this week against Notre Dame on Saturday and  at Providence on Tuesday, but as we have seen in Big East play this season, any team can knock off any other on any given night. (Bentley)

4. Connecticut (12-2)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 4

The defending champs drop two spots this week after a head-scratching loss to Seton Hall. 

UConn was outplayed substantially in that game versus the Pirates, and questions have to be asked about the legitimacy of this team as a Big East title contender. 

The Huskies, however, should bounce back against Rutgers tomorrow night, but then will have a very intriguing game as they host West Virginia on Monday. (Bentley)

5. Marquette (12-3)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 5

The Golden Eagles had a commanding 17-point lead on the road against Georgetown in a game that would have made a huge statement after their first two losses of the season.

Marquette showed some major issues closing the game in the final 13 minutes and let the Hoyas come back and win by three.

If Buzz Williams' team could have held on, they would likely be in the top three of the rankings this week. (Tripodi)

6. Seton Hall (13-2)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 6

Talk about an impressive week.

After getting blown out by top-ranked Syracuse to start the Big East season, Seton Hall responded in a huge way with two quality wins to catapult themselves into the top six.

After blowing out West Virginia, Seton Hall went on the road and knocked off Connecticut, moving them to 13-2 (2-1) on the year. 

Everything looks like Seton Hall is headed for the NCAA Tournament, and wins this week over Providence and DePaul would only cement that even further. (Bentley)

7. Cincinnati (12-3)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 7

It may have taken a while, but the Bearcats look like they have finally found their rhythm in the 2011-12 season.

After being picked to finish in the Top 5 of the conference in the preseason, Cincinnati stumbled out of the gates, highlighted by their ugly brawl with Xavier on Dec. 10.

In the month since, though, Cincy has not lost and continued that with wins this week over Pittsburgh and Notre Dame. 

Now, they have all their players back from suspension including Yancy Gates, the team's best player, and look to be a team on the rise in the conference. (Bentley)

8. West Virginia (11-4)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 8

Sandwiched between two victorious 80-point performances, the Mountaineers managed just 48 points in a blowout loss at Seton Hall.

That was the first time this season West Virginia had been held below 60 points, and they couldn't overcome 8-32 combined shooting from Kevin Jones and Darryl Bryant.

That game exposed this team's major flaw; with such heavy reliance on two seniors who account for almost half the team's points, West Virginia will have little room for error in conference play. (Tripodi) 

9. DePaul (10-4)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 9

You may be wondering how a double-digit loss to Syracuse and a close home win against a reeling Pittsburgh team warrants a move up in the rankings, but Pitt's drop out of the consensus top 10 had to move somebody up.

The Blue Demons still lack a quality win, but their 10 wins are already three more than last season's total of seven. And through two Big East games, they have matched their conference-win total from last season (one). (Tripodi) 

T-10. Notre Dame (9-6)

Ross' Rank: 11

The Fighting Irish fell back down the ladder with a blowout loss on the road versus Cincinnati this week in their only game.

The reason I still put Pitt ahead of the Irish—despite Notre Dame holding a win over the Panthers this season—is that I can still envision a healthy Pittsburgh team making a run towards the end of the season and getting an NCAA Tournament bid.

However, with Notre Dame without Tim Abromaitis, this just looks more like a team who could score an upset or two at home, but won't seriously challenge anyone on the road or in the Big East Tournament.

Chris' Rank: 10

The Irish are another team that moved up in the rankings despite not doing much to deserve it, with their only game this week resulting in a 16-point road loss to resurgent Cincinnati.

Mike Brey's team has six losses already, but their convincing home victory over five-loss Pitt keeps them in my top 10 right above the Panthers.

T-10. Pittsburgh (11-5)

Ross' Rank: 10

Pitt's free-fall continued with two more losses this week, making it four in a row and an 0-3 start in Big East play. Both losses came by three points against Cincinnati and at DePaul.

Pitt had the game won last night against the Blue Demons, but committed a horrible foul with just one second remaining, allowing DePaul to convert an and-one and turn Pitt's two-point lead into a one-point deficit.

A road win over DePaul would have gone a long way to curing the Panthers' woes, but instead, they'll have to try and make up for it this week with games against Rutgers and Marquette.

Chris' Rank: 11

While I blame most of the Panthers' struggles on missing Travon Woodall, the fact remains that good teams (e.g., Cincinnati) persevere in the absence of their stars.

Pittsburgh has proven recently that they just aren't a very good team without Woodall, and while his presence in the lineup gives this team Top-25 potential, he needs to return soon for Jamie Dixon and company to sniff an NCAA Tournament bid.

12. St. John's (7-7)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 12

Don't let the record fool you. St. John's is a good basketball team.

Unfortunately, the Johnnies have played an extremely tough schedule and have been marred with injuries to their players and their head coach Steve Lavin.

St. John's predictably lost both of their games against UConn and Louisville this week, and it doesn't get much easier with Cincinnati and Marquette coming up.

We can continue to put St. John's in the top 12 based on their potential, but eventually, they'll need to start winning some games if they are going to stay there. (Bentley)

13. Providence (11-5)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 13

Ed Cooley's Friars put up about as much of a fight as you could have expected against the Big East's top two teams, Syracuse and Georgetown, this week.

They will have two more cracks at good teams in the coming week, playing both Seton Hall and Louisville on their home court, but Providence just doesn't have the depth to compete with the big boys in conference play this season. (Tripodi)

T-14. Rutgers (8-7)

Ross' Rank: 15

The Scarlet Knights' shocking win over Florida is the only thing keeping them from the basement of my Big East rankings this week.

Rutgers fell back down to earth with a loss to South Florida followed by a blowout defeat against West Virginia this week.

The loss to the Bulls is likely extremely frustrating for Mike Rice, as South Florida figures to be one of the squads that he had to think his team had a descent shot of beating in conference play.

Now, Rutgers faces Connecticut and Pitt this week and will have to dial up more of the magic they showed in the Florida game if they are going to pull off an upset.

Chris' Rank: 14

The Scarlet Knights may have lost to South Florida, and usually, I reward the winner of head-to-head matchups, but it was a road game, and Rutgers was within 15 seconds of winning.

Unfortunately, Rutgers won't get a chance to avenge this loss on their home floor this season, but I still look at the Florida victory and see a far better win than any team South Florida has beaten. They are a team that can pick up more wins in conference play.

T-14. South Florida (9-7)

Ross' Rank: 14

South Florida has managed to win two consecutive Big East games, which is a surprise in and of itself.

The two wins, though, came against who I believe are the two weakest teams in the conference in Rutgers and Villanova. But still, they are wins nonetheless.

The Bulls won rather convincingly against the Wildcats, though, which proves they cannot be considered the conference's worst team in anyone's eyes.

Chris' Rank: 15

The Bulls may be 2-1 in conference play, but those games came against Rutgers and Villanova—two of the bottom-three teams in the Big East—and one was too close for comfort on their home floor.

I can't help but wonder how many more games this team will win, and I don't see them winning at Notre Dame on Tuesday. Their next best chance for a win seems to be Jan. 18 at home against St. John's.

16. Villanova (7-8)

Ross and Chris' Rank: 16

Jay Wright's Wildcats have lost three straight to become the first eight-loss team in the Big East this season. They were embarrassed on the road by South Florida, losing by 17 to a team that may not win five games in the conference.

Barring an upset that I just can't predict, Villanova looks likely to go winless in January and extend their losing streak to 10 games (and probably 11) before a Feb. 7 home game with Providence that may be their first legitimate chance at a conference victory. (Tripodi)