Big East Power Rankings: Syracuse, Pittsburgh and How the League Matches Up

What Division I basketball conference has the firepower to even come close to the monster that is the Big East this season?

As of today, the league has nine teams in the Top 25 polls, where the closest conference that comes near that number is the Big Ten with six, led by the new No. 1 team in the nation, the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes.

As you look across the basketball behemoth at this point in the season, Pittsburgh and Syracuse have established their place as the two dominant clubs. They have only combined for two losses on the season. The single loss for the Orange came last night at the Pete against the very same Panthers.

Besides the two headliners, there are teams throughout the league that have already collected 11-plus wins, but within the competitive Big East, a 12-win team can be mired in the middle of the pack where they could be leading other top-heavy conferences.

With just a few teams pretty much eliminated from title contention, there are more than 10 teams that can steal the Big East away from the conference leaders like last year, as West Virginia won the league at Madison Square Garden last March.

With that being said, let's see how the biggest and best conference in the country shakes down after the huge holiday weekend of marquee games.

This article and others like it can be found at Sports Haze.

Providence Friars

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NEW YORK - MARCH 09: Head coach Keno Davis of the Providence Friars reacts from the bench against the Seton Hall Pirates during the first round game of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 9, 2010 in New York, New York. (

Season Record: 11-8 (0-6 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Marshon Brooks—23.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.3 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at UConn on Feb. 13, at Louisville on March 2

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Burst

DePaul Blue Demons

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GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 11: Oliver Purnell, head coach of the Clemson Tigers walks the sideline against the NC State Wolfpack in their first round game in the 2010 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2010 in Greensboro

Season Record: 6-11 (0-5 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Cleveland Melvin—14.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Louisville on Feb. 5, at Syracuse on March 5

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Burst

South Florida Bulls

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NEW YORK - MARCH 10: Head coach Stan Heath of the USF Bulls looks on from the sidelines against the Seton Hall Pirates during the first round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/G

Season Record: 7-12 (1-5 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Augustus Gilchrist—12.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG 

Biggest Remaining Game(s): Pittsburgh, on the road on Feb. 16 and at home on March 2

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Burst

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

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PROVIDENCE, RI - MARCH 18: Coach Mike Rice of the Robert Morris Colonials reacts against the Villanova Wildcats during the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament at Dunkin' Donuts Center on March 18, 2010 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo

Season Record: 10-7 (1-4 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Jonathan Mitchell—12.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Syracuse on Feb. 19

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Burst

Seton Hall Pirates

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NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Kevin Willard of the Seton Hall Pirates coaches against the Dayton Flyers at Prudential Center on December 22, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

Season Record: 8-10 (2-4 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Jeremy Hazell—20.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.6 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Syracuse on Jan. 25, vs. UConn on Feb. 5

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Burst

Georgetown Hoyas

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WASHINGTON, DC- JANUARY 12: John Thompson III of the Georgetown Hoyas reacts to a play during a college basketball game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on January 12, 2011 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The Panthers won 72-57. (Photo by Mitc

Season Record: 13-5 (2-4 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Austin Freeman—17.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.4 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Villanova on Jan. 29, at UConn on Feb. 16

NCAA Tournament Bubble: NIT-Bound

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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LOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 08: Mike Brey the Head Coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gives instructions to his team during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2010 DIRECTV SEC/BIG EAST Invitational at Freedom Hall on December 8, 2010 in Loui

Season Record: 14-4 (3-3 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Ben Hansbrough—15.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.7 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Pittsburgh on Jan. 24, at UConn on March 5

NCAA Tournament Bubble: NIT-Bound

Cincinnati Bearcats

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NEW YORK - MARCH 11: Head coach Mick Cronin of the Cincinnati Bearcats reacts from the bench against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the quarterfinal of the 2010 NCAA Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 11, 2010 in New York City.

Season Record: 16-2 (3-2 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Dion Dixon—12.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.8 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Pittsburgh on Feb. 5, vs. UConn on Feb. 27

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Solid

West Virginia Mountaineers

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INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 03: Head coach Bob Huggins of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts while taking on the Duke Blue Devils during the National Semifinal game of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 3, 20

Season Record: 12-4 (3-2 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Casey Mitchell—16.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Syracuse on Feb. 4, at Pittsburgh on Feb. 24

NCAA Tournament Bubble: On the bubble, needing help

Marquette Golden Eagles

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SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 18: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Marquette Golden Eagles watches game action against the Washington Huskies during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at HP Pavilion on March 18, 2010 in San Jose, Californ

Season Record: 12-6 (3-2 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Darius Johnson-Odom—15.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.7 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Villanova on Feb. 2, at UConn on Feb. 24

NCAA Tournament Bubble: On the bubble, needing help

St. John's Red Storm

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NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Steve Lavin of the St. John's Red Storm coaches against the Davidson Wildcats during the Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden on December 20, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Chambe

Season Record: 11-5 (4-2 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Dwight Hardy—15.5 PPG, 3 RPG, 2.5 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): vs. UConn on Feb. 10, vs. Pittsburgh on Feb. 19

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Solid

Connecticut Huskies

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HARTFORD, CT - FEBRUARY 13: Coach Jim Calhoun of the Connecticut Huskies reacts during a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at the XL Center on February 13, 2010 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Season Record: 15-2 (4-2 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Kemba Walker—25.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.8 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): vs. Syracuse on Feb. 2

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Solid

Louisville Cardinals

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LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 05: Rick Pitino the Head Coach of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to his team during the Big East Conference game against the Seton Hall Pirates at the KFC Yum! Center on January 5, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Pho

Season Record: 14-3 (3-1 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Preston Knowles—15.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.6 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Pittsburgh on Feb. 27

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Solid

Villanova Wildcats

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach of the Villanova Wildcats, Jay Wright talks with Corey Fisher #10 against the Tennessee Volunteers during the Championship game at Madison Square Garden on November 26, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty

Season Record: 16-2 (4-1 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Corey Stokes—16.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.7 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at Notre Dame on Feb. 28, at Pittsburgh on March 5

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Solid

Pittsburgh Panthers

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 17: Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jamie Dixon talks with his players against the Syracuse Orange at Petersen Events Center on January 17, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Season Record: 17-1 (5-0 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Ashton Gibbs—16.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3.5 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at West Virginia on Feb. 7, at Villanova on Feb. 12

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Solid

Syracuse Orange

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 17: Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim screams at his team in the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Petersen Events Center on January 17, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Panthers defeated the Orange 74-66. (Phot

Season Record: 18-0 (5-0 in the Big East)

First Half Team MVP: Scoop Jardine—13.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.1 APG

Biggest Remaining Game(s): at UConn on Feb. 2, at Villanova on Feb. 21

NCAA Tournament Bubble: Solid