Big East Basketball: Which Conference Power Leads in the National Title Picture?

Since the 2005 season, when the Connecticut Huskies defeated Georgia Tech in San Antonio for their second title in program history, the Big East has yet to win another national championship.

But with the crop of talented teams this season in the league, the following teams in this story indeed have the talent to make a run at the Big East championship on route to a national championship game in Houston.

For Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Villanova and Syracuse, the four teams have combined to lose only nine games so far this season, with the Panthers and Wildcats only losing once each in conference play.

With there being no chance of these four teams making it to the Final Four, let’s see which program will make the push the remainder of the season to make 2011 a title season.

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Connecticut Huskies (No. 3 In The Big East)

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HARTFORD, CT - FEBRUARY 13: Kemba Walker #15 of the Connecticut Huskies drives toward the basket against the Cincinnati Bearcats at the XL Center on February 13, 2010 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

2011 National Rankings

Points per Game: 49th (75.5)

Free Throw Percentage: 12th (76.6)

Rebounds per Game: 6th (41.3)

Assists per Game: 115th (13.9)

Turnovers per Game: 317th (11.5)

With half of the UConn roster being freshmen, a third national championship for Jim Calhoun and the Huskies might be out of reach this season while the young players grow into their roles in Storrs.

If the combination of Kemba Walker and Alex Oriakhi remains intact into next season, Connecticut will be a force to deal with after the now freshmen are up to speed in 2011-12 as sophomores.

Pittsburgh Panthers (No. 1 in the Big East)

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WASHINGTON, DC- JANUARY 12: Ashton Gibbs #12 of the Pittsburgh Panthers takes a jump shot during a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas on January 12, 2011 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The Panthers won 72-57. (Photo by Mitch

2011 National Rankings

Points per Game: 24th (78.6)

Free Throw Percentage: 261st (65.9)

Rebounds per Game: 2nd (42.3)

Assists per Game: 1st (19.3)

Turnovers per Game: 321st (11.3)

The Panthers are the team to beat in the Big East, as they have the statistical edge in the major categories in addition to defeating UConn and Syracuse in very convincing fashion already this season.

With the play of Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker, Jamie Dixon might have the group of players that can lead Pittsburgh to its first Elite Eight since 2009 and Final Four since 1941.

Syracuse Orange (No. 7 in the Big East)

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SALT LAKE CITY - MARCH 25: Kris Joseph #32 of the Syracuse Orange in action against the Butler Bulldogs during the west regional semifinal of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Energy Solutions Arena on March 25, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Uta

2011 National Rankings

Points per Game: 63rd (74.5)

Free Throw Percentage: 298th (63.9)

Rebounds per Game: 47th (38.5)

Assists per Game: 17th (16.6)

Turnovers per Game: 311th (11.8)

In upstate New York, Jim Boeheim needs to resolve the situation of his team’s current three-game losing streak before any madness that comes with a March title run in two months.

With the losing streak being only temporary, the Orange has the best chance behind the previously mentioned Panthers at making a run at a title with the duo of Kris Joseph and Rick Jackson leading the way on the boards and the scoresheet.

Villanova Wildcats (No. 2 in the Big East)

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Corey Fisher #10 of the Villanova Wildcats dribbles the ball 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 Images)

2011 National Rankings

Points per Game: 39th (76.9)

Free Throw Percentage: 7th (77.6)

Rebounds per Game: 31st (39.0)

Assists per Game: 43rd (15.4)

Turnovers per Game: 296th (12.2)

In the city of brotherly love, Jay Wright again has the talent to make a NCAA tournament run, continuing his streak of making the postseason five straight years since taking over the head job at Villanova in 2001.

The two Coreys at guard, Stokes and Fisher, have the scoring ability to help the team challenge the Pittsburgh Panthers for the Big East, in addition to making a deeper NCAA run than in 2010 when it was eliminated in the second round.