Mens' College Basketball: Power Ranking the Big East by Reputation

The Big East Conference may not be known for the quality of its football teams, but its reputation on the hardwood is sterling.

After Boston College, Virginia Tech and Miami bolted for the ACC in 2004, the future of the conference was in doubt.

Shortly after, South Florida, Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette and DePaul joined the conference which made it a fearsome 16-team monster.

Those schools also transformed the league into the nation's best basketball conference.

Some of the nation's best and most historic programs call the Big East home.

Which of those schools have the highest reputation?

Find out as we power rank the Big East schools by reputation.

16. South Florida

Since joining the Big East as a full-time member in 2005, South Florida has been the laughing stock of the conference.

The Bulls have managed a measly 16-38 record in conference play the last three seasons.

Since the birth of the program in 1971, South Florida has not been a relevant program on the national stage.

15. Providence

The Providence Friars have largely been out of the national spotlight ever since Rick Pitino left the program after the 1986-87 season.

That was the second Final Four appearance in program history with the other being in 1973.

Providence's best season following the Pitino era was an appearance in the Elite Eight in 1996 under head coach Pete Gillen.

Since that season, the Friars have only been to the NCAA Tournament twice. Both of those appearances ended with first round exits.

14. Rutgers

Rutgers' basketball program has been relatively mediocre throughout the years.

The Scarlet Knights only have six NCAA Tournament appearances in school history with the most recent being in 1991.

The team also has one Final Four appearance which was back in 1976.

In recent years the program has struggled mightily.

Since the 2001-02 season, the program has a 151-169 record with three trips to the NIT.

13. Seton Hall

Seton Hall has been an afterthought in the Big East for many years.

The Pirates haven't won a conference regular season or tournament title since 1993.

The team made its one and only Final Four appearance in 1989 under legendary coach P.J. Carlesimo.

In recent years Seton Hall has been a middling team, earning trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and 2006.

12. DePaul

Some of you may be wondering why DePaul has been ranked ahead of the four previous teams. The reason for that is the fact that DePaul has a rich basketball history.

Don't get me wrong, the Blue Demons have been terrible the last few seasons.

However, you can't discount a program that has 22 NCAA Tournament appearances and two Final Fours in its history.

11. Cincinnati

Cincinnati has a rich and storied basketball tradition.

The Bearcats have twice been NCAA Tournament champions, back in 1961 and 1962.

The program also has a total of six Final Four appearances, four of which came in consecutive seasons from 1959 to 1963.

Cincinnati also made the Big Dance in 14 consecutive seasons from 1992 to 2005.

10. Notre Dame

Notre Dame is a football school first and a basketball school second. That's common knowledge.

However, with the football team having its recent struggles, the basketball program has had its time to shine.

The Irish finished ranked 5th in the country and earned a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Legendary head coach Digger Phelps led Notre Dame to its only Final Four appearance in 1978. The program has also made 31 NCAA Tournament appearances.

9. St. John's

St. John's labored through much of the 2000's. That was until Steve Lavin was introduced as head coach.

Red Storm fans are hoping that Steve Lavin will be able to return the program to glory after a tough six seasons under Norm Roberts.

Last season saw the Johnnies finish with a 21-11 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The best seasons in program history came under Lou Carnesecca who took the team to its last Final Four in 1985.

Fans can only hope that Steve Lavin can revive the program back to that.

8. Marquette

Marquette Basketball is best known for legendary head coach Al McGuire who guided the Golden Eagles to the 1977 national championship.

The program has been to three Final Fours (1974, 1977, 2003).

Current NBA star Dwyane Wade was an integral part of that 2003 run to the Final Four.

Recent seasons have seen Marquette as a top-tier team in the Big East.

7. West Virginia

Members of the Big East since 1991, West Virginia won its first conference tournament championship game in 2010.

That same season saw the Mountaineers advance to their first Final Four since 1959.

The program was medicore at best under former coach John Beilein, but Bob Huggins has the Mountaineers headed in the right direction.

They're going to be a force to be reckoned with as long as Bob Huggins is calling the shots in Morgantown.

6. Louisville

Wherever Rick Pitino goes, he will achieve success. That has certainly been the case at Louisville.

The Cardinals are two-time national champions, with the first coming in 1980 and the second in 1986.

They've also been to eight Final Fours with the most recent being in 2005.

Louisville has been a consistent contender in the Big East since joining the conference in 2005.

5. Pittsburgh

While Pittsburgh has only one Final Four appearance (1941) in school history, the Panthers are consistently one of the best teams in the nation.

Since being named head coach in 2003, Jamie Dixon has guided his Pittsburgh Panthers to nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

He has also won three regular season conference titles as well as two conference tournament titles.

With Ashton Gibbs returning for his senior season, Pittsburgh figures to be a Final Four favorite.

4. Villanova

Jay Wright's Villanova squads have consistently been the cream of the crop in the Big East.

The Wildcats have made four trips to the Final Four in program history with the most recent being in 2009.

The proudest moment in Villanova history is the Wildcats winning the 1985 national championship.

The team is also in the midst of seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances which started in 2005.

3. Georgetown

One of the most historic programs in the nation, Georgetown has been an elite program for many years.

The Hoyas have been to the Final Four five times including their most recent trip in 2007.

The face of the program is the legendary John Thompson whose son John Thompson III is the current head coach.

2. Syracuse

There's no doubt among Syracuse Orange fans that Jim Boeheim has single-handedly built the basketball program.

Since being named head coach in 1976, Jim Boeheim has guided the program to a record of 856-301 as well as the 2003 national championship.

His Orange teams are always a force to be reckoned with in the Big East and are notorious for the suffocating 2-3 zone defense installed by Jim Boeheim.

1. Connecticut

The reigning national champions deserve this No. 1 ranking.

The Huskies have won three national titles in program history, all coming within the last 15 years (1999, 2004, 2011).

UConn has also produced a number of outstanding players including Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Rudy Gay and A.J. Price, among others.