Big East Basketball 2011-12: Top 5 Seniors Returning for Their Last Hurrahs

The Big East, once again will be one of, if not THE best conference in all of college basketball.

Just like last season six conference teams finished in the final Top 25 and 11 teams with at least 20 wins, the 2011-12 edition of the Big East will be ultra-competitive.

One of the reasons that teams will have to bring their best every night is the combination of talent and experience that exists around the league.

Even though the Big East had players like Kemba Walker who left school early to enter the NBA Draft, there are plenty of elite-level seniors who will impact the conference standings and the outcomes of individual games.

Here is a quick look at the Big East's top five seniors going into the 2011-12 season:

5. Yancy Gates: Cincinnati

Very few players in all of college basketball can match Yancy Gates' physicality.

At 6'9", 265 lbs., Gates brings a level of size and toughness with which it is difficult to contend.

Last year, he led the Bearcats in both scoring (11.8 points per game) and rebounding (6.8 rebounds per game) as they finished a surprising 26-9 overall and 11-7 in league play.

With their top four scorers all returning this year, look for Cincinnati to make a serious run for the league title.

4. Tim Abromaitis: Notre Dame

Can Robin turn into Batman?

We willl see because last year, Tim Abromaitis was Robin to Big East Player of the Year Ben Hansbrough's Batman.

Abromaitis was the Fighting Irish’s No. 2 offensive weapon during last year’s 27-7 season.

He averaged 15.4 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game (second on the team) and shot 42.9 percent from three-point range.

3. Darius Johnson-Odom: Marquette

Darius Johnson-Odom was a big reason that Marquette made it to last year's Sweet Sixteen.

Johnson-Odom led the Golden Eagles in scoring (15.8 points per game)

He is an excellent shot creator who can spot-up or pull-up with equal skill and effectiveness.

If DJ-O can elevate his game in the upcoming season, watch for Marquette to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

2. Kris Joseph: Syracuse

This season, Kris Joseph will have an excellent opportunity to show that he is the most versatile player in the Big East.

The 6'7" Canadian can pretty much do it all.

He led the Orange in scoring (14.3 points per game) and was their No. 2 rebounder (5.2 rebounds per game), while still handing out 2.2 assists per game.

With a full complement of players returning and an excellent recruiting class coming in, the Orange will not only challenge for the league title but could make a serious run at the Final Four and more.

1. Ashton Gibbs

Is it possible that Ashton Gibbs has saved his best for last? If so, the Pitt Panthers are going to have an amazing 2011-12 season.

Last year, Gibbs was an All-Big East First Team selection, while in 2009-10, he was named Big East Most Improved Player and All-Big East Second Team.

He led the Panthers in scoring (16.8 points per game) and was the conference's best three-point shooter (48 percent) by almost four percent over the second-place shooter (Kyle Kuric of Louisville: 44.4 percent).

It may be difficult for the Panthers to duplicate their season of a year ago (28-6 record overall, winning the regular season title). But if Ashton Gibbs has anything to say about it, the Panthers are going to be in the thick of things all the way to the end.