College Basketball Predictions: Picking First, Second All-Big East Hoops Team

The Big East will again be the deepest conference in D-1 Basketball.

They may not get 11 teams in the tournament again (as they did last year), but look for four or five teams to legitimately challenge for the league title.

Here is a quick look at the 10 players who could make up the All Big East First and Second Teams:

Second Team: Jae Crowder (Marquette)

Jae Crowder may be undersized for a PF (6' 6", 225 lbs), but he just gets it done with physicality, an exceptional motor and a high basketball IQ.

Last year, Crowder was Marquette's top rebounder (6.8 rpg) and third-leading scorer (11.8 ppg).

He is off to a fantastic start for the Golden Eagles this season, scoring 39 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, pinching seven steals and handing out six assists in Marquette's first two games.

Second Team: Maalik Wayns (Villanova)

With Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher gone, Maalik Wayns is the Man at Villanova.

At 6' 2", 200 lbs, Wayns has the fantastic combination of an NBA-ready body and elite-level quickness. He is able to take and dish out all kinds of abuse, as well as breaking opponents down off the dribble.

In Villanova's first game this season, Wayns proved his versatility by scoring 15 points, grabbing four rebounds and handing out five assists.

Second Team: Peyton Siva (Louisville)

Even though he may not put up the most gaudy numbers, Peyton Siva is a fantastic floor general for Rick Pitino at Louisville.

Last year, Siva was among the Big East leaders in steals (2.0, second; 37th in the nation) and assists (5.2, fourth; 43rd in the nation), while scoring 10 ppg.

So far this season, the 5' 11" junior is showing that last year was no fluke. He has improved his free throw shooting from 68 percent last year to hitting 90 percent in Louisville's first two games.

Second Team: Yancy Gates (Cincinnati)

Yancy Gates is a beast. Period.

He has the size (6' 9", 260 lbs) to match up with any other PF in the country.

There's a good chance that Gates will average a double-double this season. He's already started to work on that by scoring 15 points and 11 assists in the Bearcats' opening game.

Look for Cincinnati to make a serious run at the Big East conference championship or tournament title.

Second Team: Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette)

Darius Johnson-Odom is one of the most underrated guards in the country.

Last year, DJ-O led Marquette in scoring, dropping in 15.8 points per game.

After the departure of Jimmy Butler, Johnson-Odom will be called upon by MU head coach Buzz Williams to step up even more.

Fortunately for everyone involved, he is up to the task.

In the Golden Eagles' first two games, the 6' 2" senior is averaging 20 points, two rebounds, five assists and 2.5 steals per game.

He is shooting a sizzling 65 percent from the field (13-for-20), 55.6 percent from beyond the arc (5-for-9), and 81.8 from the line (9-for-11).

First Team: Kevin Jones (West Virginia)

Kevin Jones is ready to have a monster year in what could be West Virginia's last season in the Big East before their departure to the Big 12.

Jones, a 6' 8", 260-pound forward, can battle down low with the best.

Last year, he scored 13.1 points and grabbed 7.5 rebounds per game.

If the first two games of the 2011-12 season are any indication of the type of season that Jones is going to have, look out Morgantown!

Already, the big fella is averaging 20 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game, shooting 75 percent (18-for-24) from the field.

First Team: Kris Joseph (Syracuse)

If Kris Joseph performs in 2011-12 like he is capable of doing, the Orange will be heading to New Orleans in late March.

Joseph is a huge key to Syracuse's season. He is capable of carrying Jim Boeheim's squad on his back.

So far this season, the 6' 7" senior is stepping up his game.

After two games, he is averaging 15.5 points and six rebounds, hitting on 50 percent of his FGAs (10-for-20) and 55.6 from beyond the arc (5-for-9).

First Team: Tim Abromaitis (Notre Dame)

Tim Abromaitis is one of the best shooting big men in the country.

Last year, the 6' 8", 235-pound forward averaged 15.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.

The fifth-year senior was named to the 2011-12 Preseason Top 50 List for the John R. Wooden Award.

With last year's Big East Player of the Year, Ben Hansbrough graduated, Abro will step into the role of lead scorer in the Fighting Irish offense.

First Team: Ashton Gibbs (Pitt)

Ashton Gibbs is one of the best pure shooters in the country.

Last year, Gibbs ranked third among NCAA Division I players in three-point FG pct. (49.0 percent), fifth in three-point FG per game (3.3) and 18th in free throw pct. (88.9 percent).

Gibbs (6'2" 190 lbs) is a two-time All-Big East selection who has led the Panthers in scoring each of the last two seasons (averaged 18.5 in '10-11).

In Pitt's first two games this year, Gibbs is averaging 22.5 points and four assists per game.

First Team: Jeremy Lamb (UConn)

UConn's Jeremy Lamb caught fire during the Big East tournament (named to the Big East All-Tournament team), and never cooled down until after the Huskies won the NCAA championship.

Lamb, who was named to the Final Four All-Tournament team, averaged 16.2 points and 4.8 rebounds, while shooting 58 percent from the field in the NCAA tournament.

Early in this season, the 6' 5" shooting guard has picked up where he left off. Lamb is averaging 25 points, five rebounds and 2.5 assists in the Huskies' first two games.