Big East Power Rankings: Top 10

1. Connecticut Huskies (22-1)
The nation’s No.1 survived a break from Big East play with a home win over Michigan Saturday. UConn gets right back into conference action tonight as a double digit favorite against No. 22 Syracuse.

2. Louisville Cardinals (18-4)
Louisville’s only Big East loss remains Connecticut as the Cards bounced back with a 13-point win at St. John’s Sunday. The Cards take on a Notre Dame team which took them to overtime back in January tomorrow, but I expect Louisville to come out alive against the slumping Irish.

3. Pitt Panthers (22-2)
Pitt is looking unbeatable again with 4 straight wins all by double digits. This team’s only weakness is that they can get cold from the perimeter on occasion, but if the threes are going, I’m not sure anyone can beat DeJaun Blair and company.

4. Villanova Wildcats (20-4)
Nova has won 6 in a row, including back-to-back blowout wins over Syracuse and Marquette. A 7-point loss at Marquette, a 1-point loss to Louisville, and a 6-point defeat at UConn are Nova’s only league losses. Nova is not flying under the radar anymore. The Cats play at West Virginia Friday.

5. Marquette Golden Eagles (20-4)
Marquette slides from No. 2 to No. 5 in my rankings as it has dropped back-to-back games in Big East play now. With St. John’s and Seton Hall at home next, the Eagles should keep rolling, but we’ll see what this team is really made of when it finishes the year with UConn, Louisville, Pitt, and Syracuse.

6. Providence Friars (15-9)
Cincy is almost deserving of this spot with the way it has been playing but Providence had Cincy’s number this season, pulling off the season sweep to earn it. UConn, Nova, West Virginia was a tough stretch that handed the Friars three straight losses, but the rebounded with a big win over a South Florida team which handed Marquette its first Big East loss.

7. Cincinnati Bearcats (16-8)
The Bearcats continue to fly under the radar in the Big East and I’m sure they don’t mind as they have quietly won 6 of their last 8. No one thought this team would have a chance to beat Notre Dame or Georgetown this season and that’s exactly who Cincy has beaten in its last two wins.

8. Syracuse Orange (18-6)
I know Cuse has had some injury problems but they are high on my disappointment list right now. It got Andy Rautins and Arinze Onuaku back and beat West Virginia but was then clobbered by Villanova. Syracuse can prove just how talented it is with a big upset over the Huskies tonight.

9. Seton Hall Pirates (14-9)
I know the schedule has been soft, but the Pirates have won 5 in a row and there aren’t too many teams in conference play doing that anywhere. This team has shown that it is close to taking that next step with overtime loses to Villanova and Providence. The Pirates get UConn Saturday.

10. West Virginia Mountaineers (16-8)
West Virginia is a good team but a tough part of its schedule has handed the Mountain Men 3 losses in their last 4 games. This team is a lot like Seton Hall in that it is oh so close to taking that next step. The Mountaineers are 10-2 at home and should have a good shot against Nova Friday.

Beat the college basketball odds this season with Jimmy Boyd’s basketball picks. His picks are chosen with the industry’s leading basketball betting information to help you gain an edge over your book.