NCAA Basketball Futures - Big East's Top-5 Teams

Previewing Big East Hoops

The way the Big East shaped up last year, one not only had to wonder why the 16-team league wasn't split up into two divisions, but also why they weren't in two separate conferences. There was so much talent and so many tournament-level teams that it was hard to believe that there could be so many contenders in one grueling year-end tournament.

That was then; this is now. Don't get us wrong; the Big East is still loaded, but there is a discernible drop in the talent level, as one might expect when no less than nine players from the league were drafted by the NBA.

Here is a quick look at the conferences Top-5 teams that are most likely to make the NCAA tournament. Last year's straight-up and ATS records are in parentheses:

Villanova Wildcats (30-8 SU, 19-15 ATS) will once again be a guard-oriented team as they seek a second straight Final Four bid. The leader of that troupe is Scottie Reynolds (15.2 ppg), one of the very best players in the Big East, and he is joined by the Coreys, not Haim and Feldman, but Stokes and Fisher. There are a couple of nice recruits to add to that backcourt - 6'1" Maalik Wayns of Philadelphia and 6'6" Dominic Cheek of Jersey City. As usual, the Wildcats are challenged to produce points up front, and it will be tougher after the departure of Dante Cunningham, which is why it is hoped that another prize freshman, Mouphtaou Yarou, will get a chance.

West Virginia Mountaineers (23-12 SU, 16-16 ATS) loses only Alex Ruoff from last year's tournament team. Coach Bob Huggins has one of the most versatile players in the conference in Da'Sean Butler, who could give them 20 points a game. Joe Mazzulla, whose season was ended with a shoulder injury last year, and Truck Bryant, who started as a freshman while Mazzulla was out, are both available at point guard, and they will be passing the ball to Casey Mitchell, the 6'4" off-guard who was the national junior college player of the year. Throw in ultra-talented Devin Ebanks, who should unquestionably raise his level of play as a sophomore, and Huggins has a real shot at the Sweet 16.

Connecticut Huskies (31-5 SU, 17-15 ATS) lost three starters, and only one double-digit scorer (Jerome Dyson) returns, but 6'9" forward Stanley Robinson and 6'1" point man Kemba Walker are ready to play much more prominent roles. One key could be how well 7'1" Charles Okwandu can fill the shoes of departed center Hasheem Thabeet. Hey, look out for 6'9", 250-pound Alex Oriakhi, a McDonald's All-American who could be able to settle into the starting lineup as a freshman.

Louisville Cardinals (31-6 SU, 22-15 ATS) has to replace two versatile, athletic players in Earl Clark and Terrence Williams, both of whom were drafted in the first round. This year Rick Pitino's team may be operating with more brute force on the inside. Center Samardo Samuels, last year's fab frosh (11.9 ppg, 58% FG's) will receive more responsibility, and Terrence Jennings is going to be a significant presence swatting away shots. The backcourt is loaded. If Edgar Sosa, who gave Pitino a headache at times last year, slacks off, slick freshman Peyton Siva is available.