SI.Com Big East Question

[achiever1911]

How do you see the post-2004 Big East shaking up? Do you think that the established programs such as Pitt dominating for the next few years, or could Louisville and Cincinnati compete for the conference title at once? What about South Florida? --Sergio Salazar, Jackson, Tenn.

I think it will be wide open. First off, with the exception of West Virginia, there's already not much of a difference competitively, if any, between the remaining Big East members and Louisville and South Florida. Cincinnati still has a little ways to go but could get there eventually under the direction of new head coach Mark Dantonio. So it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Cardinals or Bulls go into their first season in the conference as one of the favorites, if not the favorite, even at the expense of a more established program such as Pittsburgh. The two wild cards are Connecticut and Rutgers. The Huskies have improved by leaps and bounds since first joining Division I-A four years ago, going 9-3 last season, but we won't have a true sense of where they stand in the pecking order until they play a full Big East schedule this fall. As for the Scarlet Knights, all indications are they're on the verge of a breakthrough -- as previously predicted in this space -- but since it's Rutgers, we won't truly believe it until we see it.

[bulls96go]

rutgers the next memphis?

[smazza]

usf should be the best of this bunch after one more solid recruiting class

[Metro_Retro_Bull]

Growing up in the Rutgers back yard, I never understood why they didn't get the top local athletes - most went to Penn State. Still, Rutgers should own the Jersey talent.

[bulls96go]

wvu will leave door wide open for us newbies

[smazza]

usf will be fine