Big East conference loaded with stellar teams

So much for having a "down" year in the conference. The Big East Conference in men's basketball has emerged as the best conference from top to bottom.

There were many questions entering the season as to which team is at the top of the conference, but a combination of teams that were expected to do well, as well as some surprises, have created a tough decision to determine who is the best.

First, look at a team like Villanova. Starting a majority of their Final Four team last year, including Scottie Reynolds (famous for his last-second lay up to beat Pittsburgh).

The Wildcats have been expected to do well in the conference this year, and they have. Villanova is in the top three in both AP and Coaches Polls, expected to rise even further, and are 8-0 in the conference, their only loss at Temple early in the season.

Syracuse has emerged as the primary threat to Villanova. Losing Jonny Flynn, Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf last year, the Orange have become an elite team due to new transfer Wes Johnson and a solid frontcourt consisting of Johnson, Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson.

Villanova is ahead of Syracuse in the conference due to the Orange's loss to Pittsburgh by Syracuse.

The plan for Syracuse was to beat difficult teams early in the season, playing California, North Carolina, Florida and Memphis, and winning all four of the games.

There were questions whether Syracuse should even hop over Villanova in the rankings, but those questions were silenced when Syracuse had to struggle to beat lowly Depaul this past weekend.

Overall, the Big East has five teams in the top 25. West Virginia has had a few tough breaks, including a home loss to Syracuse, and Pittsburgh was beaten by South Florida this last weekend.

One team that had an up-and-down season is Georgetown, who lost games to Marquette, Villanova and Syracuse, but turned around and defeated Connecticut, Pittsburgh and a top-ten team in Duke.

The one team nobody can figure out is Connecticut.

A Final Four team last year, Connecticut has had a difficult schedule, featuring games against Duke and Kentucky early in the season.

After opening the Big East season with a loss to Cincinnati, the team has been on and off.

Connecticut went on a two-game winning streak before dropping three in a row, then winning twice more, including an 88-74 win against Texas before dropping their last two to Providence and Marquette.

If a team had to be selected as the best team in the conference, it's hard to argue against Villanova. Syracuse does have a very complete team, but Villanova simply has the "it" factor. They can emerge victoriously in difficult situations and manage to find a way to win.

The way to determine which team is definitively better is to put them head to head, which will happen Feb. 27 at the Carrier Dome. Nonetheless, don't be surprised if the Big East places multiple teams in the Final Four again this year, which has become a common trend.