Durzblog

1. Georgetown
Jeff Green was the most talented player in the league last year and won't be easy to replace; luckily for the Hoyas, Roy Hibbert returns as perhaps the best center in the nation. Look for Jonathan Wallace and DeJuan Summers to have very good seasons and for the Hoyas to get some help from a talented freshman class. Another FF may be the expectation in the nation's capital, however, this year the Green-less Hoyas will adorn the league bulls eye on their back. NCAA

2. Louisville
The Edgar Sosa and Derrick Caracter-led Louisville Cardinals have the talent and experience to win the Big East. If they can form a unit and avoid a rash of injuries and/or team disruptions, they are the league's best chance at a Final Four. Pitino's work on the recruiting trail of late is second only to Roy Williams. NCAA

3. Marquette
Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews lead the best backcourt in the league - they will need to find a bit of help upfront to enable the Golden Eagles to achieve lofty Big East and NCAA goals. NCAA

4. UConn
If Uconn can play up-tempo (and not helter skelter), the athletic capabilities of the young Huskies will cause some problems for their BE compatriots. The Huskies will be solid in the paint with Thabeet and Adrien and are expecting big things from Dyson and are hopeful AJ Price can become the player he was recruited to be. They will need to shoot the ball much better than last year and appear to be counting on some points in transition and off of turnovers to kick-start the offense. NCAA

5. Providence
Tim Welsh has arrived at what might be a make or break season for himself and his Friar program. They return an extremely solid club and have what it takes to compete in the upper half of the league and may fight for a first round BE buy. Geoff McDermott is one of the better big guys in the league. NCAA

6. Villanova
Scottie Reynolds returns as one of the better guards in the country, the trick is going to be to find him some help. The always dapper Jay Wright brings in a couple of studs with Stokes and Fisher and both will need to contribute right away. The Cats will not impose much pressure on the post but they do have the athletes to defend. The loss of Sheridan, Sumpter and Nardi might hurt a bit more than those on the Main Line are prepared for. NCAA

7. Pittsburgh
Levance Fields' off the court issues will most likely see him miss a portion of the early season and that might smart a bit. However, typical of any Pitt club this team has plenty of able bodies around to let them do what they do best -- compete. Pitt will dance, but not much. Ramon and Fields can find the bucket. NCAA

8. Syracuse
Are Devendorf and Harris alone good enough to make a 20 win team? The loss of Rautins is going to hurt Boeheim and the Orange. Huge things are expected of Green and Flynn, I call them just a bit unrealistic right off the bat especially for Flynn. Although JB has waved his self imposed house arrest early season scheduling policy, Selection Sunday will be stressful for the Orange. NCAA

9. Notre Dame
Kyle McAlarney and Tory Jackson will allow the Irish to score and to make travelling to South Bend a bit of a task. However their (at times) poor shot selection and inability to pull close ones out are going to leave the Irish looking for more. NIT

10. Seton Hall
Eugene Harvey and Brian Laing are back and they are very good Big East players. Gonzo has things going in the right direction - look for the Pirates to notch some wins against the upper echelon. The new facility and Gonzo's drive will have the Pirates fighting for an NCAA birth before long. NIT

POST SEASON CUT-OFF

11. West Virginia
Bob Huggins has some decent athletes on his squad left by John Beilein - Huggy does not like to lose and won't for long - this year could be a struggle.

12. DePaul
Demons are not all that exciting on paper; they do play very hard and they are going to need to. Super Frosh Koshwal and returnee Currie could give some teams a problem or two especially in the dark All-State arena..Good news is that the team of Wainright and Gary DeCesare is working with regards to locking up talent.

BIG EAST TOURNEY CUT-OFF
13. Cincinnati
I still contend that Andy Kennedy would have been a fine hire, however Mick Cronin is doing some good work bringing talent in. Sadly for Nick Lachey and fellow Bearcat fans, the process will take a while.

14. Rutgers
Chandler, N'Diaye and Koburn have the talent pendulum swinging in the right direction and the '08 class is off to a good start. The Fred Hill Experiment is in its infant stages...we will wait on judgement for now.

15. St. John's
Anthony Mason Jr. is a good player, but he shouldn't be your teams' star. The loss of Q Calhoun is not going to help, neither are some near misses on the recruiting front. Hotseat is going to come to a boil in Jamaica.

16. USF
Kentrell Gransberry is a decent big and they are ranked 2nd in the country in football!

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Post Season Award Prediction:

First Team
G James, Marquette***
G Reynolds, Villanova
F, McDermott, Providence
F, Caracter, Louisville
C, Hibbert, Georgetown



***Player of the Year

Defensive Player of the Year
Thabeet, Uconn

Newcomer of the Year
Koshwal, DePaul

Coach of the Year
Tim Welsh

Coaches on the Hot Seat
Brey, Roberts