The number one team has to be the Pittsburgh Panthers after last night's showing, and a lot of people may have thought that going in. They were able to flex their muscles early against Syracuse getting out to that 19-0 lead, and then were able to take control late as well. They took the number three team in the country and did not trail in the game, and ended up winning going away, 74-66.
That brings the Panthers record to 18-1, 6-0 in the Big East, and surely into a top three ranking given they do not lose to bottom dweller DePaul on Saturday.
A very well balanced team, they have seven players averaging over six points per game, and three in double figures, led by Ashton Gibbs with 16. They lead the nation in rebounding, and can go 10 players deep and feel confident. They have a great coach in Jamie Dixon, who has a career record of 206-55, and are 6-0 in the Big East. Right now they are definitely leading the pack.Following close behind though, and reinforced by last night's match up without their leading scorer in Kris Joseph, would have to be Syracuse. With a loss of only eight points to a top three team on their home court where they almost never lose, without Joseph, and getting out to a 19 point deficit, I think the Orange proved something. They can play with the best even though they might not be playing their best.
They have two experienced guards leading their vaunted 2-3 zone out top, and a double-double machine down low in Rick Jackson. Jackson has to be in the conversation, though a short one with the way Kemba Walker is playing, for Big East Player of the Year. Speaking of the 2-3 zone, going into last night's game the Orange were hold teams to an average of under 60 points a game, and shooting only 37% from the field. They have been winning games because of their defense, which is where championships are said to be won.
Last night also showed that despite things not going their way they can play with anyone. Also taken from that game was the growth, and potential of freshman Dion Waiters and CJ Fair, along with sophomore James Southerland. After losing Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins the question was where would those minutes, points, rebounds and defense come from, these three have stepped right in. Syracuse is number two behind Pittsburgh, but they are not going to stop fighting for that top spot.
The next team has to be Connecticut. Coming into the year without high expectations Kemba Walker took this team on his back early to lead them into the top 10, and now as the season goes along the other players are starting to step up and help him, making them that much more dangerous.
Kemba Walker right now is hands down the National Player of the Year in my opinion, he has been unstoppable. He is second in the nation in scoring, and has three game winning shots after yesterday's with 2.5 seconds left against Villanova. He has done anything and everything for this team, and he puts them in the top four all by himself.
The reason they are third today is because his supporting cast is starting to grow and really play to a high level. Alex Oriakhi has been his number two all year, really coming out strong in the Maui Invitational and being that rock down low, with games like at Texas when he had 21 big rebounds in the come from behind win. Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb are two freshman that are starting to play more like sophomores or juniors,and the Huskies are now becoming a team. They are going to be that much more dangerous come March, I do not think you are going to want to see Kemba and crew in your bracket.
Finally, Villanova comes in at number four. The Wildcats lost a tough one, in a tough environment yesterday, and that drops them below the Huskies. They weren't able to hold onto the lead they had built on the road, and Kemba came back to bite them in the end. That was only the second loss of the season, and first in the Big East for Villanova. But more so than the record, it is the way they have played in games this year, the wins they have struggled to get, that puts them at the bottom of this top tier in the Big East.
They have all the necessities to make it to Houston though, because they have great guard play and their front line has depth. Cory Fisher is one of the best guards in the Big East, and he can shoot and score with anyone in the country, just yesterday he had 28 points in that loss to Kemba and UCONN. Villanova fans are excited though because his running mate Maalik Wayns is playing great basketball as a starting sophomore, and Corey Stokes is one of the best shooters in the Big East, and absolutely deadly from behind the arc.
The big guys are what will make Villanova dangerous to a lot of teams tough. While you are concerning
yourself with those three out top, Mouphtaou Yarou and Antonio Pena are able to get big rebounds and have both really improved their offensive games from last year. Yarou has become reliable on that low block, and Pena gives them the ability to step out with a bigger guy on him and shoot the face up 15 foot jumper. The balance they get from their bigs is vital to their success.The Big East is loaded this year, with possibly as many as 11 of the teams having a chance to go to the Big Dance. These four teams have seemed to separate themselves from the Georgetown's, Louisville's and Notre Dame's at this point. By years end all of these schools have the talent to remain in the top 10, and each gain the respect and aura of this year's best team in the Big East. Only time will tell.
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