Is Big East Mission Impossible?

Posted Dec 30, 2009 by Scott Carter

Updated Dec 30, 2009 at 01:38 PM

I wrote a story for today’s edition of The Tampa Tribune on the USF men’s basketball team opening Big East play at Louisville tonight. Click here if you missed it online.

I did a lot of research and I’m sure hardcore USF basketball fans are familiar with some of the numbers. USF’s quest to compete in the Big East reminds me a little of researching stories on FSU’s bid to be a force in the tradition-rich ACC.

But upon further review, USF’s attempt to compete in the Big East is a much more difficult task than FSU’s goal to become a regular contender in the ACC. The Seminoles have certainly had some lean years recently, but they have a pretty good team this year and were the last team to defeat defending NCAA champion North Carolina a year ago.

As for USF, while I think the Bulls are improved—especially when Gus Gilchrist returns and Anthony Crater joins the team—finishing 9-9 in the Big East is going to be a all order each and every season with the depth the league has.

Anyway, most of this information couldn’t fit into the newspaper, but here it is for your review. Let me know what you think. Can USF ever compete in Big East men’s basketball?

A LONG WAY TO CLIMB

The USF men’s basketball program joined the Big East Conference in 2005. So far, it’s been a rude welcome to one of the nation’s premiere conferences. Here is a look at how the Bulls stack other with the 17 other programs in the Big East over the last five seasons:

Team/Wins last five years/Average

Louisville (33-21-24-27-31—27.2)
Pittsburgh (20-25-29-27-31—26.4)
Villanova (24-28-22-22-30—25.2)
Connecticut (23-30-17-24-31—25.0)
Syracuse (27-23-24-21-28—24.6)
West Virginia (24-22-27-26-23—24.4)
Georgetown (19-23-30-28-16—23.2)
Marquette (19-20-24-25-25—22.6)
Notre Dame (17-16-24-25-21—20.6)
Cincinnati (25-21-11-13-18—17.6)
Providence (14-12-18-15-19—15.6)
Seton Hall (12-18-13-17-17—15.4)
DePaul (20-12-20-11-9—14.4)
St. John’s (9-12-16-11-16—12.8)
Rutgers (10-19-10-11-11—12.2)
USF (14-7-12-12-9—10.8)

A BIG CHALLENGE

A look at the USF men’s history in conference play:

Conference/Years/Record/Win pct.

Sun Belt (1976-91; Record: 76-113, .402)
Metro (1991-95; Record: 16-32, .333)
C-USA (1995-2005; Record: 55-101, .353)
Big East (2005-09; Record: 11-57, .162)

USF Record Book

NCAA berths: 2 (1990, ’92)
NIT berths: 7
All-time postseason record: 4-9 (0-2 in NCAA Tournament)
20-win seasons: 2 (1982-83, 1989-90)
Most wins: 22-10 in 1982-83

National titles for current Big East programs (10)

Cincinnati – 1961, ‘62
Marquette—1977
Louisville – 1980, ‘86
Georgetown – 1984
Villanova – 1985
Connecticut – 1999, 2004
Syracuse – 2003

Final Four appearances (44)

Louisville—8
Cincinnati—6
Georgetown—5
Villanova, Syracuse—4
Connecticut, Marquette—3
Providence, DePaul, St. John’s – 2
Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, Notre Dame, Rutgers, West Virginia – 1