The Big East released the home and away opponents for men’s basketball and the University of South Florida got a pretty decent break in who’s coming to Tampa, which ultimately should help the Bulls improve their conference win-loss record.

In USF’s current position, I contend it’s always better to play the worst teams in the league at home and the better teams on the road. Chances are you’re not going to beat the better teams whether it’s home or road, but a home court advantage could be a difference maker when two of the league’s teams in the bottom half of the league plays each other.

Each league team has three “mirror” opponents – teams you play home and away. USF’s mirror opponents: Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Providence.

Here are USF’s 2009-10 Big East Conference opponents (game dates won’t be released by the league for a few weeks).

USF’s home opponents: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall, West Virginia

USF’s away opponents: Cincinnati, DePaul, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, Syracuse, Villanova

Of USF’s nine home opponents, Cincinnati, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s and Seton Hall are all expected to finish in the bottom half of the league, so not a bad draw for the Bulls.

This will be the third year of the Big East’s 18-game league schedule. All 144 regular-season conference games will again be televised, either by CBS Sports, the ESPN family of networks or ESPN Regional Television.