FIRST PLACE IN THE BIG EAST

by Shorty, Milk Was a Bad Choice

Can you name who's currently in first place in the Big East Conference? In school this year I've studied the Socratic Method, which is basically just another form of process of elimination and exactly how we will find out who is sitting atop the Big East Standings...

West Virginia? Nope -- The mighty Mountaineers are ranked #6 in the latest national polls, but they suffered a tough loss in South Florida on a Friday Night one month ago. Pat White, Steve Slaton and company may very well be the most talented team in the conference, but they currently sit tied for third in the Big East.

South Florida? Negative -- The upstart Bulls got knocked off in Piscataway this past Thursday Night after making all the way to #2 in the BCS standings. The program is well on its way to their greatest season ever, but after the loss to Rutgers, they are also tied for third.

Rutgers? Not Quite -- Last season's biggest surprise has come back strong and look to have a major impact on the conference yet again this season, as evidenced by Thurs. Night's victory. However, two home losses, one to Cincinnati in conference and another to Maryland out of conference have set back the Scarlet Knights and have them currently in second place in the Big East.

Hmmm... if it's not any of those teams, and we know Pittsburgh and Syracuse are both terrible this year, then it must be Heisman hopeful Brian Brohm and Louisville, right? Not Even Close -- the Cardinals came into Hartford on Friday Night with the hopes of salvaging their season against the Huskies. Turnovers, questionable officiating and monsoon rains, however all led to a devastating loss to the new 'Big Dogs' of the Big East Conference. That's right, the Connecticut Huskies led by the coaching & play of Jim Calhoun & Jeff Adrien Randy Edsall & Andre Dixon are currently undefeated in conference play and sit in an unfamiliar spot perched at the top of the conference standings.

Admittedly, the Huskies reign might not last past this weekend when the Huskies meet a South Florida team hungry to rebound from their loss last weekend. That doesn't change the fact that this school, known primarily as a basketball powerhouse, is already Bowl eligible and seems destined to put together their greatest season since becoming a Division I program. In fact this week they are included in the BCS Rankings for the first time ever in school history. After their nationally televised game against the Bulls on Saturday, Uconn meets Rutgers at home before traveling to Cincinnati. So the schedule only gets tougher from here on out, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying it while you can Husky fans. Dare to Dream!