Big East Notebook: Votes of Confidence

When the Associated Press preseason poll was released, the Big East was blanked. The Big East had as many teams in the preseason Top 25 poll as the Sun Belt: zero, zip, nada.

Since the league began in 1991, it was only the third weekly poll that the Big East did not have a team in the AP rankings and, on cue, prompted the annual "does the Big East deserve an automatic BCS bowl bid argument?" from out West.

Seven weeks later, however, the Big East is back in the rankings in a big way. The Big East has three teams ranked among the nation's top 22 schools -- no conference has more in the top 22 -- and a legitimate national title contender in Cincinnati.

"I'm not surprised," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "I'm just disappointed we're not one of [the ranked teams]."

Cincinnati is ranked fifth, while Pittsburgh is at No. 20 and West Virginia No. 22. The last time the league finished the season with three teams ranked in the AP Poll was 2006 with No. 6 Louisville, No. 10 West Virginia and No. 12 Rutgers.

If Cincinnati, Pitt and West Virginia remain in the Top 25 by season's end and South Florida, currently 28th in the AP rankings, climbs back into the Top 25, the Big East would have four ranked teams in the final AP Poll for only the fourth time and first since 2002.

"[Having three ranked teams] is great exposure for the conference," Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said. "That's what we're looking for. When it's all said and done, you'd like three to four teams and the rankings and see someone playing for the national championship.

"That strengthens [the league's] reputation."

With the automatic BCS bowl berth argument tabled for at least another season, the league's critics are now questioning whether a 12-0 Cincinnati would deserve playing in the BCS national title game instead of a one-loss team from another BCS league, such as Florida, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma State, USC, Oregon, Iowa or Penn State.

"I think that's ridiculous," Wannstedt said. "If Cincinnati goes undefeated, they'll be playing for the national title and deservedly so."

ESPN analyst Craig James agrees. Last week he told FanHouse he believes an undefeated Cincinnati team would play for the national title over a one-loss team. And that was before the Bearcats debuted at No. 5 in Sunday's BCS rankings.

"If they run it, they have a real good chance," James said. "The Pac-10 [USC or Oregon] is not going to leap frog them. I don't see that. If Cincinnati goes undefeated, they'll play for the national title [over a one-loss team from another conference]."

Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said his club continues to build its resume.

"A win on the road against Rutgers, a win on the road against an Oregon State team and we've got a win on the road against a very good South Florida team," Kelly said. "We're starting to build a little bit of a resume."

Frustrating U.

The Ls continue to pile up at LLLLouisville after Saturday's loss at UConn. The Cardinals (2-4, 0-2 Big East) have lost seven consecutive Big East contests with their next two upcoming league games at Cincinnati Saturday and West Virginia on Nov. 7.

Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe said the Cardinals have not given up on the season.

"The kids have been great," Kragthorpe said. "There isn't anyone in our building that isn't frustrated. If anyone is not frustrated, they shouldn't be in our building. The key is to take that frustration and try to get a win under you belt.

"There's a never say die, never give up attitude."

Pulling Double Duty

With Cincinnati QB Tony Pike questionable for Saturday, Zach Colloras could get the start against Louisville. If so, the league would have four starting quarterbacks that played two sports in college.

Colloras also is an outfielder for the Bearcats. Last season he played in 36 games with 11 starts. He hit .205 with five RBIs.

The league's other three dual-sport QBs all played basketball: West Virginia's Jarrett Brown, Syracuse's Greg Paulus and USF's B.J. Daniels.

They're Gaining On You

The only league team to outgain every opponent this season? Nope, it's not Cincinnati. It's West Virginia. The Mountaineers have outgained five of their six opponents by at least 100 yards.

The closest to come to WVU in total yards was Colorado, which was only outgained by WVU 405-392. For the season, WVU is outgaining its opponents by a league-best average of 124 yards per game.

Behind RB Noel Devine, the Mountaineers also are one of only two league teams that has rushed for more than 125 yards in each game. USF is the other.



Around the League

If Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has a say in the matter, expect the Scarlet Knights to develop an annual series with Army. "I think that should be an every year game," Schiano said. The teams play Friday night. ... USF's loss to Cincinnati Thursday marked the Bulls' fourth consecutive loss to the Bearcats, the longest losing streak in the program's 13-year history to one school. The Bulls also dropped to 15-15 in Big East play - 5-0 against Syracuse and 10-15 against the remaining six league members. ... A Syracuse victory Saturday against Akron would match last season's win total (three) for the Orange under first-year coach Doug Marrone with five games remaining.