Kansas, the 2008 NCAA champion, was voted the preseason No. 1 despite several off-the-court issues, including recent fights between members of the football and basketball teams that left New Jersey guard Tyshawn Taylor with an injured thumb.

“Based on what we return and the quality of newcomers that we were able to recruit, I could see why people would think this,” Kansas coach Bill Self told USA Today. “It means you have good players, but it also puts a target on your back. That will make the season tougher, but we’ll be that much more prepared for March.”

Kansas received 27 first-place votes from the 31-member coaches panel.

Following Kansas are No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 North Carolina (the defending NCAA champion) and No. 5 Kentucky.

UCLA is not ranked for the first time in 80 polls, dating to the final poll of the 2004-05 season.

A year after sending five teams to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and two teams to the Final Four, the Big East placed six teams in the poll.

Villanova, picked to win the Big East, is the highest rated Big East team at No. 6.

West Virginia came in at No. 9 for its highest-ever ranking in the poll.

UConn came in at No. 14, Georgetown at No. 21, Louisville at No. 23 and Syracuse at No. 25.

Here’s the full poll:

1. Kansas
2. Michigan State
3. Texas
4. North Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Villanova
7. Purdue
8. Duke
9. West Virginia
10. Butler
11. Tennessee
12. California
13. Washington
14. Connecticut
15. Michigan
16. Oklahoma
17. Ohio State
18. Minnesota
19. Mississippi State
20. Georgia Tech
21. Georgetown
22. Dayton
23. Louisville
24. Clemson
25. Syracuse

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“I definitely feel it’s going to be our year to make a run.”

–Ebanks

“We’re playing real fast and coach [Pitino] wants us to play that way.”

–Sosa

“We have an opportunity to be a great team..we’re going to be dangerous.”

--Rautins

“Our team is going to be a lot faster so it’s going to be a fun season.”

–Walker

“Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding.”

–Pope on what he brings to the Pirates

“We’re looking forward to try to win the Big East Tournament.”

--Vaughn

“It’s kind of a wide open league. Anybody could make some noise.”

--Harangody

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“It’s an honor and I want our guys to enjoy that today. We have such great respect for everybody in this league and for them to pick us No. 1, we’re excited about that.”

–Wright on being picked No. 1

“With Stanley Robinson, Jerome Dyson and Kemba Walker, we have a threesome at one, two and three that’s as good as anybody in the country. And I truly believe that.”

–Calhoun

“With our seniors, [Tory] Jackson and [Luke] Harangody, their whole motivation is to get back to the NCAA Tournament in their senior year.”

–Brey

“This area has been great for us and we’re going to continue to try to come in here and get people.”

-Huggins on recruiting New York and New Jersey

“You gotta have players. I think there’ s no doubt we have some potential pros on our team.”

-Cronin

“If we keep everybody healthy and eligible and all that stuff, I think that we have a chance to be an NCAA Tournament team without question and that’s definitely one of our goals.”

–Gonzalez

“We may not be top-heavy, but I think we’re going to be top to bottom maybe even a better conference.”

–Dixon on the Big East

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Here are my Preseason awards ahead of Wednesday’s action. Click on the blue names of selected players to read the features on them.

2009-10 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame

2009-10 BIG EAST Preseason Co-Rookies of the Year
Alex Oriakhi, UConn, F, Fr., 6-9, 240, Lowell, Mass.
Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati, G, Fr., 6-5, 210, Brooklyn, N.Y.

2008-09 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Sr., 6-8, Schererville, Ind.
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Sr., 6-1, 195, Indianapolis, Ind. 
Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia, G, Sr., 6-7, 230, Newark, N.J.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, So., 6-9, 215, Long Island City, N.Y.
Greg Monroe Georgetown, F, So., 6-10, 240, Gretna, La.
Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, So., 6-9, 260, Trelawny, Jamaica
Wesley Johnson, Syracuse, F, Jr., 6-7, 205, Corsicana, Texas
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-3, 185, Harlem, N.Y.
Kemba Walker, UConn, G, So., 6-1, 172, Bronx, N.Y.
Lazar Hayward, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-6, 225, Buffalo, N.Y.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.

2008-09 Preseason BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Herb Pope, Seton Hall, F, Jr., 6-8, 236, Aliquippa, Pa.
Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, So., 6-9, 255, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mike Rosario, Rutgers, G, So., 6-3, 180, Jersey City, N.J.

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League officials toyed with the idea of doing away with the double-bye system and having the top four teams play the bottom four teams on the tournament’s first day, Tuesday, and then giving the winners a day off before playing the quarterfinals on Thursday. The teams seeded 5-12 would have squared off on Wednesday.

The semifinals would have remained on Friday night with the title game on Saturday night.

“We’re not going to change it for next year,” a Big East source said. “After only one year there wasn’t support to make the change. It’s going to be the same bracket as last year.”

Last year all 16 of the league’s teams were invited to the Garden for the first time. Prior to that, only the top 12 teams made the conference tournament.

But last season two of the top four seeds lost in the quarterfinals and a third was nearly upset.

No. 7 West Virginia beat No. 2 Pitt and No. 6 Syracuse beat No. 3 UConn in the historic six-overtime affair. No. 4 Villanova edged No. 5 Marquette on a shot at the buzzer. Top-seeded Louisville ended up winning the tournament.

“I think the sentiment was that for the top-seeded teams, they want to win the tournament and they just don’t think it’s to their advantage not to play any games before they play somebody in the quarterfinals who’s played a game or two already,” Dan Gavitt, the Big East associate commissioner for men’s basketball, said last month.

Now the status quo remains and the top seeds must be on guard in the first round.

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Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson says the school’s first priority would be to join the Southeastern Conference — not the Big East.

“Quite honestly, the truth of the matter is the lifelong dream of Memphis is to get in the SEC,” Johnson said Thursday in a phone interview. “We’re surrounded by SEC country. When Arkansas got in Memphis thought they were going to get in.”

Johnson hired former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese on a six-month basis and gave him one overwhelming mandate.

“I told him, ‘It’s simple. There are six BCS conferences. Get us in one,’” Johnson said.

Memphis has been a member of Conference USA since the mid-1990s.

Tranghese, in an interview on Wednesday, said he couldn’t pull such a move off singlehandedly.

“I can’t get people into conferences. That’s not what I do,” Tranghese said.

The SEC currently has 12 teams and would need to add teams in order for Memphis to join.

“They would have to expand and I don’t see that happening,” Johnson said. “We’re right in the middle of the SEC country and we would hope someday that that would happen. That would always be our first choice.  We would just really like to get in a BCS conference.”

Joining a BCS conference enables greater payouts from TV and bowl games, as well as enhanced recruiting opportunities.

“Money,” Johnson said. “Money and the image of recruiting. Truthfully, we think our program is better than about half the BCS programs. But not being BCS there’s always that stigma. Even when we were in the Final Four — basketball has nothing to do with BCS –they talked about us being a non-BCS school. And our coaches, they fight that all the time.”

Because Tranghese was associated with the Big East for three decades and was Commissioner for 19 years until stepping down at the end of June, speculation is running high that Johnson wants Tranghese to get Memphis in the Big East.

“Because Mike has been there, that’s the natural inclination. That’s not necessarily the case. I was at Temple before I came here and at that time Temple was in the Big East and that’s where I knew Mike. And we’ve been good friends all along. And he’s so highly thought of,” Johnson said. “We had him come here and analyze our situation and help prepare us.”

Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida joined the Big East in 2004 and Memphis still has strong regional rivalries with the Cardinals and Bearcats.

“Our fan base still relates strongly to Cincinnati and Louisville because that was such a huge rivalry,” Johnson said.

The Big East currently has 16 basketball teams and would likely have to kick somebody out — DePaul didn’t win a single conference game last season — in order for Memphis to join.

“I think so, to be realistically,” Johnson said of the Big East needing to lose a basketball team.

As for football, the Big East currently has eight teams, which creates an unbalanced situation where teams play either three or four league home games per season.

“From the football standpoint, it’s a little awkward on their scheduling because they have seven conference games and ideally you’d like to have a minimum of eight,” Johnson said. “So that’s one of the things that we would hope would be in our favor.”

Johnson said the Big 10 and Pac-10 could also be options if a spot were to open up.

“Our hope is that the Big 10 does something down the road, or the Pac-10, so that there’s a domino effect and then maybe can something where we can get in,” Johnson said.

The Big 10, which actually has 11 teams, could potentially add a 12th team. Rutgers and Notre Dame have both been the subject of numerous rumors.

“I’ve heard all sorts of rumblings,” Johnson said. “Their first choice would certainly be Notre Dame. But I keep hearing that Notre Dame may not be interested. I hear that they might try to get somebody from the East Coast.”

If Rutgers were to leave the Big East for the Big 10, that could potentially open up a spot but that doesn’t seem imminent.

“I’ve talked to some of the Big 10 athletic directors and we’re warmer,” Johnson said. “But I think it’s probably a little bit of a reach. But the truth of the matter is, we’re not too far away. And in this day and age, that doesn’t make a whole lot of difference. Conferences are all over the place.”

On the Pac-10, Johnson said: “We’d go to the Pac-10 if they’d invite us. It’s that big of  a deal.”

Johnson believes Tranghese can help get Memphis into any BCS conference, not just the Big East.

“I think he can get through any door,” Johnson said. “I really believe that. He’s so highly thought of, I think he can do that. And I think everybody would listen to what Mike has to say.”

MORE MEMPHIS NEWS

**Memphis down to eight players.

**Memphis hires Mike Tranghese in hopes of joining Big East.

**Joe Jackson to Memphis.

(Photo courtesy Memphis Commercial Appeal)

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Memphis wants to join the Big East Conference and has hired former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese to help accomplish that goal.

Yet, Tranghese says he cannot single-handedly get Memphis into the Big East or any other Bowl Championship Series conference.

“I’ve been hired to help them evaluate their athletic program, not to get them in a conference,” Tranghese, who was hired Aug. 1, said Wednesday in a phone interview. “I can’t get people into conferences. That’s not what I do.”

Read the full story here.

MORE BIG EAST NEWS

**Pete Thamel reports that a Yankee Bowl will likely begin in 2010 at Yankee Stadium featuring the 7th-place team from the Big 12 against the third- or fourth-place squad from the Big East.

**Aditi Kinkhabwala reports that Rutgers RB Kordell Young may finally play Saturday against Florida International after missing the first two games with a knee injury.

**Also check out Aditi’s Wednesday morning Big East football links, including a great story in the Cincy Inquirer about DB Marty Gilyard, who got kicked out of school, slept in his car and worked three jobs.

**This isn’t Big East-related but how about Monmouth and St. Peter’s playing a 6 a.m. game on Nov. 17 to fill ESPN’s time slots?

ESPN programmer Nick Dawson told USA Today: “There were definitely schools who weren’t interested. But to my surprise, lots of people were interested.”

**Pitt guard Jermaine Dixon broke his foot a second time and is out eight weeks.

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The league also announced its schedule of non-conference games which will be televised on national networks.  At least 27 games will receive national exposure.

Forty-four conference contests will be carried on ESPN or ESPN2.  ESPNU, which has increased its reach to over 47 million homes, will carry approximately 20 league games.  CBS Sports will televise 11 more games involving BIG EAST teams.  ESPN will continue to televise The BIG EAST Championship from Madison Square Garden in New York.  The dates for the 2010 event are March 9-13.

In total, 69 of the 144 regular-season BIG EAST games (or 48 percent) will likely be on national television.  The remaining games will be carried on ESPN360 or ESPN Regional/BIG EAST Network.  When The BIG EAST Championship games are added, more than half of all games played between BIG EAST teams will be televised nationally.

“Over the past three decades, the terms BIG EAST Conference basketball and national television exposure have become synonymous in many ways, and this year is certainly no exception,” stated BIG EAST Conference Commissioner John Marinatto. “Our 16 member schools represent nearly one-third of the nation’s television households — a fact that drives our ability to reach the many alumni, fans and constituents within our membership. We are very proud of our longstanding and comprehensive partnerships with both CBS Sports and ESPN, which continue to provide our schools with unparalleled exposure as all 144 of our Conference games will be televised for the third consecutive season.”

The BIG EAST has always enjoyed a leadership position in college sports television.  Twelve of the 16 conference schools are located in the top 35 media markets in the country.

ESPN and the BIG EAST again will partner in the network’s Big Monday format.  The league also will make regular appearances on ESPN and ESPN2 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

In addition, the BIG EAST and ESPN Regional Television will carry the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week on Saturdays, mostly at noon, Eastern time.  The syndicated package, the largest in college basketball, reaches more than one-third of the nation’s homes.

Some of the highlights of the 2009-10 schedule include:

Big Monday – All seven BIG EAST teams that earned berths in the 2009 NCAA Championship will make appearances.  The first Monday game is Pittsburgh at Cincinnati on Jan. 4.  Villanova travels to Louisville on Jan. 11.    No other conference appears on Mondays on ESPN more than the BIG EAST.  The Big Monday package also includes Connecticut at Villanova, a battle of the two league squads that advanced to the NCAA Final Four last year, on Feb. 15.  The Big Monday series concludes with Georgetown at West Virginia on March 1.  All games on the Big Monday schedule will be available on ESPN.360.

Wednesdays — ESPN or ESPN2 will show nine Wednesday games involving BIG EAST teams during the 10-week conference season.  The Wednesday schedule includes Connecticut at Syracuse on Feb. 10 as part of ESPN Rivalry Week.  Those two clubs played an unforgettable six-overtime game in the quarterfinals of The BIG EAST Championship.

Thursdays — ESPN or ESPN2 will televise 11 Thursday games that will include 13 BIG EAST squads.  The weekly Thursday night package starts when ESPN2 carries St. John’s at Georgetown on Dec. 31.  The final Thursday of the season, March 4, includes two telecasts on ESPN or ESPN2 – Seton Hall at Rutgers and Providence at Pittsburgh.

Saturdays – ESPN or ESPN2 will telecast 10 BIG EAST games during the conference season, including the final game at storied Freedom Hall March 6, when Syracuse visits Louisville.  Also, the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week package continues, mostly at noon, ET.  The Game of the Week package reaches over one-third of the nation and is the largest syndicated college basketball package in the nation.  The Saturday schedule will be announced at a later date.  There is one Sunday telecast on ESPN, Louisville at Syracuse on Feb. 14.

CBS Sports – The 11-game schedule on CBS Sports, which includes five league contests, will feature eight BIG EAST teams.  The CBS Sports slate begins with one of college basketball’s great intersectional rivalries, UCLA at Notre Dame, on Dec. 19.  The first league game of the season will be on CBS Sports when West Virginia visits Seton Hall on Dec. 26.  On Feb. 21, Pittsburgh will host Villanova, a contest that figures to spark memories of their game in the 2009 NCAA Elite Eight in Boston.  The Wildcats won at the buzzer 78-76.  The BIG EAST/CBS Sports schedule concludes with West Virginia at Villanova on March 6.  The BIG EAST and CBS Sports have been formal television partners since 1985, the longest relationship of any conference and national network.

ESPN GameDay – ESPN will take its signature GameDay series to a BIG EAST campus again.  Syracuse will host Villanova and the GameDay crew at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 27.

ESPN Rivalry Week – No conference will appear more times on Rivalry Week than the BIG EAST.  The week begins on Feb. 8 with Villanova at West Virginia in a Big Monday battle.  Rivalry Week concludes the following Monday, Feb. 15, with Connecticut at Villanova.  In all, seven BIG EAST games will be televised.

Holiday Week – The BIG EAST league schedule on ESPN and ESPN2 begins in late December with Connecticut traveling to Cincinnati on Dec. 30.  On New Year’s Eve, St. John’s plays at Georgetown.  Both games will be carried by ESPN2.

Jimmy V Classic – For a second straight year, the BIG EAST will participate in both games of the doubleheader at the Jimmy V Classic, Dec. 8 at Madison Square Garden.  ESPN will show Georgetown versus Butler followed by Pittsburgh meeting Indiana.

SEC/BIG EAST Invitational – The third annual meeting between the two conferences will be carried by ESPN and ESPN2.  On Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden, St. John’s battles Georgia on ESPN2 followed by Connecticut and Kentucky on ESPN.  On Dec. 10 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., DePaul and Mississippi State square off on ESPN2 before Florida plays Syracuse on ESPN.

Between the Jimmy V Classic and the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational, as well as a pair of scheduled nonleague games involving Villanova and Cincinnati, eight BIG EAST teams will appear on either ESPN or ESPN2 between Dec. 8-10.

NBA All-Star Weekend Game – The BIG EAST again will be featured on ESPN on the Friday night of the NBA All-Star Weekend when West Virginia plays at Pittsburgh on Feb. 12.

Saturday, January 30 – Although there are several days on the schedule with many attractive matchups, one of the better days may be Jan. 30.  At noon, Louisville plays at West Virginia  on ESPN.  At 2 p.m. Georgetown will host Duke on CBS Sports.  At 6 p.m., Notre Dame goes to Rutgers on ESPN2. Also, Marquette plays at Connecticut and Syracuse travels to DePaul.

The BIG EAST Game of the Week selections will be made at a later date.

The ESPN360 and BIG EAST Network local telecast schedules will be announced in the near future.

-BIG EAST-

2009-10 BIG EAST CONFERENCE COMPOSITE MEN’S BASKETBALL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Saturday, Dec. 26

West Virginia at Seton Hall                      3:30 p.m.            CBS Sports

Monday, Dec. 28

DePaul at Pittsburgh

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Syracuse at Seton Hall

Marquette at West Virginia

Wednesday, Dec. 30

Connecticut at Cincinnati                             7 p.m.            ESPN2

USF at Louisville

Providence at Notre Dame

Thursday, Dec. 31

St. John’s at Georgetown                            8 p.m.            ESPN2

Saturday, Jan. 2

Notre Dame at Connecticut

Pittsburgh at Syracuse

Villanova at Marquette                            3:30 p.m.            ESPN2

Cincinnati at Rutgers

Sunday, Jan. 3

Providence at St. John’s

Georgetown at DePaul

Monday, Jan. 4

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati                                7 p.m.            ESPN

Tuesday, Jan. 5

Notre Dame at USF

Wednesday, Jan. 6

Louisville at Providence

Seton Hall at Connecticut

Georgetown at Marquette

DePaul at Villanova

Rutgers at West Virginia

Saturday, Jan. 9

Connecticut at Georgetown                          Noon            ESPN

Marquette at Villanova

St. John’s at Louisville

Cincinnati at Seton Hall

West Virginia at Notre Dame

Rutgers at Providence

Sunday, Jan. 10

USF at Syracuse

Monday, Jan. 11

Villanova at Louisville                                   7 p.m.            ESPN

Wednesday, Jan. 13

Pittsburgh at Connecticut                            7 p.m.            ESPN2

Cincinnati at St. John’s

West Virginia at USF

Syracuse at Rutgers

Thursday, Jan. 14

Seton Hall at Georgetown                           7 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Providence at DePaul                                  9 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Saturday, Jan. 16

Louisville at Pittsburgh

Syracuse at West Virginia                              Noon            ESPN

Notre Dame at Cincinnati

Rutgers at USF

Sunday, Jan. 17

Georgetown at Villanova

DePaul at St. John’s

Providence at Marquette

Monday, Jan. 18

Syracuse at Notre Dame                              7 p.m.            ESPN

Wednesday, Jan. 20

USF at Cincinnati                                        7 p.m.            ESPN2

Georgetown at Pittsburgh

St. John’s at Connecticut

Marquette at DePaul

Villanova at Rutgers

Thursday, Jan. 21

Louisville at Seton Hall                                 7 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Saturday, Jan. 23

Rutgers at Georgetown

Villanova at St. John’s                                   Noon            ESPN

Marquette at Syracuse

DePaul at Notre Dame

USF at Providence

Sunday, Jan. 24

Cincinnati at Louisville

Pittsburgh at Seton Hall

Monday, Jan. 25

Georgetown at Syracuse                             7 p.m.            ESPN

Tuesday, Jan. 26

Rutgers at Marquette

West Virginia at DePaul

Wednesday, Jan. 27

Connecticut at Providence

Notre Dame at Villanova                              7 p.m.            ESPN

Thursday, Jan. 28

St. John’s at Pittsburgh

Seton Hall at USF                                       7 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Saturday, Jan. 30

Syracuse at DePaul

Louisville at West Virginia                               Noon            ESPN

Marquette at Connecticut

Notre Dame at Rutgers                               6 p.m.            ESPN2

Providence at Cincinnati

Sunday, Jan. 31

Pittsburgh at USF

Monday, Feb. 1

Connecticut at Louisville                              7 p.m.            ESPN

Tuesday, Feb. 2

Seton Hall at Villanova

St. John’s at Rutgers

Providence at Syracuse

Wednesday, Feb. 3

DePaul at Marquette                                   7 p.m.            ESPN2

USF at Georgetown

Pittsburgh at West Virginia

Thursday, Feb. 4

Cincinnati at Notre Dame                             9 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Saturday, Feb. 6

Villanova at Georgetown                               Noon            ESPN

Marquette at Providence

West Virginia at St. John’s

Rutgers at Louisville

Seton Hall at Pittsburgh

DePaul at Connecticut

Sunday, Feb. 7

Syracuse at Cincinnati

USF at Notre Dame

Monday, Feb. 8

Villanova at West Virginia                             7 p.m.            ESPN

Tuesday, Feb. 9

Georgetown at Providence                          7 p.m.            ESPN2

Wednesday, Feb. 10

Connecticut at Syracuse                              7 p.m.            ESPN

Thursday, Feb. 11

Louisville at St. John’s                                 7 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Notre Dame at Seton Hall

Friday, Feb. 12

West Virginia at Pittsburgh                           9 p.m.            ESPN

Saturday, Feb. 13

Cincinnati at Connecticut

Providence at Villanova

USF at Marquette

Sunday, Feb. 14

DePaul at Seton Hall

Louisville at Syracuse                                   1 p.m.            ESPN

Georgetown at Rutgers

St. John’s at Notre Dame

Monday, Feb. 15

Connecticut at Villanova                              7 p.m.            ESPN

Tuesday, Feb. 16

Rutgers at DePaul

Cincinnati at USF

Wednesday, Feb. 17

Notre Dame at Louisville                              7 p.m.            ESPN2

West Virginia at Providence

Seton Hall at St. John’s

Thursday, Feb. 18

Syracuse at Georgetown                             7 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Pittsburgh at Marquette                              9 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Saturday, Feb. 20

St. John’s at USF

Seton Hall at West Virginia                             Noon            ESPN

Louisville at DePaul

Connecticut at Rutgers

Sunday, Feb. 21

Villanova at Pittsburgh                                   Noon            CBS Sports

Marquette at Cincinnati

Monday, Feb. 22

West Virginia at Connecticut                        7 p.m.            ESPN

Tuesday, Feb. 23

Georgetown at Louisville                              7 p.m.            ESPN2

Rutgers at Seton Hall

Syracuse at Providence

Wednesday, Feb. 24

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame                            7 p.m.            ESPN2

DePaul at Cincinnati

Marquette at St. John’s

USF at Villanova

Saturday, Feb. 27

Notre Dame at Georgetown                          Noon            CBS Sports

Pittsburgh at St. John’s

Cincinnati at West Virginia

DePaul at Rutgers

Providence at USF

Villanova at Syracuse                                   9 p.m.            ESPN

Sunday, Feb. 28

Marquette at Seton Hall

Louisville at Connecticut                              2 p.m.            CBS Sports

Monday, March 1

Georgetown at West Virginia                       7 p.m.            ESPN

Tuesday, March 2

Villanova at Cincinnati                                  7 p.m.            ESPN2

Louisville at Marquette

USF at DePaul

St. John’s at Syracuse

Wednesday, March 3

Connecticut at Notre Dame                         7 p.m.            ESPN

Thursday, March 4

Seton Hall at Rutgers                                  7 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Providence at Pittsburgh                             9 p.m.            ESPN/ESPN2

Friday, March 5

St. John’s at DePaul

Saturday, March 6

Cincinnati at Georgetown

West Virginia at Villanova                               Noon            CBS Sports

Syracuse at Louisville                                   2 p.m.            ESPN

Notre Dame at Marquette

Rutgers at Pittsburgh

Seton Hall at Providence

Connecticut at USF

Note: All conference games not listed with CBS Sports, ESPN or ESPN2 above will be televised either by ESPNU, ESPN Regional/BIG EAST Network, or ESPN 360. Games listed as ‘ESPN/ESPN2’ will be selected to either ESPN or ESPN2, but the start time will not change.

2009-10 BIG EAST CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL NONCONFERENCE GAMES ON CBS SPORTS, ESPN, ESPN2 VERSUS AND FSN

Monday, Nov. 9

Albany at Syracuse                                           9 p.m.   ESPNU            2K Sports Classic

Wednesday, Nov. 11

Robert Morris at Syracuse                                  7 p.m.   ESPNU            2K Sports Classic

Monday, Nov. 16

Colgate at Connecticut                                      9 p.m.   ESPNU            NIT Season Tip-Off

Tuesday, Nov. 17

Louisville vs. Arkansas                                    7:30 p.m.   ESPN2            Hall of Fame Showcase

Thursday, Nov. 19

Villanova vs George Mason                                 2 p.m.   ESPNU            O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Syracuse vs. California                                        7 p.m.   ESPN2            2K Sports Classic

Friday, Nov. 20

Villanova vs. Dayton/Georgia Tech            1 p.m./3 p.m.   ESPNU            O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Syracuse vs. North Carolina/Ohio State      5 p.m./7 p.m.   ESPN2            2K Sports Classic

Sunday, Nov. 22

Villanova vs. TBD                                                 TBD   ESPN2/ESPNU  O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Monday, Nov. 23

Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt                                     5 p.m.   ESPN2            EA Sports Maui Invitational

Tuesday, Nov. 24

Cincinnati vs. Maryland/Chaminade        1:30 p.m./7 p.m.   ESPN/ESPN2    EA Sports Maui Invitational

Wednesday, Nov. 25

Connecticut vs. TBD                                            TBD   ESPN2            NIT Season Tip-Off

Cincinnati vs. TBD                                                TBD   ESPN/ESPN2/  EA Sports Maui Invitational

ESPNU

Thursday, Nov. 26

Marquette vs. Xavier                                         2 p.m.   ESPN2            Old Spice Classic

West Virginia vs. Long Beach State                     2 p.m.   ESPNU            76 Classic

Friday, Nov. 27

Marquette vs. Michigan/Creighton          Noon/2:30 p.m.   ESPN/ESPNU   Old Spice Classic

West Virginia vs. Texas A&M/Clemson   2:30 p.m./5 p.m.   ESPN/ESPNU   76 Classic

Connecticut vs. TBD                          2:30 p.m./5 p.m.   ESPN/ESPN2    NIT Season Tip-Off

Saturday, Nov. 28

La Salle at Villanova                                      3:30 p.m.   ESPN2

Louisville at UNLV                                             4 p.m.   Versus

Sunday, Nov. 29

Marquette vs. TBD                                               TBD   ESPN2/ESPNU  Old Spice Classic

West Virginia vs. TBD                                           TBD   ESPN2/ESPNU  76 Classic

Saturday, Dec. 5

St. John’s at Duke                                       3:30 p.m.   ESPN2

Sunday, Dec. 6

Villanova vs. Maryland                                    7:30 p.m.   FSN                BB&T Classic

Tuesday, Dec. 8

Georgetown vs. Butler                                      7 p.m.   ESPN              Jimmy V Classic

Pittsburgh vs. Indiana                                        9 p.m.   ESPN              Jimmy V Classic

Wednesday, Dec. 9

St. John’s vs. Georgia                                        7 p.m.   ESPN2            SEC-BIG EAST Invitational

Villanova at Saint Joseph’s                                  9 p.m.   ESPN2

Connecticut vs. Kentucky                              9:30 p.m.   ESPN              SEC-BIG EAST Invitational

Thursday, Dec. 10

DePaul vs. Mississippi State                            6:30 p.m.   ESPN2            SEC-BIG EAST Invitational

Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati                              8:30 p.m.   ESPN2

Syracuse vs. Florida                                           9 p.m.   ESPN              SEC-BIG EAST Invitational

Saturday, Dec. 12

Georgetown vs. Washington                              2 p.m.   FSN                Wooden Classic

Marquette at Wisconsin                                     5 p.m.   ESPN2

Sunday, Dec. 13

Cincinnati at Xavier                                            7 p.m.   ESPNU

Saturday, Dec. 19

UCLA at Notre Dame                                         2 p.m.   CBS Sports

Western Kentucky at Louisville                           4 p.m.   ESPN2

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Mississippi at West Virginia                             7:30 p.m.   ESPN2

Monday, Dec. 28

Rutgers at North Carolina                              8:30 p.m.   ESPN2

Friday, Jan. 1

West Virginia at Purdue                                2:30 p.m.   ESPN

Saturday, Jan. 2

Louisville at Kentucky                                    3:30 p.m.   CBS Sports

Seton Hall vs. Virginia Tech                            7:30 p.m.   ESPN2

Wednesday, Jan. 6

Memphis at Syracuse                                         7 p.m.   ESPN2

Sunday, Jan. 17

Connecticut at Michigan                                4:30 p.m.   CBS Sports

Saturday, Jan. 23

Ohio State at West Virginia                                2 p.m.   CBS Sports

Texas at Connecticut                                        4 p.m.   CBS Sports

Saturday, Jan. 30

Duke at Georgetown                                        1 p.m.   CBS Sports

All times Eastern

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The programming begins January 11 with Villanova at Louisville in a showdown between NCAA Tournament participants from last year. Villanova reached the Final Four and Louisville the Elite Eight.

Louisville, the defending Big East Tournament champions, beat Villanova in both matchups last season, including in the conference semifinals.

Prior to the tip off of the Big Monday schedule, ESPN will showcase Pittsburgh at Cincinnati on Monday, Jan. 4, giving Bearcats freshman Lance Stephenson of Brooklyn (pictured) a national showcase.

BIG EAST schedule highlights include:

●    Connecticut at Villanova in a showdown between the two Big East Final Four participants February 15;

●    Coverage featuring three of the four programs which made it to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight: Connecticut, Louisville and Villanova (the fourth, Pittsburgh, will be televised January 4).

●    All four Big East teams on the ESPN.com pre-season poll by Andy Katz: #4 Villanova, #9 West Virginia, #18 Georgetown and #25 Connecticut;

●    At least one team that has won the NCAA Championship in ESPN’s 30 years in each game: Connecticut (1999 & 2004), Georgetown (1984), Louisville (1980 & 1986), Syracuse (2003) and Villanova (1985), including four matchups between the teams:

ESPN’s 2009-10 Big Monday BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Schedule

January 4
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati

January 11
Villanova at Louisville

January 18
Syracuse at Notre Dame

January 25
Georgetown at Syracuse

February 1
Connecticut at Louisville

February 8
Villanova at West Virginia

February 15
Connecticut at Villanova

February 22
West Virginia at Connecticut

March 1
Georgetown at West Virginia

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The Big East Conference has reached a four-year agreement with Florida Citrus Sports and the Champs Sports Bowl to send a team to the Orlando Fla., game beginning in the 2010 season.

The Champs Sports Bowl will have the first selection from the Big East after the league’s BCS representative has been determined.  The Big East’s opponent for the game for 2010-13 is to be determined.  The payout to the Big East could reach $2.4 million.

”We are thrilled to be a partner with the Champs Sports Bowl, said Big East Commissioner John Marinatto. “I know our schools are very excited about the agreement.  Orlando is an outstanding destination for our teams and fans.  It’s going to be a great experience for everyone.  The Champs Sports Bowl is an outstanding addition to the Big East bowl lineup.”

“We are very excited about gaining another top pick through the Big East and Notre Dame,” said Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports.  “If we are successful in signing our other planned selections, it will be tough to argue that Orlando doesn’t deliver the best week of the college football postseason.”

The Champs Sports Bowl will have the opportunity to select Notre Dame once during the four-year agreement.

The dates for the Champs Sports Bowl will remain Dec. 27, 28 or 29.  The game will have an exclusive window on ESPN.

Big East teams compiled a 4-2 bowl record in 2008 and a 12-4 mark over the last three years.

Since 1994, the Big East has had a relationship with the Gator Bowl that has included the conference’s top selection after the BCS representative has been determined.

“We have been fortunate to have had a long and fruitful partnership with the Gator Bowl for 16 years,” said Marinatto. “We enjoyed the relationship, but our athletic directors and head football coaches were unanimous in the decision to forge a deal with the Champs Sports Bowl.”

Here’s how the new Big East bowl allocation will look, courtesy of Brian Bennett of ESPN.com.

1. BCS
2. Champs Sports
3. Sun
4. Meineke
5. Papajohns.com/International/Independence/EagleBank/New York City
6. St. Petersburg

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