The Syracuse Orange will enter Big East conference play as the No. 1 basketball team in both polls. The Big East also has five other teams ranked in the Top 25 (including four in the Top 15): No. 4 Louisville Cardinals, No. 9 Connecticut Huskies, No. 12 Georgetown Hoyas, No. 14/13 Marquette Golden Eagles, No. 22 Pittsburgh Panthers. The West Virginia Mountaineers received one vote in the Coaches' Poll. No Big East teams received votes in the AP Poll.
No. 1 Syracuse (13-0) defeated both Bucknell and Tulane by the score of 80-61 last week. The Orange will host Seton Hall (11-1) at the Carrier Dome on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.
No. 4 Louisville (12-0) defeated Charleston and Western Kentucky last week. The Cards will host the No. 12 Hoyas (10-1) on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.
No. 9 Connecticut (10-1) defeated Fairfield last week. The Huskies travel to Tampa to play the South Florida Bulls (7-6) on Dec. 28 at 9 p.m.
No. 12 Georgetown (10-1) beat Memphis last week. The Hoyas travel to play No. 4 Louisville (12-0) on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.
No. 14/13 Marquette (11-1) dropped their first game of the season to LSU and defeated Milwaukee last week. The Golden Eagles host Vanderbilt (8-4) on Dec. 29 at 9 p.m.
No. 22 Pitt (11-2) defeated St. Francis (PA) and fell to Wagner last week. The Panthers open conference play at Notre Dame (8-5) on Dec. 27 at 7 p.m.