Big East Basketball: Louisville unanimous selection in media poll to win the conference

The college basketball season tips off in less than a month. Ahead of tomorrow's Big East basketball media day, the conference released the results of its preseason media poll. Louisville, fresh off a Big East Tournament title and a Final Four run, returns almost everyone from last year's team and was the unanimous selection to win the conference in 2012-2013. Syracuse was a near unanimous pick to finish second. Here's the full results of the poll, courtesy of the Syracuse Post-Standard.

1. Louisville 15 (15 1st-place votes)

2. Syracuse 33

3. Notre Dame 49

4. Cincinnati 63

5. Pittsburgh 78

6. Georgetown 97

7. Marquette 109

8. South Florida 123

9. Connecticut 159

10. St. John's 163

11. Rutgers 167

12. Villanova 171

13. Providence 176

14. Seton Hall 188

15. DePaul 209

We'll have additional preseason thoughts on the Big East as the season gets a bit closer, but the first thing that jumps out to me: South Florida, not going to be a one hit wonder. Stan Heath did a great job last year and has a team that should be NCAA Tournament caliber again this year. I think people still fail to realize how monumental of an achievement that is. Combine that with a renovated and improved Sun Dome and a new practice facility and suddenly there's a foundation laid at a place where basketball has never flourished. Second, I'm a little more optimistic about Georgetown and Marquette and I still wonder how it will all work for Pitt this year after last year's debacle. I guess after Louisville and Syracuse it's going to be a bit murky until conference play.