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WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Smith, Green and Bushell honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Smith turned in his third 400-yard passing performance of the season in West Virginia’s 38-35 loss to Louisville, completing 31 of 44 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The yardage total ranks fifth on West Virginia’s single-game chart, and it gives Smith 6,197 career passing yards, good for second in school history. Smith, who has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 12 consecutive games, leads the BIG EAST and is seventh nationally in passing yards, averaging 347.2 yards per game.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Khaseem Greene • Jr. • LB • Rutgers • Elizabeth, N.J.
Greene registered a career-high 17 tackles — the most by a BIG EAST player in a game this season — to key Rutgers’ 20-17 overtime win against USF. Greene, who leads the BIG EAST in tackles this season (92), had the most tackles by a Rutgers player since Antonio Lowery had 19 against Army last season. Greene leads a Rutgers unit that ranks second in the BIG EAST in both total defense (324.2 yards per game) and scoring defense (18.8 ppg).

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Adrian Bushell• Jr. • CB • Louisville • DeSoto, Texas
Bushell made a play that potentially resulted in a 10-point swing in Louisville’s 38-35 win at No. 24/21 West Virginia when he blocked a short field goal attempt that would have tied the game. Instead, a teammate picked up the loose ball and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown, giving the Cardinals a 31-21 lead. Bushell also finished with seven tackles to help the Cardinals to their first win in Morgantown since 1990.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Tony Miliano • Fr. • K • Cincinnati • North Bend, Ohio
Scored 14 points and made field goals of 27, 40, 32 and 41 yards in a 26-23 win at Pittsburgh.

Lyle McCombs • Fr. • RB • Connecticut • Staten Island, N.Y.
Rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in a 28-21 win against Syracuse.

Teddy Bridgewater • Fr. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.
Completed 21 of 27 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown with one interception in a 38-35 win at West Virginia. Completed his first 10 passes.

DeDe Lattimore • So. • LB • USF • Athens, Ga.
Had 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss in a 20-17 overtime loss at Rutgers.

Alec Lemon • Jr. • WR • Syracuse • Crofton, Md.
Had nine receptions for a career-high 157 yards and a touchdown in a 28-21 loss at Connecticut.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. Cincinnati (7-1, 3-0) (last poll: 1st)
Last week: beat Pittsburgh 26-23
The results of Saturday’s games put the Bearcats, who made their first appearance this season in the BCS rankings at 23, in solid position atop the Big East. The one team that trails them by a game in the loss column (Louisville) has already lost to Cincinnati, and a win on Saturday against West Virginia could be the first real nail in the coffin for the rest of the league.

This week: West Virginia (Noon, ABC)

2. Louisville (5-4, 3-1) (4th)
Last week: beat West Virginia 38-35
Charlie Strong’s Cardinals remain a factor in the Big East race following the program’s first win in Morgantown since 1990. Teddy Bridgewater continues to make sound decisions at quarterback, and the defense ranks among the best in the conference. With Pittsburgh rolling into town the Cardinals have a good chance of pushing their win streak to four.

This week: Pittsburgh (Noon, Big East Network)

3. West Virginia (6-3, 2-2) (2nd)
Last week: lost to Louisville 38-35
The defense suffered a letdown on Saturday as it was unable to get off the field at the most important time in the 38-35 loss to Louisville. The Cardinals went on a drive that took up nearly eight minutes, putting the game away with a touchdown with 1:08 remaining. The Mountaineers now find themselves needing a lot of help to get into the race, but they can help their own cause with a win over Cincinnati on Saturday.

This week: at Cincinnati (Noon, ABC)

4. Rutgers (6-3, 3-2) (5th)
Last week: beat USF 20-17 (OT)
The Scarlet Knights were a poor football team for three and a half quarters on Saturday, but special teams stepped up to kickstart their rally. Jeremy Deering ran a kickoff back 98 yards to cut the Bulls’ lead in half, and the insertion of Chas Dodd ultimately led to the game-tying score. Rutgers dodged a bullet on Saturday night, keeping their fleeting hopes of winning a Big East title alive. They step out of the conference to face Army at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

This week: vs. Army (3:30 PM, CBS Sports Network)

5. Pittsburgh (4-5, 2-2) (3rd)
Last week: lost to Cincinnati 26-23
Even without the services of Ray Graham or Cameron Saddler the Panthers were more than competitive against Cincinnati, but they didn’t take care of business in the second half and allowed a 10-point lead to slip away. Tino Sunseri started off well but the inability to make snap decisions became an issue in the second half at the Bearcats got after him. That has to change against a stout Louisville defense this weekend.

This week: at Cincinnati (Noon, Big East Network)

6. Connecticut (4-5, 2-2) (7th)
Last week: beat Syracuse 28-21
Paul Pasqualoni gave Scott McCummings more opportunities to run the offense in the second half on Saturday and it paid off, as UConn was able to get enough done on the ground between he and Lyle McCombs to beat Syracuse. Will they give the redshirt freshman more chances to throw? If so time could be short for Johnny McEntee, who has struggled to move the offense. With a bye week it will be interesting to see what the Huskies do.

This week: Bye

7. Syracuse (5-4, 1-3) (6th)
Last week: lost to Connecticut 28-21
Syracuse has had two opportunities to reach bowl eligibility and they didn’t take care of business in either one, losing to both Louisville and Connecticut. On paper those were both games the Orange were expected to win, and with the offense in a downward trend it hasn’t happened. They’ll have the same expectations on Friday night as they host a winless (in league play) USF team. Ryan Nassib and company need to snap out of this skid and quickly.

This week: USF (8 PM Friday, ESPN2)

8. USF (4-4, 0-4) (8th)
Last week: lost at Rutgers 20-17 (OT)
USF looked to be well on their way to their first conference win of the season on Saturday night as they led Rutgers 17-3 with just under eight minutes left in regulation. But then things fell apart for the Bulls, who missed a chip shot field goal at the end of regulation then turned the ball over on their lone overtime possession. That makes Friday’s trip to Syracuse that much more important, because a loss would throw bowl eligibility in to serious doubt.

This week: at Syracuse (8 PM Friday, ESPN2)

WEEK 10 RECAP: BEARCATS STRENGTHEN HOLD ON LEAD

Cincinnati survives late field goal attempt

By Raphielle Johnson

By the time the Cincinnati Bearcats took the field for pregame warmups at Heinz Field they likely knew what they needed to do based on the results of the two afternoon games. A win over Pittsburgh would put Butch Jones’ team in a very good spot with regards to the Big East title race with a home game against West Virginia (at Paul Brown Stadium) next week, while a loss would drop them into a tie in the loss column with Louisville and Pitt. It wasn’t pretty, as Pittsburgh led by 10 points in the third quarter, but Cincinnati bounced back and got the job done on the road. Thanks in large part to four Tony Miliano field goals and an opportunistic defense the Bearcats (7-1, 3-0) assumed firm control of the Big East race. But Coach Jones won’t allow his players to look that far ahead, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand.

“As we have seen throughout this entire football season, success can be very short-lived,” said Jones. “That’s why we will enjoy this right back to Cincinnati and then all of our focus is playing an extremely talented West Virginia football team next week. Every game is a new season and that’s the way we approach it.”

Zach Collaros has had better nights, as completed 19 of 32 passes for 212 yards and a pair of interceptions, but he proved to be valuable on the ground with a pair of rushing touchdowns. Isaiah Pead led the Bearcats with 118 yards rushing as Cincinnati overcame a rough night on third down, converting just two of their 13 opportunities. Pittsburgh wasn’t much better on third down but they did rush for 179 yards, with Tino Sunseri’s 64 yards (and a touchdown) leading the way. Sunseri completed 24 of 38 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown (one interception) with the majority of his yards going to Devin Street, who caught eight passes for 118 yards.

But after taking a 23-13 lead on Sunseri’s 11-yard pass to Hubie Graham the Panthers failed to score again as the tables turned in the battle in the trenches. Defensively the Bearcats ramped up the pressure on Sunseri, forcing poor throws and some questionable decision-making from the redshirt junior. And offensively Cincinnati scored 13 points on three possessions in the third quarter due to improved play from their offensive line and a pair of costly Pitt turnovers. Turnover margin, which killed Cincinnati last season, has been a key factor in the Bearcats’ 7-1 start. If Cincinnati can continue to force turnovers, it’s very possible that the Bearcats will go from no bowl one year to BCS bowl the next.

Louisville 38, #24 West Virginia 35

Louisville made the trip to Morgantown a two-touchdown underdog, thanks in large part to an offense that hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. But the young Cardinals are beginning to figure things out, and the most recent piece of evidence is their first win in Morgantown since 1990. Despite being out-gained by nearly 180 yards on the afternoon the Cardinals (5-4, 3-1) took advantage of special teams to win the field position battle, and Louisville converted all five of their red zone opportunities. Freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater completed 21 of 27 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown, and Dominique Brown led the charge on the ground with 69 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

“If you look at it, [Bridgewater] is getting better and the whole offense is getting better because we are able to run the football,” said Louisville head coach Charlie Strong. “When you are able to run the football, it opens up the passing game. Teddy is doing a good job of managing the game and making the throws. Our running backs are running hard, and our offensive line is blocking well.”

Geno Smith led West Virginia with 410 yards passing and three touchdowns but it wasn’t enough on a day that saw the Cardinals keep the Mountaineers off the field by successfully moving the ball on offense. Louisville scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the game, with Sinorise Perry’s 13-yard run making the score 14-7 with 5:47 remaining in the first quarter. West Virginia would answer in the second quarter with two touchdowns to take a 21-14 lead, only to see Bridgewater connect with Eli Rogers in the final seconds of the first half to tie the game going into halftime. Louisville scored the only points of the third quarter on a Chris Philpott field goal, and the special teams made a big play early in the fourth quarter.

Louisville blocked a Tyler Bitancurt field goal attempt, and Andrew Johnson’s 82-yard return of the blocked kick made the score 31-21. Shawne Alston’s second rushing touchdown of the day made the score 31-28, but the Cardinals would respond with a drive that took nearly eight minutes and resulted in Dominique Brown’s three-yard touchdown run to push the lead back out to ten. WVU quickly wend down the field for another touchdown as Smith connected with Stedman Bailey, but they were unable to recover the onside kick. As a result West Virginia finds themselves needing a lot of help to climb back into the race, beginning with a win over Cincinnati next week. Louisville may not be in great shape either due to their loss to the Bearcats, but they’re in much better shape than anyone envisioned them being in a couple weeks ago.

Connecticut 28, Syracuse 21

Paul Pasqualoni’s Huskies turned the football an amazing five times in the first half, wasting multiple opportunities to take total control of their game against Syracuse. UConn (4-5, 2-2) was outdone by a Syracuse team that returned the favor, and the Orange’s errors ultimately came back to cost them a much-needed Big East victory. As a result of the loss Syracuse (5-4, 1-3) will go another week needing a win to ensure bowl eligibility and their hopes of remaining in the Big East race are likely shot as well. Lyle McCombs led the way for the Huskies with 152 rushing yards and a touchdown, but it was quarterback Scott McCummings who provided the biggest spark. McCummings rushed for 59 yards and two touchdowns in 13 attempts as UConn called on him more in the second half with Johnny McEntee once again struggling.

“Scotty is a big guy when he’s running with the ball. It just felt like the right time to do it–just a gut feeling,” said Pasqualoni of the decision to give McCummings more reps. “We felt like he was prepared for it so we put him in the game and went with it.”

Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns but he was also picked off two times, with UConn capitalizing on his second interception and cashing it in for the game-winning touchdown. Antwon Bailey failed to rush for 100 yards for the second consecutive week but Alec Lemon (9 catches for 157 yards, 1 TD) and Nick Provo (7 for 53 yards, 1 TD) proved to be effective pass-catchers for the Orange. But Syracuse once again didn’t put the ball in the end zone when they needed to as they began three straight drives in the second quarter in Connecticut territory, scoring just seven points. Put up more points there and maybe Syracuse remains a part of the Big East title conversation, but that’s no longer an option.

UConn has now won five straight in the series and Syracuse remains winless all-time at Rentschler Field, but Pasqualoni took no personal satisfaction out of beating his former employer. It was more important for the team to get back on the right track, and while questions remain on both sides of the football UConn kept their bowl hopes alive with the victory. The Huskies have a bye next week while Syracuse hosts a reeling USF team on Friday night.

Rutgers 20, USF 17 (OT)

After a four-yard Demetris Murray touchdown run with 7:38 left in the game Skip Holtz’s Bulls looked to be in very good shape to pick up their first Big East win of the season. But Rutgers would receive a boost from their special teams in the form of a Jeremy Deering 98-yard kickoff return, and from that point forward USF seemed to tighten up. Chas Dodd, who took over for the ineffective Gary Nova in the fourth quarter, led Rutgers (6-3, 3-2) on a 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by his 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Coleman with 1:08 left in regulation. Despite controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball USF found themselves looking to escape with a win in the final moments…only to have Maikon Bonani miss a 27-yard field goal as time expired.

Things got even worse for USF in overtime as B.J. Daniels was intercepted by Duron Harmon on the Bulls’ third play of their lone drive, and eventually Rutgers’ San San Te would knock home the game-winner from 37 yards out. USF (4-4, 0-4) has watched the promise shown in their 4-0 start disappear, replaced by the concern that they might not even reach bowl eligibility. Daniels struggled throwing the football, squandering a solid team effort on the ground (221 yards rushing with Darrell Scott going for 100) and five sacks by the defense. Rutgers was brutal running the ball, racking up minus-7 yards on the night when factoring in sack yardage. Jawan Jamison led the Scarlet Knights with a paltry 12 yards on the ground, and combining that with Nova’s struggles it’s amazing that Rutgers had a chance to win the game in the final stanza.

Rutgers goes out of conference next week as they take on Army at Yankee Stadium, and USF heads north to take on Syracuse in a game they have to have in order to stop the negative momentum. Can Skip Holtz’s team rebound from such a tough defeat? We’ll find out on Friday night in the Carrier Dome.

Next Week’s Schedule

USF at Syracuse (8 PM Friday, ESPN2)
West Virginia at Cincinnati (Noon, ABC)
Pittsburgh at Louisville (Noon, Big East Network)
Rutgers vs. Army (3:30 PM, CBS Sports Network)

BIG EAST WEEK 10 PREVIEW: ALL 8 IN ACTION

Matchups should offer clarity to title race

By Raphielle Johnson

For the first time this season all eight Big East football teams will play on Saturday, and the four matchups will go a long way in determining the path that the title race takes. But the matchup with the most on the line will also be watched for reasons outside of football as Louisville (4-4, 2-1) heads east to take on West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) in a noon matinee (Big East Network). West Virginia was the choice of the Big 12 to be their 10th member with Louisville being the programs generally thought to be the second choice, but that motivation is more for the fans than the players or coaches. All directly involved in Saturday’s game understand what’s on the line: the winner remains in the thick of the Big East race while the loser will need a lot of help to snag the conference’s BCS bowl berth.

“You have to tell them that this is what you are going to walk into and this is what you have to be aware of,” Louisville head coach Charlie Strong said of the challenge that awaits in Morgantown. “Know this: they can’t come out of the stands. The game is played on the field and they can say whatever they want.”

That crowd will pose a serious test for freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who has been sound from a decision-making standpoint for much of the season. Bridgewater has completed 63.3% of his passes on the season, and while he’s 9th in the Big East in passing yards per game Bridgewater has kept the Cardinals in games. What’s helped Louisville the last two weeks is their improvement running the football, which has taken some of the pressure off of Bridgewater. Backs Jeremy Wright and Victor Anderson have improved their production, and that will have to continue on the road against the West Virginia defense.

But if the Cardinals have to throw the football one would think that tight end Josh Chichester would figure prominently in the game plan. Two weeks ago Syracuse was able to expose the WVU secondary to the tune of four touchdown passes to their tight ends with Nick Provo catching three. That could happen once again given the athletic ability of Chichester, who’s been the second-best tight end in the conference to date. Louisville can also call upon receivers Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker for production, but the most important ally of the Cardinals may end up being the clock. If they can keep possession of the football the West Virginia passing attack won’t be on the field, and that would be a bonus.

“They have a good, experienced quarterback in Geno Smith,” said Strong. “You look at (Tavon) Austin and (Stedman) Bailey, guys who they can get the football to and guys who can make plays with the ball in their hands.”

That’s the challenge for the Louisville defense, which ranks among the best in the Big East as well as the nation. Led by linebacker Dexter Heyman, Louisville is first in the conference in both scoring and total defense, and they’ve performed well against both the pass and the run as well. West Virginia has a few options to turn to on the ground, with the quicker Dustin Garrison giving way to power back Shawne Alston in last week’s win at Rutgers that featured a snowstorm. And the wide receivers need little introduction, with three Mountaineers ranking among the top five in the Big East in receiving yards per game.

Vance Bedford’s defense will have to get after Smith and not allow him time to get comfortable in the pocket. Syracuse was able to get after the junior and as a result he had a long night in the Carrier Dome. If Greg Scruggs and the Louisville front four can win the battle in the trenches this becomes a tough game for West Virginia, who hasn’t always shown themselves to be the most physical team in that department. Dana Holgorsen’s team may be a product of the spread, but they’re going to have to show off the ability to play hard-nosed football against Louisville. Whether or not the Mountaineers can do so will be the deciding factor in the Big East race.

Pick: West Virginia 31-21

Noon (ESPNU): Syracuse (5-3, 1-2) at Connecticut (3-5, 1-2)

Many have referred to this game as the “Paul Pasqualoni Bowl” due to the first-year UConn head coach’s tenure at Syracuse, but that connection means nothing compared to both teams needing a win to retain any hope of getting back into the Big East race. Syracuse followed up their best game of the season with arguably their worst effort in a 27-10 loss at Louisville as the Cardinals won the battle at the point of attack all afternoon. But this could be a bounce-back week for Ryan Nassib and company as UConn’s defense has struggled to carry an offense that’s been poor for much of the year. The Huskies are 7th in the Big East in total defense, and while the rushing defense has been adequate the pass defense has not.

The linebackers were the players exposed in the Huskies’ loss at Pittsburgh, and that could be a problem given how much Syracuse depends on tight end Nick Provo in the passing game. With the wide receivers struggling to play consistent football Provo has been Syracuse’s most consistent threat, and running back Antwon Bailey had four straight games of 100 rushing yards or more before last weekend. Syracuse will move the football provided they take care of it, but will the Huskies? Johnny McEntee hasn’t threatened a defense through the air since their loss to Western Michigan, and it could be getting close to the point where fans get louder in calling for a change at the position.

Running back Lyle McCombs has been UConn’s most consistent offensive performer but the truth is that the redshirt freshman needs help. Whether or not he receives it will play a major role in the outcome not just on Saturday but throughout the remainder of the season. From BCS representative to home for the holidays? That’s a definite possibility given their struggles on offense, and UConn could find themselves needing to win out in order to go bowling after Saturday.

Pick: Syracuse 24-13

7 PM (ESPNU): Cincinnati (6-1, 2-0) at Pittsburgh (4-4, 2-1)

Two years ago at Heinz Field these two programs put on a show for the ages with the Big East title on the line, as Cincinnati won a nail biter in the snow. The stakes aren’t as high this time around but a Pittsburgh win would throw the Big East race into chaos. That became a lot tougher with the loss of running back Ray Graham, who tore his ACL in the Panthers’ win over Connecticut last week. Into his role steps senior Zach Brown, who transferred in from Wisconsin with the expectation being that he’d supplement Graham’s efforts. Brown’s got the experience and ability to get the job done, and head coach Todd Graham has some young backs he can call on as well.

But Pittsburgh’s hopes will ultimately come down to the play of quarterback Tino Sunseri, who has been inconsistent for much of the year. Sunseri set a Heinz Field record for passing yards in the win over UConn while also proving to be a threat on the ground. That will be tougher against an opportunistic Cincinnati defense led by linebacker JK Schaffer and defensive tackle Derek Wolfe, and the Bearcats lead the Big East in rushing defense. But they’re also 7th in the conference in pass defense, so the question on Saturday night could end up being whether or not Sunseri can win the game with his arm.

Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros has struggled at times as well, but he’s still got his star running back in senior Isaiah Pead. Pead is 3rd in the Big East in rushing yards per game, and he’s also a good receiver out of the backfield. The wide receivers are talented and tough to corral in the open field, which could be an issue for a Pitt secondary that sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to defending the pass. Defensive tackles Chas Alecxih and Myles Caragein will need to control the interior if Pitt is to slow down a Cincinnati run game that’s tops in the conference in rushing offense, but overall it’s going to be a tough night for the defense. Look for this to be a high-scoring affair.

Pick: Cincinnati 38-31

7 PM (ESPN3): USF (4-3, 0-3) at Rutgers (5-3, 2-2)

Just one team in the Big East is winless in conference play, and the USF Bulls can only blame themselves for that distinction. Skip Holtz’s team has dropped close games to both Cincinnati and Connecticut, and their game at Rutgers looks to be another close contest as well. B.J. Daniels and the rest of the offense had a week off to fine-tune things, and even with Sterling Griffin likely out USF has enough tools to get the job done. But can they avoid shooting themselves in the foot? That’s the question for USF, and it goes for Rutgers as well following their four turnovers in last week’s loss to West Virginia.

The Scarlet Knights went into that game leading the nation in takeaways, only to have a turnover margin of minus-3 in the 41-31 defeat. Freshman quarterback Gary Nova is the player that Rutgers needs to keep track of when it comes to taking care of the football, as he threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles in that loss. The play of running backs Jawan Jamison and Savon Huggins could go a long way in that regard, as the more productive they are the less Rutgers has to lean on Nova. This matchup also provides a fun battle between the Rutgers wide receivers, led by Mohamed Sanu, and the USF secondary that some thought could be the best in school history when the season began.

To say the least neither unit has lived up to the preseason hype thus far in spite of occasional moments of brilliance (Sanu notwithstanding), and where the two teams sit in the bowl pecking order once the season ends will be determined by this matchup. Rutgers has been very good at forcing turnovers while USF is fourth in the Big East in turnover margin, and that could be a key in New Brunswick. But if Rutgers can’t run the ball consistently they could be in trouble despite playing at home.

Pick: Rutgers 21-20

WVU SUES BIG EAST; LEAGUE MOVES FORWARD

Marinatto given go-ahead to invite schools

By Raphielle Johnson

The never-ending saga that is the long-term stability of the Big East Conference moved a little closer to a solution on Tuesday as the 13 presidents gave commissioner John Marinatto the go-ahead to invite new members. The goal of the Big East is to get to 12 football members, with a couple of those institutions being “football-only” members. Three are expected to be full members of the conference, and there have been plenty of rumors in recent weeks about which schools are in line for the spots. Following the meeting at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott, Commissioner Marinatto issued the following statement:

“We had a very productive meeting and were able to discuss the great progress we have made in the last few weeks regarding conference realignment.

“Our Presidents voted unanimously to extend invitations to specific institutions, including both football-only and all-sport members to join the BIG EAST Conference. I will be speaking to representatives of those schools shortly and look forward to announcing with them their acceptance into the BIG EAST. The addition of these members will extend our reach, bring us to exciting new markets, strengthen our status within the BCS, and lay the foundation for possible further expansion, all while maintaining the high quality and standards our Conference is known for.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto (Photo Credit: William Perlman/Newark Star-Ledger)

“In light of the lawsuit filed by West Virginia yesterday, the Presidents also discussed and confirmed our continuing commitment to enforce the Conference’s 27-month notification period for schools choosing to leave. The Conference believes these claims to be wholly without merit and will explore all its legal options to protect its interests and to ensure that West Virginia lives up to its obligations.”

Obviously the other key aspect of his statement was the portion on the league’s response to West Virginia filing a lawsuit on Monday, with the hope being that they’ll be allowed to leave the conference for the Big 12 following this academic year as opposed to being subject to the 27-month notification period as written in the conference’s bylaws. The suit can be read here (.PDF file), and a very good explanation of the lawsuit and it’s validity was given by Brian Ewart of VUHoops.com.

The question now likely isn’t when the Mountaineers get to leave but rather how much this will cost them. Whether or not any of the parties involved want this to go to trial is debatable, especially if the Big 12 were to find themselves dragged into the litigation, but this doesn’t look to be a situation that will be solved immediately. It’s also relevant to both Pittsburgh and Syracuse, who cast their lot with the ACC, and could have an idea of what a possible settlement could look like should they attempt to take that route.

ACC commissioner John Swofford stated at the league’s basketball media day in Charlotte that the league is ready for the two schools whenever they can join, be it in 2012 or the expected 2014. But unlike the Big 12 their TV deals are in good shape with their current membership. Since the Big 12 signed their deals with a 10-member league in mind, dropping below that number (should Missouri actually move to the SEC) would cut the value of their contracts (the Big 12 was able to get ESPN and FOX to agree to paying as if the conference were still a 12-member league following the departures of Colorado and Nebraska).

These are definitely interesting times for the Big East, who will more than likely announce new members within the next week or so.

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & NEW POWER POLL

Sunseri, Brown and Philpott honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tino Sunseri • Sr. • QB • Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, Pa.
Susneri completed 29 of 42 passes for a career-high 419 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s 35-20 win against Connecticut, moving the Panthers into a tie for second place in the BIG EAST standings. The yardage total ranks fourth in school history, is the highest by a Pitt player in eight years, and is the highest by a collegiate quarterback in Heinz Field history. Sunseri completed 69 percent of his passes and did not throw an interception to help the Panthers register 529 yards of offense — their most since the 2000 season.

 
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Preston Brown • So. • LB • Louisville • Cincinnati, Ohio
Brown registered seven tackles and had two sacks to key Louisville’s 27-10 win against Syracuse, moving the Cardinals into a tie for second place in the BIG EAST standings. Brown led a Cardinal defense that limited the Orange to season lows in points and yards (246) and didn’t yield a touchdown until there was 1:31 left in the game.
 
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chris Philpott • Sr. • K • Louisville • Atlanta, Ga.
Philpott scored nine points in Louisville’s 27-10 win against Syracuse, making field goals from 44 and 32 yards and connecting on all three of his PAT attempts. Philpott, who leads Louisville in scoring with 39 points, has made six of his last seven field goal attempts in the past three games and has made 8 of 12 on the season.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Teddy Bridgewater • Fr. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.
Completed 17 of 24 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-10 win against Syracuse.
 
Darwin Cook • So. • LB • West Virginia • Cleveland, Ohio
Had a game-high 11 tackles with two pass breakups, including a key breakup on a fake field goal, in a 41-31 win at Rutgers.
 
Jarred Holley • Jr. • FS • Pittsburgh • Easton, Pa.
Had nine tackles and a sack in a 35-20 win against Connecticut.
 
Marquis Spruill • So. • LB • Syracuse • Hillside, N.J.
Had nine tackles with a sack and a forced fumble in a 27-10 loss at Louisville.
 
Shawne Alston • Jr. • RB • West Virginia • Hampton, Va.
Had 14 carries for a career-high 110 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-31 win at Rutgers.
 
Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. Cincinnati (last week: 1st)
The Bearcats (6-1, 2-0) had a bye last week, which allowed them to fine-tune some things while watching the rest of the Big East race shake out. This week brings a trip to Pittsburgh to take on a team that lost its best offensive player (Ray Graham) for the remainder of the season. Derek Wolfe, JK Schaffer and the rest of the Bearcat defense will need to focus a little more on the run, but at the very least they know they control their own destiny.

This week: at Pittsburgh (7 PM, ESPNU)

2. West Virginia (3rd)
West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) once again got off to a slow start, but they were able to answer in the second half with 20 points while holding Rutgers scoreless in the 41-31 win. Shawne Alston took advantage of the bad weather to rush for more than 100 yards while Tavon Austin made an impact on the ground as well as in the passing game. This week brings about the test of a Louisville team that’s playing with confidence, so don’t be fooled by the early point spreads.

This week: Louisville (Noon, Big East Network)

3. Pittsburgh (5th)
The Panthers (4-4, 2-1) were solid in their win over Connecticut on Wednesday night, but the loss of Ray Graham is one that will play a major role in the remainder of their season. Wisconsin transfer Zach Brown takes over for the Big East’s leading rusher, and while he’s more than capable of fitting into the offense as both a runner and receiver it’s hard to fully replace what Graham brought to the table. That puts more on the shoulders of Tino Sunseri, who will need another solid performance in order to beat Cincinnati.

This week: Cincinnati (7 PM, ESPNU)

4. Louisville (7th)
The Cardinals (4-4, 2-1) fed off of the return of defensive back Anthony Conner and put forth their best showing of the season in beating Syracuse 27-10. Teddy Bridgewater made sound decisions with the football and one week after Jeremy Wright rushed for more than 100 yards it was Victor Anderson who got it done on the ground. But against West Virginia it will be the defense, that’s been very good for much of the season, under the microscope.

This week: at West Virginia (Noon, Big East Network)

5. Rutgers (4th)
Eric LeGrand leading the team onto the field fired up Rutgers (5-3, 2-2) on Saturday, and they played very well in the first half against West Virginia. But critical mistakes in the second half spelled doom for the Scarlet Knights, who have now lost 17 straight in the series. They need to bounce back in quick order however, as a USF team that will likely be desperate for their first conference win visits. Gary Nova has to make sound decisions with the football in order for RU to be successful.

This week: USF (7 PM, ESPN3)

6. Syracuse (2nd)
One week after playing their best game of the season the Orange (5-3, 1-2) laid an egg at Louisville, falling 27-10 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate thanks to a late window-dressing score. Syracuse was able to muster only 246 yards of offense as the Cardinals got after Ryan Nassib while also short-circuiting the run game. Syracuse will need to be better if they’re to entertain any thoughts of getting back into the Big East race, beginning with this week at Connecticut.

This week: at Connecticut (Noon, ESPNU)

7. Connecticut (6th)
The Huskies (3-5, 1-2) lost at Pittsburgh 35-20, and given their first half offensive showing Paul Pasqualoni’s team is lucky the margin wasn’t wider. Johnny McEntee once again struggled to make plays through the air, an issue made tougher to solve given the lack of playmakers on the outside. UConn needs to help out Lyle McCombs, and the defense didn’t put up the best fight last week either. That could be an issue against Syracuse.

This week: Syracuse (Noon, ESPNU)

8. USF (8th)
The Bulls (4-3, 0-3) are second in the Big East in total offense and third in scoring offense, but they have no league wins to show for it. The bye week came at just the right time for Skip Holtz’s team, who needed to regroup in the worst way. USF is the most penalized team in the conference and they haven’t been anything to write home about in the red zone either. It’s the little things that cost teams conference games, and USF needs to get better at those if they’re to right the ship.

This week: at Rutgers (7 PM, ESPN3)

WVU WINS 17TH STRAIGHT OVER RUTGERS

Louisville brings Syracuse back to earth

By Raphielle Johnson

Rutgers went into Saturday’s matchup with #25 West Virginia looking to finally knock off the Mountaineers, who haven’t lost in the series since 1994. Things seemed to be falling into place for Greg Schiano’s team leading up to the game as well. Eric LeGrand was to lead the team onto the field, and a snowstorm that was expected to drop the first major snowfall of the season was expected to slow down the WVU passing game. But in a wild game that featured far more scoring that anyone would have anticipated, West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) made the necessary defensive adjustments at halftime, holding Rutgers scoreless as they came back to win 41-31 at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Eric LeGrand Leads His Rutgers Scarlet Knights On To The Field

Offensively the Mountaineers weren’t able to rely on their passing game as much as usual, but they made up for it by rushing for 210 yards on the afternoon. Fullback Shawne Alston, who saw limited carries leading up to Saturday, rushed for a team-best 110 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries and Tavon Austin rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on two attempts. Alston’s first touchdown run went for 52 yards and gave WVU a 7-3 lead with 6:07 remaining in the first quarter. That lead would last for fewer than three minutes as Rutgers (5-3, 2-2) capitalized on a Mountaineer turnover and took the lead on a pass from Gary Nova to Mohamed Sanu.

But that reception would essentially be the highlight of the day for Sanu, who caught just five passes for 48 yards. West Virginia did a solid job of limiting the receiver who may be the early favorite for Big East Offensive Player of the Year, but there was also the matter of the Rutgers passing attack being out of sync for much of the afternoon. Nova completed just 18 of 46 passes on the day, and while he did have two touchdown passes there were also a pair of second half interceptions. Just as the case would be with any freshman quarterback, Nova at times struggled with the decision-making aspect of the position and Jeff Casteel’s defense was able to exploit that in the second half.

“We have to make better calls, and we have to make more plays,” said Schiano. “And we can’t make bad plays worse by turning the ball over.”

After Austin’s 80-yard touchdown run to give the Mountaineers a 14-10 lead the Scarlet Knights would answer with a 45-yard strike from Nova to Mark Harrison, and a pair of Jawan Jamison touchdown runs in the second quarter gave Rutgers a 31-21 lead at the half. West Virginia could have cut the lead before the break, but poor clock management in the final seconds led to a botched field goal attempt as time expired. Rutgers moved the ball extremely well in the first half, and their defense did a good job of containing the West Virginia attack outside of the two big runs. But after the break things bogged down offensively, with the Mountaineers closing to within three on an impressive 19-yard touchdown reception by Stedman Bailey.

Some will point to a failed fake field goal attempt on the Scarlet Knights’ first drive of the fourth quarter as a critical turning point, and while West Virginia would go down the field and score to take a 34-31 lead there was an opening for the trick play. Patrick Kivlehan’s pass to Brandon Coleman was broken up by Darwin Cook in the end zone, and the Mountaineers dodged a major bullet as a result. What killed Rutgers was a Nova fumble on the second play of the ensuing drive, setting up WVU at the Rutgers 37. Three plays later Smith and Austin would connect for the game’s final points on a 20-yard touchdown pass, with Rutgers’ final two drives ending on downs and an interception.

West Virginia converted just two of their 13 third down opportunities, but against the Big East’s best team in terms of turnovers forced they won the turnover battle with a margin of plus-3. That makes a world of difference on the road, especially when dealing with bad weather as well. Next up for the Mountaineers is a home game against Louisville while Rutgers hosts USF.

Louisville 27, Syracuse 10

Syracuse was presented with a great opportunity to build on the momentum gained last week in their emphatic win over West Virginia. But the Orange had a difficult time dealing with both prosperity and a Louisville team fired up by the return to the locker room of defensive back Anthony Conner. Conner, who broke his neck last week against Rutgers, surprised his teammates in the locker room before the game and that sparked a fire under Charlie Strong’s team. One of the key players given a boost was running back Victor Anderson, who rushed for a game-high 93 yards and a touchdown in Louisville’s 27-10 home win. The victory marks the first time since 2006 that Louisville (4-4, 2-1) has won back-to-back Big East games.

Teddy Bridgewater also played well for Louisville as he completed 17 of 24 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, setting the tone just over two minutes into the game on a 42-yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker. With the Orange staggering out of the gate the Cardinals took full advantage, moving ahead 14-0 on Bridgewater’s two-yard pass to tight end Josh Chichester. Defensively the Cardinals limited Syracuse to 84 yards on the ground and made life tough on Ryan Nassib with three sacks and numerous quarterback pressures. It was a far cry from last week for Syracuse (5-3, 1-2), who seemed to be incapable of doing anything wrong at home.

“I’ve said it from the beginning that we have to build a foundation for this football team and we can be successful for a long period of time,” said Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone. “I’m not going to use any excuses. Here we are in year three and it’s back and forth. To answer your question directly, we are an inconsistent football team who has to get better.”

Syracuse’s second drive of the second quarter earned them their first points of the game as Ross Krautman’s field goal from 34 yards out capping an 11-play, 61-yard drive. But that would be the most of consequence that the Orange could muster until the fourth quarter, and while neither team was particularly effective on offense in the third quarter it was Louisville who took a 17-3 lead early in the final quarter on a Chris Philpott field goal. And four minutes later Anderson, who former Cardinal Bilal Powell suggested be made “the face” of the program, essentially put the final nail in the coffin with a 61-yard touchdown run on an option toss from Bridgewater.

“It all comes from preparation,” said Bridgewater of the play. “Coach Watts does a great job of preparing me well. He just always says if you see cover zero and the safeties are matched up with the slots then the option is always the way to beat it.”

Another Philpott field goal with just under three minutes remaining made the score 27-3, and although Syracuse answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Nassib to Jarrod West it was too little too late. Eight days after doing whatever they wanted the Orange were limited to 246 yards of offense, and their 12 penalties for 99 yards didn’t help matters either. Could Louisville be rounding into form at just the right time after a slow start? It’s definitely possible, and given what Connecticut accomplished last season after a slow start anything is possible in this wide-open league. The same goes for Syracuse, because while they aren’t in the best spot for making a run at the Big East title they still have games against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh to play.

TWO LEAGUE GAMES ON SATURDAY SLATE

Key battle in New Brunswick highlights schedule

By Raphielle Johnson

With Pittsburgh beating Connecticut on Wednesday night the Panthers kept themselves in the top half of the Big East race. The question for Saturday is who else will do so, with both games featuring teams with one league defeat to their credit already. The game that will be under the spotlight is West Virginia (5-2, 1-1) heading north to take on a Rutgers (5-2, 2-1) team that could have taken control of the race last week (3:30 PM, ABC). But freshman quarterback Gary Nova was picked off three times in the 16-14 loss at Louisville, snapping the Scarlet Knights’ four-game win streak.

The Mountaineers don’t come in hot either as they were blown out at Syracuse last Friday night. West Virginia had another slow start, but unlike prior games the offense wasn’t able to flip the switch and there were multiple breakdowns in the secondary as well. Which team can bounce back in a critical contest to remain a game back of Cincinnati in the loss column? Given the state of the Big East anything can happen, but if history is to be the judge West Virginia has a major advantage in this matchup.

West Virginia has won the last 16 meetings in the series and for the most part the games haven’t been particularly close, with the Mountaineers holding a 32-4-2 series edge. Rutgers has been close in two of the last three meetings, including a 24-21 loss at home in 2009. But last year’s meeting, a 35-14 WVU win in Morgantown, featured Geno Smith throwing for 352 yards and a touchdown against a Rutgers pass defense that was more experienced than this current group. But led by corners David Rowe and Logan Ryan the Scarlet Knights have steadily improved against the pass, and if Smith isn’t smart with the football the league’s best pass defense can take advantage.

But the best way for teams to slow down the West Virginia offense is by way of the blitz, something that Syracuse did with great success last week. Smith had little time to throw the ball even in the shotgun, and that could once again be a problem. Rutgers is the Big East’s second-best team in terms of sacks with 24 through seven games, with defensive end Justin Francis and defensive tackle Scott Vallone being the leaders up front. Add in linebackers Khaseem Greene and Steve Beauharnais and you’ve got a front seven that can run and get after opposing quarterbacks.

“Rutgers is the same type of team as Syracuse. They’re well-coached and they play hard,” said WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen earlier this week. “The thing most impressive about their defense is how hard they play and how aggressive they are to attack the ball to get the ball out. They lead the nation in turnovers – they’ve got 25 of them.”

Turnovers will be critical for the Rutgers defense because it’s tough to see the offense being able to keep up with the Mountaineers in a shootout. But in wide receiver Mohamed Sanu the Scarlet Knights have one of the best offensive players in the Big East, and with 65 catches through seven games he’s by far the leading wide receiver. No matter what opposing teams have thrown at the junior he’s been able to get open, and in spite of the Mountaineers’ quality in the secondary he’s going to get his catches. The key to winning will be the other Rutgers skill position players, especially the running backs.

The Scarlet Knights have struggled mightily to run the football, ranking last in the Big East in rushing offense by a solid margin. But West Virginia has had its issues stopping the run as they’re last in the conference in rushing defense. And there’s no Chris Neild in the middle of the defensive line in Jeff Casteel’s 3-3-5, which has led to openings on the ground. Jawan Jamison and Savon Huggins are the players that Greg Schiano will call on to run the ball, and they have the ability to make plays on the ground. How Rutgers does in this department will likely determine the outcome of the game.

“When we line up and get hit in the mouth, what are we going to do,” asked Holgorsen. “Last week, we didn’t do anything. This week, we need guys to step up and be the ones that are going to hit people back in the mouth. That’s called football.”

West Virginia brings plenty to the table at the skill positions, especially wide receiver with the likes of Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. But if Geno Smith doesn’t have the time needed to get them the football they can be neutralized. If Smith is picking himself up off the ground frequently Rutgers has a shot to beat the Mountaineers for the first time since the Doug Graber era. But if not it’s going to be more of the same at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Pick: West Virginia 31-23

Noon: Syracuse (5-2, 1-1) at Louisville (3-4, 1-1) Big East Network

The first of the two Big East games on Saturday matches teams who picked up their first conference win of the season last week, albeit in different ways. Syracuse put forth their best performance of the season in a 49-23 romp over West Virginia, but they need to have that game out of their systems when dealing with a young Louisville team that knocked off Rutgers last week. The key for the Cardinals was a running game that woke up to the tune of 187 yards, with Jeremy Wright leading the way with 108.
Wright’s effort was Louisville’s first 100-yard rushing game of the season, and if they can build off of that performance the Cardinals will be a tougher team to slow down.

Louisville ranks 7th in the Big East in passing offense and 8th in scoring offense, two areas that have been heavily influenced by their youth at quarterback in addition to the run game. Teddy Bridgewater has improved by the week under center, and he’s got some capable targets to throw to led by tight end Josh Chichester and wide receiver Josh Bellamy. But this will be a tough matchup for Bridgewater given how effective Scott Schafer’s defense was at getting to West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. Chandler Jones made his return to the Syracuse defense and all he did was win Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Keon Lyn leads a secondary that’s improved in recent weeks despite still ranking last in the conference against the pass, made that much better by a front four that can get to quarterbacks in a hurry. Louisville’s offensive performance on Saturday likely rests on the shoulders of their offensive line, which has played better thanks in part to the return of center Mario Benavides. If the Cardinals can pick up blitzes and mix in the run there should be opportunities down the field for Bridgewater and his receivers. Whether or not he takes advantage will play a major role in the outcome.

As for the Syracuse offense, Ryan Nassib had his best game of the season with four touchdown passes and no interceptions in last week’s win. Nassib’s done a good job of taking care of the football as he’s thrown just four interceptions on the season, and in tight end Nick Provo he’s got the best in the Big East to throw to. Provo caught three touchdown passes against West Virginia, and while Vance Bedford’s defense will likely be more aware of the senior he’ll be able to make some plays for the Orange.

And there’s also senior running back Antwon Bailey, who has rushed for 100 yards or more in each of the last four games and ranks fourth in the Big East in rushing. But Louisville has done a good job in recent meetings of slowing down the Orange, and they’ve won the last two meetings in the series. The Cardinals have gotten after the Orange defensively, but this Syracuse group looks to be far better equipped to deal with Louisville than they have been the last two years.

“Pressure, man-to-man, running the football, pounding it,” said Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone on what the Cards have done against them. “It’s not a secret. Those guys have done a good job of that and they’ve been able to beat us. We’ve been inconsistent in handling those things, so those are the challenges that we’re faced with.”

The game plan for Syracuse is pretty simple: run the ball effectively while turning Louisville into a one-dimensional team on the other side of the ball. The same can be said of the Cardinals, but given the experience it may be tougher for them to accomplish that.

Pick: Syracuse 20-14

WEST VIRGINIA HEADED TO THE BIG 12…BUT WHEN?

Mountaineers to become league’s 10th member

By Raphielle Johnson

It was announced this morning that West Virginia University will leave the Big East and join the Big 12 Conference in a move that surprised no one in spite of Louisville’s efforts to become the league’s 10th member. But in comparing the statements from the Big East and Big 12 there seems to be a question of when WVU will become a member of the Big 12. The statement from the Big 12 reads as follows:

“The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012. The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

West Virginia is the second new member to join the Conference since it began in 1996 after the addition of TCU earlier this month.

“The Big 12 Presidents and Chancellors are excited to welcome another outstanding institution to the Conference,” said Burns Hargis, Chair of the Big 12 Board of Directors and President of Oklahoma State University. “The addition of West Virginia, while expanding the reach of the Big 12, brings an impressive institution with esteemed academics and a proud athletic tradition into the Conference. This is another step in building a strong foundation for the future of the Big 12.”

“The Big 12 is a perfect fit for West Virginia University,” said WVU President Dr. James P. Clements. “It is a strong conference that, like WVU, values quality academic and athletic programs, and has a great tradition of success. This is a very exciting time for WVU and Mountaineer nation. I am confident that the future of WVU athletics has never been more promising.”

West Virginia University, located in Morgantown, sponsors 17 varsity sports. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, swimming & diving and wrestling. Women’s sports are basketball, cross country, gymnastics, rowing, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field and volleyball. The Mountaineers also boast a co-ed rifle squad. The Big 12 sponsors every sport the Mountaineers participate in except rifle and men’s soccer.

“We are excited to add West Virginia to our exceptional lineup of Conference members,” said Big 12 Interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas. “They bring an excellent overall athletic program to the Big 12 and allow the league to expand into an area that boasts a passionate group of fans and alumni throughout its region.”

Since its inception 15 years ago, the Big 12 has won 42 team national championships and 492 NCAA individual crowns. In addition, more than 3,700 student-athletes have earned All-America First Team accolades for their play on the field with more than 500 being recognized with Academic All-America honors.

Beginning with the 2012-13 season it is expected that the Big 12 Conference will be comprised of 10 Universities – Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia. The Big 12’s footprint will encompass five states with over 36 million people. More than 4,100 student-athletes from across the United States and around the World compete annually in the 23 sports sponsored by the Conference.”

Obviously the plans of the conference and West Virginia are to have the school join the conference beginning with the next academic year, with Texas A&M and Missouri (who still hasn’t announced their expected move) going to the SEC. Missouri and the Big 12 are expected to settle on financial terms, which would pave the way for the Tigers to move while also shielding the SEC from possible legal action. But there’s also the matter of the Big East’s 27-month notice, which is what Pittsburgh and Syracuse are being held to before they leave for the ACC. Commissioner John Marinatto released the following statement:

“This move by West Virginia does not come as a surprise. League officials, members of our conference and the candidate schools to whom we have been talking were aware of this possibility. We have taken West Virginia’s possible departure into account as we have moved forward with our own realignment plans. West Virginia is fully aware that the Big East Conference is committed to enforcing the 27-month notification period for members who choose to leave the conference. We are confident that in the coming weeks we will complete our own realignment program, adding a number of high-quality members to remain among the top conferences in both football and basketball.”

Everything has its price so there could be some talks involving the Big 12, Big East and West Virginia in the coming weeks with regards to a settlement that would free WVU to make the change for next season. In turn, the door likely opens for Pitt and Syracuse to negotiate their departures and ACC commissioner John Swofford has stated that they’ll be ready for the new members as soon as next season (but were willing to wait until 2014 if it came to that).

The Big East presidents will meet with Commissioner Marinatto in Philadelphia on Tuesday, where they’re expected to give him the go-ahead to invite new members. Once the membership is finalized then the talk of settlements can begin, but don’t expect the conference to budge on the 27 months until after that happens.

PHYRRIC VICTORY FOR PITT AND REALIGNMENT LINKS

Panthers lose Graham, Saddler for season

By Raphielle Johnson

One of the key story lines for the Pittsburgh Panthers going into Wednesday night’s league tilt with Connecticut was the play of quarterback Tino Sunseri in relation to their hopes of winning a Big East title. Thanks to a record-setting evening from the redshirt junior those hopes remain intact, but the aspirations of Todd Graham’s team rest even more on Sunseri’s shoulders given their personnel losses. Sunseri set a Heinz Field record for passing yards in a game with 419, completing 29 of 42 passes with two touchdown passes while also rushing for another 40 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 35-20 win over the Huskies.

But in victory came major setbacks, with star running back Ray Graham being lost for the season with an injury to his right knee. Also lost for the season were wide receiver Cam Saddler (sternum) and offensive lineman Matt Rotheram (right ankle), but when you lose the Big East’s leading rusher the dynamic of the season changes. Pitt (4-4, 2-1) will go with senior Zach Brown in Graham’s place and similar to the Graham the Wisconsin transfer is just as valuable in the passing game as he is on the ground.

“Zach Brown came in and did a tremendous job in all three phases of playing running back — picking up the pass protection, making sure he’s getting out on his routes and running the football,” said Sunseri following Wednesday night’s win.

Brown rushed for just 30 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries but he was the Panthers’ leading receiver, catching nine passes for 84 yards. Before the injuries began to hit it looked to be a good night for Pittsburgh in spite of the sparse crowd (the announced attendance of 40,219 was generous), with Sunseri leading the team right down the field on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead on his eight-yard run. UConn’s (3-5, 1-2) issues on defense were more fundamental on Wednesday night, with the linebackers near invisible in pass coverage and many players allowing Pitt pass-catchers yards after the catch due to poor tackling.

Of their 529 yards of offense Pittsburgh gained 433 through the air with an average of 14.4 yards per completion. Many of Sunseri’s throw were of the short variety in hopes of accounting for an offensive line that’s been hit hard by injuries and allowed the most sacks in the country. Pittsburgh ended the first quarter with a 14-0 lead as Sunseri connected with Mike Shanahan on an 18-yard strike with 54 seconds remaining, and with the Huskies unable to accomplish much offensively the home team looked to be in good shape with a 21-3 halftime lead.

“We are doing to watch the film but what we are going to say -everybody who had pass coverage responsibly could have been a little bit better,” said UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni. “At the end of the day, that’s what we will say. I thought he (Sunseri) threw the ball pretty accurately tonight so it’s not going to be just the linebackers, it will be the safeties and it will end up being the corners and it will end up being everybody.”

Johnny McEntee had a far better second half than first for UConn, throwing for 173 of his 193 yards and two scores in the final 30 minutes. But it’s still a passing attack that lacks punch when looking at both the passer and the receivers. Lyle McCombs rushed for a game-high 124 yards and it was the third time in the last four games that the redshirt freshman has surpassed the 100-yard mark. Similar to Jordan Todman last season (albeit not as productive) McCombs has been provided with minimal help in most games this season, and as a result teams are able to load the box and force McEntee to beat them. It hasn’t happened yet, and as a result it’s going to be tough sledding the rest of the way for UConn to reach bowl eligibility much less contend for a Big East title.

Next up for Pittsburgh is Cincinnati, who visits Heinz Field next Saturday night. Connecticut will host Syracuse the same day at noon.

Big East Realignment Links

- Louisville and West Virginia look to be the two choices for one spot in the Big 12…or could they both be invited?

Things got interesting early this week with reports that the Big 12 was ready to invite West Virginia, with the Mountaineers holding a press conference with the league on Tuesday in Morgantown to announce their acceptance. That didn’t happen, with the lobbying of Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell’s lobbying on behalf of Louisville being the reason why. As a result of this West Virginia senator Joe Manchin is calling for an investigation. Glorious times in college athletics these are.

The Big 12 isn’t expected to make a move until after Missouri makes its decision on whether to stay in the league or move on to the SEC (many expect Missouri to make the move), but now the Big 12 will take more time to deliberate on the matter. The bigger question is whether the Big 12 wants to remain at 10 institutions or make the move back to 12. If it’s the latter then one would have to wonder why the league wouldn’t just offer both and add another school to reach that number. Interesting days lie ahead on this subject, which may drag on for a bit (as if it hadn’t already).

- Big East officials on a western tour of sorts

Big East commissioner John Marinatto and senior associate commissioner Nick Carparelli were both in Boise on Thursday meeting with Boise State officials and making a presentation to the school about the direction of the conference and what role Boise State could play in it. This comes one day after the two were in Colorado Springs meeting with officials at the Air Force Academy. Boise State president Bob Kustra met with Big East officials in Washington on Sunday.

HUSKIES, PANTHERS MEET IN CRUCIAL LEAGUE GAME

Winner picks up key Big East win

By Raphielle Johnson

Big East football is on the menu for Wednesday night, with the matchup featuring a pair of teams who can still realistically have designs on winning the conference title. Connecticut (3-4, 1-1), who beat USF in their last game despite failing to score an offensive touchdown, hits the road to take on Pittsburgh (3-4, 1-1) at Heinz Field. The biggest question surrounding this contest: which Pittsburgh offense will the partisans in the Steel City see: the one that clicked on all cylinders in a dominant showing against USF, or the one that’s sputtered in losses to Rutgers and Utah?

One issue that Todd Graham’s team had in the 26-14 loss to Utah was the number of touches that junior running back Ray Graham received. The goal is for the Big East’s leading rusher to get somewhere around 30 total touches throughout the course of a game. Graham had just 15 (12 rushes, 3 receptions) against the Utes, who should be credited for their play defensively. But for that number of touches to happen on a day in which both quarterbacks combined to throw for fewer than 100 yards was a bitter pill for many fans to swallow. Job one on Wednesday night will be to get Graham the football, and UConn will do its best to limit his productivity.

“Some guys are going to get past the second level of the defense, but they’re not going to get the ball all the way down the field,” noted UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni of Graham. “If this guy gets past the second level of the defense, there is a chance the ball is going all the way to the end zone, regardless of the field position when the ball was snapped.”

In last season’s meeting, a 30-28 UConn win, Graham rushed for 75 yards on 16 carries with Dion Lewis going for 77 yards and two scores on 13 carries. Obviously Graham will get more touches than that with Zach Brown providing the change of pace when called upon. And it could be tough sledding for Pittsburgh as the Huskies rank 11th nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 89 rushing yards per game. The linebackers have been a big reason why UConn has been so good against the run, with an assist from linemen such as Kendall Reyes.

Jory Johnson (61 tackles), Yawin Smallwood (54) and Sio Moore (44) are the top three tacklers on the team, all three can run and once they arrive at the football their impact is certain to be felt. But UConn’s defensive issues are defending the pass, which could play right into the hands of a quarterback in Tino Sunseri who needs to have a good game in the worst way. Following the Utah loss Coach Graham made the decision to go with Sunseri exclusively, no longer looking to freshman Trey Anderson when the junior struggled.

“We have worked hard with him to make sure he understands what we’re trying to accomplish and to adapt some things to help him execute what we’re doing,” said Coach Graham. “He continues to have a great attitude, he works hard and I have a lot of confidence that he will play well.”

UConn allows 262 passing yards per game, and with their best cornerback (Blidi Wreh-Wilson) still out with a knee injury the Huskies there will be opportunities for Sunseri to connect with his receivers. Whether or not he can take advantage of them will play a large part in the outcome of the game. Offensively Connecticut is unable to say the same thanks in large part to a passing attack that for the most part remains as punchless as it was during their run to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl last year. Johnny McEntee has played well in a few games this season but the win over USF was a step back for the junior signal-caller.

UConn may average more passing yards per game than Pittsburgh but at least the Panthers have some playmakers on the outside. UConn’s best receivers from a receptions standpoint are Isiah Moore and Kashif Moore, but in terms of being a true threat tight end Ryan Griffin may be that guy. Look for Pittsburgh to focus more of their attention on slowing down redshirt freshman running back Lyle McCombs, who has rushed for 705 yards in seven games. But in order for Pittsburgh to shut the Huskies down they need to force turnovers.

Pitt has forced just seven turnovers all season while UConn’s defense has 16 takeaways. Special teams and turnover margin could be the difference with neither offense consistently performing at the level required of good football teams, but the outcome ultimately comes down to the question asked at the start. If “good Pitt” shows up offensively the Panthers are a very tough team to contain. If not: they’re in trouble.

Pick: Pittsburgh 31-17

Record: 30-17 (0-3 last week)

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