Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big East Basketball: Ranking the current status of every old Big East team

By Brian Foley

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 05: Matthew Moyer #2 of the Syracuse Orange takes a shot against Jalen Adams #4 of the Connecticut Huskies in the first half during their game at Madison Square Garden on December 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 05: Matthew Moyer #2 of the Syracuse Orange takes a shot against Jalen Adams #4 of the Connecticut Huskies in the first half during their game at Madison Square Garden on December 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 18: Head coach Mick Cronin of the Cincinnati Bearcats reacts against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first half in the second round of the 2018 Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 18, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 18: Head coach Mick Cronin of the Cincinnati Bearcats reacts against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first half in the second round of the 2018 Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 18, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

8. Providence

Big East: 110-62 (50-39), 5 NCAA appearances

7. Cincinnati

American: 134-40 (72-18), 5 NCAA appearances

Cincinnati fans are not going to be pleased with this ranking. The Bearcats have been one of the more consistent programs in the nation over the last five years, and have steamrolled the American in each of the past two seasons.

But in the end, they are still in the American, which has finished as either the seventh or eighth best conference by RPI since 2013-14. While nothing compares to the old Big East, the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and new Big East are all much deeper and more competitive conferences than the American. Cincinnati has also come up short in the NCAA Tournament, failing to advance past the second round in each of the five years since moving conferences.

Conference realignment is on the back burner of college sports right now, but if it gets going again, the Bearcats will be one of the first programs contacted. Unlike UConn, Cincinnati has a respectable football program to pair with its basketball prowess and is located within the footprint of the ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12. But until Cincinnati either leaves the American or puts together a Villanova-esque run, there is a ceiling on the status of the program.

But Cincinnati’s loss is Providence’s gain. The Friars were a forgotten squad in the old Big East, but they have thrived in the new version of the conference. Providence’s lack of recent tourney success and national brand prevents a better ranking here, but this is still a solid position considering where the Friars stood in 2013.

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