After turning in an impressive ledger against exclusively nonconference competition — to the tune of a 150-34 record — the BIG EAST turns its collective attention to the 135-game league schedule which begins Monday.

 

Nearly 80 percent of the regular-season league games (107 of 135) include at least one NCAA tournament team from last year. Thirty-seven BIG EAST games will be between two NCAA tournament teams.

 

Monday’s BIG EAST opener shapes up as a good one as Cincinnati and Pittsburgh take top-25 rankings into their noon ET showdown at the Petersen Events Center. The Bearcats look to bounce back from their first loss of the season — a two-point setback to New Mexico last week — while Pittsburgh is in search of its ninth straight win.

 

There is one nonconference game on Monday’s schedule as Syracuse hosts Central Connecticut at the Carrier Dome at 3 p.m. Orange head coach Jim Boeheim needs just one win to reach 902 in his career and tie Bob Knight for second on the all-time list for Division I coaches.