A lot of the preseason publication polls already indicate this, but the Big East more or less added to the speculation WVU will be one of the league’s and nation’s top teams next season.

The conference released its basketball opponents schedule today and the Mountaineers play repeat games against Seton Hall (watch them), Pitt (it’s Pitt) and Villanova (a likely pick to win the Big East).  

WEST VIRGINIA
    Home – Cincinnati, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Villanova
    Away -Connecticut, DePaul, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, USF, Villanova

Preliminary thoughts: Marquette at home. … Tampa road trip is the Big East’s best. DePaul is the worst. … The game at St. John’s will most definitely be at MSG, which never hurts, particularly for a team with strong ties to NYC recruiting. … Joe Mazzulla returns to Providence, which could be interesting. … WVU never seems to win at Notre Dame or Connecticut.

In addition, there seems to be a movement to change format of the Big East Tournament, which surprises no one. It’s just probably not the change you think.

The 16 teams will remain, which is something the coaches wanted even if administrators did not, but the byes will get a bit of a makeover.

What the coaches are advancing now is that the top four seeds play the bottom four teams in Tuesday’s openers (1-16, 2-15, 3-14, 4-13). Then, on Day 2, the first-day winners would sit out, and the matchups would be 5-12, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9.

That would leave eight survivors for the Thursday quarterfinals … and there are positives to this potential change as the Big East eyes NCAA Selection Sunday, too.