PERFECT SEVEN AT HOME
Only two schools in the history (1993-present) of the Big East Conference have had perfect home football records of 7-0. In 1993 West Virginia turned the trick, and this year Connecticut equaled that mark.
SCORING POWER
The Big East has more than its share of top scorers nationally. Louisville kicker Art Carmody and Rutgers kicker Jeremy Ito rank first and second, respectively, in career points among active players across the country. Carmody has 422 points, while Ito has 382 points. West Virginia running back Steve Slaton has a career scoring average of 9.6 points, which leads the nation. Slaton’s career touchdown total of 53 is first among active players.
POSTSEASON PROWESS
Since 1998, the Big East has the best bowl record of any conference. League teams are 25-17 in the postseason, good for a .595 winning percentage. The SEC is next at 37-31 (.544), followed by the ACC (30-26, .536), the Big Ten (30-29, .508), the Big 12 (32-35, .478) and the Pac10 (22-27, .449).
BCS MUSCLE
Four of the eight Big East teams are ranked in the BCS. West Virginia is third, followed by Connecticut (20th), USF (23rd) and Cincinnati (24th).
HOOPS TOO
League strength isn’t confined to the football field. In this week’s Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls, a total of 10 Big East squads received consideration. Six of those teams made the respective Top 25s. Georgetown and Louisville are ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in both polls. Marquette is next with a No. 11 ranking in AP and a No. 13 spot in ESPN/USA Today. Both polls have Pittsburgh 17th and Syracuse 21st. Villanova is 20th in AP and 19th in ESPN/USA Today. West Virginia, Connecticut, Providence and Notre Dame received votes in at least one of the polls.
EXTRA WORK
Seton Hall is 2-0 on the young season, with both wins coming in overtime. The Pirates defeated Monmouth 89-81, the rallied from a 23-point second half deficit to knock of Robert Morris 111-107.