Fillipponi: Sorry Pitt, UConn Is The King Of The Big East

I know it's the job of any good sports information department to propagandize its teams.  That being said, I implore Pitt basketball to save the stats and research, don't try to convince me next winter that the Panthers are the best in the Big East.

So what, they have the top winning percentage in the conference over the past ten years.  Big deal.  I don't think Jim Calhoun thought for a second about Pitt's 15-3 league record while he cut down the nets in Houston on Monday night.

Throw out the RPIS, Top 25 rankings, and consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament.  In the past decade, Connecticut has two national championships.  Pitt has none.  That's the only evidence I need.

Connecticut is the Big East's best program.

Consider this:  Jamie Dixon received National Coach of the Year accolades in 2010 for getting a team that was picked to finish ninth in the BIG EAST to the NCAA tournament.  Jim Calhoun's Huskies were picked by coaches to finish 10th in the BIG EAST this year.  That team went on to win the National Championship.  Now ask yourself who's the better coach.

Pitt's men's basketball team has made great strides, but when it comes to BIG EAST bragging rights, they still trail Connecticut.