I’ve got this fascination with Big East basketball this year. Part of it has to do with the up and coming Syracuse Orange, another part has to do with the Luke Harangody-led Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and another part has to do with unpredictable clubs like the Providence Friars. But overall, the Big East has my full attention because five of the top-10 spots in the AP poll are occupied by Big East clubs.

Here’s the way it looks as of today:

1. Pittsburgh (Big East)
2. Connecticut (Big East)
3. Oklahoma (Big 12)
4. North Carolina (ACC)
5. Memphis (C-USA)
6. Louisville (Big East)
7. Duke (ACC)
8. Marquette (Big East)
9. Michigan State (Big Ten)
10. Villanova (Big East)

Only one other conference, the ACC, has more than one club in the top tier. These are impressive numbers—five out of 10. Of course, it raises a bunch of questions. One thing that I am wondering is—how many teams from the Big East will go to the Big Dance this year?

Without a doubt, the five Big East teams above should all get into March Madness. But how many more will go? The Big East is the only league to ever have eight teams in the NCAA Tournament. They’ve done that twice—in 2006 and 2008. Of the 16 Big East clubs, 15 have made it to the Final Four at one time or another. This season some pundits have written that they believe the conference could place 10 teams in the tourney. Which teams might they be?

I like Providence this year. They are presently in sixth-place with a solid 10-7 conference mark and an overall record of 18- 11. They beat Pittsburgh 81- 73 last week. Early in the season, they scored 100 points versus Syracuse, beating the Orange 100- 94. Are they a great team? No. But they work hard for what they get and are potential spoilers.

The Orange of Syracuse are seventh in the Big East with a 9- 7 record and they have a combined 21- 8 mark. Sophomore guard Jonny Flynn leads the team in points (17.4 PPG) and assists (6.2 APG). All five starters are averaging double digit scoring. Forward/center Arinze Onuaku and forward Paul Harris are one of the most dominant upfront duos in the nation.

After Syracuse, there’s West Virginia (8^th place), Cincinnati (9^th place), Notre Dame (10^th place) and Georgetown (11^th place). Might three of these teams get invites to the Big Dance, making the total number of Big East teams in the tourney 10?

Starting from the bottom up, I don’t think that the Georgetown Hoyas (6- 10 Big East, 15- 12 overall) deserve to go. Not only do they have a losing conference mark, but they have underachieved this season.

Notre Dame is another club that is on the bubble. They do have the best player in the nation—Luke Harangody. And there’s certainly an array of talented players. Right now, they’re 7- 9 in conference and 16- 12 overall. The conference record is weak, but if the Irish can do well in the Big East tournament, they’ll be in the NCAA mix. The team does have the potential to win or place second in the tourney, which would automatically propel them into March Madness.

Cincinnati has beaten Georgetown twice, West Virginia once and Notre Dame once. They could finish with a winning conference record; right now they’re at 8- 8. The Bearcats have a solid overall mark of 18- 11. Guard Deonta Vaughn (15.4 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4 RPG, 1.3 SPG) is a difference maker who can lead this team in the Big Dance. Victories over Seton Hall and South Florida could get them into the national tournament.

West Virginia (8- 7 Big East, 19- 9 overall) has beaten Marquette, Villanova, Notre Dame, and Providence. Their final regular-season game is versus Louisville. When they met earlier this season, the Mountaineers lost to the Cards 69- 63. If they can beat the Cardinals, they’ll certainly deserve to play in March Madness.

How many Big East teams will be in this year’s NCAA Basketball Tournament? I’m going to say eight—Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette, Villanova, Providence, Syracuse and West Virginia. Of course, a great tournament by Cincinnati or Notre Dame could send either of those clubs into the post-season of all post-seasons. My other thought is Notre Dame may go in place of Syracuse or West Virginia. It should be an interesting last few weeks of the regular-season and a great Big East Tournament.