Baby steps, everyone. You might prefer giant big-boy leaps but you're going to have to be happy with baby steps. Like the one in the Big East Media Preseason Poll that puts the Orange at...not last place!
1. Pittsburgh (10-3, 5-2) -- 22 first-place votes, 190 points
2. (tie) Cincinnati (12-1, 7-0) -- 142 points
West Virginia (9-4, 5-2) -- 1 first-place vote, 142 points
4. Connecticut (8-5, 3-4) -- 1 first-place vote, 131 points
5. Rutgers (9-4, 3-4) -- 99 points
6. South Florida (8-5, 3-4) -- 79 points
7. Syracuse (4-8, 1-6) -- 41 points
8. Louisville (4-8, 1-6) -- 40 points
It's not by much, just one point. But we'll take it. Oh God will we take it. It's the first time Syracuse hasn't been picked to finish dead last in five years. PROGRESS!
I like that the Media didn't give Cincy any first-place votes. They whiffed on the Bearcats the last two seasons...no reason to start believing in them now.
As for Pitt, good luck to you fellas. You're the biggest preseason favorite since Louisville in 2005. Try not to fall all over yourselves.