Note: I think some readers may be getting confused on the author of posts. I am Keith, and Chas graciously lets me write here. Check the author under each headline to see who is writing the post. Or, you can look for typos and the more you see the more likely it is that I wrote the post.

The Miami Dolphins kick off their season tonight. I have no clue who they are playing, but I know that we can’t expect any NBCOBB (non-Big-Chin-or-Big-Ben) sports news from the local papers for awhile.

It’s Big East week over at CHN and they have in-depth previews on each team. They are a great refresher course on where each team stands as far as who they gained and who they lost – I’ll be refering to this preview as the season draws closer, I’m sure. It’s worth a bookmark.

The rankings they offer aren’t too bad. They have Pitt picked as the top-team in the conference – no complaints here.

Once 7’0″ senior center Aaron Gray decided to spurn the NBA and return to college, Pittsburgh became the favorite to win the Big East. The Panthers are the deepest team in the league as Coach Jamie Dixon’s “second five” would be extremely competitive playing against some other conference teams’ starters.

With all the depth, I fully expect Dixon to use the same crazy, sometimes criticized, rotations we saw last year. I have no problem with that. It will be fun to watch – and write about.

Finally, Dixon is an excellent coach. His players work hard on both ends of the court and run a team-oriented offense. He has done a terrific job of managing egos and has avoided losing talented players to the malady of transferitis.

Come early March, Pitt should find itself sitting at the top of the Big East standings. If the Panthers catch a break here or there, they could find themselves playing in The Final Four later in the month.

Read that again if you like. It sounds good.

Dixon has done a great job managing egos. However, I think that is as much a testament to him as it is to the players – and the quality of characters — he recruits (I think you may know what I am hinting at here).

A good case could be made for Georgetown, who CHN puts at No. 2, as the No. 1 team.

Any discussion of the Hoyas’ prospects for this season has to begin with two of the premier players in the league, 7’2″ center Roy Hibbert and 6’8″ forward Jeff Green. Both will likely be lottery picks next season if they declare for the NBA draft. Hibbert became a force last year after being a limited-role player as a freshman. He averaged 11.6 ppg and 6.9 rpg in only 24.0 mpg and shot 59% from the field. Even modest progress from last season, and Hibbert could be nearly unstoppable.

…

The only area of concern that keeps the Hoyas from being my preseason favorite to win the conference title is the lack of a proven three-point threat on the wings.

Hmm, where have we heard that before? If any group of fans know what a lack of a 3-point threat can do to a team, its Pitt fans. I think a matchup between Pitt and G-Town could come down to something as simple as foul trouble. Kendall on Green and Gray on Hibbert. Pitt’s depth will help them here because it gives the Panthers more bodies – and fouls — to throw at Georgetown’s top guys.

Pitt’s biggest obstacle this season will be expectations and the pressures that come with. Remember the start of last season? Few expected Pitt to do much. That changed fast, but it’s an easier situation to be in. This year, a loss to anyone but Georgetown will — and should — be considered a disappointment. That’s a difficult situation to be in, especially if you’re Dixon.

As for the other teams:

Syracuse (CHN No. 3) and Marquette (No. 5) can beat anyone on a given night. For the record though, I’d put Marquette at No. 3. Louisville (No. 4) is a huge question mark in my eyes. UConn (No. 7) will get better as the season goes on. They are very young. I look at them as last years Syracuse – a suspect regular season and a dark horse in the tournaments. However, as the preview says, they lack any senior leadership, which ‘Cuse had in G-Mac. St. John’s (No. 8 ) has given Pitt fits lately and will be better this year. Finally, WVU (No. 15).