The projected order of finish for the 2009-10 season in the Big East coaches poll released Thursday.
1. Connecticut (39-0, 16-0)
Head coach: Geno Auriemma (25th season, 696-122)
What you need to know: Even though Geno thinks they're still flawed, everyone else believes that this Huskies squad — with Tina Charles and Maya Moore back — could continue a run toward the UCLA men's all-time winning streak of 88 games
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2. Notre Dame (22-9, 10-6)
Head coach: Muffet McGraw (23rd season, 496-197)
What you need to know: The Irish return all five starters, making them the prime threat to knock off UConn. G Lindsay Schrader, a fifth-year senior, averaged 12.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg last season.
3. DePaul (23-10, 10-6)
Head coach: Doug Bruno (22nd season, 421-246)
What you need to know: The Blue Demons only lost one starter (F Natasha Williams), but return their leading scorer in 5-10 G Deirdre Naughton (15.5 ppg). The scary thing about DePaul is that the team's still young.
3. Louisville (34-5, 14-2)
Head coach: Jeff Walz (3rd season, 60-15)
What you need to know: If something looks different about the Cardinals this season, it's the gaping hole in their scoring. All-world scorer Angel McCoughtry is gone from last year's national runner-up.
5. Pittsburgh (25-8, 12-4)
Head coach: Agnus Berenato (7th season, 114-74)
What you need to know: Panthers will certainly miss all-Big East G Shavonte Zellous (22.6 ppg). Berenato feels that junior G Jania Sims (Shabazz H.S.) will be the glue that holds everything together.
6. Rutgers (21-13, 9-7)
Head coach: C. Vivian Stringer (15th season, 305-145)
What you need to know: Until the Scarlet Knights put it together on the court, everyone will wonder how good they could have been if super-scorer Epiphanny Prince hadn't left to play professionally overseas.
7. Syracuse (17-15, 5-11)
Head coach: Quentin Hillsman (4th season, 48-44)
What you need to know: Why do the league's coaches feel they'll make such a big leap? Simple: The Orange return two of their top three scorers from last year (senior Erica Morrow and junior Nicole Michael).
8. Georgetown (20-14, 7-9)
Head coach: Terri Williams-Flournoy (6th season, 70-77)
What you need to know: Hoyas have upped their win totals by three, two and five each of the last three seasons. With much expected from forwards Monica McNutt and Jaleesa Butler, they're gunning for a fourth year of improvement.
9. West Virginia (18-15, 5-11)
Head coach: Mike Carey (9th season, 150-101)
What you need to know: Lost senior G Takisha Granberry (16.1 ppg), but still return three starters and the leading scorer, sophomore G Liz Repella (16.5 ppg), from a team that beat two ranked opponents last season.
10. Marquette (17-16, 7-9)
Head coach: Terri Mitchell (14th season, 255-146)
What you need to know: Golden Eagles return only one player (G Angel Robinson) who started all 33 games last season. Marquette would love to get out of the first-round of the Big East Tournament for first time since 2006-07.
11. South Florida (27-10, 8-8)
Head coach: Jose Fernandez (10th season, 143-133)
What you need to know: Despite finishing eighth last season, the Bulls went on a run to win the WNIT championship, which has some in the conference fearful that they might be a trap team this year.
12. St. John's (19-15, 4-12)
Head coach: Kim Barnes Arico (8th season, 105-106)
What you need to know: Could be another tough haul for St. John's after losing top scorer Monique McLean (17.3 ppg). Red Storm's only conference wins came over the other four teams at the bottom of the league.
13. Villanova (19-14, 10-6)
Head coach: Harry Perretta (32nd season, 573-343)
What you need to know: After finishing in a tie for fourth last season, the Wildcats lost two of their biggest pieces in Laura Kurz and Lisa Karcic, from their NCAA team. There's the experience, but the scoring is another question.
14. Seton Hall (17-14, 4-12)
Head coach: Phyllis Mangina (25th season, 343-347)
What you need to know: One of the league's toughest players, sophomore G Ebonie Williams, is part of a nucleus Mangina hopes can end the third-longest NCAA drought among the original Big East teams.
15. Providence (10-20, 4-12)
Head coach: Phil Seymore (5th season, 43-72)
What you need to know: The Friars have the longest NCAA drought in the league (17 seasons) and declining win totals in the last three years haven't helped matters. Still, the two leading scorers return from last year.
16. Cincinnati (14-17, 3-13)
Head coach: Jamelle Elliott (1st season)
What you need to know:
When you’ve won 19 conference games since joining the Big East (2005), you pick your new coach from the best team. Elliott will bring her championship mentality from UConn, looking to turn around the struggling Bearcats.