At the beginning of the season, it didn't look like the Big East would be a special conference. Now the league has really turned the tide if you look at early-season results.

You see the promise at Seton Hall. Yes, many had them ranked in the top 15, as I did in my preseason magazine. My buddy, the late publisher of Basketball Times, Larry Donald, picked them No. 1. The Pirates have played below-par competition early, but this Saturday we will get a true evaluation.

	St. John's point guard Omar Cook, left, has lived up to the hype in his early-season performance.

Seton Hall goes to Champaign, Ill., to face one of the real elite teams in the Illini. Bill Self's quintet is quick and deep. Good news for the Pirates came in an exam on the knee of diaper dandy Eddie Griffin; it indicated the injury suffered late in another brilliant performance against Norfolk State was not serious.

Tommy Amaker's team struggled big-time in that game, and without Griffin's performance they might not have won. Griffin is questionable this weekend.

What has Griffin done? Think about it -- 26 points, 21 rebounds and seven blocks against St. Peter's, followed by a triple-double. This kid has lived up to every billing since coming out of Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia.

Amaker has three diaper dandies with stardom written all over them in Griffin, Andre Barrett and Marcus Toney-El.

Seton Hall isn't the only Big East team with a test this weekend. Jim Calhoun's Connecticut Huskies take on Arizona. The Wildcats received some good news when the NCAA removed the suspension of Richard Jefferson. First of all, I can't believe this kid was sent to the sidelines because his best friend and his dad (Luke Walton and Bill Walton) supplied a plane ticket and game ticket to the NBA Finals.

One has to study the intent of the alleged infraction. It is obvious Bill Walton wasn't representing Arizona in any way. He wasn't trying to get any edge in getting to know Jefferson since the Walton family has been close to the youngster. In black and white, there was a violation, if you look at the NCAA manual. However, common sense should have been utilized.

At least the NCAA did the right thing and reinstated him. It has been a nightmare early for Lute Olson with all the off-court situations. Loren Woods is back now, as is Jefferson, and now we will see the real Wildcats, the team rated by many as national champion favorites.

For Connecticut, this will be a real test. Calhoun has to rely on a number of youngsters. In the backcourt, Taliek Brown has to step up big-time against the pressure of Arizona's outstanding backcourt tandem of Jason Gardner and Gilbert Arenas. The Huskies need big-time performances from Caron Butler, who himself sat out a three-game suspension earlier this season, and Johnnie Selvie.

The Big East has had other early surprises. Syracuse has really come on strong with a fine confidence-building performance at the Great Alaska Shootout. Wins over quality opponents DePaul, Ohio State and Missouri gave Jim Boeheim's team a major lift. Preston Shumpert has developed into a big-time scorer consistently. Damone Brown has come on, and the backcourt of Allen Griffin and DeShaun Williams has been solid.

A lot of people were predicting mediocrity for the Orangemen. Syracuse looks like it will be a major factor in the Big East all season long.

I know Notre Dame suffered a loss to Indiana and Mike Davis' team needed a big win, but the Fighting Irish will be in the Big East picture. A sensational performance by the Hoosiers' Tom Coverdale, who knocked down threes and created opportunities for his teammates, was a difference.

Notre Dame was hampered a bit by star Troy Murphy's sprained ankle. Let's give the Hoosiers credit for a solid job defensively and making big plays on the offensive side. The Irish did have a huge win over Cincinnati, and the addition of Ryan Humphrey has made a big difference inside. Martin Inglesby has regained his confidence on the point, and David Graves can usually hit the big jumpers, though he struggled against the Hoosiers.

Don't forget about a few others in the Big East. Georgetown is off to its best start in eight years. And nobody is mentioning the Hoyas. Hey, I called them one of my sleepers to watch and picked them in my top 25. They missed the Big Dance last year and look like something special this season.

The Hoyas went to Louisville and handled Denny Crum's team on its own floor. Georgetown has developed some new talent in Mike Sweetney and Gerald Riley, both starters against the Cardinals. Sweetney has given them some power on the inside. Kevin Braswell doesn't have to be as much of a scorer now, and he's showing some leadership.

Remember, Georgetown is doing it without Lee Scruggs, who is currently academically ineligible. If the Hoyas get him back, watch out. Craig Esherick is smiling as his team looks ready to make some noise in the conference. It could be back to the Dance for the Hoyas, baby!

“

Georgetown is off to its best start in eight years and nobody is mentioning them. ”

And let's not forget about Villanova. Steve Lappas' club scored a big W over Big Five rival Temple, handing the Owls their fourth straight loss. The Wildcats played well in their only loss, at Cameron Indoor Stadium against the Dukies in the Preseason NIT.

The backcourt of Jermaine Medley and Gary Buchanan has given Lappas solid perimeter play. Medley hit six trifectas vs. the Owls. Inside, there's the addition of All-Marco Polo big man Michael Bradley -- he not only scores, rebounds and blocks shots, he can also pass. A lot of their offense runs through the pivot. Brooks Sales is vastly improved up front.

We've already seen what St. John's can do at Coaches vs. Cancer against Kentucky and Kansas. Omar Cook is one of the premier diaper dandies, and coach Mike Jarvis has talent galore.

West Virginia almost scored a shock city at home against Tennessee, losing to the Vols by a point. Pittsburgh under Ben Howland has athletes like Ricardo Greer. Boston College has an explosive scorer in Troy Bell.

Wow, this league can flat-out play, Mike Tranghese has to be smiling, baby! This weekend will be a test to see just how well the big boys from the Big East can fare against top-10 competition.