Miami chosen as favorite to win the Big East

If anyone thought the Panthers might receive some respect coming off a 6-game win streak from last season, someone forgot to alert the media.

Pitt was projected to finish fifth of eight teams in the Big East conference this season as announced Wednesday morning at Big East Media Day at Giants Stadium. Miami was selected to win the 2002 championship and it marked the eighth time in ten years that the Hurricanes were chosen as the preseason favorite. The defending national champions received all 24 votes from media representatives who regularly cover the conference.

Virginia Tech was chosen to finish second followed by Syracuse and Boston College. The bottom three teams were West Virginia, Temple and Rutgers.

The day opened with remarks from Big East commissioner Michael Tranghese before the media was given time to interview first coaches and then player representatives. Each coach was set up at a table underneath a flag bearing the school's name while reporters equipped with recorders, notepads, cameras and microphones drifted from one table to another.

Some drew large crowds, such as Miami and Virginia Tech, while others entertained smaller groups. The players drew less interest from the media than the coaches had, leaving many looking bored.

The Panthers were represented by senior center Chad Reed and junior fullback Lousaka Polite.