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Not getting drafted doesn't necessarily mean the end of one's football career. Once the draft finishes, there's a scramble for players and teams to sign free-agent deals. Here's a list, compiled from various media and team reports, of undrafted Big East players who have signed with NFL teams (list will be updated as new information rolls in):

Cincinnati

Jeff Linkenbach, OT, Indianapolis

Aaron Webster, S, Houston

Mike Windt, LS, Cincinnati

Connecticut

Lindsey Witten, DE, Pittsburgh

Louisville

Joe Tronzo, FB, Cincinnati

Scott Long, WR, San Francisco

UPDATE: Trent Guy, WR, Oakland

Pittsburgh

Bill Stull, QB, Kansas City

John Malecki, OG, Tennessee

Mick Williams, DT, New York Jets

Aaron Berry, CB, Detroit

Rutgers

Kevin Haslam, OT, Jacksonville

Jack Corcoran, FB, Houston

UPDATE: Tim Brown, WR, New York Giants

South Florida

Kion Wilson, LB, San Diego

Delbert Alvarado, K, Dallas

West Virginia

Jarrett Brown, QB, San Francisco

Alric Arnett, WR, Denver

As promised, it's time to get to your reactions to my postseason Big East Top 30 players list. There were a few main objections echoed by many people. These questions reflect the majority of the e-mails I received regarding the list. Remember that reasonable minds can disagree, to steal a line from another ESPN guy, and that a list like this is always going to be subjective and open to debate.

Greg from Cincinnati writes: Brian, I normally really enjoy your material. However, I have to ask if I missed Pitt winning the Big East this year. How does the No. 2 team end up with five of the top 10, while the champions from Cincinnati get two?

Bob from New Brunswick, N.J., writes: Your top 30 has seven Pitt players, but only three Cincinnati players. Even among those who just missed, you mention five Panthers and only two Bearcats. Yet Cincy was better over the course of the season. Is this perhaps a reflection on a difference in coaching, or is there another explanation?

Brian Bennett: Yes, this was the most frequently e-mailed comment/complaint. Where were all the Cincinnati players? Look, there's no denying that the Bearcats had the best team, as evidenced by their 12-0 record. But this is a top 30 list of individual players. Cincinnati was extremely well-coached and executed its system to near perfection offensively, and if this were, say, a Top 50 list, its players would be all over the list.

I just didn't think that Cincinnati necessarily had the best individual talent. I've explained that Zach Collaros just didn't play enough games for me to put him on the postseason list. Five Bearcats players made the All-Big East first team; the only two I didn't include were Aaron Webster and Chris Jurek. Webster was an extremely close call, but with the way the defense played down the stretch, he missed the cut for me. Jurek was a terrific college player, but I'm not sure how much future potential he has.

Perhaps I'll look stupid in a few years when a boatload of players from the '09 Bearcats are starring in the NFL. But to me it seemed like Brian Kelly had a few superstars and a whole bunch of really, really good players who did everything right.

Of course, there's one guy from that team whom many people thought I misfired on ...

Jesuit Educated from North Bend, Ohio, writes: To exclude Armon Binns from your 2009 Big East Top 30 players by suggesting Cincinnati's offense inflates receivers' statistics is bemusing at best and stupid at worst. By your logic, albeit flawed, Dion Lewis's statistics are inflated given he had 68 percent of Pitt's rushing attempts. Mr. Binns's receptions accounted for less than 20 percent of Cincinnati's total receptions of 311. He also scored every 5.5 times he touched the ball compared to Mr. Lewis's 19-to-1 ratio.While I am not at all suggesting Mr. Binns should be the Big East's top player, I am suggesting your credibility as as a football reporter/pundit/talent judge is suspicious when Mr. Binns is excluded from your Top 30 while the two wide receivers from Rutgers and the wide receiver from Connecticut are included.

Brian Bennett: Well, first of all I don't really buy your comparative stats since by nature a receiver touches the ball far fewer times than a running back. Did Binns have the numbers to make this list? Yeah. He had 888 receiving yards and, most impressively, 11 touchdown grabs. So why did he just miss?

Three things went into my reasoning. First, it's clear that Binns was the No. 2 receiver on that team behind Mardy Gilyard and got a lot of open looks because of that. Secondly, though he had a great season, he wasn't dominant. He had only three games in which he had more than 100 yards receiving. And finally, though you may disagree, Cincinnati's offense does inflate statistics -- the Bearcats passed the ball 57 percent of the time in 2009, which was a far higher percentage than any other team in the Big East.

For an example of how Kelly's offense can inflate receiver numbers I present this example: Marcus Barnett. He had a freshman year that was arguably better than Binns, catching a school record 13 touchdown passes and 862 yards overall. Yet, he has barely been heard from in the two years since as he fell out of favor with Kelly.

I don't mean this to sound critical of Binns, because he's a terrific talent who's got a world of potential. I will agree that perhaps he should have been in the Top 30 somewhere, and I can assure you he'll be there in the preseason list. But I don't see him as the slam-dunk postseason pick like many of you do.

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Robert G. from Louisville writes: After analyzing your Top 30 Big East players list I can only draw one conclusion: Fire Dave Wannstedt. There is no excuse for having that many top players in your conference and continue to fall short of conference championships and BCS bowl participation.

Brian Bennett: Well, I assume you're being facetious here, Robert. After all, Wannstedt's Panthers have won 19 games in the last two years combined, so it's not like they're wildly underachieving. But there is a kernel of truth in there. It's hard to argue that Pitt has had as many, if not the most, talented players in the Big East of late, thanks to great recruiting efforts. It's time for the program to capitalize on that ability and win a Big East title. And with Nos. 1, 4, 5, 14 and 28 from my list returning to Pitt, 2010 looks like as good a time as any.

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Jeff K. from Cincinnati writes: Arthur Jones rated below Greg Romeus and Mick Williams from Pitt? I understand Pitt was solid defensively for the most part all year (other than NC State and the meltdown against my beloved Cats) but Arthur Jones will WOW those at the combine, much more so than either of the Pitt DT/DE's. Wait and see!

Brian Bennett: This goes back to the whole production vs. potential criteria. As I said at the beginning, I judged production to be more important. Thus, while Mick Williams may or may not have a ton of pro potential, he was arguably the most productive defensive player in the Big East in 2010. Jones had injury issues and didn't put up his usual numbers, though he did receive a lot of attention from offensive lines. And while I agree that Jones should impress at the combine, if he's healthy, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Romeus. A 6-foot-6, 270-pounder who can run like he can doesn't come along every day.

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Casto from Arlington, Va., writes: I am confused as to why you would rank Dion Lewis above Noel Devine? Devine averaged more yards per carry, more yards per catch and most importantly, Devine won the Backyard Brawl for WVU with his 88-yard TD against Pitt. On average, if Devine would have gotten the 325 carries that Lewis did, he would have had 1,976 yards!

Brian Bennett: In some ways, Casto, you could have put my top three in just about any order and make a strong case for it. But let's look at Devine vs. Lewis for a moment, because it is an interesting debate.

First, we'll throw out the Backyard Brawl from your argument, because Lewis actually outgained Devine in that game (158 yards to 134, with most of Devine's yardage coming on that one spectacular run). Yes, Devine averaged more yards per carry (6.1 to 5.5) and had 84 fewer rushing attempts. Some of that was because he injured his ankle late in the year.

But I think we also have to give credit to Lewis for being a workhorse back. Devine has never been a 25- to 30-carry guy in his career, whether that's because of his stature or simply because of West Virginia's philosophy. Lewis is about the same size but proved he could carry a heavy load on his shoulders. And the fact that he was just a freshman makes it all the more impressive and earns him more points in the potential category.

Are the two far apart? No. In fact, watching them both pursue the Big East rushing title in 2010 is going to be one of the highlights of the season.

A postseason ranking of the Big East's top 30 players ...

No. 9

Mick Williams, DT, Pittsburgh, Sr.

Preseason rank: NR

Why him here: Williams was one of the last guys I left off the preseason top 30 list. And, obviously, I blew it.

Williams was an excellent player who took his game to a new level in 2009. He was wildly disruptive in the middle of Pitt's defensive line, registering a Big East-best 17 tackles for loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles -- all gaudy numbers for an interior lineman. His stellar play earned him league co-defensive player of the year honors, along with teammate Greg Romeus.

Williams is strong as a bull and wildly athletic for a guy of his size -- he was known for breaking a backboard while dunking in a high school basketball game. But while he perfectly fit Dave Wannstedt's mold of undersized linemen, his future at the pro level is more questionable.

At a listed 6-foot-1 and 280 pounds, he'll have to convince skeptical scouts that he has the bulk necessary to play in the NFL. The fact that he wasn't invited to play in either the Senior Bowl or East-West Shrine Game and hasn't been asked to participate in the NFL combine are indicative of how much convincing he'll have to do to make it at the next level.

Regardless, Williams had an outstanding college career and a truly remarkable 2009 campaign.

Previous:

No. 10: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
No. 11: Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh
No. 12: Robert Sands, S, West Virginia
No. 13: B.J. Daniels, QB, South Florida
No. 14: Jason Pinkston, OT, Pittsburgh
No. 15: Tim Brown, WR, Rutgers
No. 16: Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut
No. 17: Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse
No. 18: Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut
No. 19: Tom Savage, QB, Rutgers
No. 20: Andre Dixon, RB, Connecticut
No. 21: Bill Stull, QB, Pittsburgh
No. 22: Nate Allen, S, South Florida
No. 23: Marcus Easley, WR, Connecticut
No. 24: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
No. 25: Jarrett Brown, QB, West Virginia
No. 26: George Selvie, DE, South Florida
No. 27: Kion Wilson, LB, South Florida
No. 28: Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
No. 29: Lindsey Witten, DE, Connecticut
No. 30: Jeff Linkenbach, OT, Cincinnati

A year ago at this time, the Big East was dealing with the loss of a plethora of stars, including some of the best players in league history. Guys like Pat White, Donald Brown, Kenny Britt, LeSean McCoy and Scott McKillop seemed difficult, if not impossible, to replace. The league fared just fine in 2009 without those stars, and the good news for 2010 is that many of its top performers will be back. But that's not to say there aren't still some key losses that teams will have to adjust to this spring. Here's a look at the biggest shoes to fill this season in the Big East:

• Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati: The Bearcats aren't exactly hurting at wide receiver with Armon Binns, D.J. Woods and USC transfer Vidal Hazelton around. Still, someone must replace Gilyard's leadership and knack for making the big play at crucial times. What might be even more difficult to replace is Gilyard's production on special teams. The two-time Big East special teams player of the year was always a threat to score on kickoffs and punt returns. And hopefully someone will step in Gilyard's role as the best quote in the entire conference.
• Tim Brown, WR, Rutgers: Brown may not have received a ton of attention nationally, but he was vitally important to the Scarlet Knights. The speedster averaged 20.9 yards per catch and amassed 1,150 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as the team's only true deep threat. With a still very young receiving corps surrounding Tom Savage, Rutgers will need to find someone who can stretch the field the way Brown did.
• Mick Williams, DT, Pittsburgh: The 2009 co-defensive player of the year in the conference, Williams was a wildly disruptive force in the middle of that Panthers defensive line, as well as an inspirational leader. With fellow senior tackle Gus Mustakas also gone, Pitt needs more production from backups Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih, among others.
• Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers: McCourty was an underappreciated gem for the Scarlet Knights, a lockdown cornerback who also was seemingly everywhere on special teams. He was the leader of the secondary. Guys with his skills don't come around that often.
• Reed Williams, LB, West Virginia: The Mountaineers had to deal with Williams' absence for most of 2008 and at times this past season because of various injuries. But it was clear that they were a different team whenever Williams was healthy. A smart player (he's the 2009 Big East football scholar-athlete of the year ) who anchored the defense at middle linebacker, Williams was like a coach on the field.
• George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida: Say what you will about Selvie's dwindling production, but opposing offense still always had to account for him. And Pierre-Paul ascended to star status in his one year on campus. Combined, the two produced 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 2009. The Bulls now need the next wave of pass-rushers to emerge, with former stud recruit Ryne Giddins one possible candidate.

A postseason ranking of the Big East's Top 30 players ...

No. 28

Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh, Jr.

Preseason rank: 18

Why him here: Sheard is often overlooked on his own defensive line, and teammates Greg Romeus and Mick Williams shared Big East co-defensive player of the year honors this past season. But Sheard is an outstanding player in his own right; he had 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and a team-best 12 quarterback hurries in 2009.

Like Romeus, he's got tremendous speed to go along with his 6-foot-4, 260-pound frame. He may not be the NFL prospect that Romeus is, but the two should combine to form the most fearsome bookend defensive duo in the Big East next season. A big year could put Sheard solidly on the NFL radar as well.

No. 29: Lindsey Witten, DE, Connecticut
No. 30: Jeff Linkenbach, OT, Cincinnati

The news that Greg Romeus plans to return to Pittsburgh for his senior year instead of entering the NFL draft is huge lift to the Panthers' 2010 hopes.

Romeus was co-defensive player of the year in the Big East this past season, sharing the honor with teammate and defensive tackle Mick Williams. He had eight sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss this season, and one offensive coordinator told me that Romeus was the hardest guy in the league to prepare for.

There aren't many specimens like Romeus. He's 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds with a ton of speed and athleticism. He played basketball until late in his high school career. Romeus is still a bit raw because of that and can use another year of development under Dave Wannstedt and Greg Gattuso.

Had Romeus left -- and he would have almost certainly been a first-day NFL pick -- the Panthers would have had to replace three-fourths of their starting defensive line, which was the best in the Big East. Williams was a senior, as was fellow tackle Gus Mustakas. Instead, Romeus will team with senior-to-be Jabaal Sheard to form the most fearsome pair defensive ends in the league in 2010. Pitt will still have to field new starters on the interior line, but Myles Caragein played well as a sophomore and the talent is there from Wannstedt's strong recruiting efforts.

With Romeus, Sheard, offensive player of the year Dion Lewis and supremely talented receiver Jonathan Baldwin back, Pitt will have the strongest core of returning stars in the Big East next season. While they still have some other major holes to fill, namely at quarterback, cornerback and on the O-line, the Panthers will have to be strongly considered among the favorites to win the league.

Which players had the best bowl performances from the Big East? Here's our all-bowl team:

Offense

QB Tom Savage, Rutgers
There weren't a lot of big numbers for Big East quarterbacks in the postseason. The Scarlet Knights' true freshman completed 14 of 27 for 294 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, in a win over Central Florida in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

RB Mike Ford, South Florida
Ford exploded for 207 yards on 20 carries -- almost all of them in the second half -- to help the Bulls beat Northern Illinois in the International Bowl.

RB Dion Lewis, Pitt
The sensational freshman had 159 yards on 28 carries and a score against North Carolina's tough run defense in the Meineke Car Care Bowl

RB Noel Devine, West Virginia
The Mountaineers' star ran for 168 yards on 16 carries in just three quarters against Florida State in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl

WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
Yet another freshman standout, Sanu had four catches for 97 yards and a score and also ran the ball 13 times for 41 yards and two more touchdowns.

WR Mike Shanahan, Pitt
Shanahan had five catches for 83 yards, many of them in traffic and in key spots, against North Carolina. And he's a freshman, too.

OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers
The future NFL first-rounder had his ups and downs this season. But he held off Central Florida's impressive pass rusher in a strong performance during his final college game.

OT Jason Pinkston, Pitt
North Carolina came into the Meineke game with the nation's No. 6 defense, but Pinkston helped the Pitt line move the chains and get the win.

C Moe Petrus, UConn
Petrus was part of a group that helped pave the way for 146 rushing yards against South Carolina in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

OG John Malecki, Pitt

OG Zach Hurd, UConn

Defense

DE Lindsey Witten, UConn
The senior was part of a defensive line that overwhelmed the South Carolina offensive front.

DT Kendall Reyes, UConn
He had a one sack and put lots of pressure on Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia.

DT Mick Williams, Pitt
The Big East co-defensive player of the year registered a pair of sacks against North Carolina.

DE Alex Daniels, Cincinnati
One of the few Bearcats who had a good night in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Daniels had a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss against Florida.

LB Max Gruder, Pitt
Playing in his hometown, Gruder recorded 11 tackles and forced a fumble against North Carolina.

LB Scott Lutrus, UConn
The junior had nine tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery against South Carolina.

LB Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers
Another freshman, Beauharnais had seven tackles and a pair of sacks against Central Florida.

CB Billy Anderson, Rutgers
The little-known reserve returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown near the end of the first half in a key play.

CB Jerome Murphy, South Florida
He had an interception, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups in the International Bowl.

S Robert Sands, West Virginia
Sands was just about everywhere in the Gator Bowl, recording 13 tackles, two of them for loss.

S Robert Vaughn, UConn
Vaughn had an interception and two pass breakups in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

Specialists

K Dan Hutchins, Pitt
Hutchins hit four field goals, including the game-winning 33-yarder, against North Carolina.

P Jake Rogers, Cincinnati
Rogers punted more than he has in a game all season, but he put half his six punts inside the Florida 20.

KR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
He sure had plenty of opportunities, but he piled up a Sugar Bowl-record 207 return yards on eight attempts.

The Big East is 2-for-2, and Pitt's 19-17 win over North Carolina was pretty impressive, considering it came in basically a road game in Charlotte at the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

The big news was that the Panthers notched their first 10-win season since 1981, though that Dan Marino-led team went 11-1 instead of 10-3. Still, it represents progress for Dave Wannstedt's program and gives Pitt something to build upon.

"Ten wins separates you, and I don't think these guys know what they have accomplished here tonight and probably won't for a few weeks or a month or however long," Wannstedt said. "I think that people know that we are back as a program, and you have to go out and prove it. You have to show up and you have to play and you have to win games like this."

On Wednesday, I presented three keys for Pitt in this game: Make North Carolina's offense work to score instead of giving up a special teams or defensive big play; protect quarterback Bill Stull against the heavy Tar Heels pass rush and get tight end Dorin Dickerson involved.

While North Carolina put together a couple of nice drives, its offense finished with just 264 total yards. Stull didn't throw any interceptions and Pitt didn't give up any damaging special teams plays. The Pitt offensive line yielded two sacks, but Stull had plenty of time most of the day and the Panthers won the battle up front. Dickerson had four catches for 21 yards but dropped a touchdown pass early. He just hasn't looked the same the last three games, and you have to wonder if he's fully healthy.

But Mike Shanahan stepped up with five big catches, including some tough ones over the middle, and it looks like he can be the key possession receiver to Jonathan Baldwin's deep threat next season. Combine that with another year from the amazing Dion Lewis, and that's an awfully good start for 2010, even if Pitt has to replace three offensive line starters and break in a new quarterback.

It was good way for the Panthers to end things after they lost their last two regular-season games in the final minute. Of course, they also beat UConn in the final seconds, so the odds probably worked out. This game will long be remembered by Pitt fans for the 17-play, 8:47 drive that led to the winning field goal. To do that against the No. 6 rated defense in the FBS was particularly special.

"The series or two before we came unglued a little bit," Wannstedt said. "We were not lined up, we were hurrying a bit, we had a bad snap, we had a penalty. So our guys went out there and there was no room for error. For our guys to go out there and complete that many plays in a row for the most part successfully says a lot about the focus and discipline of our kids."

Pittsburgh should wind up in the Top 15 and should be ranked to start next season despite some major personnel losses, including Stull, Dickerson, those O-linemen, defensive tackle Mick Williams, linebacker Adam Gunn and cornerback Aaron Berry. Junior defensive end Greg Romeus could opt for the NFL as well. But in addition to the offensive core I mentioned earlier, the Panthers still have rising young talent like linebacker Dan Mason, who grabbed a crucial interception at the goal line.

You have to make Pitt one of the early favorites in the Big East in 2010. Totally different feeling than after last year's Sun Bowl, huh?

Previewing Saturday's Meineke Car Care Bowl between No. 17 Pittsburgh (9-3) and North Carolina (8-4):

WHO TO WATCH: Pittsburgh running back Dion Lewis. North Carolina ranks ninth nationally in rush defense and has held nine of its 12 opponents to under 100 total rushing yards. Can Lewis and the Pitt offensive line break that trend? The superb freshman won Big East offensive MVP honors by running for 1,640 yards and 16 carries this season, including 207 yards on a whopping 47 carries in the season finale against Cincinnati. Lewis holds the key to Pitt's entire offensive game plan.

WHAT TO WATCH: The Tar Heels' defense has spectacular stats, ranking sixth nationally in total defense, third in tackles for loss and leading the nation in interception return yardage. But Pitt had the best offensive line in the Big East this season and averaged 33 points a game with dynamic weapons like Lewis, Jonathan Baldwin and Dorin Dickerson surrounding quarterback Bill Stull. Can Pitt hold off North Carolina pass rusher Robert Quinn and can Stull avoid turnovers? If so, the Panthers should score enough points to win against a Tar Heels offense that doesn't have a lot of big-time playmakers.

WHY TO WATCH: These two teams are mirror images of each other, as Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt and North Carolina's Butch Davis are both defensive-minded Jimmy Johnson disciples. You'll see two pro-style offenses and attacking, 4-3 defenses with plenty of future pros on the field. Both teams spent several weeks in the Top 25, with North Carolina peaking at No. 19 and Pitt cracking the Top 10. And last year's Meineke Car Care Bowl featuring the Tar Heels and a Big East team (West Virginia) was one of the most entertaining games of bowl season.

PREDICTION: Pitt wins 24-21. The Panthers just have more offensive options than North Carolina and a good enough offensive line to slow down the Tar Heels' terrific defensive front. And the Pitt D-line, led by Big East co-defensive MVPs Mick Williams and Greg Romeus, should use speed to its advantage against North Carolina's big but slower offensive front.

Dion Lewis is the Big East's offensive player of the year, while Pitt teammates Greg Romeus and Mick Williams shared the defensive player of the year award in voting by the league's head coaches. It's the first time two teammates have ever shared that honor.

Cincinnati's Mardy Gilyard repeated as the league's special teams player of the year, while Brian Kelly made it a three-peat on coach of the year honors.

Lewis, who rushed for nearly 1,700 yards, also was named the Big East rookie of the year. He's the first to win both offensive and rookie awards since Virginia Tech's Michael Vick.

The league also announced its postseason first and second All-Big East teams and made the late Jasper Howard an honorary captain. The UConn cornerback was stabbed to death hours after the Huskies' Oct. 17 win over Louisville.

"We regard the Big East Conference as the biggest family in collegiate athletics,” commissioner John Marinatto said in a statement. “As a family, we wanted to respectfully remember Jasper Howard and honor his memory."

When I revealed my own awards on Tuesday, I chose Williams as the defensive player of the year but noted how close it was between him and Romeus. Obviously, the coaches couldn't decide.

Here's the complete list of all the award winners and the first- and second-team selections. There are a few differences between the official Big East team and my choices for the ESPN.com All-Big East team. Because the league simply awards extra spots when there are ties, both Bill Stull and Tony Pike are officially first-teamers at quarterback. Anthony Davis made the league first team but not mine at offensive tackle; while Davis is clearly the most naturally gifted lineman in the league, there's no way he was consistent or productive enough this season to earn that distinction.

The coaches also chose Cincinnati's Chris Jurek at center, while I had UConn's Moe Petrus. Either one is a fine choice.

On defense, the official team has five defensive linemen, four linebackers and three cornerbacks, plus two safeties. Well, you could definitely stop some offenses with that kind of lineup. I think it's time the league institute some tiebreaker rules, because in an eight-team league, that's completely ridiculous.

Anyway, one of the main differences in the league's team and my own is the coaches voted for West Virginia's Robert Sands at safety over my pick, South Florida's Nate Allen. I have no beef with that, since I wrestled with that choice for a long time.

Most people would have picked two-time All-American defensive end George Selvie as the preseason defensive player of the year. The South Florida senior only made the league's second team, however.

The view on Pittsburgh has changed drastically since Thanksgiving.

On Turkey Day, the Panthers stood at 9-1, were ranked in the Top 10 and had a Big East title in their sights. The next night, they got upended by a last-second field goal at West Virginia. And then the following week, they lost a heart-wrenching 45-44 shootout to Cincinnati with the BCS bid on the line.

What looked like a season for the ages instead turned into a 9-3 campaign -- the same record Pitt finished with in 2008. Two close losses shouldn't totally obscure what the program accomplished in the regular season, however.

New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. helped turn Bill Stull into more than just a serviceable quarterback; his improved decision-making actually made Stull one of the best in the Big East. Cignetti also found a way to make talented-but-often-ignored senior Dorin Dickerson into one of the nation's top pass-catching tight ends, while receiver Jonathan Baldwin took another step toward superstardom. And of course, true freshman Dion Lewis wowed everybody with his huge year at tailback.

Defensively, the Pitt defense tightened up after a disheartening early-season loss to NC State. The defensive line was the best in the league, and the linebackers and secondary covered up their mistakes. The Panthers looked dominant at times, giving fans reason to believe that the program had regained its old prominence.

Unfortunately, the last two weeks may be what people remember about this season.

Offensive MVP: Lewis. Stull, Baldwin and Dickerson were great, as was the offensive line. But Lewis made it all work with his 1,640 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Mick Williams. The defensive tackle was the leader of a stalwart line, registering 15 tackles for loss.

Turning point: The Panthers led Cincinnati 31-10 late in the first half on Dec. 5, so close to the Big East trophy that they could almost touch it. Then Mardy Gilyard returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, and the fight was back on. It was a fight Pitt would lose in a painful manner.

What's next: Pitt can regain some goodwill by beating North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl to get their 10th win. As for next year, coach Dave Wannstedt will have to find a replacement at quarterback for Stull -- likely Tino Sunseri. And Pitt will lose the majority of its two lines, which was where the team's true strength lay. Still, Lewis and Baldwin will return, and Wannstedt has recruited so well that there will be enough talent on the roster to compete for the league championship again in 2010.

The official league selections will come out tomorrow. Here are my choices for the best of the Big East, from a season's worth of observations and some consultation from league coaches:

Offense

QB: Tony Pike, Cincinnati

RB: Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh

RB: Noel Devine, West Virginia

WR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati

WR: Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh

TE: Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh

OT: Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh

OT: Jeff Linkenbach, Cincinnati

C: Moe Petrus, Connecticut

OG: John Malecki, Pittsburgh

OG: Zach Hurd, Connecticut

Defense

DE: Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh

DE: Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida

DT: Mick Williams, Pittsburgh

DT: Chris Neild, West Virginia

LB: Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut

LB: Kion Wilson, South Florida

LB: Derrell Smith, Syracuse

CB: Devin McCourty, Rutgers

CB: Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh

S: Aaron Webster, Cincinnati

S: Nate Allen, South Florida

Specialists

K: Tyler Bitancurt, West Virginia

P: Scott Kozlowski, West Virginia

KR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati

PR: Robert McClain, Connecticut

It was supposed to be a down year for the Big East.

The league entered the season with no ranked teams and much uncertainty. Every team had at least one major question mark, and several stars were lost in the 2009 NFL draft.

Instead, the conference had one of its strongest showings and most exciting seasons ever. Two teams -- Cincinnati and Pittsburgh -- cracked the top 10, five total league teams appeared in the Top 25 at some point and three finished in the final rankings. Cincinnati provided the Big East a legitimate powerhouse, going 12-0 and coming up a controversial Big 12 second short of possibly crashing the BCS title game.

While the Bearcats were clearly the league's best team, the conference remained very balanced. Cincinnati beat Pitt by one point, Connecticut by two and West Virginia by three. West Virginia beat Pitt on a last-second field goal, while Pitt pulled the same trick on UConn.

South Florida got its usual September day in the sun by beating Florida State before slinking back into the shade by mid-October. Rutgers won eight games, including a blowout of South Florida and a thriller over UConn, but couldn't get a signature win. Syracuse, despite a 4-8 record, showed signs of progress under first-year coach Doug Marrone, while Louisville ended the Steve Kragthorpe era after missing a bowl for the third straight year.

In all, the league was highly competitive each week and finished 32-8 against nonconference opponents. The Big East provided lots of great stories -- like Cincinnati's run, UConn's strength in the light of tragedy and Greg Paulus' transition from point guard to quarterback -- and several dramatic games, including the Cincinnati-Pitt finale and virtually every game Connecticut played. Many young stars, from Dion Lewis to Mohamed Sanu to Zach Collaros, came of age under the bright lights and will be making plays in this league for years.

If that's what a down year looks like, may the Big East never find its way up.

Offensive MVP: Pitt running back Dion Lewis

Had Tony Pike stayed healthy all year, he may have run away with this award. But that doesn't diminish the amazing achievements by Lewis, who did the unthinkable by dominating the conference as a true freshman. He finished third in the nation in rushing with 1,640 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. He eclipsed 100 yards nine times and went over 150 yards in five of his last seven games. The rest of the Big East can't believe they have to face this guy for at least two more years.

Defensive MVP: Pitt defensive tackle Mick Williams

This was a very difficult choice. Several defensive players had standout years, but there was no one obvious guy like Scott McKillop last year. I asked a few coordinators around the league for help with this pick, and the consensus was that Williams and fellow Pitt defensive lineman Greg Romeus were the two most disruptive, headache-inducing defenders in the conference this year. I give Williams the nod over Romeus because he had 15 tackles for loss from the defensive tackle position, which is very impressive, and his work on the inside helped make it possible for Romeus to rush the passer on the edge.

Special teams MVP: Cincinnati returner Mardy Gilyard

Rutgers' Devin McCourty had a great year on special teams as well, but Gilyard had the uncanny ability to make a huge play when his team needed it most. Never was that more evident than his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Pitt. Gilyard returned two kickoffs and a punt back for scores this year and was a threat to go all the way every time he touched the ball.

Newcomer of the year: Lewis

If he's the offensive player of the year, then this is obvious. There were other top-notch newcomers who might have won this in other years, including Rutgers' Sanu and South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul.

Coach of the year: Cincinnati's Brian Kelly

Kelly might not have any more room on his mantle for this award since it would be the third time in three years he's won it. UConn's Randy Edsall deserves strong consideration as well for the way he kept his team together and led with grace after the death of Jasper Howard. But 12-0 is 12-0, especially when you replaced virtually your entire defense.

Biggest surprise: Connecticut

Not so much that it finished 7-5, which was about as expected, but because the Huskies rebounded from tragedy to close the year strong while becoming an offensive power.

Biggest disappointment: South Florida

I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise anymore, but after yet another 5-0 start that included a win at Florida State, the Bulls sure should have done better than 7-5 and the International Bowl. Yes, Matt Grothe's injury didn't help. But when you consider that five of the team's victories came over two FCS teams, Western Kentucky, Syracuse and Louisville, that 7-5 mark looks even drearier.

Game of the year: Cincinnati 45, Pitt 44, Dec. 5

The Big East saved its best for last, as the schedule worked out perfectly to create a de facto championship game at Heinz Field. And what a game it was, with Cincinnati coming back from a 21-point first-half deficit and 14-point fourth quarter hole to win on a touchdown pass in the final minute. It's a game that will remembered by both sides for a long, long time.

PITTSBURGH -- The body language from Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus told the story.

After Cincinnati scored with 33 seconds left to take a 45-44 lead, Pittsburgh's two star defensive ends wore a look of utter shock as they made a slow trudge off the field. Perhaps it hit them then how coming so close had sent them so far away from their goals.

Instead of winning the Big East and the league's BCS bid, the Panthers (9-3, 5-2 Big East) now are likely headed to the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham. Just two weeks ago, they were 9-1 and in the Top 10. But they finished with two straight, last-minute defeats and now sport the same record as last year's team.

"I thought this year was an improvement, but we just came up short in the end," defensive tackle Mick Williams said. "Sorry to the city and the fans."

Head coach Dave Wannstedt tried to look on the positive side and the big picture.

"We're close," he said. "We're a lot closer than we were a year ago. We're light years from where we were four years ago. It's important to keep recruiting and keep building."

But this was a great opportunity wasted. Pitt is, in many people's opinion, the most purely talented team in the league. Their veteran offensive and defensive lines can stack up with anybody. They led Cincinnati 31-10 in the first at home. They were also up 38-24 in the fourth quarter and scored to take the lead again with 1:36 left.

Perhaps the cruelest part is that a missed extra point made a huge difference in the end. Holder Andrew Janocko appeared to bobble the snap, which prevented a kick try. Given the crack in the door, Cincinnati busted through with a 63-second scoring drive and winning extra point.

"I told [Janocko] after the game that it wasn't one play," Wannstedt said. "Everybody in that room could have done something during the course of the game to make it different. He's been outstanding for us for two years."

Many parts of the game will be debated around Pittsburgh for a long time to come, like why the team kept kicking to Mardy Gilyard, why the offense went away from the running game in the third quarter and why some costly personal fouls were committed (and called). Pitt fans will wonder when this program will ever win a championship under Wannstedt.

That talk shouldn't overshadow the incredible performance by freshman running back Dion Lewis. He broke a school record with 47 carries, gaining 194 yards and three touchdowns.

"Dion is the best," Wannstedt said. "It's amazing for a freshman, 12 weeks into the season, to show up like he did today and perform at that level."

Unfortunately for the Panthers, they came up just short of matching Cincinnati's level. And a long fall down from what they aspired was the end result.

'Tis the season to hang stockings. 'Tis always time for a stock report.

Stock up

1. Robert Sands: The Big East's defensive player of the week for his game against Pittsburgh (seven tackles, interception, three pass breakups). The West Virginia safety now leads the Big East in passes defended and interceptions.

2. UConn's offense: No longer one dimensional, the Huskies have been on a tear of late, scoring 45 at Cincinnati, 33 at Notre Dame and 56 against Syracuse. They're now second in the Big East in scoring at 32.4 points per game and are -- get this -- second in the league in passing yards.

3. Alec Lemon: The Syracuse freshman had nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown in the loss at UConn. The Orange need big-time wideouts after Mike Williams' defection, and Lemon announced himself as an early candidate for that role in 2010.

4. Ben Guidugli: Just when you think Cincinnati can't possibly have any more weapons, the junior tight end exploded for seven catches, 149 yards and two scores against Illinois. What can't this offense do?

5. Tyler Bitancurt: The West Virginia kicker is making Mountaineers fans forget Pat McAfee. Bitancurt has made 12 of 13 kicks this season, including all four -- and the game-winner -- against Pitt.

Stock down

1. Produce pelting: One of the most memorable moments last season came when Cincinnati fans threw oranges on the field in the win over Pitt, which helped lock up an Orange Bowl bid. The Big East title is on the line between these two teams again this week, but what are fans supposed to do? Cincinnati will likely go to the Sugar Bowl with a win, so I guess visiting Bearcats fans could toss sugar packets. Pitt's destination is less certain with a win -- perhaps a sugary orange drink?

2. South Florida's consistency: The Bulls haven't won back-to-back games since Sept. 26 and Oct. 3. Their last five games have gone like this, in order: Lose by 27, win by 11, lose by 31, win by 12, lose by 21. They are clearly one of the more maddening teams in the country.

3. Dan Hutchins: The Pitt kicker has not made Panthers fans forget Conor Lee of late. After a strong start to the season, Hutchins has missed five field-goal attempts in the past five games, including two at West Virginia (though, to be fair, the 53-yarder he was asked to try was nearly impossible).

4. Brian Kelly's tightening access: With the biggest game of the season looming this week at Pitt, Kelly closed down practice and made only two players -- and none of the team's stars -- available to the media. Kelly remains the best quote in the league among coaches, but insiders will tell you he's put more and more restrictions on his players since the Bearcats started winning at a higher rate. Not allowing players to talk is a decidedly small-time move for a program that's aspiring to the big time, and it makes you wonder how Kelly might handle the white-hot glare at Notre Dame.

Player of the year race: Offense

1. Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh: Wasn't his fault that Pitt lost to West Virginia, as he piled up 155 yards and set the Big East freshman rushing record. He now has 1,446 yards and 13 touchdowns.

2. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati: Had seven catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kick for a score against Illinois. The Big East's leader in all-purpose yards, with 187 yards per game.

3. Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia: His 88-yard touchdown run against Pitt was a turning point. He's got 1,232 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.

4. Tim Brown, WR, Rutgers: Brown is leading the league in receiving yards per game (95.5) and yards per catch (20.6) while going over 1,000 yards.

5. Bill Stull, QB, Pittsburgh: Threw two costly interceptions against West Virginia in one of his rare off performances this year. He is still the Big East's leading passer, though Tony Pike is creeping up on him in yardage despite missing most of four games.

Player of the year race: Defense

1. Mick Williams, DT, Pittsburgh: The clubhouse leader for some time. The Cincinnati game could decide things.

2. Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh: Ditto.

3. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers: The league's top cornerback.

4. Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut: Leads the league with 130 tackles and is third nationally with 11.82 stops per game.

5. Sands: See above.