Around the Big East - 9/27/09

By Colin Dunlap | 1 a.m. Sunday

There was good and bad for the conference yesterday.

The good? That South Florida win was outstanding, a feather in the Big East's cap without a doubt. Also, Cincinnati fought off a tough Fresno team.

The bad? Pitt should have pulled that one out at NC State. The Panthers were ahead and should have held on.

Here's what all went down:

NC State 38, Pitt 31

     > A beat writer I work with tells us Pitt's defense didn't play very well

     > A columnist I work with tells us Pitt's defense didn't play very well

South Florida 17, Florida State 7

     > USF coach Jim Leavitt calls this a "very historical win." Don't think many would argue with him, especially because he always wears that menacing-looking visor

Connecticut 52, Rhode Island 10

     > Blowout, as expected. One thing came from this, though --- UConn might have a bit of a choice to make at quarterback

Cincinnati 28, Fresno State 20

     > Fresno controlled the clock. They couldn't win the game

Syracuse 41, Maine 24

     > Not pretty. But games aren't measured by style points

Rutgers 34, Maryland 13

     > Full Rutgers coverage from the Newark Star-Ledger here.....great stuff

Utah 30, Louisville 14

     > Louisville just isn't very good