The roller-coaster feel of early-season schedules is supposed to work in favor of Big East teams like Seton Hall.

If the Chargers (3-3) move above .500, it would be a significant accomplishment, considering their brutal early-season schedule.

Coach Jim Boeheim of Syracuse has said playing a tough early-season schedule would pay off later in the season.

After three straight seasons of finishing last in the Big East, Boston College used a weak early-season schedule to gain confidence and will enter the tournament 26-4.

Perhaps it is simply the residue of a tough early-season schedule.

Thompson's conviction and sense of individuality endure the annual criticism of an early-season schedule of overmatched opponents.

Perhaps, because he worked with Wooden, he knows how to have a team peak, the tempo of the season; the difficult early-season schedule, the changes in team composition based on results and the development of players throughout the season.

OUTLOOK - An attention-grabbing but manageable early-season schedule could boost the Orangemen to a poll position high enough to challenge at the top.

Mistake-prone play combined with a difficult early-season schedule helped the team to lose their first nine games, which eliminated them from title contention before the end of October.

Texas entered the game at 4-0, but had benefited from a soft early-season schedule consisting of Brown, Sam Houston State, Centenary and Wofford.