The most improved program in the country over the past few years is not getting worse anytime soon.  The defending Big East and Northeast Region Champs are hosting the Big East this year and have a stable ready to emerge at the national level.  Tito Medrano was an All-American last year and its time for his classmates succeed in Terre Haute, as well. 

If they break out the Brooks jackets again, then I won't just drive the bandwagon, I'll clean it, fix it, whatever.  In 2009, The 'Cuse really put itself on the proverbial map with the big invite win in Wisconsin prior to winning the Big East...which quite was for some reason also in Wisconsin.  While not a disaster, 14th at NCAA's was not what they were looking for.  This, of course, is the story with just about everybody, every year.  That said, Pat DuPont was 4th and 5th at conference and regionals and only 168th at nationals.  Brad Miller went from being within 5 seconds of Medrano in Madison to 227th at nationals.  Jeff Scull was consistent and solid throughout and will be difficult to replace along with Busby and Miller.  The pieces are there for this group to be great.

Syracuse really seems to be all about depth, development, and team.  Each year they keep bringing in more 9:0something guys who want to run, like to run and they run better up north. 

Big East should be a raucous affair at their home course this year.  Grotepoll.com will be there and expects fire and tubular meat.  As big as it will be to defend that title, the Orangemen likely have their set their sights higher.  You can make an argument for them being a top 10 team last year, so it follows that they will be in that mix again. 

Medrano and DuPont should be a very solid 1-2, both well into the top 10 at conference and regionals and All-American types at NCAA's.  There are 4 others who ran under 14:20 in the spring...Corey Robinson, Jay Koloseus, Griff Graves and Steve Murdock.  Forest Misenti, like DuPont had a quiet spring, but will be solid in cross.  Zach Rivers, Robert Molke, Steven Weeks, Patrick Geoghahan are also 14:30ish types.  The incoming frosh class may not have an immediate contributor, although NJ stalwards Sam Macaluso and Dave Oster have bright futures.  Oster, if healthy and putting in a good summer, may be the best candidate to break into the lineup...or he may just redshirt.  A 9:08 guy as a junior, he never really got a good healthy crack at things indoors or outdoors following an excellent x-c campaign.  His 15:29 at Meet of Champs is a mark bettered only by guys named Rosa, Forys, DiJoseph or Khadroui.  Also look out for unheralded Reed Kamyszek of Michigan, a bit of an under the radar 9:05 type. 

This is not likely to be a banner year for The Big East.  Providence may be the next best team after heavy losses at Georgetown and Villanova.  Syracuse comes in this year as the favorite there and at regionals, where Iona always presents a big challenge in addition to PC. 

Its hard to say in July how far this program has come.  They have come a pretty long way pretty quickly and for the most part exceeded expectations in 2009.  Certainly the makings of a single-digit NCAA finish are there, while perhaps another year or so of development is what it will take for them to make a serious run at the podium.