Connecticut the preseason favorite at Big East women's basketball media day

NEW YORK - After guiding the United States women to an Olympic basketball gold medal at the London Games last summer, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma has returned to his usual pursuits: chasing Big East and NCAA titles.

"He's the same guy. I think that's the way he always will be," said Huskies senior Kelly Farris at Thursday's annual Big East women's media day held at the New York Athletic Club. "We haven't noticed much change in him at all."

Not much has changed for now in terms of the top of the conference and the coaches' preseason predictions.

Connecticut, with a solid veteran group and the nation's top incoming freshman class, has switched places with Notre Dame as the conference favorite.

UConn's Breanna Stewart, considered the nation's top recruit, was picked as the Big East preseason freshman of the year while Notre Dame senior Skylar Diggins, the reigning conference player of the year, was picked to repeat her honor.

Diggins, who won a gold medal last summer representing the United States in FIBA's 3x3 tournament, is expected to be among the top three choices in April in the WNBA draft, along with Delaware's Elena Delle Donne and Baylor's Brittney Griner.

Syracuse and Pittsburgh are headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season, while Notre Dame will exit as soon as the Irish can work out a deal.

Temple is among the new schools who will arrive, allowing Owls coach Tonya Cardoza to go up against Auriemma, who was her boss for 15 years when the Huskies picked up five of their seven NCAA trophies.

Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw, a former star at St. Joseph's, has already made sure of regular visits back to her old haunts, even though the Irish will no longer be playing Villanova.

"All set," McGraw said, beaming. "We're going to play my alma mater and Penn in alternating years in Philly, so I'll still be coming home."

A year ago at this event, Auriemma blasted Notre Dame - which had yet to show its intentions on moving - and the power of the Irish football program when shifts were under way across the country.

This time he was more philosophical: "Nothing surprises you any more. We did a lot for Notre Dame, Connecticut did a lot for Notre Dame, the Big East Conference did a lot for Notre Dame. So we're going to miss them, and they're going to miss us."

Villanova veteran coach Harry Perretta is optimistic about the Wildcats' season.

"We have a chance to improve," he said. "We won 19 games, which I thought was really good for that group. Our nonconference schedule is harder - I didn't want it that way, but that's the way it worked out because we play in three tournaments."

Meanwhile, the NCAA's action Monday to remove the Trenton Regional because of New Jersey's intentions to offer sports betting on professional and college games was a side topic being discussed.

Temple, a regional host in 2010, has expressed interest in bidding to be a replacement.

"We're looking at several places [as replacements]," said Kathy Meehan, St. John's vice president for athletics and a member of the NCAA women's basketball tournament committee. "The Palestra is good. [Temple's Liacouras Center] is good - especially since they have the expertise of being a recent host."

The NCAA expects to announce a replacement city and venue for Trenton in early November after reviewing the bids.