Big East basketball- why isn’t it growing like the rest of wbb?

[Bigboote]

Just a comment on WBB coverage in general rather than the Big East.

Yesterday I was looking for games to watch in the next few days. The only game on regular cable yesterday was Morgan State-Towson. Every other game was on paid streaming services, most of them on ESPN+, which is $30/month. A couple of years ago, I almost certainly would've been able to see Richmond-URI, which I REALLY wanted to see. I saw 5-6 Richmond games last year; this year ONE is on TV, the rest ESPN+. Three years ago I was able to see any South Dakota or South Dakota State game I wanted to see. Yes, their league coverage is now all ESPN+ (I was glad to see the Jacks play Texas last week).

I've been able to see damn few decent games this season other than UConn's. I'm glad to pay $8/month to see the Huskies. But it seems to me that they're making women's games harder to see rather than easier.

 

[Zonepress]

for what it’s worth my package on cable
has acc big 10 and sec networks
lots of wbb

 

[HuskyNan]

Geesh. And the SEC has a contract with ESPN.

 

[Boreifs]

Just a comment on WBB coverage in general rather than the Big East.

Yesterday I was looking for games to watch in the next few days. The only game on regular cable yesterday was Morgan State-Towson. Every other game was on paid streaming services, most of them on ESPN+, which is $30/month. A couple of years ago, I almost certainly would've been able to see Richmond-URI, which I REALLY wanted to see. I saw 5-6 Richmond games last year; this year ONE is on TV, the rest ESPN+. Three years ago I was able to see any South Dakota or South Dakota State game I wanted to see. Yes, their league coverage is now all ESPN+ (I was glad to see the Jacks play Texas last week).

I've been able to see damn few decent games this season other than UConn's. I'm glad to pay $8/month to see the Huskies. But it seems to me that they're making women's games harder to see rather than easier.

If one has Hulu, Espnplus is included.

 

[BBallF]

I think this is all part of a much bigger dynamic. In 2025 the SEC had 14 teams in the men's NCAA basketball tourney an all time record. In 2000, they had 4. Follow the money, the players definitely have. Now, with the House settlement, the actual revenue sharing payments by the school are capped but NIL payments from a third party entity are not. Supposedly, any NIL payment or contract over $600 is subject to review by a College Sports Commission which is run by the conferences. NIL plus the transfer portal has been a nightmare. If the athletes are being paid like employees, the argument goes why not have contracts or a single CBA that regulates their employment with an antitrust exemption? There is also no limit on the number of times a player can transfer now.

In my view, if the BE teams had the money the SEC schools have received from football alone ( all sports SEC revenue in 2023-20324 was $808 million), you would see the BE's primary sport, basketball, improve dramatically, both men and women and that astounding revenue conference sharing is directly responsible for 14 men's teams in the Big Dance. It means better players, better coaches, better travel, etc. That's not going to happen to the BE so the hope is that the House cap with direct college payments will make an eventual difference. There is also a concern about NIL funding and scandal. Viewed from any perspective, the system is not reverting back especially now after House. It is not just about money though. Once you are lucky enough to have it, if there is no emphasis on women's hoops, it will make little difference so yes the commitment is a huge factor in all of this but the framework we are working with in the BE may unfortunately dictate the result.

 

[FanSince17]

I think this is all part of a much bigger dynamic. In 2025 the SEC had 14 teams in the men's NCAA basketball tourney an all time record. In 2000, they had 4. Follow the money, the players definitely have. Now, with the House settlement, the actual revenue sharing payments by the school are capped but NIL payments from a third party entity are not. Supposedly, any NIL payment or contract over $600 is subject to review by a College Sports Commission which is run by the conferences. NIL plus the transfer portal has been a nightmare. If the athletes are being paid like employees, the argument goes why not have contracts or a single CBA that regulates their employment with an antitrust exemption? There is also no limit on the number of times a player can transfer now.

In my view, if the BE teams had the money the SEC schools have received from football alone ( all sports SEC revenue in 2023-20324 was $808 million), you would see the BE's primary sport, basketball, improve dramatically, both men and women and that astounding revenue conference sharing is directly responsible for 14 men's teams in the Big Dance. It means better players, better coaches, better travel, etc. That's not going to happen to the BE so the hope is that the House cap with direct college payments will make an eventual difference. There is also a concern about NIL funding and scandal. Viewed from any perspective, the system is not reverting back especially now after House. It is not just about money though. Once you are lucky enough to have it, if there is no emphasis on women's hoops, it will make little difference so yes the commitment is a huge factor in all of this but the framework we are working with in the BE may unfortunately dictate the result.

Just thought of this: How come the Ivy League always has a few competitive teams, including Princeton always? None of these rules apply. There are kids out there that just want to have a great college experience. Think about how incredible Kaitlyn Chen's college experience was.
These are very decent schools in the BE.

 

[HuskyNan]

Just thought of this: How come the Ivy League always has a few competitive teams, including Princeton always? None of these rules apply. There are kids out there that just want to have a great college experience. Think about how incredible Kaitlyn Chen's college experience was.
These are very decent schools in the BE.

The Ivy League attracts players that want an Ivy League education. Seton Hall, St John’s, Providence, DePaul, et al aren’t even in the academic universe of an Ivy League school. The Ivy League doesn’t give basketball scholarships, they give academic ones so the really good basketball players need to be academically excellent as well

Probably not the best example

 

[GoUconn7961]

Aside from UConn, the men’s side of the BE isn’t doing that great this season either. Not from a lack of funds though. The league needs a shake up. The departure of Syracuse, West Virginia, and Notre Dame really took its toll on the league.

 

[VA Huskie]

Sad. I dislike the truths contained in your reply but thank you for it. I pick up some BE awareness through your posts (and a few others) but a central thread would be nice. In my mind, the BE is the P-5 conference of women's basketball. Other than UConn, when/who was the last non-P-4 who made it to the elite 8?

If I could relegate about 23 conferences to D-I(B), the Big East would be the 5th selection out of 8 conference who would remain D-I(A).

Good luck with Providence though you won't need it. Despite the talent disparity, they played us tougher than a couple of P-4s and a few conference leaders of non-p's

My suggestion would be that you set up a BE thread on the General board and see what happens. If it goes in the wrong direction, Nan can always shut it down. Personally, I’m much more interested in the Power 4 conferences and UConn than in the other BE schools.

 

[huskyd]

There are some persistent drum beaters that insist on putting the Big East down and they suck up most of the oxygen in the room. But those of us who watch other BEast teams play non-UConn games can see some incremental improvements here and there. I try to point out how some teams are doing better and pretty much get shouted down by those who, apparently, know everything and don’t need those darn facts. So I stopped posting about the league.

I know there are infrequent posters who get intimidated by the more aggressive posters and while they might chime in with comments about UConn’s BEast sister teams, don’t want to expose themselves to the scorn and ridicule that seems to erupt when someone tries to discuss the conference. Hence, no threads

Not sure any of us is responsible for jacking-up the BE. Nor do I think there's a Silent Majority that thinks well of the league. It would be great to have an occasional game break out between us and the rest of the BE to keep us attentive (excited is too much to hope). When you stick your nose in something stinky, you should not be blamed for noting it. If it stinks, it stinks. Sorry; that's life.

 

[ec33]

Because BEast schools are funding men’s bball at the expense of wbb and Olympic sports

In fairness, the media deal that creates the funds centers almost entirely around men's basketball.

 

[Stagnant]

It was growing until the portal and NIL took off and became more of a factor. Now the big east is a good feeder league for young players to grow their profile before transferring to their next school.

 

[Dogdude]

The Ivy League attracts players that want an Ivy League education. Seton Hall, St John’s, Providence, DePaul, et al aren’t even in the academic universe of an Ivy League school. The Ivy League doesn’t give basketball scholarships, they give academic ones so the really good basketball players need to be academically excellent as well

Probably not the best example

I see what you're saying here. All I would add is that there are a lot of kids looking to get an education that would never be accepted into an ivy league school. So for them, basketball might just be a way in the door. And while the BE schools outside of UConn might occasionally get a player with pro aspirations, I would think (not sure if I'm right or wrong...) that the majority know their limits, and are there to further their career aspirations out side of pro ball. I love the players with the skills and talent to try for the pros as much as I love the players looking to build a life in wherever their talents take them.

 

[BBallF]

The Ivy League attracts players that want an Ivy League education. Seton Hall, St John’s, Providence, DePaul, et al aren’t even in the academic universe of an Ivy League school. The Ivy League doesn’t give basketball scholarships, they give academic ones so the really good basketball players need to be academically excellent as well

Probably not the best example

Exactly. A degree from Princeton, Harvard, Yale etc is worth a lot more lifetime than any NIL payments in women's hoops.

 

[Skeets]

Exactly. A degree from Princeton, Harvard, Yale etc is worth a lot more lifetime than any NIL payments in women's hoops.

True in almost all cases, but don't try to sell that to Paige, Clark, or a few others.

 

[BBallF]

True in almost all cases, but don't try to sell that to Paige, Clark, or a few others.

Of course not. Nor to Azzi, JuJu, and Sarah.

 

[Dogdude]

Exactly. A degree from Princeton, Harvard, Yale etc is worth a lot more lifetime than any NIL payments in women's hoops.

Weeeellll... this ia a can of worms for sure. I know more than a few Ivy Leaguers who ended up being total slackers, and I also worked for a fellow who started as a bank teller in England, never went to any college or university, but worked his way up to be a big deal at mastercard international, and now collects custom Bentleys, antique Jaguars, and a couple of minor yachts. It's all about the character and drive. But I get your drift, Ivy League gets you contacts.