I agree with Frank. We are basically talking past each other. (it's whalers fault - he fights in every thread like some Mercenary. Doesn't matter his position; he's jumping in)
Also, I'm clear that the future is unknown. I don't think you can argue that many many Programs have used the competitive arenas of the Big East to rise to the top. And we've beaten the also-rans & poorly structured into submission. There has been a significant gap between almost all the BE Program's & the A-10 for 15 years. Arguing history skips over the true excellence of the last 30 years simply doesn't make sense. Joe Mullaney & Bob Cousy is just a wholly different game than anything post -1975. And, yes, Rutgers did have one of my favorite teams of all time with Phil Sellers & James Bailey. I think the BE tag has the potential of being a platform for a rising UCF, SMU or Houston. But they could 0-18 like DePaul. I expect Memphis & Temple to be marginally better. Pastner has the chance to really rise in the Coaching pedigree.
Yes, we lost 4 top two quartile programs. They were not replaced. But 2 could easily be right there. I don't like reading that SU was the flagship. Not true - they lost too many Thursdays at the BET & too many first bracket games in the March tourney. I do expect 1 of the three new Programs to surprise. I'm glad we still have the Catholics. Marquette & Georgetown will be good for awhile. Top 6? Sure. And maybe better. I guarantee you we won't ever have an awful year like last years PAC 12.
