In all these alignment rumors, why is the Big East not mentioned?

[businesslawyer]

No way in hell that happens. You don't blow up a wildly successful thing like March Madness that rakes in cash and has become a pop culture phenomenon even with non basketball fans. You see regular Joe's filling out brackets, entering pools, watching the games, etc. If the P5 had their own tourney, it would permanently kill the idea of cinderellas, one that is central to the success of the tourney as it is right now. You can't tell me schools like Gonzaga, UConn, Memphis, Cincy, Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette, etc. are all of a sudden locked out and become irrelevant. And yes I said UConn, because you will be locked out with us in the extremely rare event that they have their own tourney.

By the way, someone said jumping to FBS football correlated with basketball success. To that I reply, correlation does not imply causation. One of the oldest sayings in stats. There are tons of things that are correlated but not actually directly caused by something.

I get it. The reason you have all the answers is that, unlike the rest of us, you knows the future. My bad then.

 

[Johnny]

You think St. John's is one of the best basketball programs in the country and you think other people are delusional? LMAO.

Not compared to UConn standards. But compared to all D1 programs? Hell yes. Most schools don't even have a Final Four appearance. SJ has 2. Most schools don't even have 20+ NCAA berths. SJ has 28. Most schools haven't produced big time HOFer's and NBA players like Mullin, Artest, Jackson, etc. SJ is in the top 10 most winningest programs ever in D1. There are what 350 D1 programs? SJ has to be top 50 all time if you look in terms of wholesome results and that's being conservative.

I'm not trying to compare us to UConn obviously that's a waste of time. But just because SJ doesn't have 4 rings doesn't mean SJ is a bad program by any means. Downtrodden? Perhaps, but you can't just discount all the great seasons because of some bad ones.

 

[Johnny]

The Big East had a down year because all of the good teams left.

That's what's called your new normal. You can call it the Big East and pretend it's the Big East, but it's not. I could name a donkey "Secretariat", but I'm not winning the Derby on it.

Sorry, not being a troll, that's being real and the rest of the nation knows it.

How exactly would UConn and Cuse leaving cause them to be worse? Nova, G'Town, and Marquette are great programs…shouldn't they be better by your logic if the amazing teams all left?

 

[Johnny]

The C7 league is buried alive on Fox. I'm pretty sure the UCONN women had better ratings than most C7 games. Buzz Williams saw the writing on the wall and bolted.

It's 2014. People don't just click up 1 at a time anymore on their remotes. They have guides that show what games are on. If you go to the sports section it will be right in there with everything else. So I'd agree with you 10 years ago, but not now. People search specifically for what they want, not search 1 channel at a time.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Dude. It's been a long time since Louie C's sweaters.

 

[Johnny]

With that said, I will get out of your hair. Really not trying to be a troll, just wanted to get some UConn perspective (and boy did I get it). As much as it pains me to say this I hope you guys get what you want ultimately as a former Big East brother. I think UConn is good enough to be P5 although the football may never be very good. But hey, all you need to do is get in and cash out.

I honestly wish you guys luck and like I said, the door will be left open for ya. Good luck on your upcoming season (by the way looks like Briscoe is down to you guys and UK…I'd much rather see him at UConn).

Hopefully SJ can get a little series going with UConn at some point.

 

[zls44]

It's 2014. People don't just click up 1 at a time anymore on their remotes. They have guides that show what games are on. If you go to the sports section it will be right in there with everything else. So I'd agree with you 10 years ago, but not now. People search specifically for what they want, not search 1 channel at a time.

If that's true- by and large it isnt, just because you and I can search around doesn't mean 90% of people do- then boy, is that EVER an indictment of the Big East. Those ratings were a steaming turd.

You are being delusional if you think your football is anything other than a failure for the money invested.

Over a 7-year period after entering the Big East, UConn went 50-37, including two Big East championships, five bowl games (winning 3) and a BCS bowl. Yep, total failure.

Really not trying to be a troll

Pro tip: next time you go on a school's message board "not trying to be a troll", you probably shouldn't compare an entire program to SUNY-Buffalo (even though, this season, UB would be -13.5)

 

[amory]

Someday if it becomes evident that we're locked out of the P5 for good, I could see UConn being back in the big east. But that's an absolute last resort and we can pull that trigger whenever we want.

In the meantime I'd love to see UConn start up home and homes with some of the big east teams (nova, gtown, Creighton, maybe providence or sju). Unlike a lot of posters here I have no problem with the C7 schools. They simply did what was best for them.

 

[CL82]

He running plays right out the troll handbook. Begin nicely and complement your host. Feign interest in the program and it's well being. Start throwing out back handed complements and move on to veiled insult and then outright insults. Act indignant when you get called on it. What makes him entertaining is disconnect with reality with the conference that bought the name Big East. It's great stuff.

 

[HoopsFan21]

No way in hell that happens. You don't blow up a wildly successful thing like March Madness that rakes in cash and has become a pop culture phenomenon even with non basketball fans. You see regular Joe's filling out brackets, entering pools, watching the games, etc. If the P5 had their own tourney, it would permanently kill the idea of cinderellas, one that is central to the success of the tourney as it is right now. You can't tell me schools like Gonzaga, UConn, Memphis, Cincy, Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette, etc. are all of a sudden locked out and become irrelevant. And yes I said UConn, because you will be locked out with us in the extremely rare event that they have their own tourney.

By the way, someone said jumping to FBS football correlated with basketball success. To that I reply, correlation does not imply causation. One of the oldest sayings in stats. There are tons of things that are correlated but not actually directly caused by something.

The NCAA basketball tournament is where the NCAA gets most of its revenue. Football is where the schools get most of their revenue. Which do you think the schools care more about? Their revenue, or the NCAA's? The P5 couldn't give a crap about non-P5 schools. The vote this past summer is the writing on the wall that the P5 plans to fully break away from the NCAA at some point in the near future. They will then hold their own basketball tournament with all the big schools and take the revenue from that and split it instead of handing it over to the inept and practically defunct NCAA. It's all about money and power and the P in P5 stands for power - and don't kid yourself, they hold all the cards. They don't have to care about regular Joe's filling out brackets. That's a small school problem. Why do you continue to assume that UConn will forever be in the AAC with zero chance of getting an invite to a P5 conference? UConn =/= St. John's.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

You could so easily substitute SJ with PC and these posts would look so similar.

Remember (insert 1980's season) we were good?

Remember (insert random regular season game and year) we beat UConn?

We're making big changes here and we'll be good ( always insert next year).

 

[UConn990411]

It's adorable how naive fans of the basketball-only schools are.

The Georgetowns of the world would not have been as competitive if they didn't get to play UConn and Syracuse and Pittsburgh and Louisville. They benefited more from being able to play those schools than those schools benefited from being able to play Georgetown.

 

[UConnDan97]

I think it's super cute that a Johnny is worried about the defending national champs. Super cute!

Hey Johnny, the Big East is so bad that they STILL require UConn to win their championships:



(by the way, those beautiful ladies won the national championship too, because that's how we do...)

 

[Johnny]

While you are on the topic of winning in Field Hockey, I can also mention an irrelevant sport we are just as good in: fencing! Ok, really going now.

Be well, my husky friends.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

There is a river of stupid on this board that bursts its banks every now and then in threads like this. The irrational hatred of the C7 has no good explanation, but it reflects badly on all of us because it is so widespread and so irrational. They are winning over the AAC in every way possible, from money to network support to overall quality of play to stability, except for UConn, which is carrying our worthless league. We need to tamp down our own crazy.

 

[Fishy]

There is a river of stupid on this board that bursts its banks every now and then in threads like this. The irrational hatred of the C7 has no good explanation, but it reflects badly on all of us because it is so widespread and so irrational. They are winning over the AAC in every way possible, from money to network support to overall quality of play to stability, except for UConn, which is carrying our worthless league. We need to tamp down our own crazy.

You're kidding, right?

Fox pays them more...and that's where it ends.

They had a positively dreadful year and I don't know how you define network support, but their Fox Sports 1 experience has been a ratings meltdown.

Our tire fire with ESPN exposure is far better than their tire fire on Fox.

The average Big East game on Fox - 95,000 viewers.
The average American game on ESPN - 293,000 viewers.

Of the 48 Big East non-con games on Fox, 41 scored a ratings number of zero. Five managed a 0.1 and two managed 0.2. On Fox Sports 2, no Big East game reached more than 14,000 viewers. One Seton Hall game effectively had no viewers.

That is dire.

 

[zls44]

While you are on the topic of winning in Field Hockey, I can also mention an irrelevant sport we are just as good in: fencing! Ok, really going now.

Be well, my husky friends.

If St. John's won a national title in field hockey, you'd hold a parade right down Archer Avenue.

Nobody would go, but you'd still hold the parade. You know, kinda like St. John's Big East games at MSG against a C7 team.

 

[zls44]

One Seton Hall game effectively had no viewers.

All things considered, that's a net positive for Seton Hall and the Big East.


Seriously, if I'm a C7 school, I'm checking every day to make sure those checks are still clearing. That TV cash is the definition of larceny.

 

[The Funster]

for the most part, the best BB schools in the Old Big East WERE the football schools: Syracuse, Pitt, UConn, Louisville were the standard bearers. Occasionally Nova or Georgetown made some noise but not enough to meet the level of the football schools.

 

[freescooter]

for the most part, the best BB schools in the Old Big East WERE the football schools: Syracuse, Pitt, UConn, Louisville were the standard bearers. Occasionally Nova or Georgetown made some noise but not enough to meet the level of the football schools.

I've been saying that for 10 years. It has really been closer to 15. The non-football schools excepting sometimes Villanova, Georgetown and Marquette, were effectively mid-majors in a top tier league. It is actually good for them to be in their own conference now. A couple of them will have a chance to win some games and get to the NCAA tournament from time to time.

 

[Kolumbo]

There is a river of stupid on this board that bursts its banks every now and then in threads like this. The irrational hatred of the C7 has no good explanation, but it reflects badly on all of us because it is so widespread and so irrational. They are winning over the AAC in every way possible, from money to network support to overall quality of play to stability, except for UConn, which is carrying our worthless league. We need to tamp down our own crazy.

From all accounts, the Catholics are the reason the Big East did football half-assed. The mediocrity continued as the BE invited Marquette and DePaul instead of two football schools. Not that the B.E. would have been saved, but the divide was always there. But hey, the B.E. now has Butler, Xavier, and Creighton to save the day. Elite.

 

[CL82]

From all accounts, the Catholics are the reason the Big East did football half-assed. The mediocrity continued as the BE invited Marquette and DePaul instead of two football schools. Not that the B.E. would have been saved, but the divide was always there. But hey, the B.E. now has Butler, Xavier, and Creighton to save the day. Elite.

Hindsight being what it is, I think the league would have need to split into two division FB and BBO, with some key crossover games. That said, the failure to bring Penn St. aboard may have sealed our fate. If not, the Miami, VT and BC departures definitely did. Although who knows, if our TV contract had been in a different cycle we might have been saved.

 

[FriarJ]

I can't believe this thread, it's like deja vu all over again. Uconn is not coming to the BE, they will not be invited and they would not come if they were. For better or worse they are a FB school now and I don't expect the hoops to slide one bit, no matter what conference they are in. (reminds me of that commercial where the guy is interviewing players to be on his fantasy team and Marshawn Lynch just points at his ring) The best program of the last 25 years in CBB is not going to just slide off into oblivion.

That being said I really don't get why most of you feel the need to completely denigrate the BE. These schools did what they had to do and are all better off for it. They are beyond fortunate to be where they are and they will always be the best non P5 basketball conference. There is just too much money being thrown their way from Fox and alumni and other giving have hit an all-time high at most of these schools in an almost we are going to thrive despite this conference realignment BS mentality. PC has raised more money in the last 2 years then they raised in the last 10 from the basement of the BE

Is the BE ever ever going to be what the old BE was? No chance, but damn better than any alternative they would have had. Like minded schools looking out for each other and every single one of them showing a commitment to compete, because they all think they can be successful in a way many of them never were in the BE. I'm grateful every day for our current situation.

One other note, the poster that stated that the BE schools will not be able to keep up with the perks that the P5 are going to offer student athletes because they don't have football is just plain wrong. We are only talking about a couple programs, in PC's case they will have no problem doing this in Basketball and Hockey and would have massive problems if they have to follow in football with all of it's scholarships if they were not in a P5 conference.

 

[Kolumbo]

The A10 is comparable to, if not better than, the B.E. No question that G'town, Nova, SJU were better off partnering with UCONN, SU, PITT than with Xavier, Butler and Depaul.

 

[itgoeslike]

I can't believe this thread, it's like deja vu all over again. Uconn is not coming to the BE, they will not be invited and they would not come if they were. For better or worse they are a FB school now and I don't expect the hoops to slide one bit, no matter what conference they are in. (reminds me of that commercial where the guy is interviewing players to be on his fantasy team and Marshawn Lynch just points at his ring) The best program of the last 25 years in CBB is not going to just slide off into oblivion.

That being said I really don't get why most of you feel the need to completely denigrate the BE. These schools did what they had to do and are all better off for it. They are beyond fortunate to be where they are and they will always be the best non P5 basketball conference. There is just too much money being thrown their way from Fox and alumni and other giving have hit an all-time high at most of these schools in an almost we are going to thrive despite this conference realignment BS mentality. PC has raised more money in the last 2 years then they raised in the last 10 from the basement of the BE

Is the BE ever ever going to be what the old BE was? No chance, but damn better than any alternative they would have had. Like minded schools looking out for each other and every single one of them showing a commitment to compete, because they all think they can be successful in a way many of them never were in the BE. I'm grateful every day for our current situation.

One other note, the poster that stated that the BE schools will not be able to keep up with the perks that the P5 are going to offer student athletes because they don't have football is just plain wrong. We are only talking about a couple programs, in PC's case they will have no problem doing this in Basketball and Hockey and would have massive problems if they have to follow in football with all of it's scholarships if they were not in a P5 conference.

Who denigrated who first? If I went on the Providence board to say the university should give up basketball because the program hasn't had any real success at the national level for nearly two decades, and instead, put their focus and dollars into hockey, some fans might push back. (Of course, I would say it in an obnoxious yet constructive and well-wishing way).

The reality is most UConn fans are starved for traditional rivalries, but we don't need to put up with that BS. (As an aside, it looks like we've got match ups in the works with PITT and possibly Georgetown.) Anyhow, I've said in the past that for the C7+3 the NBE is their best and only option, just as the AAC, for now, is UConn's best and only option, no matter what some posters say about NBE and the A10.

Regarding your last comment, I suspect Providence will not be able to shower mens basketball and hockey with P5 like benefits without applying like treatment for other sports.

 

[nomar]

"Interestingly enough that's what the pundits thought about UConn and Coach Calhoun. Kevin Ollie is 52-18 and has one national title in 2 years."

Ollie won with Calhoun recruits. You know that's a big no-no when discussing coaches. Ollie needs to recruit his own kids and win big with his own kids to prove himself. That's like me having Coach K recruit for St. John's then credit Lavin for the success.

OK, we're done here.

 

[Husky25]

With that said, I will get out of your hair. Really not trying to be a troll, just wanted to get some UConn perspective (and boy did I get it).

No need to keep this threat open, really (or just let it die naturally). The guy is probably not coming back here. He says, "...and boy did I get it," but in reality, he got nothing he didn't deserve.

 

[nomar]

There is a river of stupid on this board that bursts its banks every now and then in threads like this. The irrational hatred of the C7 has no good explanation, but it reflects badly on all of us because it is so widespread and so irrational. They are winning over the AAC in every way possible, from money to network support to overall quality of play to stability, except for UConn, which is carrying our worthless league. We need to tamp down our own crazy.

YOU ARE LITERALLY THE ONLY PERSON ON THE BOARD WHO WANTS TO BE IN THE "BIG EAST." The only one. So stop pretending that is a debate where both sides have equally supportable views. Everybody thinks you're a crank and have no idea what you're talking about. Everyone. Let that sink in: everyone.

The debate has been over for some time. We -- the UConn community -- do not want to be in the Big East. Now now. Not never.

You're like the Duke brothers at the end of Trading Places. Nobody's turning the machines back on, pal.

 

[Sea Goat]

I can't believe this thread, it's like deja vu all over again. Uconn is not coming to the BE, they will not be invited and they would not come if they were. For better or worse they are a FB school now and I don't expect the hoops to slide one bit, no matter what conference they are in. (reminds me of that commercial where the guy is interviewing players to be on his fantasy team and Marshawn Lynch just points at his ring) The best program of the last 25 years in CBB is not going to just slide off into oblivion.

That being said I really don't get why most of you feel the need to completely denigrate the BE. These schools did what they had to do and are all better off for it. They are beyond fortunate to be where they are and they will always be the best non P5 basketball conference. There is just too much money being thrown their way from Fox and alumni and other giving have hit an all-time high at most of these schools in an almost we are going to thrive despite this conference realignment BS mentality. PC has raised more money in the last 2 years then they raised in the last 10 from the basement of the BE

Is the BE ever ever going to be what the old BE was? No chance, but damn better than any alternative they would have had. Like minded schools looking out for each other and every single one of them showing a commitment to compete, because they all think they can be successful in a way many of them never were in the BE. I'm grateful every day for our current situation.

One other note, the poster that stated that the BE schools will not be able to keep up with the perks that the P5 are going to offer student athletes because they don't have football is just plain wrong. We are only talking about a couple programs, in PC's case they will have no problem doing this in Basketball and Hockey and would have massive problems if they have to follow in football with all of it's scholarships if they were not in a P5 conference.

In fairness, UConn owes a lot to the old BE. UConn's problem was it just didn't see the writing on the wall regarding its inevitable demise. The old BE never got away from its Providence-centric existence. From Gavitt to "Meatball" Marinatto; the BE hierarchy was PC biased. PC, with no football or baseball for that matter, wasn't in tune with what a real P-5 conference would evolve into. UConn (Perkins) knew that D-1 football was necessary to take the next step. But, UConn was asleep at the switch with Austin, then Hogan and dreadful Hathaway as AD after Perkins left. UConn is well past any desire to join the new BE. UConn is a dramatically different school then it was in 1979 and its athletics have eclipsed all bounds. UConn's failure was in not realizing that the old BE was nothing more than a small, parochial school conference at its core. It was never going to be a conference that would compete with the P-5 in football with, literally, a half-hearted commitment.

 

[freescooter]

Just did the calculations…

AAC Total NCAA Appearances: 171 for an average of 17.1 per team

Big East Total NCAA Appearances: 224 for an average of 22.4 per team

The Big East schools have 53 more NCAA appearances.

LOL, St Johns has 1 NCAA appearance in the last decade plus. I think 2 this century. Providence has 2 trips since 2004. If we only count appearances since the end of the 2 handed set shot what's the ratio?