Jay Wright: This is the Best BE

[ecasadoSBU]

He's just selling the conference. Of course he knows its not true. He is dong better in the BE these days, so selfishly he has reason to feel its better.

Anyway: Patrick Ewing, Ray Allen, Mutumbo, Chris Mullin, Iverson, John Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Emeka Okafor, Pearl Washington, my man Taliek Brown, and the list goes on and on. Wow I'm tearing up just reminiscing.

Oh. and the BE Coaches were outstanding and they too were better than JW (who wasn't bad at all).

You are comparing a 34-year span of success vs 3-year span of the current configuration of the Big East. I don't think there has been enough time to make a fair comparison of the current configuration vs. the historical one. We also have to consider that the Pre-2013 Big East had many different alignments with many different programs coming and going so it makes the historical comparison even more difficult.

But truth is that five of the original conference members out of the nine. It lost BC back in 2004 and lost three more in 2013. The majority of the members, however, still remain and the majority of the history it's still there kept in their record books


edit typo: Configure but i meant consider

 

[upstater]

You are comparing a 34-year span of success vs 3-year span of the current configuration of the Big East. I don't think there has been enough time to make a fair comparison of the current configuration vs. the historical one. We also have to configure that the Pre-2013 Big East had many different alignments with many different programs coming and going so it makes the historical comparison even more difficult.

But truth is that five of the original conference members out of the nine. It lost BC back in 2004 and lost three more in 2013. The majority of the members, however, still remain and the majority of the history it's still there kept in their record books

I really think most of us are comparing the lack of success over a couple decades by the current teams in the BE. In other words, the conference, post 1988, was dominated by UConn, Syracuse, Pitt and in the later years Louisville. Georgetown was good in the Iverson years conference-wise, but it was out of the scene nationally.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

UConn didn't jump ship. What are you talking about?

I think you overrate how compelling the BE is. They have a lot of good teams for sure. But honestly, fans are not going to tune into watch some of these just OK teams. I do tune in to watch those top 4 and Georgetown. But that's it Overall, I can't see how those 5 are going to draw more eyeballs than UConn, SMU, Cincy, Memphis and Temple. I don't think they will. So at that point, I think 6-1o become irrelevant.

I'm not going to watch UCF or Tulane, but I'm not watching Creighton or whoever either.

Point is, the BE has better teams this year, but I just don't see where the juice is. I consider myself a pretty engaged college bball fan, but watching Creighton interests me just as much as watching USF. In other words, not at all.

Notice how I didn't mention Connecticut not even once in that post. It's obvious Connecticut didn't jump ship. But our program so badly wanted to. We were ready to sell our basketball soul for CFB money. It just didn't work out they way we wanted to. We got caught up in the realignment battle and got burned. We were forced out.

I doubt the Big East will ever draw as many eyeballs in FS1 as the AAC on ESPN currently does. It's impossible. The Big East programs don't have big enough fan bases to outdraw the P5 + AAC and especially on the flagship ESPN. But they definitely can compete on the field. Not competing on TV doesn't mean they cannot compete on the field and they are definitely putting a lot of effort to remain as competitors on the field. They are also getting paid well for the next 8 years so they have a good opportunity to continue to mature the brand and build rivalries

 

[ecasadoSBU]

I really think most of us are comparing the lack of success over a couple decades by the current teams in the BE. In other words, the conference, post 1988, was dominated by UConn, Syracuse, Pitt and in the later years Louisville. Georgetown was good in the Iverson years conference-wise, but it was out of the scene nationally.

You are right the football schools in the Big East had the competitive advantage over the smaller private schools and that advantage became more obvious in the 1990s and it was only getting wider and wider. The cool thing about the current Big East is that now you have a level playing field of schools with relatively powerful basketball brands beating up on each other to make to the top tier of the league. They all get the same revenue and the same TV time and now don't have to worry about a football school having a more powerful brand and getting the better talent. I think this has helped schools like Providence bounce back and I expect basketball schools like Providence and St. John's to have a better future now in this current alignment. DePaul is also putting a lot of effort (building a new arena) to become competitors even though they have a lot of work to do

 

[intlzncster]

I have no sympathy for Pitt, Syracuse, Louisville, and BC. They left in search of the FB money and I hope they never return to the top in CBB. So far, Syracuse, BC, and Pitt are following the script. I'm hoping Louisville also collapses (unlikely).

Louisville remains much more committed to their BBall team than the others. After all, they didn't fire Pitino for having a hooker recruiting program under his watch.

And the Catholics did the only thing they could do. Form a nonfootball league. That's survival.

 

[A10 fan]

You are right the football schools in the Big East had the competitive advantage over the smaller private schools and that advantage became more obvious in the 1990s and it was only getting wider and wider. The cool thing about the current Big East is that now you have a level playing field of schools with relatively powerful basketball brands beating up on each other to make to the top tier of the league. They all get the same revenue and the same TV time and now don't have to worry about a football school having a more powerful brand and getting the better talent. I think this has helped schools like Providence bounce back and I expect basketball schools like Providence and St. John's to have a better future now in this current alignment. DePaul is also putting a lot of effort (building a new arena) to become competitors even though they have a lot of work to do

It's funny how folks like to boost up St. John's, and their potential, based on what they did 30 years ago, yet the same folks will sneer at the potential of a Houston. If we're basing future potential on what happened 30-40 years ago, keep in mind that Houston was better than St. John's in that same era, and was better than DePaul, or PC as well.

By the way, Pitt is doing fine, Top 25 last time I looked.

 

[intlzncster]

It's funny how folks like to boost up St. John's, and their potential, based on what they did 30 years ago, yet the same folks will sneer at the potential of a Houston. If we're basing future potential on what happened 30-40 years ago, keep in mind that Houston was better than St. John's in that same era, and was better than DePaul, or PC as well.

By the way, Pitt is doing fine, Top 25 last time I looked.

Have you seen Houston' shack stadium court?

 

[A10 fan]

Have you seen Houston' shack stadium court?

Yes. I've seen Carnesecca Arena too. The Garden is great when the team is winning, and the bandwagon is full. Not so much now.

 

[upstater]

You are right the football schools in the Big East had the competitive advantage over the smaller private schools and that advantage became more obvious in the 1990s and it was only getting wider and wider. The cool thing about the current Big East is that now you have a level playing field of schools with relatively powerful basketball brands beating up on each other to make to the top tier of the league. They all get the same revenue and the same TV time and now don't have to worry about a football school having a more powerful brand and getting the better talent. I think this has helped schools like Providence bounce back and I expect basketball schools like Providence and St. John's to have a better future now in this current alignment. DePaul is also putting a lot of effort (building a new arena) to become competitors even though they have a lot of work to do

Do they have better talent? I don't think this is in evidence yet. It would take players going to the NBA and also teams competing deep into March to show that they have really advanced since the BE old days. This hasn't been shown yet.

 

[David 76]

The NBE members jumped ship. For good reason.

The problem is, we never should have sold them the name. Jay is a pretty good coach. I wish the NBE well. But it was still a stupid thing to say. Even before our reign over the real BE, Georgetown, St John's, Syracuse were all better than anyone in the NBE. Even the Cinderella Nova was better than modern Nova.

 

[BigEast]

It's insanity for any UCONN basketball fan to say they'd rather be in the AAC than the Big East. You can't even say that with a straight face. Playing Tulane tomorrow night.....instead of Nova, Gtown, Providence, Butler, Xavier..even Seton Hall, at least there's some regional context....come on, now. Crap on viewership all you want, it's an outstanding basketball league.

ESPN RPI as of today:
1. Xavier
2. Villanova
4. Providence

I personally think UCONN still belongs in the Big East. The football stuff is garbage for basketball fans, which I assume most of this forum is. UCONN athletics is built on basketball and should be figuring out a way to be in a better basketball league and not concerned with a money draining football program that is spending its time in made up bowl games.

 

[uconnell]

The NBE members jumped ship. For good reason.

The problem is, we never should have sold them the name. Jay is a pretty good coach. I wish the NBE well. But it was still a stupid thing to say. Even before our reign over the real BE, Georgetown, St John's, Syracuse were all better than anyone in the NBE. Even the Cinderella Nova was better than modern Nova.

I feel the same way about the name (Big East). But I understand the reason behind it ($$$$$).

 

[David 76]

I feel the same way about the name (Big East). But I understand the reason behind it ($$$$$).

I don't know it was worth it. Maybe we could have played under that name. But at the very least, the name wouldn't get diluted and confused.

 

[Stainmaster]

It's insanity for any UCONN basketball fan to say they'd rather be in the AAC than the Big East. You can't even say that with a straight face. Playing Tulane tomorrow night.....instead of Nova, Gtown, Providence, Butler, Xavier..even Seton Hall, at least there's some regional context....come on, now. Crap on viewership all you want, it's an outstanding basketball league.

ESPN RPI as of today:
1. Xavier
2. Villanova
4. Providence

I personally think UCONN still belongs in the Big East. The football stuff is garbage for basketball fans, which I assume most of this forum is. UCONN athletics is built on basketball and should be figuring out a way to be in a better basketball league and not concerned with a money draining football program that is spending its time in made up bowl games.

Our football is required to get us into a P5 conference. At a certain point between now and 2030, the P5 will completely destroy the athletic program of any non-P5 school. So whichever precious little Big East program you are a fan of will be stuck playing SUNY schools in middle/high school gyms. We'll be safe and competing for championships. Savor your days on FS1 playing powerhouses like Creighton and DePaul, because your time is ticking and the Big East will be dead within a dozen years.

 

[BigEast]

Our football is required to get us into a P5 conference. At a certain point between now and 2030, the P5 will completely destroy the athletic program of any non-P5 school. So whichever precious little Big East program you are a fan of will be stuck playing SUNY schools in middle/high school gyms. We'll be safe and competing for championships. Savor your days on FS1 playing powerhouses like Creighton and DePaul, because your time is ticking and the Big East will be dead within a dozen years.

You might be right. But there's no denying right now, very simply, it's an excellent basketball conference and the AAC is not. That's all. Say all you want about history - nobody can take UCONN's titles and success when they were in the Big East away. Say all you want about what you think the future will bring, who knows what will happen. But right now, the split has made a whole lot of sense for basketball schools that only care about basketball. And those of us that are in it are really enjoying it. That's all.

 

[djct1999]

Denial. Insecurity. Or both.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

I think the apocalyptic end of the NCAA is a bit of an exaggeration. The gap will probably continue to widen as the years go by. But the break up is unlikely, and even if it happens... How is that smart business for the Power 5? Don't you want to have a big group of schools you can beat up on and make your national titles more legitimate?

And if it breaks up. You would still have over 200+ schools left out that can rewrite the rules of amateurism and again create a fair national league for student athletes nationwide. I'm sure people will still watch to a certain extent even if the power-5 school leaves. There is value out there for a lot of programs that are not Power 5.

Also, there is enough basketball talent to fill the Power-5 and to trickle down to the non Power-5 as it does now. Enough basketball talent to make it appealing for viewers to attend the games. We see that now with the Big East, and the good mid-majors like Gonzaga, Wichita State, the A-10, etc

 

[Waquoit]

But Jay Wright, coach of Villanova, hyping his own conference? Really nothing to see here, people.

The guy spouted a bunch of crap and folks on a UConn board took exception. What's your problem?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

When the tall trees are removed from the forest, the understory species are then allowed to flourish.

 

[boog204]

He's just selling the conference. Of course he knows its not true. He is dong better in the BE these days, so selfishly he has reason to feel its better.

Anyway: Patrick Ewing, Ray Allen, Mutumbo, Chris Mullin, Iverson, John Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Emeka Okafor, Pearl Washington, my man Taliek Brown, and the list goes on and on. Wow I'm tearing up just reminiscing.

Oh. and the BE Coaches were outstanding and they too were better than JW (who wasn't bad at all).

You listed 5 NBA Hof'ers and everyone there was an all-american.... and then Taliek? Well done.

 

[intlzncster]

You listed 5 NBA Hof'ers and everyone there was an all-american.... and then Taliek? Well done.

And clearly he was messing around.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

The guy spouted a bunch of crap and folks on a UConn board took exception. What's your problem?

Hey, message board police: people have every right to get up in arms at some completely innocuous, meaningless remarks made by a coach just trying to tout his conference. And by the same token, other people have every right to comment on how silly they sound. Incidentally, that anyone in this thread is referring to Jay Wright as the insecure one is a pot / kettle sort of thing given the reaction to a harmless sound bite.

 

[Kitaman]

You listed 5 NBA Hof'ers and everyone there was an all-american.... and then Taliek? Well done.

Well like I said he's my Man, and my personal HOFer.

 

[mauconnfan]

You listed 5 NBA Hof'ers and everyone there was an all-american.... and then Taliek? Well done.

boog glad you said that LOL, I can only think it without ridicule. SI may chirp in on it.

 

[BigEast]

When the tall trees are removed from the forest, the understory species are then allowed to flourish.

And the tall trees are then turned into furniture and copy machine paper.

 

[Windsorlocks]

The NBE members jumped ship. For good reason.

The problem is, we never should have sold them the name. Jay is a pretty good coach. I wish the NBE well. But it was still a stupid thing to say. Even before our reign over the real BE, Georgetown, St John's, Syracuse were all better than anyone in the NBE. Even the Cinderella Nova was better than modern Nova.

Do you honestly believe the AAC deserves the name more then the charter schools that are at the core of the BE? A league that was the brainchild of Providence coach Dave Gavitt? And which league most likely resembles what Gavitt had in mind more so now then when it was at it's greatest extent? A basketball-centric league. Dave Gavitt would be delighted by the present BE, and since it was his idea to begin with, it seems only proper that the BE charter schools that are at the core of the present day BE should retain that name for what is still essentially an Eastern conference. Right now, it is an excellent basketball conference. Not quite sure why some here, but not yourself, if they are college basketball fans, would actually want such a league to fail. Personally, I wish UConn was in the BE, rather then the AAC.

 

[intlzncster]

Do you honestly believe the AAC deserves the name more then the charter schools that are at the core of the BE? A league that was the brainchild of Providence coach Dave Gavitt? And which league most likely resembles what Gavitt had in mind more so now then when it was at it's greatest extent? A basketball-centric league. Dave Gavitt would be delighted by the present BE, and since it was his idea to begin with, it seems only proper that the BE charter schools that are at the core of the present day BE should retain that name for what is still essentially an Eastern conference. Right now, it is an excellent basketball conference. Not quite sure why some here, but not yourself, if they are college basketball fans, would actually want such a league to fail. Personally, I wish UConn was in the BE, rather then the AAC.

While I could care less who keeps the name, Gavitt actually had in mind what the Big East became in the mid to late 90s. His idea was a vision for the future based on big money TV revenue, as he saw how the landscape would change. The schools he picked were as much about cities and markets, in order to increase exposure, TV revenue, and overall recruiting talent, as he recognized this was a symbiotic relationship and the future of college sports. His vision is the reason he gets so much respect in the highest places. It's for this reason, he is one of the most significant people in college sports history, not just basketball.

 

[CTMike]

The New Big East is neither Big nor East. Discuss.

 

[IMind]

I never said (nor implying) he was. But there's plenty of very good coaches who haven't won NCs. Guys like Sean Miller, Beilein, Shaka, Few, Huggins, Brey. Jay Wright is in that category imo.

I'm a little tired of hearing how good of a coach Few is. He's had a fair amount of talent come through there, he's gotten easy draws in the NCAA tournament, they're pre-season top 10 ever flipping year, had the supposed national player of the year, has had 5 all americans, his teams have been ranked in the AP top ten 8 times, they walk into the tournament with 25+ wins every year because he's in the west coast equivilant of the CAA... and yet he's had only had 1 elite 8 apperance in 16 seasons?

There is no more over hyped program than Gonzaga. I say this knowing full well that they beat us this year... but for christ sakes... Calhoun already had one national title after 16 seasons... and people were all over him for never making the final four for how long? But Few is a genius.

 

[Durks07]

It's insanity for any UCONN basketball fan to say they'd rather be in the AAC than the Big East. You can't even say that with a straight face. Playing Tulane tomorrow night.....instead of Nova, Gtown, Providence, Butler, Xavier..even Seton Hall, at least there's some regional context....come on, now. Crap on viewership all you want, it's an outstanding basketball league.

ESPN RPI as of today:
1. Xavier
2. Villanova
4. Providence

I personally think UCONN still belongs in the Big East. The football stuff is garbage for basketball fans, which I assume most of this forum is. UCONN athletics is built on basketball and should be figuring out a way to be in a better basketball league and not concerned with a money draining football program that is spending its time in made up bowl games.

I'd rather us play in neither conference personally. If we can schedule Nova and G'Town regularly, that would be great, but I could care less if we never play another team in the Big East again. Seriously, are there any Uconn fans that give a flying f#*& about the likes of Depaul, Seton Hall, Creighton, and St. John's?