Jay Wright: This is the Best BE

[Arizona Husky]

His wife said it all in 2009...

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleg...2010/03/17/villanova_wants_final_four_repeat/

 

[superjohn]

Providence is legit. We all knew about Dunn but Bentil is also a star and Bullock is a great third man.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

I dont know if its the best ever... but Besides Connecticut I absolutely don't waste anytime on the AAC. I have made Fox Sports 1 my default channel in my cable box. I been watching more Big East basketball than I ever, mostly due to the amount of games on national TV. Its a great league to watch and it's nice to see how the basketball league is thriving with parity.

I still love Stony Brook and Connecticut basketball. But the AAC is a crapfest. Can't waste my time watching other league members crap the bed. Hoping for Connecticut to get to the NCAAs some how... but with the RPI problems this conference has I'm not too confident

 

[CTMike]

It offends me that they are still called the Big East.

 

[David 76]

You expect him to talk up his conference. But it's just that the BE had so many historic seasons, it's just a stupid thing to say.
And Villanova was involved in one of them. Talking them up is fine. This is like saying today's politicians are the greatest group of statesmen our nation has seen.

 

[UConn3432]

The NBE is getting national attention because PC is playing well with a NPOY candidate, Butler is scoring 90 points per game and Xavier hadn't lost, until recently. It's most likely a charade, because they'll all take turns beating each other in conference and we'll all realize come March that they don't have a legitimate title contender. We learned from being in the real big east that it doesn't matter how many teams you get in or their seed lines, but how many teams you get to the final four and ultimately cut down nets. Also, if Xavier or Butler are the ones to make a run, is that really the big east and does anybody care?

That said I think the worst thing that's happened in recent memory for the AAC was SMU losing early in the tourney last year to UCLA with an easy road to a matchup with Duke in the E8.

 

[Kitaman]

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).

 

[A10 fan]

That said I think the worst thing that's happened in recent memory for the AAC was SMU losing early in the tourney last year to UCLA with an easy road to a matchup with Duke in the E8.

The worst thing that's happened to the AAC is the fact that SMU can't play in the tourney this year, when they have a team that would have an outside shot of reaching the Final Four if the matchups were favorable.

The AAC will never be the old BE, but it could be the third best league in the land if three things would happen.

Memphis gets a real coach
Temple gets a better coach than Dunphy, who is the JT3 of the AAC
Houston continues it's upward trajectory.
Those three programs have been elite in the past, and have the potential to return to that level, unlike the no tradition teams at the bottom.

In fact, two of those three happening would make this a very solid league.
It would also help if some of the dregs would have the occasional good year, the way BC would sometimes do in the old BE.

 

[Hoophound]

I dont know if its the best ever... but Besides Connecticut I absolutely don't waste anytime on the AAC. I have made Fox Sports 1 my default channel in my cable box. I been watching more Big East basketball than I ever, mostly due to the amount of games on national TV. Its a great league to watch and it's nice to see how the basketball league is thriving with parity. I still love Stony Brook and Connecticut basketball. But the AAC is a crapfest. Can't waste my time watching other league members crap the bed. Hoping for Connecticut to get to the NCAAs some how... but with the RPI problems this conference has I'm not too confident

You and 436 other people tune in to FS1. I can't remember the numbers exactly, but I think the AAC crapfests have a lot more viewers than a good Big East game on FS1.

 

[Kevin Caliendo]

Villanova is taking nearly 50% of its shots from three and shooting 31% as a team. I can't take a coach who allows that to happen seriously

The Big East has maybe three first round picks. Maybe. Dunn and Brunson are PGs.

 

[UC990411]

Probably meant new big east. Until they put at least 3 teams from the new into the final four in the same year you can't consider it. Their league is pretty darn good though this year.
Have been glancing at the Vil / Xavier game and Archie D carries the ball every bit as much as Jalen


Seton Hall is having a good year

They're such an overrated conference that it's not worth going into detail about how the league isn't "pretty darn good"

 

[imno1]

I dont know if its the best ever... but Besides Connecticut I absolutely don't waste anytime on the AAC. I have made Fox Sports 1 my default channel in my cable box. I been watching more Big East basketball than I ever, mostly due to the amount of games on national TV. Its a great league to watch and it's nice to see how the basketball league is thriving with parity.

I still love Stony Brook and Connecticut basketball. But the AAC is a crapfest. Can't waste my time watching other league members crap the bed. Hoping for Connecticut to get to the NCAAs some how... but with the RPI problems this conference has I'm not too confident

Just don't watch fs2. I laugh when the games aren't in HD. It's like watching a local access channel

 

[mauconnfan]

Villanova is taking nearly 50% of its shots from three and shooting 31% as a team. I can't take a coach who allows that to happen seriously

The Big East has maybe three first round picks. Maybe. Dunn and Brunson are PGs.

One thing for sure is if you live by the 3, and almost 50% of their shots is living, then you will be assured this is not a formula for winning 6 in a row in March/April. But keep on winning NBE titles if that's what blows your skirt up Jay.

 

[A10 fan]

One thing for sure is if you live by the 3, and almost 50% of their shots is living, then you will be assured this is not a formula for winning 6 in a row in March/April. But keep on winning NBE titles if that's what blows your skirt up Jay.

Shooting a lot of threes is okay for a decent team that doesn't have high aspirations. If you generally shoot well, there are going to be days where you're just draining everything, even with defenders all over you. If you're playing a good team, you'll probably spring an upset that will leave your fanbase happy. Unfortunately, there are going to be days when even wide open shots clang off the rim. If you're an NCAA Tournament team, this is almost certain to happen at some point during the tournament. If it happens at any point from the round of 32 on, you're likely going home.

 

[FDNY99]

He told Katz 1-10 it's the best ever. They're getting 6-8 teams according to Katz. Thoughts? Sounds like nonsense to me.

Jay Wright is a tool...his next big NCAA Tourney win will be his first!

 

[A10 fan]

You and 436 other people tune in to FS1. I can't remember the numbers exactly, but I think the AAC crapfests have a lot more viewers than a good Big East game on FS1.

UConn has 9 AAC games coming up, that will be on either ESPN, or ESPN2. That is true national exposure, both for UConn, and the AAC. I would bet that these games draw more viewers than nearly every game the nBE has on FS1. ESPN needs to promote these, and the other top league games, more than they do.

 

[A10 fan]

Jay Wright is a tool...his next big NCAA Tourney win will be his first!

Jay has been to the Final Four, so that's not true. That said, 8 teams in is hilarious! DePaul, and St. John's are horrible. Marquette's record was built on a joke schedule. Creighton? Just stop!!! The other 6 are indeed in the mix, but Georgetown has a lot of work to do, and can you really trust Seton Hall? They have 4 locks, and 2 possibles, that's it.

 

[FDNY99]

Jay has been to the Final Four, so that's not true. That said, 8 teams in is hilarious! DePaul, and St. John's are horrible. Marquette's record was built on a joke schedule. Creighton? Just stop!!! The other 6 are indeed in the mix, but Georgetown has a lot of work to do, and can you really trust Seton Hall? They have 4 locks, and 2 possibles, that's it.

When Jay wins a National title then come back and tout his accomplishments...like I said his next Big NCAA Tourney win will be his first

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Wasn't the most watched college BB game on Fox this year was UConn vs DePaul women?
I believe it had 1mm viewers.

 

[intlzncster]

Villanova is taking nearly 50% of its shots from three and shooting 31% as a team. I can't take a coach who allows that to happen seriously

It's actually a good strategy when you run the numbers. Shooting 33% from three has been shown to be roughly equivalent to shooting 50% from two. That's a good tradeoff, especially if your team struggles to get clean two point shots off. This % breakdown is why you are seeing such emphasis on the 3 ball in the pros (notably Golden State).

 

[intlzncster]

When Jay wins a National title then come back and tout his accomplishments...like I said his next Big NCAA Tourney win will be his first

There's only 10 active coaches* with National Titles under their belts. And that includes Tubby Smith, Steve Fisher and Jim Boeheim. That can't be the only metric of quality coaching.

*iirc: K, Izzo, Pitino, Roy, Cal, Boeheim, Self, Brown, Ollie, Fisher, Tubby

 

[FDNY99]

There's only 10 active coaches* with National Titles under their belts. And that includes Tubby Smith, Steve Fisher and Jim Boeheim. That can't be the only metric of quality coaching.

*iirc: K, Izzo, Pitino, Roy, Cal, Boeheim, Self, Brown, Ollie, Fisher, Tubby

Quality of coaching just went out the window in reference to Jay Wright when he made those statements about the quality of the BE to Andy Katz! Jay Wright also is not even close to the league of coaches you just put in this post.

 

[intlzncster]

Quality of coaching just went out the window in reference to Jay Wright when he made those statements about the quality of the BE to Andy Katz! Jay Wright also is not even close to the league of coaches you just put in this post.

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.

 

[FDNY99]

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.

Not after he made the statement he did about the BE. It's fine to try and back up your conference..but the BE he came into when he was hired at Nova was hands down a MUCH better AND tougher league than it is now. I also think it is a travesty to the other guys on that list that you put Brey in there. Even the ND fan base doesn't like him much. I'm always extremely scared and want to talk back my question..when I ask my dentist who is a ND grad and HUGE booster about Brey...he goes off on a rant and then starts to dig into my mouth,,LOL.

 

[intlzncster]

Not after he made the statement he did about the BE. It's fine to try and back up your conference..but the BE he came into when he was hired at Nova was hands down a MUCH better AND tougher league than it is now. I also think it is a travesty to the other guys on that list that you put Brey in there. Even the ND fan base doesn't like him much.

Well that's way over dramatic; I just threw him in there without much thought. Take him out if you want, or make up an 'exact' list. It makes no difference to my post.

The thing about the new BE or the AAC, is that the coaches HAVE to go way over the top in backing their leagues in public. They are just not good leagues right now, and are considered lesser than the P5 conferences, even if talent in any given year is above one or more of the P5s. It's all about marketing and PR at this point.

 

[Husky1964]

Brey might win one if he's K's replacement but NOT at ND!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Not after he made the statement he did about the BE. It's fine to try and back up your conference..but the BE he came into when he was hired at Nova was hands down a MUCH better AND tougher league than it is now.

He's a coach. He's talking up his league. It literally means nothing. Now he doesn't belong in a certain group of coaches because he said his league is good? That's nonsensical.

 

[FDNY99]

He's a coach. He's talking up his league. It literally means nothing. Now he doesn't belong in a certain group of coaches because he said his league is good? That's nonsensical.

Hey if you are a fan of any team no longer in the BE that had anything to do with making that league what it was in it's hey day of the 90's and early 00's then that is a slap in the face...be it a UCONN fan, Pitt fan, Syracuse fan, Louisville fan...even a BC fan. He went a bit overboard talking up his league IMHO. But then again he doesn't have those schools to smack him around anymore and now he is the big dog on the block. I also have never really thought too highly of Jay Wright. My impression of him is this..although a good coach he has a VERY high opinion of himself just like Mike Brey..and if it wasn't for the schools I mentioned as former BE members would not even be close to being in the class he has been compared to in this thread.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

Hey if you are a fan of any team no longer in the BE that had anything to do with making that league what it was in it's hey day of the 90's and early 00's then that is a slap in the face...be it a UCONN fan, Pitt fan, Syracuse fan, Louisville fan...even a BC fan. He went a bit overboard talking up his league IMHO. But then again he doesn't have those schools to smack him around anymore and now he is the big dog on the block. I also have never really thought too highly of Jay Wright. My impression of him is this..although a good coach he has a VERY high opinion of himself just like Mike Brey..and if it wasn't for the schools I mentioned as former BE members would not even be close to being in the class he has been compared to in this thread.

Wouldn't the slap on the face be jumping ship to another conference after being so successful being part of the conference you created? selling out to CFB is more of a slap on the face. But yeah, blame the small basketball schools for staying behind and trying to build something great. Blame them for sticking to basketball and trying to compete against the football powerhouses. Bottom line is that if you truly like College Basketball then you have to love what the Big East stands for. Its a fight against the status quo. A fight for survival in the current college landscape. It's a great league and its fun to watch. It's also very stable now in its current configuration. Everyone can focus on basketball with no worries about realignment

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).

 

[upstater]

Wouldn't the slap on the face be jumping ship to another conference after being so successful being part of the conference you created? selling out to CFB is more of a slap on the face. But yeah, blame the small basketball schools for staying behind and trying to build something great. Blame them for sticking to basketball and trying to compete against the football powerhouses. Bottom line is that if you truly like College Basketball then you have to love what the Big East stands for. Its a fight against the status quo. A fight for survival in the current college landscape. It's a great league and its fun to watch. It's also very stable now in its current configuration. Everyone can focus on basketball with no worries about realignment

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).

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.