Only 2 big East schools with record less than .500

[HuskyNan]

Looking good so far, BEast

 

[Charliebball]

not for long..........

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Would really like for DePaul to pick it up this year.

 

[Next 12]

not for long..........

You are so right. This is when Uconn really gets to shine on how good they really are and games to solidify their playing together with little risk of loss and the break GENO will use to correct everything he feels is needed to take them to the NC> Since 2012-2013 their record in the BIG EAST and AMERICAN Athletic Assn is 115-3, total dominance if my figures are right. I have already predicted that Uconn will not lose a game in the BIG EAST.GO FRESHMEN!!!! GO SOPHOMORES!!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!!

 

[HuskyNan]

You are so right. This is when Uconn really gets to shine on how good they really are and games to solidify their playing together with little risk of loss and the break GENO will use to correct everything he feels is needed to take them to the NC> Since 2012-2013 their record in the BIG EAST and AMERICAN Athletic Assn is 115-3, total dominance if my figures are right. I have already predicted that Uconn will not lose a game in the BIG EAST.GO FRESHMEN!!!! GO SOPHOMORES!!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!!

We want the Big East to be strong. It helps UConn’s strength of schedule and helps prepare the young players for the postseason

 

[oldude]

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but Creighton got walloped last night by UCLA, losing by 29 while shooting only 22%….and Lauren Betts didn’t even play for the Bruins. I haven’t looked at every team’s OOC schedule, but I suspect that many BE teams lined up more cupcakes than you find at a Jr. HS bake sale…….

I would love for the NBE to resemble the OBE, which was dominated by fierce rivalries where there was no such thing as an easy game. On the men’s side that seems to be the rule. But the women have a long way to go to achieve that level of competition.

 

[cancontent]

Would really like for DePaul to pick it up this year.

Have there been any updates on Coach Bruno's health?

 

[Topsail]

I know St. John’s loss was to Harvard …Creighton also loss to Kstate by 20 if I recall..

 

[HuskyNan]

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but Creighton got walloped last night by UCLA, losing by 29 while shooting only 22%….and Lauren Betts didn’t even play for the Bruins. I haven’t looked at every team’s OOC schedule, but I suspect that many BE teams lined up more cupcakes than you find at a Jr. HS bake sale…….

I would love for the NBE to resemble the OBE, which was dominated by fierce rivalries where there was no such thing as an easy game. On the men’s side that seems to be the rule. But the women have a long way to go to achieve that level of competition.

How do they improve unless they play tough teams?

 

[Darwin]

I was hoping Creighton would have played better vs UCLA. They are prob the best shot for the BE to get a second team in the tourney.

 

[untcruiser]

I wish we would move to the SEC. Legit competition. I believe this would make us a better team night in and night out.

I couldn't stand it when we were in the AAC. We played high school teams. SMH!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Have there been any updates on Coach Bruno's health?

Not that I am aware. If it was a stroke, they are still not saying. The euphemism of choice here "medical incident" intentionally says nothing. I'm hopeing permanent impairment will be minor and we will see this great guy back on the sidelines.

 

[oldude]

How do they improve unless they play tough teams?

That's my point. UConn always plays a tough OOC schedule and Creighton has tested itself with a nice win over Nebraska and 2 bad losses to K-State & UCLA. But most of the teams in the Big East have not played many, or any games against tough teams.

 

[HuskyNan]

That's my point. UConn always plays a tough OOC schedule and Creighton has tested itself with a nice win over Nebraska and 2 bad losses to K-State & UCLA. But most of the teams in the Big East have not played many, or any games against tough teams.

Villanova has beefed up its schedule as has DePaul. Butler is playing P3 teams and Seton Hall, which has been steadily improving, has played a couple of Top 10 teams. UConn fans see the Huskies demolishing the BEast teams and assume they’re just bad teams but that’s not always the case. Teams are challenging themselves getting incrementally better as a result

 

[HuskyNan]

Re: schedules - per Massey, strength of schedules are:

#5 UConn
#9 Creighton
#14 Villanova
#39 DePaul
#60 Georgetown
#109 Seton Hall
#111 Providence
#126 Butler
#129 Marquette
#172 St John’s
#215 Xavier

For comparison (teams ranked #11 or above)

#44 LSU
#49 Ohio State
#56 Maryland

 

[oldude]

Villanova has beefed up its schedule as has DePaul. Butler is playing P3 teams and Seton Hall, which has been steadily improving, has played a couple of Top 10 teams. UConn fans see the Huskies demolishing the BEast teams and assume they’re just bad teams but that’s not always the case. Teams are challenging themselves getting incrementally better as a result

OK, your point is well taken. But when I see top players in the BE each season leaving for greener NIL pastures, and maybe 1 or possibly 2 BE teams, not named UConn, making it to the Big Dance, often followed by an early exit, it’s clear that on the women’s side, the conference is struggling to remain relevant.

I guess I’m getting too old. I remember with great fondness the 2012-2013 season when the BE had 3/4 teams in the national semifinals. I remember the wars between UConn & Rutgers. Dave Gavitt’s vision of the BE as the dominant basketball conference in the nation became a reality for both MBB & WBB.

I don’t know where WBB in the BE is going and I don’t have a great deal of confidence that it’s to a better place. If I didn’t care so much about UConn WBB that issue wouldn’t be a concern. But UConn WBB’s fate is inextricably linked to the fate of the BE, so I continue to be concerned.

 

[dtbtbtb]

If the BE teams (aside than UConn that will continue to get top players as long as Geno is coaching) will not offer better NIL packages, it will continue to lose the top players to the P3 schools. IMO the BE this season is weaker than last season and last season the BE was weaker than the season before that.

 

[Kat]

They're not bad teams, they're just not top tier teams. I would be astonished if the Huskies don't run the table again.

 

[BBallF]

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but Creighton got walloped last night by UCLA, losing by 29 while shooting only 22%….and Lauren Betts didn’t even play for the Bruins. I haven’t looked at every team’s OOC schedule, but I suspect that many BE teams lined up more cupcakes than you find at a Jr. HS bake sale…….

I would love for the NBE to resemble the OBE, which was dominated by fierce rivalries where there was no such thing as an easy game. On the men’s side that seems to be the rule. But the women have a long way to go to achieve that level of competition.

Very true. Look at these recent men's scores. Several very tight games that you would think would not have been. Very difficult league to win on the road. The question is always how many men's teams will get in, not whether someone other than Connecticut will, as with the women. Of the last 10 men's National Champions, 5 have been from the Big Esat, 3 Connecticut, 2 Villanova. Not too shabby. We are a long way away from that kind of league dominance on the women's side.

 

[JBK]

We want the Big East to be strong. It helps UConn’s strength of schedule and helps prepare the young players for the postseason

Agreed. Unfortunately they will not be strong

 

[Skeets]

How do they improve unless they play tough teams?

Maybe by getting and keeping better players?

 

[Rb335]

Re: schedules - per Massey, strength of schedules are:

#5 UConn
#9 Creighton
#14 Villanova
#39 DePaul
#60 Georgetown
#109 Seton Hall
#111 Providence
#126 Butler
#129 Marquette
#172 St John’s
#215 Xavier

For comparison (teams ranked #11 or above)

#44 LSU
#49 Ohio State
#56 Maryland

Kind of misleading though. The LSU SOS is predicted to be 14th nationally by season end. UConn’s will go from 7th now to 21st. Creighton 9th to 51st, even though they’ll play Uconn a few times. Teams like lsu have the luxury of playing many tough conference games, allowing for some easy non conference scheduling. Although Kim takes that a bit too far for my liking.

Tough schedules are important for improving in season, but the big east won’t get better until recruiting picks up, and they stop losing their top talent to transfers to P4 schools.

 

[HuskyNan]

Kind of misleading though. The LSU SOS is predicted to be 14th nationally by season end. UConn’s will go from 7th now to 21st. Creighton 9th to 51st, even though they’ll play Uconn a few times. Teams like lsu have the luxury of playing many tough conference games, allowing for some easy non conference scheduling. Although Kim takes that a bit too far for my liking.

Tough schedules are important for improving in season, but the big east won’t get better until recruiting picks up, and they stop losing their top talent to transfers to P4 schools.

My point is that some Big East teams are trying to improve by strengthening their out of conference schedules.

Not you, @Rb335 , but some people seem to feel the Big East should just wave a magic wand and get better right away. I guess dramatic improvement is possible, if improbable, but a slow and steady development is more likely. BTW, the improvement isn’t just due to the coaches and players, the entire athletic department has to support the WBB program and that doesn’t happen at all schools (cough, Xavier)