Rumor---NBC will pay $20-24 million per year to ND (contract renewal)

[upstater]

Sweet Jesus. Louisville has a better basketball team than Georgetown. Louisville against Houston will never interest more people than Georgetown and Syracuse.

Yeah Pitt's not a loss. The XL Center isn't electric when Pitt is in town.

It will never matter if Houston goes to Final Fours - which of course they probably won't - it will never equal UConn against Syracuse or Pitt or even West Virginia.

Never. Never is a long time. If Houston lands some great talent, then that game becomes a good watch, and yes nationally it will draw attention. #4 Louisville against a newly resurgent #12 Houston will draw eyeballs. You really think a school like Houston, now that it's in the BE, is that far from putting together a good basketball team? I don't.

I didn't say Pitt wasn't a good rivalry. I said Memphis will be just as good a team as Pitt. In years to come, Memphis may be as big a game against UConn as the games against Pitt or Louisville. What is the UConn connection to Pitt that makes that game so special? We're talking 10 years of history--prior to that, Pitt was bad for a decade, and before that UConn was. 10 years is nothing in the scheme of things.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

It will never matter if Houston goes to Final Fours - which of course they probably won't - it will never equal UConn against Syracuse or Pitt or even West Virginia.

Obviously we are/were huge rivals with Syracuse, Pitt and Boston College.

My question about that is, the Big East has only been around for what 30 years? On top of that we've only been playing Big East Football for 8 years.

Now, I'm not saying we're going to be huge rivals with UCF, Houston and SMU, etc. Mainly because there's no geographic connection and those schools don't have the athletic legacy of the teams that have left. At the same time, not sure if it's fair to say "never equal".

Where as Texas/Texas A&M and Mizzou/Kansas have been playing for what, 100 years in both football and basketball, we've only been competing in basketball with Syracuse for 30 years and football for 8. A minor blip on the radar compared to those long standing rivalries.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely a pessimist when it comes to being in the NNBE as it comes to the teams, tv contract and access to college football's playoff, but who knows what can happen in terms of rivalries.

It's been 8 years vs. Rutgers in the BE (I realize we played them before), USF, Cincy and Louisville and those games definitely interest me and I look forward to them. As for hoops, Marquette is definitely a game I look forward to as well.

If the new teams come in and compete, just give it sometime. Who knows what could develop.

 

[whaler11]

Never. Never is a long time. If Houston lands some great talent, then that game becomes a good watch, and yes nationally it will draw attention. #4 Louisville against a newly resurgent #12 Houston will draw eyeballs. You really think a school like Houston, now that it's in the BE, is that far from putting together a good basketball team? I don't.

I didn't say Pitt wasn't a good rivalry. I said Memphis will be just as good a team as Pitt. In years to come, Memphis may be as big a game against UConn as the games against Pitt or Louisville. What is the UConn connection to Pitt that makes that game so special? We're talking 10 years of history--prior to that, Pitt was bad for a decade, and before that UConn was. 10 years is nothing in the scheme of things.

What is the Pitt connection to UConn? Why not ask CBS and ESPN who always make the game a national broadcast in a great slot. Ask the people why they jam the XL Center for Pitt but don't for USF or DePaul.

When you have a 20 team basketball league spread out over the country you can never foster rivalries like the original 8 (9 w pitt) BE schools. They won't play enough and they won't meet often enough at MSG.

It's just as bad for Pitt and Syracuse as it is for the Big East. They might not have the indignity of playing SMU - but Syracuse fans will never embrace even Carolina games like they do UConn and Georgetown, nevermind Wake Forest or Virginia.

 

[whaler11]

Obviously we are/were huge rivals with Syracuse, Pitt and Boston College.

My question about that is, the Big East has only been around for what 30 years? On top of that we've only been playing Big East Football for 8 years.

Now, I'm not saying we're going to be huge rivals with UCF, Houston and SMU, etc. Mainly because there's no geographic connection and those schools don't have the athletic legacy of the teams that have left. At the same time, not sure if it's fair to say "never equal".

Where as Texas/Texas A&M and Mizzou/Kansas have been playing for what, 100 years in both football and basketball, we've only been competing in basketball with Syracuse for 30 years and football for 8. A minor blip on the radar compared to those long standing rivalries.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely a pessimist when it comes to being in the NNBE as it comes to the teams, tv contract and access to college football's playoff, but who knows what can happen in terms of rivalries.

It's been 8 years vs. Rutgers in the BE (I realize we played them before), USF, Cincy and Louisville and those games definitely interest me and I look forward to them. As for hoops, Marquette is definitely a game I look forward to as well.

If the new teams come in and compete, just give it sometime. Who knows what could develop.

I don't know how old you are - but if I need to wait another 30 years to develop rivalries like Syracuse and Pitt with Houston and UCF there is a pretty good chance I'm not going to live long enough to see it.

Can you with a straight face propose that you can even in that amount of time build that rivalry with schools that have no alumni in the area, you'll play at home once every two or three years and you could easily go a decade without playing in the Big East Tournament.

Louisville is UConn's best athletic partner - their visit to East Hartford this year was also the lowest true attendance Big East game in Rentschler history. I could have rolled a grenade down the steps in my section and no one would have been hurt.

 

[upstater]

What is the Pitt connection to UConn? Why not ask CBS and ESPN who always make the game a national broadcast in a great slot. Ask the people why they jam the XL Center for Pitt but don't for USF or DePaul.

When you have a 20 team basketball league spread out over the country you can never foster rivalries like the original 8 (9 w pitt) BE schools. They won't play enough and they won't meet often enough at MSG.

It's just as bad for Pitt and Syracuse as it is for the Big East. They might not have the indignity of playing SMU - but Syracuse fans will never embrace even Carolina games like they do UConn and Georgetown, nevermind Wake Forest or Virginia.

They jammed the XL Center for 10 years. Before that, there was no pulse at all. And, the BE prior to the 5 new teams was already at 16 and would have been 17 with TCU there. So--is there really a new big difference with 18 teams instead of 17?

 

[Marty Jackson]

Big East basketball took a big hit with the loss of Syracuse, Pitt and WVU. Temple is an adequate replacement, Memphis is meh and Houston is a joke.

I'd say BE basketball took a bigger hit than football.

Memphis is better than meh... They are better than Temple.

SU, Pitt and WVU hurt bb no doubt, but we have more than enough programs to remain the top BB conference: Uconn, Temple, Memphis, UofL, Cincy, G'town, Nova, Marquette, and ND are all top programs. Houston has some history and could make it back to the big time, and SMU has made a statement by bringing in Larry Brown.

With FB, it's more noticeable because we're so watered down.

 

[whaler11]

They jammed the XL Center for 10 years. Before that, there was no pulse at all. And, the BE prior to the 5 new teams was already at 16 and would have been 17 with TCU there. So--is there really a new big difference with 18 teams instead of 17?

Well I think there is 19 or 20 going forward, it's hard to keep track. UConn and Pitt might not be the oldest rivalry in the world, but to recreate an equal rivalry - you'll need not only a sustained period of excellent basketball from a school that hasn't achieved that type of success in decades if ever as well as the timing of many memorable battles for regular season and tournament championships. Which one of Houston, Temple, SMU, UCF or Memphis is ever going to have an atmosphere like Pitt does in their building?

What are the chances that UConn ever has two moments like Taliek's prayer or Kemba's buzzer beater against any single school in the next 50 years, nevermind over 10. When are those schools going to have two players to hate like Troutman and Krauser?

Let's say the Catholics break away. You aren't going to be more interested in Villanova/Georgetown or Notre Dame/St. John's than Houston/Memphis or UCF/SMU? Learn from the ACC - you can put Boston College in their league, but it doesn't make a Carolina or NC State fan care about the Eagles.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Well I think there is 19 or 20 going forward, it's hard to keep track. UConn and Pitt might not be the oldest rivalry in the world, but to recreate an equal rivalry - you'll need not only a sustained period of excellent basketball from a school that hasn't achieved that type of success in decades if ever as well as the timing of many memorable battles for regular season and tournament championships. Which one of Houston, Temple, SMU, UCF or Memphis is ever going to have an atmosphere like Pitt does in their building?

What are the chances that UConn ever has two moments like Taliek's prayer or Kemba's buzzer beater against any single school in the next 50 years, nevermind over 10. When are those schools going to have two players to hate like Troutman and Krauser?

Let's say the Catholics break away. You aren't going to be more interested in Villanova/Georgetown or Notre Dame/St. John's than Houston/Memphis or UCF/SMU? Learn from the ACC - you can put Boston College in their league, but it doesn't make a Carolina or NC State fan care about the Eagles.

I mean, you're stating that the current Big East is better than the NNBE by a large margin - I don't think anybody is arguing that.

But over the course of the next 5-10 years why can't Memphis, Temple and even more so Louisville become rivalry type games.

I'm only 26 so my UConn memories begin with Ray Allen, but suffice to say UConn/Syracuse became pretty good rivals within 10 years of the Big East - right?

Granted you don't get the home/home in basketball anymore, but we'll be playing these teams in football nearly every year where as we didn't compete with BE teams until 2004.

There may not be another Syracuse or Boston College type rival - but Pitt, WVU? I don't see why a newcomer can't fill that void.

 

[Carl Spackler]

whaler11 = positive energy sucker.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I mean, you're stating that the current Big East is better than the NNBE by a large margin - I don't think anybody is arguing that.

But over the course of the next 5-10 years why can't Memphis, Temple and even more so Louisville become rivalry type games.

I'm only 26 so my UConn memories begin with Ray Allen, but suffice to say UConn/Syracuse became pretty good rivals within 10 years of the Big East - right?

Granted you don't get the home/home in basketball anymore, but we'll be playing these teams in football nearly every year where as we didn't compete with BE teams until 2004.

There may not be another Syracuse or Boston College type rival - but Pitt, WVU? I don't see why a newcomer can't fill that void.

I think I speak for many on the board, when I say the following-

Fucckk I'm old.

Enjoy your youth. You don't get a second chance to re-live it.

 

[whaler11]

There may not be another Syracuse or Boston College type rival - but Pitt, WVU? I don't see why a newcomer can't fill that void.

I guess we just disagree on how difficult it is for two schools for UConn and Pitt to play a decade of games like they did.

You need a decade of excellent teams on top the opportunity for great matchups combined with fantastic endings in games with major implications.

 

[whaler11]

I think I speak for many on the board, when I say the following-

Fucckk I'm old.

Enjoy your youth. You don't get a second chance to re-live it.

Agreed. Ray Allen was a sophomore when I was a senior. I'd love to share my Ray Allen, Travis Knight and Toraino Walker stories - but it's unfair on a message board.

 

[whaler11]

whaler11 = positive energy sucker.

I'm sure once the Navy rolls their ships into Lake Pocotopaug I'll sign on.

 

[upstater]

Which one of Houston, Temple, SMU, UCF or Memphis is ever going to have an atmosphere like Pitt does in their building?

When are those schools going to have two players to hate like Troutman and Krauser?

You aren't going to be more interested in Villanova/Georgetown or Notre Dame/St. John's than Houston/Memphis or UCF/SMU? Learn from the ACC - you can put Boston College in their league, but it doesn't make a Carolina or NC State fan care about the Eagles.

1. Memphis already does have great atmosphere, and support. Houston may get it.
2. What's so special about Troutman and Krauser?
3. All the Catholics are still in the league. They leave when UConn leaves. But yes I can imagine getting more jazzed up for a game against a top ranked Memphis team.
4. BC doesn't have the basketball background of even a Temple, never mind Memphis.

 

[goCoogs]

Houston fans hate Georgetown. Houston has Final Four history against Louisville. Houston had a great atmosphere in '99 when UConn visited. Also just a few years ago when we beat Kentucky.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

They jammed the XL Center for 10 years. Before that, there was no pulse at all. And, the BE prior to the 5 new teams was already at 16 and would have been 17 with TCU there. So--is there really a new big difference with 18 teams instead of 17?

This is another one of those threads where Whaler argues for the sake of arguing.

Pitt and WVU are nothing more than regionally interesting in basketball. WVU is good because it has one of the best coaches of the last two decades, and Pitt was nothing before Howland showed up, and could very well go back to nothing after Dixon leaves, which I expect to be soon. Anyone remember the Paul Evans or Ralph Willard eras at Pitt? I didn't think so.

Syracuse is a huge loss, no doubt about it. But Memphis, Temple and Houston not only have tremendous histories, but all three are among the top cities for high school basketball talent in the entire country. A little more attractive on that standpoint than Syracuse, Pittsburgh and the entire state of West Virginia. I suspect that each of Memphis, Temple and Houston produce more high level division 1 talent every year than Syr., Pitt., and WV combined.

 

[businesslawyer]

Pitt was nothing before Howland showed up, and could very well go back to nothing after Dixon leaves, which I expect to be soon. Anyone remember the Paul Evans or Ralph Willard eras at Pitt? I didn't think so.

Seriously? You don't think that can be said about us?

Our rivalry with Pitt does exist and is not easily replaceable. The juice in the building when we have played Pitt in a big game is undeniable. (Well, at least outside of this board.)

 

[whaler11]

1. Memphis already does have great atmosphere, and support. Houston may get it.
2. What's so special about Troutman and Krauser?
3. All the Catholics are still in the league. They leave when UConn leaves. But yes I can imagine getting more jazzed up for a game against a top ranked Memphis team.
4. BC doesn't have the basketball background of even a Temple, never mind Memphis.

1 The pyramid may be bigger than Peterson Events - it's not the same type of atmosphere. Good for Houston - Pitt already has it.

2. Nothing all that special about them other than the great battles UConn had against them - you know the sort of things that create real rivalries.

3 or Louisville potentially.

4. No kidding. Boston College still damaged their basketball program by moving to a league that makes no sense for them. Pittsburgh and Syracuse may have done the same.

 

[RS9999X]

4. No kidding. Boston College still damaged their basketball program by moving to a league that makes no sense for them. Pittsburgh and Syracuse may have done the same.

It's a balance of power thing. There's always some tension between Athletic Directors and high profile winning coaches. When Boeheim retires the egos in the ADs office will be in control much like the fiasco at Boston College. On field performance is no longer important: what matters is the ADs contract management skills abd bluster. Ott is half way there with the coaching fiasco last year and deflecting the blame to the BE and then hiring a coach who looks to be of average competence.

 

[The Funster]

I think Pitt basketball was already on a slide downward. I think their NY recruiting will be hurt even more when they leave for the ACC.

 

[CL82]

I get the premise - it just assumes that a network that already doesn't do well is willing to lose money for the honor of broadcasting the games.

A reasonable assumption when their other choice seems to be fold up shop. Start up ventures often struggle. They need to get in the game and we are their way in.

 

[whaler11]

This is another one of those threads where Whaler argues for the sake of arguing.

Pitt and WVU are nothing more than regionally interesting in basketball. WVU is good because it has one of the best coaches of the last two decades, and Pitt was nothing before Howland showed up, and could very well go back to nothing after Dixon leaves, which I expect to be soon. Anyone remember the Paul Evans or Ralph Willard eras at Pitt? I didn't think so.

Syracuse is a huge loss, no doubt about it. But Memphis, Temple and Houston not only have tremendous histories, but all three are among the top cities for high school basketball talent in the entire country. A little more attractive on that standpoint than Syracuse, Pittsburgh and the entire state of West Virginia. I suspect that each of Memphis, Temple and Houston produce more high level division 1 talent every year than Syr., Pitt., and WV combined.

Pitt and UConn are always on CBS and Big Monday because it's only UConn that gets them the national window. Yet when UConn plays other regional programs like PC they are on ESPNU or regionally.... Odd.

 

[upstater]

Pitt and UConn are always on CBS and Big Monday because it's only UConn that gets them the national window. Yet when UConn plays other regional programs like PC they are on ESPNU or regionally.... Odd.

Or Marquette or Louisville or Georgetown or Syracuse or, for that matter, any team that's decent. No, not PC. But if Memphis and Houston are ranked, they will show the game.

 

[whaler11]

Or Marquette or Louisville or Georgetown or Syracuse or, for that matter, any team that's decent. No, not PC. But if Memphis and Houston are ranked, they will show the game.

Marquette, Louisville, Syracuse and Georgetown are pretty far north of 'decent'. Pittsburgh is hardly regional.

They may have flushed it down the toilet by joining the ACC - but Houston is lightyears away from being Pittsburgh.

 

[upstater]

Marquette, Louisville, Syracuse and Georgetown are pretty far north of 'decent'. Pittsburgh is hardly regional.

They may have flushed it down the toilet by joining the ACC - but Houston is lightyears away from being Pittsburgh.

I didn't say they weren't decent. And, I wrote that Memphis can be Pittsburgh. Why are you substituting Houston? Is Memphis too good for the comparison?