The Big East, v 4.0

[metsfan2323]

Anyone who thinks UMASS does not have a fan base is ignorant. When Calipari had the basketball program humming along that state was rabid about the basketball team. Their football program has not been supported because they have been D2 all these years. 99.5% of the people in CT did not follow UCONN football when we were D2. If UMASS were bumped up to the Big East support for their athletic teams would double overnight. I understand fear and hypocrisy, but there are benefits from having a local rival.

An argument can be made that UCONN's biggest basketball rival in the mid 90's was UMASS, and that happened without ever playing them. There was true hatred between the programs and that's what good rivalries are made of.

 

[whaler11]

LOL what do Navy and Army add in basketball.

Conference realignment has really caused some serious detachment from reality around here.

First of all adding Army is a joke they can't compete in football. They didn't quit CUSA for no reason. Secondly their basketball team would be so horrendously putrid - they would never dream of putting their team in a competitive league.

Navy basketball? For real? Are they going to limit the height of players in the league to 6'4?

 

[weyuo]

Who was that All American Navy had back in the 80's? 7'1" David Robinson. Point is never say never or it "can't" be. Yeah I agree the services are not competing at all in D-1 basketball but does that mean that they never will if put in a position where they could financially support themselves?

 

[whaler11]

Who was that All American Navy had back in the 80's? 7'1" David Robinson. Point is never say never or it "can't" be. Yeah I agree the services are not competing at all in D-1 basketball but does that mean that they never will if put in a position where they could financially support themselves?

Seriously. Do one second of research on Navy basketball. Robinson got a waiver for being 2 inches too tall to join. He then grew another 4 inches after he enrolled.

It has nothing to do with money. They can't recruit the players to compete. Army and Navy basketball games draw 3 figure crowds for a reason.

Quinnipiac has more basketball upside than either of them do.

 

[obliterata]

LOLOLOL

After the Big10 and the ACC it isn't inconceivable that that Big East could be the third best conference "in a good year". I'm not saying every year or even 25 percent of the time all I'm saying is some of those programs could improve and that BE could get more tourney bids than the SEC, Big12, Pac12, and C7 "in a good year".

Regardless, I think that mix of schools is about as good as the Big East could be at this stage.