College Basketball Countdown

[muskienick]

Richmond came in the other day at #35. If they can live up to that, it will enhance their candidacy as a potential expansion candidate.

The Spiders have a few things going for them in terms of appeal to some as a future Big East Member: Private School, Big Metro area, and nice facilities. But Richmond simply fails to push the needle among fans and the media and they have pretty much been an also-ran for all their time in the A-10 (averaging between 5th-6th while finishing as high as 2nd only once during the regular season. Yes, they could be a "tough out" some years, especially at home. But even their own fans seldom fill the Robbins Center to capacity (which was reduced from over 9,000 to 7,200 in the 2013 renovation).

I believe that if and when the Big East entertains the idea of expansion to 12 teams, it must do so by adding new members who have a recent history of success in their Conferences,who consistently get to the NCAA Tourney, who have great facilities, who attract fans in great numbers to their games, and who would contend consistently for top spots in an expended Big East's two divisions and overall Conference titles.

[stever20]

Richmond came in the other day at #35. If they can live up to that, it will enhance their candidacy as a potential expansion candidate.

The Spiders have a few things going for them in terms of appeal to some as a future Big East Member: Private School, Big Metro area, and nice facilities. But Richmond simply fails to push the needle among fans and the media and they have pretty much been an also-ran for all their time in the A-10 (averaging between 5th-6th while finishing as high as 2nd only once during the regular season. Yes, they could be a "tough out" some years, especially at home. But even their own fans seldom fill the Robbins Center to capacity (which was reduced from over 9,000 to 7,200 in the 2013 renovation).

I believe that if and when the Big East entertains the idea of expansion to 12 teams, it must do so by adding new members who have a recent history of success in their Conferences,who consistently get to the NCAA Tourney, who have great facilities, who attract fans in great numbers to their games, and who would contend consistently for top spots in an expended Big East's two divisions and overall Conference titles.

You didn't even mention Richmond's biggest problem- they aren't even the top dog in their own city. VCU is unquestionably.

[Bill Marsh]

Richmond came in the other day at #35. If they can live up to that, it will enhance their candidacy as a potential expansion candidate.

The Spiders have a few things going for them in terms of appeal to some as a future Big East Member: Private School, Big Metro area, and nice facilities. But Richmond simply fails to push the needle among fans and the media and they have pretty much been an also-ran for all their time in the A-10 (averaging between 5th-6th while finishing as high as 2nd only once during the regular season. Yes, they could be a "tough out" some years, especially at home. But even their own fans seldom fill the Robbins Center to capacity (which was reduced from over 9,000 to 7,200 in the 2013 renovation).

I believe that if and when the Big East entertains the idea of expansion to 12 teams, it must do so by adding new members who have a recent history of success in their Conferences,who consistently get to the NCAA Tourney, who have great facilities, who attract fans in great numbers to their games, and who would contend consistently for top spots in an expended Big East's two divisions and overall Conference titles.

VCU then?

[Bill Marsh]

Just saw USA Today is doing a thing where they are counting down the 68 teams making the tourney. Today 1st day- Texas Southern.

Also- College Sports Madness does top 144... so far they are up to 97.

1 Big East team so far-
#98 St John's, who they have #8 in the Big East.
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9516

I'm guessing Butler and DePaul would have been outside the top 144.

Both are set where when they get to #1 it's the opening week of the college basketball season.

They've picked butler for. #52, 4th in the Big East and a bubble team for the NCAA tournament. Wrong side of the bubble unfortunately.

[stever20]

Just saw USA Today is doing a thing where they are counting down the 68 teams making the tourney. Today 1st day- Texas Southern.

Also- College Sports Madness does top 144... so far they are up to 97.

1 Big East team so far-
#98 St John's, who they have #8 in the Big East.
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9516

I'm guessing Butler and DePaul would have been outside the top 144.

Both are set where when they get to #1 it's the opening week of the college basketball season.

They've picked butler for. #52, 4th in the Big East and a bubble team for the NCAA tournament. Wrong side of the bubble unfortunately.

as I've said- you get last 8 in first 8 out- it's to me the exact same as a preseason projection. 1-2 games can and always do change everything.