Big East Conference Expansion Ideas and Discussion

[stever20]

if the conference were to expand now, I don't see how they could add St Louis. They haven't done anything special enough to rest on their laurels and they promise to be a real dud on the court next year, given that they are graduating their entire starting lineup and don't have anything special lined up in this year's recruiting class - or on their bench either. They could be expected to struggle far more than Butler has. I don't see how that would enhance any of the challenges that are facing the conference in terms of TV ratings or ticket sales at MSG. VCU and Dayton have far more promising prospects moving forward.

I certainly hope that the league is not so desperate that they are scouring next year's rosters, looking at who graduated how many seniors and determining bench strength as criteria for possible expansion candidates. If we are that short sighted, this league is doomed. You have to think long term and not have some knee jerk reaction to a bad NCAA tourney this year.

big thing is it's not just a bad NCAA tourney this year. It was a bad season. To have our 3rd/4th best teams in 11 seed territory or PIG is just not good.

I'd guess nothing happens this year. BUT, if next year is just as bad, I think the pressure will be there to make a move at that point.

[Bill Marsh]

if the conference were to expand now, I don't see how they could add St Louis. They haven't done anything special enough to rest on their laurels and they promise to be a real dud on the court next year, given that they are graduating their entire starting lineup and don't have anything special lined up in this year's recruiting class - or on their bench either. They could be expected to struggle far more than Butler has. I don't see how that would enhance any of the challenges that are facing the conference in terms of TV ratings or ticket sales at MSG. VCU and Dayton have far more promising prospects moving forward.

I certainly hope that the league is not so desperate that they are scouring next year's rosters, looking at who graduated how many seniors and determining bench strength as criteria for possible expansion candidates. If we are that short sighted, this league is doomed. You have to think long term and not have some knee jerk reaction to a bad NCAA tourney this year.

This line of thinking is for one year contracts, not long term relationships.

Well, anyone who thinks long term isn't considering St Louis because all they have since 2000 is the last 3 years. So, when considering their candidacy, the question has to be asked, "Can they sustain it?" Especially since the coach who put this program together, resulting in 3 straight bids, is no longer here. Right now I have no confidence that they can.

OTOH, when I look at Dayton, what's clear is that they will turn out 12,000 fans a year every year -in good years and bad. And those fans will travel well.

It's only in the short sighted view of the past 3 years that St Louis looks good frankly.

[Bill Marsh]

Fox is going to want media markets, and St. Louis, Missouri is one of the larger ones out there. The ability to have higher ratings year-round is more important than the conference tournament. 12 teams (no matter who they are) are going to outdraw 10 whether they come from St. Louis, Dayton, Richmond, or Spokane.

I think there was a discussion in here at the beginning of the season that newcomers may or may not have seen the conference tournament in the same light as the holdover Big East schools.

Endgame, I don't think the Big East expands...as many of you have said, there's no reason to break up the round robin schedule.

I think it's too simplistic to simply equate viewership with the market a school is in - especially when talking about private schools. I'm sure that Fox has much more sophisticated analysis than we do. If in fact the Billikens bring a bigger audience, then I'm sure you're right. I just don't know if in fact SLU brings higher ratings than Dayton does.

[BillikensWin]

Fox is going to want media markets, and St. Louis, Missouri is one of the larger ones out there. The ability to have higher ratings year-round is more important than the conference tournament. 12 teams (no matter who they are) are going to outdraw 10 whether they come from St. Louis, Dayton, Richmond, or Spokane.

I think there was a discussion in here at the beginning of the season that newcomers may or may not have seen the conference tournament in the same light as the holdover Big East schools.

Endgame, I don't think the Big East expands...as many of you have said, there's no reason to break up the round robin schedule.

I think it's too simplistic to simply equate viewership with the market a school is in - especially when talking about private schools. I'm sure that Fox has much more sophisticated analysis than we do. If in fact the Billikens bring a bigger audience, then I'm sure you're right. I just don't know if in fact SLU brings higher ratings than Dayton does.

Advertising dollars are paid by the number of potential viewers. I think that's pretty much why Saint Louis is being considered at all.

[gosports1]

if the conference were to expand now, I don't see how they could add St Louis. They haven't done anything special enough to rest on their laurels and they promise to be a real dud on the court next year, given that they are graduating their entire starting lineup and don't have anything special lined up in this year's recruiting class - or on their bench either. They could be expected to struggle far more than Butler has. I don't see how that would enhance any of the challenges that are facing the conference in terms of TV ratings or ticket sales at MSG. VCU and Dayton have far more promising prospects moving forward.

I certainly hope that the league is not so desperate that they are scouring next year's rosters, looking at who graduated how many seniors and determining bench strength as criteria for possible expansion candidates. If we are that short sighted, this league is doomed. You have to think long term and not have some knee jerk reaction to a bad NCAA tourney this year.

big thing is it's not just a bad NCAA tourney this year. It was a bad season. To have our 3rd/4th best teams in 11 seed territory or PIG is just not good.

I'd guess nothing happens this year. BUT, if next year is just as bad, I think the pressure will be there to make a move at that point.

i know you dont like to be optimistic about anything but i think you are a bit heavy on the doom and gloom. That 11th seeded BE team NARROWLY lost to a team that many had ranked in top 10 preseason. That game could have easily gone the other way. Our 7th seed in the BE beat, handily, media darling and espn's second coming of christ michigan st. Nova was ranked in top 10 most of the season, at least they lost to an underated UConn team. Whats Duke's excuse? Why arent they labeled as a failure? a loss in the tourny is more visable but it reality is it really any indicator of the success or failure than a loss in the regular season? Creighton had a bad game. IMO they lost more to their own poor performance than being shut down by the opposition

Dayton caught fire, what happened with the rest of the A10? Has anyone heard from the B12?

[Xudash]

UCONN will not be coming to the Big East anytime soon.

[stever20]

Are you saying we had a good year? Our 3rd place team was the next to last team in the tourney, and our 4th place team had to win the conference tourney to get into the tourney. Yes, PC had a great game with UNC, but they did lose. Our 7th seed did have a lot of good wins, but we crapped the bed so much on other games that it was easy to get left out. We were closer to having 2 teams in the tourney than we were 5. If Marquette wins vs Xavier and PC loses to Creighton, we have 2 bids(maybe 3 if PC got Xavier's spot). It was a bad regular season...

The thing with A10 is they did have Dayton. Can't take that away from them. Big 12 had a bad tourney- but still had Iowa St and Baylor in the sweet 16.

Our problem is we had a bad regular season AND tourney. ACC, Big 12, A10 all had bad tournaments(A10 not quite as bad as others with Dayton)- but they had good regular seasons. We were the only top 8 league that didn't have a sweet 16 team. Think about that. Even #10 MWC had a team in the sweet 16.

As far as Creighton- I remember posting it's a different version of living by the 3/dying by the 3.. Baylor was crazy hot vs Creighton early. Baylor was 11/18 from 3 point range the entire game. Creighton was a bit off and just Baylor took advantage of that..

[stever20]

UCONN will not be coming to the Big East anytime soon.

nope, that was really clinched this week when the MAC booted UMass.

[gosports1]

stever, id say we had an ok year. not great but certiainly not as bad as some wish to believe. it doesnt matter how we got there, we had 4 teams in. of course things could hav egone better but it it what it is. Perception isnt reality. the numbers state the BE ranked 4th in the nation.
I dont get why some seem so focused on what the BE wasnt able to accomplish yet they dont hold the other conferences to the same standards.
If the BE is such a crappy conference that nothing should be expected of them. The acc and even the a10 were suppossedly great yet they didnt accomplish what they were expected to. why isnt anyone coming down on them? why arent they doomed to failure? americas darling VCU failed. why arent they written off? UMass ranked good part of season yet did nothing in crunch time. yet its the BE that sucks .Duke loses to Mercer and its just a fluke. Villanova loses to underrated and final 4 team Uconn and they (nova) are horrible. doomed to spend an eternity in a mid major league. left to obscurity like thier brother Creighton which many wish will never see a good player cross through their doorway again, now that mcdermott is done/
One coach leaves and the BE will slip away as a mass exodus begins.

I dont expect everyone to be whistling sunshine. But i would expect fair treatment and the same standards for all

[NJRedman]

1400th POST ON REALIGNMENT!!!!!