The Holy Land of Hoops

Recent Big East Tournament winners (seed in parentheses):

2013 - Louisville (2)
2012 - Louisville (7)
2011 - Connecticut (9)
2010 - West Virginia (3)
2009 - Louisville (1)
2008 - Pitt (7)
2007 - Georgetown (1)
2006 - Syracuse (9)
2005 - Syracuse (3)
2004 - Connecticut (2)
2003 - Pitt (2)
2002 - Connecticut (1)
2001 - Boston College (1)
2000 - St. John's (3)

This is a tournament that does not have a history of being kind to top seeds in recent years. Someone other than the top 2 seeds has won 6 of the past 9 years, including a couple of 9 seeds and a couple of 7 seeds. This year, either St. John's or Georgetown, for example, certainly seem to be capable of stepping up and pulling off a run.

It's not over 'til it's over.

I'd say it's going to be a smidge different now than before because the bye structure is totally different than the past few years. Even look back before 2006- the lowest seed that won was a 3.

stever20 wrote:I'd say it's going to be a smidge different now than before because the bye structure is totally different than the past few years. Even look back before 2006- the lowest seed that won was a 3.

How do you figure, Steve?

UConn and Syracuse each had to win 5 games in 5 days when they won as 9 seeds. I don't see anything in that old format that made it easier for lower seeds to win the tournament. If anything, it protected the higher seeds even though the results don't reflect that.

Bill Marsh wrote:

stever20 wrote:I'd say it's going to be a smidge different now than before because the bye structure is totally different than the past few years. Even look back before 2006- the lowest seed that won was a 3.

How do you figure, Steve?

UConn and Syracuse each had to win 5 games in 5 days when they won as 9 seeds. I don't see anything in that old format that made it easier for lower seeds to win the tournament. If anything, it protected the higher seeds even though the results don't reflect that.

by the time #1 seed had to play especially UConn- UConn had already 2 games under their belt. That can be an advantage vs a team that is sitting around waiting to play
(Syracuse when they won only top 12 teams were in the tourney, so only 1 game under the belt).

stever20 wrote:

Bill Marsh wrote:

stever20 wrote:I'd say it's going to be a smidge different now than before because the bye structure is totally different than the past few years. Even look back before 2006- the lowest seed that won was a 3.

How do you figure, Steve?

UConn and Syracuse each had to win 5 games in 5 days when they won as 9 seeds. I don't see anything in that old format that made it easier for lower seeds to win the tournament. If anything, it protected the higher seeds even though the results don't reflect that.

by the time #1 seed had to play especially UConn- UConn had already 2 games under their belt. That can be an advantage vs a team that is sitting around waiting to play
(Syracuse when they won only top 12 teams were in the tourney, so only 1 game under the belt).

Gotta disagree with that take on it. A team playing its 3rd game in 3 days has to be tired as that game progresses while facing a fresh opponent.

As for sitting around, these kids have played 30 games at this point in the season, I doubt they need a warm up.

still with everything- 10/14 years, top 3 seeds won the tourney.

stever20 wrote:still with everything- 10/14 years, top 3 seeds won the tourney.

You're killin' me, Steve. I'm trying to create hope here for those who think they need to win the tournament but feat they are facing an inevitable Villanova - Creighton final.

Believe PC was a 4 seed the one year they won ('94).

ChelseaFriar wrote:Believe PC was a 4 seed the one year they won ('94).

They were. And they weren't the only ones in that era either. Seton Hall also won as a 4-seed in 1991 and Syracuse won as a 5 in 1992. I didn't post the '90's, but 1-seeds won only 4 times.

it's funny how the 15-16 team era was so different...

in the 5 years with the double byes etc.
avg champion was 4.40.
avg champ game loser 5.20

in the 20 years before
avg champion 2.70
avg runner up 3.30