The Importance of Getting Teams Ranked Top 25

[SJHooper]

I know this may seem trivial to some, but I've noticed that many people don't seem to care about if their teams are in the top 25…just make the tourney they say. Well, I think it's very important to get as many Big East teams in the top 25 as possible, because with only 10 teams as opposed to the 15 we had in the old Big East, there are way less chances for those major key wins.

I was a moderate SJ fan and a huge diehard once we had that magical 2011 season (magical when you waited that long to be ranked and make the tourney). In the old Big East although we almost always finished in the lower half, it was awesome being able to look at the next 3 games and see #12 UConn, #5 Cuse, #20 Notre Dame, etc. Obviously it was a big challenge, but there was always the chance of an upset and SJ usually beat at least 2 ranked teams…usually ND and Cincy.

There was always that opportunity to get your name out there nationally and beat some top 25 schools. Lost to UConn? Oh, well you have Cuse next. Lost to Cuse? Oh, well you have Louisville next. Fast forward to the new Big East this past year it was basically Creighton and Nova as the only 2 opportunities to get some national attention. We really need to find a way to get 4 teams ranked…I really think Nova, G'Town, Xavier can do it and one team can step up i.e. SJU, PC, SHU, CU, Butler, Marquette, etc. It's so much more fun when you have many opportunities at ranked wins and it's great for resumes. If 4 teams are ranked consistently, that means there are 8 opportunities for ranked wins and that doesn't even count the OOC which for example SJ has Cuse and Duke which will be two more ranked teams for a total of 10 ranked teams on the year. That's a LOT of chances to really get the conference out there and get major wins.

[xavierfano8]

Xavier SHOULD be ranked at some point when you look at their schedule. I would honestly take them in every OOC game making them undefeated going into the new year. We always seem to drop one we shouldn't though.

[SJHooper]

Xavier would be one of those schools the coaches would have no problem voting in too. Sometimes if a random mid major comes along they have to do a lot more to earn respect and get votes. But a team like Xavier is trusted and respected as being worthy if they are winning enough. We know Nova will be ranked, I truly expect G'Town to be ranked…they can't stay down for long, and as you said Xavier was almost always ranked in the recent past and has the horses to easily be ranked this year. Hell even with 3 ranked teams that's 6 in conference chances for ranked wins for teams who may need a key win to get in the tourney.

[stever20]

I think the prime example of this is Villanova 2 years ago. they were only 20-13, but had wins over Louisville, Syracuse, UConn, Marquette, and Georgetown that all were just pivotal type wins. Not only did they get in, but they were a 9 seed... Only 2 OOC games against NCAA tourney teams, and they lost both of them.... Conference play was the only reason they got in.

Compare to Xavier last year. They were 21-12. 2 OOC wins against Tennessee and Cincy that made the NCAA tourney. Same conference record. Their overall record was 21-12. But they were the next to last team in the tourney. Why? Because they had 1 conference win against a top 25 team.

That's why it's so critical that there are more than 2 teams ranked.

[FormulaX]

Totally, agree with you SJ. The BE needs all the forced exposure it can get. The ranked teams and who they play, get the media spotlight, all season long. I expect the norm to be 3-5 ranked teams from the BE.

[hoyahooligan]

Totally, agree with you SJ. The BE needs all the forced exposure it can get. The ranked teams and who they play, get the media spotlight, all season long. I expect the norm to be 3-5 ranked teams from the BE.

agreed. I expect Georgetown and Villanova to be ranked almost every year with other teams to join them on occasion.

[FriarJ]

I know this may seem trivial to some, but I've noticed that many people don't seem to care about if their teams are in the top 25…just make the tourney they say. Well, I think it's very important to get as many Big East teams in the top 25 as possible, because with only 10 teams as opposed to the 15 we had in the old Big East, there are way less chances for those major key wins.

I was a moderate SJ fan and a huge diehard once we had that magical 2011 season (magical when you waited that long to be ranked and make the tourney). In the old Big East although we almost always finished in the lower half, it was awesome being able to look at the next 3 games and see #12 UConn, #5 Cuse, #20 Notre Dame, etc. Obviously it was a big challenge, but there was always the chance of an upset and SJ usually beat at least 2 ranked teams…usually ND and Cincy.

There was always that opportunity to get your name out there nationally and beat some top 25 schools. Lost to UConn? Oh, well you have Cuse next. Lost to Cuse? Oh, well you have Louisville next. Fast forward to the new Big East this past year it was basically Creighton and Nova as the only 2 opportunities to get some national attention. We really need to find a way to get 4 teams ranked…I really think Nova, G'Town, Xavier can do it and one team can step up i.e. SJU, PC, SHU, CU, Butler, Marquette, etc. It's so much more fun when you have many opportunities at ranked wins and it's great for resumes. If 4 teams are ranked consistently, that means there are 8 opportunities for ranked wins and that doesn't even count the OOC which for example SJ has Cuse and Duke which will be two more ranked teams for a total of 10 ranked teams on the year. That's a LOT of chances to really get the conference out there and get major wins.

I agree completely and of what I think is of equal importance is that only the top 25 teams from the BE will get any airplay on Sportscenter.

[robinreed]

I also agree that having top 25 teams is vital to the BE. I see 2 or 3 ranked every year but hope that 4 ranked teams becomes at least an occasional state. One problem is with only 10 members and a round robin our teams are likely to have several losses per year. This means we will be likely to have no more than 3 schools in the top 25 by the end of the season. If it goes below that number we could see Fox demoting more of our games to FS2. I would not like that. We must also play several ranked teams each year in our OOC and win most of them. Schedules with 10 or 12 easy wins in OOC are no good for us. We need an above average SOS.

I fear that those who believe we can have 4 or 5 ranked teams each and every year are in for disappointment and frustration.

[FormulaX]

I also agree that having top 25 teams is vital to the BE. I see 2 or 3 ranked every year but hope that 4 ranked teams becomes at least an occasional state. One problem is with only 10 members and a round robin our teams are likely to have several losses per year. This means we will be likely to have no more than 3 schools in the top 25 by the end of the season. If it goes below that number we could see Fox demoting more of our games to FS2. I would not like that. We must also play several ranked teams each year in our OOC and win most of them. Schedules with 10 or 12 easy wins in OOC are no good for us. We need an above average SOS.

I fear that those who believe we can have 4 or 5 ranked teams each and every year are in for disappointment and frustration.

Maybe, but look at the big 10. It's always Mi. st., Oh. st., Wisc... then 2 or 3 others.. BE should usually be VU, XU, GU and Marq..

[MUBoxer]

I also agree that having top 25 teams is vital to the BE. I see 2 or 3 ranked every year but hope that 4 ranked teams becomes at least an occasional state. One problem is with only 10 members and a round robin our teams are likely to have several losses per year. This means we will be likely to have no more than 3 schools in the top 25 by the end of the season. If it goes below that number we could see Fox demoting more of our games to FS2. I would not like that. We must also play several ranked teams each year in our OOC and win most of them. Schedules with 10 or 12 easy wins in OOC are no good for us. We need an above average SOS.

I fear that those who believe we can have 4 or 5 ranked teams each and every year are in for disappointment and frustration.

Maybe, but look at the big 10. It's always Mi. st., Oh. st., Wisc... then 2 or 3 others.. BE should usually be VU, XU, GU and Marq..

I said last year that it's vital to have Nova, X, GTown and Marq be our top teams because given their respective recent success they're the closest we have to national powers. I got crucified for saying that.