Sat. March 7th games

[mpwalsh8]

[ ... Snipped ... ]

"Jay Wright is classless....." AGAIN.....AGAIN, Jay had the starters out with more than 5 minutes to go. That one Villanova walk-on had about 3 open 3s before he nailed one. I have NEVER seen Villanova walk-ons play as much as they did today.

St. John's fans, literally, it is something like 14 out of the last 15 games we have taken from you. St. Joseph's our little small town rival has given us tougher games and have beaten us more over the last decade than you guys.

Take high road here VU fans and don't engage in this drivel. You end up arguing with people based on emotion and not fact.

Enjoy the ride. At this point of the season, one bad shooting night results in a game like Seton Hall in the BET last year. As we saw with Creghton the other night, just about any BE can challenge Villanova and VU has the biggest target on their backs. Businesslike and move along.

[Doge McDermott]

Despite the score, this is a pretty sweet recruiting poster for St. Johns.

[stever20]

Except for the fact that Tulsa is doing better as a basketball team than UMass- not just this year- but it's been to the tourney 9 times and has 11 wins(7 in 95-96 and 4 the other years combined). Tulsa has been 15 times and has 12 wins. So I'm sorry- but Tulsa is stronger in basketball compared to UMass so to say that it does nothing for the conference is a joke. Maybe for UConn themselves it would have been better to get UMass but the conference? That's just a big no...

There were 4 teams with an ooc schedule of 300+. All 4 are C-USA imports. I think I can understand them at first having easy schedules because it's a massive upgrade in the conference schedule for them.. Will be interesting to see if this number continues 2-3 years from now. I guess we can say DePaul doesn't even try either- their OOC SOS was 289 this year.

I think the interesting thing with the AAC will be if those 4 teams do develop. ECU sold out vs UConn a few weeks ago- #1 crowd in school history I think. These schools are on tv more than they ever have been. Recruiting for them has totally picked up.

[novahoops11]

Despite the score, this is a pretty sweet recruiting poster for St. Johns.

Here's Nova's recruiting poster from yesterday

[Bill Marsh]

Except for the fact that Tulsa is doing better as a basketball team than UMass- not just this year- but it's been to the tourney 9 times and has 11 wins(7 in 95-96 and 4 the other years combined). Tulsa has been 15 times and has 12 wins. So I'm sorry- but Tulsa is stronger in basketball compared to UMass so to say that it does nothing for the conference is a joke. Maybe for UConn themselves it would have been better to get UMass but the conference? That's just a big no...

There were 4 teams with an ooc schedule of 300+. All 4 are C-USA imports. I think I can understand them at first having easy schedules because it's a massive upgrade in the conference schedule for them.. Will be interesting to see if this number continues 2-3 years from now. I guess we can say DePaul doesn't even try either- their OOC SOS was 289 this year.

I think the interesting thing with the AAC will be if those 4 teams do develop. ECU sold out vs UConn a few weeks ago- #1 crowd in school history I think. These schools are on tv more than they ever have been. Recruiting for them has totally picked up.

You missed the point.

I talked about BOTH improving basketball AND increasing their profile in the East. Adding Tulsa was a slap in the face to UConn and Temple after Rutgers was lost to the Big Ten. That hole had to be filled, but instead they just left UConn and Temple on an island while adding to the southwest corner of the conference.

I really don't care how many tournaments Tulsa has been to, many of them coming out of weak conferences. Right. Now UMass is just as good and a renewed rivalry with UConn would further fuel their program. Moveover, the value of UMass to the conference is enhanced by its enrollment which is 10 times that of Tulsa and its flagship presence in a state that is almost twice the size of Oklahoma with only BC for P5 competition vs OU and OSU in Tulsa's backyard.

There are 4 teams with 300+ OOC SOS and a 5th with an OOC SOS at around 200. That is outrageous for a league that wants to compete in basketball. It can't be minimized. And it's not going to change in 2-3 years because it represents the fact that those schools don't care about basketball and never have.

Regardless of whether we agree or disagree about the details, you asked for my perspective on the AAC, given that I have a rooting interest in UConm. And I'm giving you my perspective. I don't want to nitpick the details. The point is that I hate the conference and I hate the fact that UConn is in it. They have disregarded UConn's needs and they have turned their back on strengthening basketball. Bringing in a mediocre Tulsa program doesn't begin to make up for what a combination of VCU and Tulsa might have done for the league.

Adding Wichita State even without football would have made more sense than adding Tulsa because basketball is a sport they actually have a shot at competing in. This is a bunch of football wannabe's who entertain the delusional notion that they actually have a shot at competing with Alabama, Florida, Penn State, Michigan, USC, Texas, and all. The rest in football. That is the basis on which they make decisions and it makes hem a complete joke.

That's just my 2 cents and you're perfectly entitled to hold a different opinion. As kne who is routinely critical of the
Big East, I wonder why you fail to see any flaws in the AAC and are so quick to come to their defense. If your criticisms of the Big East are simply based on being "objective" as you claim, why don't we see the same objectivity with regard to the AAC?

[stever20]

Except for the fact that Tulsa is doing better as a basketball team than UMass- not just this year- but it's been to the tourney 9 times and has 11 wins(7 in 95-96 and 4 the other years combined). Tulsa has been 15 times and has 12 wins. So I'm sorry- but Tulsa is stronger in basketball compared to UMass so to say that it does nothing for the conference is a joke. Maybe for UConn themselves it would have been better to get UMass but the conference? That's just a big no...

There were 4 teams with an ooc schedule of 300+. All 4 are C-USA imports. I think I can understand them at first having easy schedules because it's a massive upgrade in the conference schedule for them.. Will be interesting to see if this number continues 2-3 years from now. I guess we can say DePaul doesn't even try either- their OOC SOS was 289 this year.

I think the interesting thing with the AAC will be if those 4 teams do develop. ECU sold out vs UConn a few weeks ago- #1 crowd in school history I think. These schools are on tv more than they ever have been. Recruiting for them has totally picked up.

You missed the point.

I talked about BOTH improving basketball AND increasing their profile in the East. Adding Tulsa was a slap in the face to UConn and Temple after Rutgers was lost to the Big Ten. That hole had to be filled, but instead they just left UConn and Temple on an island while adding to the southwest corner of the conference.

I really don't care how many tournaments Tulsa has been to, many of them coming out of weak conferences. Right. Now UMass is just as good and a renewed rivalry with UConn would further fuel their program. Moveover, the value of UMass to the conference is enhanced by its enrollment which is 10 times that of Tulsa and its flagship presence in a state that is almost twice the size of Oklahoma with only BC for P5 competition vs OU and OSU in Tulsa's backyard.

There are 4 teams with 300+ OOC SOS and a 5th with an OOC SOS at around 200. That is outrageous for a league that wants to compete in basketball. It can't be minimized. And it's not going to change in 2-3 years because it represents the fact that those schools don't care about basketball and never have.

Regardless of whether we agree or disagree about the details, you asked for my perspective on the AAC, given that I have a rooting interest in UConm. And I'm giving you my perspective. I don't want to nitpick the details. The point is that I hate the conference and I hate the fact that UConn is in it. They have disregarded UConn's needs and they have turned their back on strengthening basketball. Bringing in a mediocre Tulsa program doesn't begin to make up for what a combination of VCU and Tulsa might have done for the league.

Adding Wichita State even without football would have made more sense than adding Tulsa because basketball is a sport they actually have a shot at competing in. This is a bunch of football wannabe's who entertain the delusional notion that they actually have a shot at competing with Alabama, Florida, Penn State, Michigan, USC, Texas, and all. The rest in football. That is the basis on which they make decisions and it makes hem a complete joke.

That's just my 2 cents and you're perfectly entitled to hold a different opinion. As kne who is routinely critical of the
Big East, I wonder why you fail to see any flaws in the AAC and are so quick to come to their defense. If your criticisms of the Big East are simply based on being "objective" as you claim, why don't we see the same objectivity with regard to the AAC?

I just do not see the AAC being as awful as you want to make them out to be. UMass is not just as good as Tulsa right now. They've not won a tourney game since 1996. About Tulsa's appearances- only last year were they lower than a 12 seed. Means most of the time they would have gotten in at large. In fact of their 15 appearances, 8 of those were with at large bids. Of the other 7 times, 4 of them they would have gotten in regardless(2 of them they were seeded 3 and 4- the other 2 times 10 and 11). 1 of the others was in 1955. Only last 2 times would what you be saying be right.

I don't think you appreciate the leap these teams have taken from CUSA to the AAC. CUSA was putrid the last several years. I mean, it's been years since anyone but Memphis has won a game from CUSA. It was truly Memphis and the 11 dwarfs. Now you have Cincy, Memphis, UConn, Temple- 4 real good programs- and then Tulsa and SMU have stepped up a lot. Just look at ECU. Their overall SOS this year went from 198 up to 120. Tulane from 203 to 152. So it makes sense to have the easier OOC schedule now.

And I think the one point you make- VCU- still could happen.

As far as UMass- look at their program the last several years

Season Record RPI Rank SOS Rank
2013-2014 24-8 0.6138 23 0.5662 38
2012-2013 21-11 0.5747 56 0.5490 72
2011-2012 22-11 0.5577 77 0.5197 117
2010-2011 14-15 0.5030 151 0.5241 106
2009-2010 11-20 0.4963 181 0.5474 65
2008-2009 11-18 0.5044 152 0.5497 63
2007-2008 21-10 0.5786 42 0.5422 70
2006-2007 23-8 0.5722 62 0.5077 131
2005-2006 13-15 0.5205 126 0.5370 81
2004-2005 16-12 0.5142 136 0.5135 124
2003-2004 10-19 0.4859 174 0.5329 81
2002-2003 10-18 0.4706 209 0.5084 127
2001-2002 13-16 0.5244 106 0.5498 54
2000-2001 15-15 0.5615 64 0.5820 17
1999-2000 16-15 0.5300 108 0.5347 83
1998-1999 14-16 0.5267 108 0.5468 56

If that's not mediocre I don't know what it was. Last year was the fluke. This year back to 75. So 2 years last 16 with a sub 50 RPI. That's awful- definitely not the game changer you would like to make it out to be.

The thing that amazes me is how much love I see on here for the A10 compared to the AAC. The league that has regressed is the A10 not the AAC. Yet folks on here want to constantly slam the AAC like they're the equiv of the MAAC.

[Bill Marsh]

Steve, why are you arguing so vociferously for the AAC?

I told you it was my POV.

Why did you trash the Big East so vociferously last year for its OOC schedule and results but have no problem with an even worse OOC situation in the AAC? This year?

Why do you ignore my point about UConn and Temple needing Eastern rivals and focus all your attention on a meaningless comparison of UMass vs Tulsa basketball. The point is that UMass asked all is good enough AND it's location, enrollment, and less instate competition all combined to have made it a better choice than tiny Tulsa with little or no upside potential ink either sport.

Why do you give the AAC on failing to build basketball and make an unsubstantiated claim that they might still add VCU? They might do anything, but. They had. The chance to gra a hot VCU program and passed on them.

Why do you ignore the fact that the AAC. has made all of its decisions based on football aspirations and claim that they are building their basketball programs? They aren't. They don't have the resources to build both and their cultures make basketball a low priority.

There is a huge gap between the AAC and the conferences that take basketball seriously. Imagine what they will look like if/when UConn leaves. When a conferee is that dependent on one program for its stature, it has real problems.

[Bigfishy]

Just want to make one comment. When people are talking about VU blowing out wounded UCONN, I believe we scored more in the 2nd half of the first game when they weren't so "wounded". Something like 55.

[stever20]

Steve, why are you arguing so vociferously for the AAC?

I told you it was my POV.

Why did you trash the Big East so vociferously last year for its OOC schedule and results but have no problem with an even worse OOC situation in the AAC? This year?

Why do you ignore my point about UConn and Temple needing Eastern rivals and focus all your attention on a meaningless comparison of UMass vs Tulsa basketball. The point is that UMass asked all is good enough AND it's location, enrollment, and less instate competition all combined to have made it a better choice than tiny Tulsa with little or no upside potential ink either sport.

Why do you give the AAC on failing to build basketball and make an unsubstantiated claim that they might still add VCU? They might do anything, but. They had. The chance to gra a hot VCU program and passed on them.

Why do you ignore the fact that the AAC. has made all of its decisions based on football aspirations and claim that they are building their basketball programs? They aren't. They don't have the resources to build both and their cultures make basketball a low priority.

There is a huge gap between the AAC and the conferences that take basketball seriously. Imagine what they will look like if/when UConn leaves. When a conferee is that dependent on one program for its stature, it has real problems.

What did I say last year about the Big East? That it's OOC results put us behind the 8 ball in terms of getting more than 3-4 teams in the tourney. And that's EXACTLY what happened. We had a 10-8 team in St John's miss the tourney. Why? Because of a poor OOC schedule for themselves. Teams OOC schedules matter. Also, individual teams matters about OOC scheduling more than the entire conference.

And I'm sorry- for the league to have 2 of their top 3-4 programs be decidedly down and still be very likely to have 3 teams in the tourney, with an outside shot of 4- that just shows it's not a bad league. The claims you are making make them seem like they are Conference USA.

And you say there's a huge gap between the AAC and conferences that take basketball seriously. There is no gap at all between the A10 and the AAC. None. Just look at the conference tourney. A10 SF's could be Richmond/Davidson and Rhode Island/Dayton. AAC sf's could be Temple/SMU and Cincy or UConn/Tulsa. You tell me which one is more appealing. And only one in the A10 that could make it any better would be if VCU beats Richmond.

[TheBall]

It is amazing what lengths Stever seems to go to defend a conference that is ranked somewhere near tenth in the rpi and has a horrible media contract while trying to teach us that a conference ranked #2 with one of the best media contracts in the country is destined to fail.

It's quite odd