This is the year we have to make a run in the tourney

[DudeAnon]

Every single comment section on every single article about last night's game is filled with calls for both teams being overrated and the Big East sucking. We need a Final Four team now to change perception.

[ChelseaFriar]

Yeah, I will be 100% behind Villanova and Xavier this NCAA tournament. I'm really hoping they play at their best because if they do both can make deep runs.

Would be great if a third team hits their stride and makes it out of the first weekend as well. I could see SH clicking and making it happen.

[stever20]

Yeah, I will be 100% behind Villanova and Xavier this NCAA tournament. I'm really hoping they play at their best because if they do both can make deep runs.

Would be great if a third team hits their stride and makes it out of the first weekend as well. I could see SH clicking and making it happen.

yeah, I think if Seton Hall or Butler makes it in the tourney, they are going to be a tough out. I would say PC as well, but I think they're looking at a 8/9 seed and a game with Oklahoma or Kansas in rd 2(well wait, a 2nd rd game with Kansas, where do I sign up?)....

[FormulaX]

Nothing, but a FF is the goal for Nova and Xavier. Anything, else is a MAJOR disappointment. In 25 tries Xavier has not made it yet. Although, many of those years Xavier was the low seeded, "cute cinderella" "making some noise" As for Nova? No explanation needed.....

[chopper]

Nothing, but a FF is the goal for Nova and Xavier. Anything, else is a MAJOR disappointment. ....

Idiotic.

[DudeAnon]

Nothing, but a FF is the goal for Nova and Xavier. Anything, else is a MAJOR disappointment. ....

Idiotic.

Yea, FF is a goal. Anything less than the second weekend is a disappointment. The thing is, we could really use a FF run for the perception of the conference. Maybe 3 teams in the second weekend would be as good, but I am not sure.

[stever20]

I think getting at least 1 in the elite 8 would do wonders. Esp. if it's Nova or X. If conference rolls snake eyes again, it won't look good at all.

[Xudash]

Nothing, but a FF is the goal for Nova and Xavier. Anything, else is a MAJOR disappointment. ....

Idiotic.

IMHO, your reaction is a little harsh.

It is a fact - in dealing with prevailing perceptions - that, at the national level, many people simply default to believing that the Big East is not what it used to be. That is true; we all know that. However, while not being the 16 member strong mess that it used to be, most of these people are otherwise not giving the Big East sufficient credit for what it has become, and the primary reason for that is our lack of deep Tournament success since the reformation.

Secondly, the Big East has put multiple teams into the Top 25 rankings this year, has two parked firmly in the Top 10 - hell, the Top 5 - and has one of them ranked #1 in the nation (as I type this today). IT WOULD BE BEYOND NICE to show consistency of strength and prove our legitimacy by moving beyond the regular season to getting deep runs in the Tournament next month.

Yes, the Tournament is very much about match-ups and some lucky bounces here and there and the crazy wishes of the basketball Gods that lead to crazy outcomes at any given moment, but to hell with all that; it's time to play through all that and we have two teams, in particular, who are built both talent-wise and culturally to make that happen.

IF it is true that that the Big East hasn't done well YET in the NCAA Tournament, then it very much is time to fix that. It wouldn't be a major disappointment if we went out early with teams that were poorly seeded - - not ranked or low in the ranks with struggling records. It would become a major disappointment by having highly ranked teams - teams that create certain perceptions and expectations - flame out earlier than expected.

[Westbrook#36]

Yeah I wouldn't say F4 or bust for Nova and X. Final fours don't grow on trees, that said, anything short of an E8 is probably going to be a disappointment.

[sju88grad]

I would be surprised if both Nova and X don't make deep runs. I thought the game last night was phenomenal and showed that both teams are deep, tough and versatile. I hate the fact that the Big East is given so much grief for the NCAA tournament results, but unfortunately, that is what many people focus on. I think this is the year that we finally silence the critics......