Lindys college BB mag. rates the new Big East as the #3 conference behind the ACC and the Big 10. With as many as 6 teams making it to the big dance. Not too bad for a conference that lost the likes of Syracuse, Louisville,ND,Pitt,Cincy and UCon. They also ranked the MU 2013 recruiting class at #9. Great job Buzz.
I saw that but they also had the PAC-12 ranked 6th, but then had them getting the most at large selections with 7 teams... that doesn't make sense to me. The had the PAC-12 behind ACC (6 teams), Big Ten (6 teams), Big East (6 teams), the American (4 teams) and the Big 12 (4 teams). I can see them being 4th, if the argument is that the other 3 are just going to beat up on each other to only get 6 teams, but then behind the American and the Big 12?
Number of bids isn't necessarily the most important thing, though. If they view the ACC, Big East, and Big Ten as supplying say 10/12 of the top three seed lines (with Kentucky and Arizona the other two), wouldn't it make sense that those leagues were perceived as stronger despite another having more bids (but most teams in the 7-11 seed range)?
I didn't read it, but I can see how number of bids alone won't be the only factor. If you've got 2-3 legitimate national title contenders, that has to be worth more than 6 at-large teams that will all be underdogs before the first weekend is up.