Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber...

[goodgreatgrand]

...you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!"

After the BE coaches unanimously voted to end the double-bye format of the BE tournament a few months ago, the school presidents decided today that they dont care what the coaches have to say...and they're keeping the format.

"There were a variety of reasons and it was concluded that the timing wasn't right," Big East associate commissioner Dan Gavitt told FanHouse.

Interpretation: We dont want to leave that quarter over there...or that nickel over there...or that penny on the ground right here. We'd much rather continue running a tournament that the coaches dont like for the sake of selling a couple thousand tickets to people that want to watch DePaul get smoked by the No1 seed. To hell with the coaches that were outspoken against the format (Calhoun, Pitino, Boeheim, Wright). Plus, under the new proposal, Providence would likely not get invited...and that's just not acceptable. 

[GGGG]

Good.  I like the double-bye.

[wyzgy]

the timing wasn't right??  we're not talking about cialis here.  if not now, when?  after they see the potential match-ups??  doesn't have anything to do with mmmmmoney err anythingand this coming from the same presidents who hire, then unhire people,  hmmmmmmmmm

[MarkCharles]

I love the Dumb & Dumber reference, but...

I really don't get why people get so worked up about the BE tourney format. The early games may not look great on paper, but if I recall this year's tuesday had two really great games. Its not like I see MU being in the bottom 8 of the conference this year or any time soon.

This just means more college basketball, which I will never complain about, especially right now.

[Marquette84]

...you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!"

After the BE coaches unanimously voted to end the double-bye format of the BE tournament a few months ago, the school presidents decided today that they dont care what the coaches have to say...and they're keeping the format.

"There were a variety of reasons and it was concluded that the timing wasn't right," Big East associate commissioner Dan Gavitt told FanHouse.

Interpretation: We dont want to leave that quarter over there...or that nickel over there...or that penny on the ground right here. We'd much rather continue running a tournament that the coaches dont like for the sake of selling a couple thousand tickets to people that want to watch DePaul get smoked by the No1 seed. To hell with the coaches that were outspoken against the format (Calhoun, Pitino, Boeheim, Wright). Plus, under the new proposal, Providence would likely not get invited...and that's just not acceptable. 

If DePaul were to even be in a position to be smoked by the #1 seed, it would mean they have already upset the #9 and #8 seeds and advanced to the 3rd round.  And THAT game would have been sold out already.

Lets face it, the coaches who were outspoken against the format are those who were upset by lower seeded teams (#6 seed UL/Pitino lost to #13 Cincy, #1 Boeheim lost to #8 Georgetown, #4 VIllanova lost to #5 MU, and #12 UConn lost to #13 St. Johns).

They blamed the format of the conference for supposedly giving an advantage to the 5-8 seeds by giving them a tune-up game against the 1st round winners.

Maybe they should just seed teams with lottery balls so its completely random.  See how Boehiem whines when he's the #16 seed after winning the league championship.     

[ChicosBailBonds]

Buzz has the right idea.  All 16 teams, seed them like a NCAA bracket.  16 v 1, 15 v 2, 14 v 3, etc

Of course, no byes but I think Buzz is on to something.  Kills the idea of a tuneup game but still preserves Cinderella...if anything, it makes Cinderella's feat more incredible if they could pull it off.

[bilsu]

I think the double bye gives the Big East a better chance of getting 9 bids. A team with a weak resume could win two games before they play a really good team. Every win helps. With no byes you have an 8 vs 9 and a 7 vs 10 matchup and the loser is probably done. A double bye means 7 plays 14, 8 plays 13, 9 plays 12 and 10 plays 11. The 7 through 10th team all have a reasonable chance of winning the first round game vs 2 of them being eliminated if there are no byes.

[TJ]

The "tune-up game" argument is stupid.  Normally coaches are clamoring for an extra day of rest, but now all of a sudden it's a disadvantage vs the guys that got to play yesterday?  Give me a break.