BET possibly changing

[Dish]

From Katz today...

• The Big East will also meet this month in Florida, where the hot topic will once again be the Big East tournament limiting its field to 12 of the 16 teams. The proposal that could get some life (although commissioner Mike Tranghese has traditionally been opposed to going to 16) is for a Tuesday-Saturday format with teams 9-16 playing Tuesday. Then the four winners would play teams 5-8 on Wednesday, with those four winners playing teams 1-4 on Thursday. So the top four teams still play only three days; the next four teams would need four victories to win it and the last eight a possible five to win it.

[NYWarrior]

The proposal that could get some life (although commissioner Mike Tranghese has traditionally been opposed to going to 16) is for a Tuesday-Saturday format with teams 9-16 playing Tuesday. Then the four winners would play teams 5-8 on Wednesday, with those four winners playing teams 1-4 on Thursday. So the top four teams still play only three days; the next four teams would need four victories to win it and the last eight a possible five to win it.

Interesting.....in the past, Tranghese has defended the 12-team structure on two key points:  1) the marketablility of the additional games, questioning the ability to sell the worst teams in the league to MSG; 2) the grind of a 5 day tournament.

On the second point, he's always been firm that the BET must end on Saturday so the teams get an extra day of rest and full consideration from the committee.  I think he can sell the first day pretty easily though - - in terms of sales, the tourney would sell out........with plenty of paid-for empties on day one

[Big Papi]

I dont see why every team needs to make the conference tourny.  Everyone now has 18 games to prove they are worthy of being one of the top 12 teams in the league.  Their is a reason why some teams don't make the conference tourny.  They are not that good.  I would leave it the way it is. 

Next we will hear complaining that St. John's always has an unfair advantage because the tourny is held on their court every year.  Of course they have sucked for the last few years but if they can get some decent talent, I can see some teams griping about that as well.  It just never ends.  Twelve teams is the right number as there is no way a South Florida wins five games in a row nor would winning four in a row push them on the bubble.

[SoCalwarrior]

I think it's a good idea.  Why should the Big East be the only conference that doesn't invite all of its teams to the tourney?  For many athletes and fans alike, these conference tournaments are the only opportunities for them to experience a taste of March Madness. 

[mu_hilltopper]

Meh.  I think it's cool the bottom 4 teams stay home.   Teams 10-14 have something to play for at the end of the year .. Furthermore .. who is really going to watch Day 1 of the BET when it's the worst teams in the league?  Would ESPN even want to televise such craptacular games?

[NYWarrior]

Would ESPN even want to televise such craptacular games?

This is one of the problems with the expanded tourney that Tranghese has cited on many occassions.....tough sell IMHO.  ESPN360 territory at best

[mu_hilltopper]

Hah.  ESPN "The Ocho" at best.

[NYWarrior]

Hah.  ESPN "The Ocho" at best.

ESPN Deportes !!