Big East or AAC which is truly better?

[Galway Eagle]

So I was arguing with friends about which conference is truly the better one and thought I'd expand that argument to here.  Here are the facts:  

AAC since 2000 (with louisville) 50 ncaa appearances 17 sweet 16s, 13 elite 8s, 6 final fours, 3 titles  

Big East since 2000 64 ncaa appearances 19 sweet 16s, 9 elite 8s, 5 final fours, 2 runner up

Right now AAC looks better but after Louisville is gone they lose one of those titles, 3 final fours, 5 elite 8s, and 5 sweet 16s and 11 appearances. (Note I didnt count Memphis 2008).  Interesting fact that the tournament success has been almost entirely made up of 5 teams in both conferences

[TallTitan34]

And then when a conference needs a team UConn and Cincy (maybe even Memphis) are gone taking all of that with them.

[TheTulsaWarrior]

The New Big East will be the most stable of the two leagues because the schools have more in common.  I'd like to see an alliance with a west coast conference anchored by Gonzaga.  That would help TV coverage.

FYI, the new BE Conference Tournament at Madison Square Garden could be a perception disaster for the league if the stands are not packed.

[MarquetteDano]

In 2013-14, the AAC MIGHT have a slight advantage.  After Looeyville says 'buh-bye' then no question the Big East is better.  So, the AAC might have one year that they are better.

[🏀]

No doubt the Big East will have the better RPI in this year.

[Tugg Speedman]

And then when a conference needs a team UConn and Cincy (maybe even Memphis) are gone taking all of that with them.

+1

Right now the AAC looks like a transitional conference as the FB teams look for permanent homes.

Better question, how good will the AAC be in 5 years when Louisville, Cincy, Uconn and Memphis are all gone?

[Jet915]

Top to bottom, Big East will be better next year but the AAC will have Louisville so they will have the strongest team so it's probably even.  After next year when Louisville leaves and ECU, Tulane and Tulsa join, it will be no contest....

[Galway Eagle]

+1

Right now the AAC looks like a transitional conference as the FB teams look for permanent homes.

Better question, how good will the AAC be in 5 years when Louisville, Cincy, Uconn and Memphis are all gone?

They'd still have Temple!

[Sunbelt15]

Don't know who's better, but the BE has the most to lose because of the name. If we put out a sorry sports product, we could lose it all and it will our teams looking for other conferences.

[Coleman]

AAC next year. Big East after that. And not only will the Big East be better it will be more stable. Only a matter of time until there is talk of UConn and Cincy leaving.

[Galway Eagle]

In the near future it could be the most interesting and even conference challenge

[GGGG]

In the near future it could be the most interesting and even conference challenge

Come 2014, the only schools that are former members of the BE are USF, UConn and Cincy.  And Temple kind of.  Honestly, the AAC will bear little resemblance to the BE.

[Galway Eagle]

Come 2014, the only schools that are former members of the BE are USF, UConn and Cincy.  And Temple kind of.  Honestly, the AAC will bear little resemblance to the BE.

I know that, but still you could have a decent conference challenge at the top with Temple, UConn and Cincy (Maybe USF for Anthony Collins' senior year?). 

[RubyWiscy]

I'd give the nod in basketball to the Big East.  The AAC is clearly better in football, though. 

[GGGG]

I know that, but still you could have a decent conference challenge at the top with Temple, UConn and Cincy (Maybe USF for Anthony Collins' senior year?). 

I really have no desire to play a crossover challenge that would include the likes of Xavier v. Tulane.  Just get good non-conference games outside of the conference challenge format.

[bilsu]

Don't know who's better, but the BE has the most to lose because of the name. If we put out a sorry sports product, we could lose it all and it will our teams looking for other conferences.

The perception of this year's Big East might lie squarely on MU's game with Ohio St., which I would argue is the most important non-conference game for the Big east this year.

[frozena pizza]

I really have no desire to play a crossover challenge that would include the likes of Xavier v. Tulane.  Just get good non-conference games outside of the conference challenge format.

Who cares about that game?  Does that mean you didn't like the Big East / SEC challenge because it included Providence vs. Mississippi St.?  I'd be glad to be part of a challenge knowing that we would most likely be matched up with UConn, Cincy, Memphis or Temple.  Even if we end up against ECU or SMU that's no worse than our typical cupcake games.

[The Process]

But what if Dayton joined the AAU?

[Coleman]

Who cares about that game?  Does that mean you didn't like the Big East / SEC challenge because it included Providence vs. Mississippi St.?  I'd be glad to be part of a challenge knowing that we would most likely be matched up with UConn, Cincy, Memphis or Temple.  Even if we end up against ECU or SMU that's no worse than our typical cupcake games.

I am all for a challenge if you can guarantee us we play one of those top 4 teams every year. After that the AAC drops off dramatically though. If we are stuck playing someone else, no thanks.

[GGGG]

Does that mean you didn't like the Big East / SEC challenge because it included Providence vs. Mississippi St.? 

Yes actually.  I thought the BE/SEC challenge was dumb.

[The Equalizer]

Who cares about that game?  Does that mean you didn't like the Big East / SEC challenge because it included Providence vs. Mississippi St.?  I'd be glad to be part of a challenge knowing that we would most likely be matched up with UConn, Cincy, Memphis or Temple.  Even if we end up against ECU or SMU that's no worse than our typical cupcake games.

I know its popular to talk down the AAC, but in reality, their bottom teams would be a signficant upgrade over our typical cupcake game, and roughly eqivalent to our worst teams.

ECU was ranked 119 in the Kenpom ratings, putting them on par with St. Johns (104) and Seton Hall (109), and significantly better than DePaul (162). 

SMU (180) wasn't far behind DePaul.

Compare that to our buy games: Colgate (270), SE Louisiana (281), UMBC (306), Savannah State (207), and NC Central (159)

BTW, Tulane (146) ranked ahead of DePaul.

[bilsu]

Yes actually.  I thought the BE/SEC challenge was dumb.

It was not dumb, but we got the raw end of deal. Playing Tennesee in Tennesee and playing at Florida.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

BTW, Tulane (146) ranked ahead of DePaul.

True, the difference is that DePaul was having an average year and Tulane was playing out of their mind. And while DePaul is losing a third of their offense this year, Tulane is losing 84%.

I would argue that at the top, the AAC (Louisville, UCONN, Memphis, Cincy) will be better than the BEast (Marquette, Creighton, GTown, Nova). But top to bottom the BEast will be stronger. Our top 8 have legitimate shots at the tournament next year and Seton Hall and DePaul will both be improved next season. Meanwhile the AAC will be weighed down by Rutgers, Houston, and Central Florida. (All decent teams but are on downward trajectories for next season)

[Galway Eagle]

True, the difference is that DePaul was having an average year and Tulane was playing out of their mind. And while DePaul is losing a third of their offense this year, Tulane is losing 84%.

I would argue that at the top, the AAC (Louisville, UCONN, Memphis, Cincy) will be better than the BEast (Marquette, Creighton, GTown, Nova). But top to bottom the BEast will be stronger. Our top 8 have legitimate shots at the tournament next year and Seton Hall and DePaul will both be improved next season. Meanwhile the AAC will be weighed down by Rutgers, Houston, and Central Florida. (All decent teams but are on downward trajectories for next season)

I'm glad to see someone else has some hope for DePaul to improve next season.  I've got them as a surprise team next year kinda like South Florida was a couple years ago.  But I think that your take on the top is realistic and I think that the big east is more likely to occasionally get a lower team to have a good year every so often when loaded with seniors.