Big East Title or Elite 8 in '11-'12

[MUBurrow]

I really don't understand why this is such an open and shut case to so many.  What about a BEast crown or a Sweet 16?  BEast crown or a first round win?  Just preaching about the value of tournament success doesn't take away from the question's attempt to equate a certain amount of a success in the tournament with a much more drawn out amount of success in the regular season. 

I would rather have a BEast championship as a fan, but recognize that a very deep tourney run gets you more recruiting/national attention.  But that being said, look at all the elite 8's that have happened in the past 5 or 6 years. Then look at the champs of the major conferences over the same period.  There's a lot less anomaly in the conference champions.  I think after a year or two, a lot of elite 8 runs just become stump the schwab questions.

[Jacks DC]

If you had to take only one with the worst possible outcome of the other, I think I would take the Big East regular season title.  That is far more indicative of the long-term strength of a program.  I would rather have a great team that flames out in the tournament (as many do), than a pretty average team that wins a few games at the end. 

Who do you think will recruit better based on what they did this past year, Pitt or VCU?  I would take Pitt's results in a heartbeat.

[4everwarriors]

Two blond guys and 4 dark-haired guys. I'd call that diverse for the time.


Is the guy in the bottom right Geno Auriemma?

Nah, that's F*ckin' goin' commando.

[Stuckin1977]

The problem is that a great regular season raises your expectations for the post season tournament, so the two aren't mutually exclusive. 

+1

Having a great regular season means you have a high seed in the tournament which gives you an easier path to the Final Four, and thus raises expectations for you to go deep in the tournament.

[MerrittsMustache]

+1

Having a great regular season means you have a high seed in the tournament which gives you an easier path to the Final Four, and thus raises expectations for you to go deep in the tournament.

...and if you flame out early (a la Pitt and ND) then your season quickly becomes a disappointment.

[CTWarrior]

I bet if you ask Kansas and tOSU fans, they'd tell you that their seasons were very disappointing. Having a great regular season is nice, but if that doesn't translate into something in the postseason, does it really matter all that much?

Huh?  The both won conference regular season and tournament titles.  Only 4 teams make the Final 4.  They enjoyed 4-5 months of their basketball team much more than pretty much every other school.  There was one week at the end where they didn't. 

[wojosdojo]

There was one week at the end where they didn't. 

Yea, the most important one.

[Stuckin1977]

Yea, the most important one.

+1

Here's the phrase that comes to mind:  "What have you done for me lately"

[Golden Avalanche]

Yea, the most important one.

It'd be interesting to ask Wisconsin Badgers fans about this.

If I recall correctly, the farthest they've gone under Bo Ryan is the Elite Eight, right? However, they've won the conference title multiple times, right? Have they also won a tournament title?

Curious to see when they look back on Ryan's tenure if they'll be more pleased at the multiple titles (indicating he built a sustainable and talented program) or more pleased at beating three mid-major teams in the span of 14 days one March during his tenure.