A Big East Divided?

[PE8983]

"The last time we played Dayton they kicked the crap out of us in the Chicago invitational. They looked like the more talented team even though we had Matthews, McNeal, James and Hayward on our team."

So MU plays their worst game of the year, UD plays lights out and now Dayton deserves to play BE competition.  MU beat the crap out of UK in '03, but it doesn't mean we were the better team that year, nor come anywhere close to matching their history.

[bilsu]

"The last time we played Dayton they kicked the crap out of us in the Chicago invitational. They looked like the more talented team even though we had Matthews, McNeal, James and Hayward on our team."

So MU plays their worst game of the year, UD plays lights out and now Dayton deserves to play BE competition.  MU beat the crap out of UK in '03, but it doesn't mean we were the better team that year, nor come anywhere close to matching their history.

There was a time in the 80's when MU was pretty poor also. I just see a lot of posters who think we are that much better than other teams. Who is to say how Dayton would have done, if they had been added to Big East when we were. It totally changes the recruiting dynamics. Posters are also looking at attendence numbers. Attendance is often a reflection of who you play. MU averages 15,000, but there is a large variance in attendence between a good Big East game and some of our non-conference games where fans only come because they were in the season ticket package. While it is not guaranteed, I would expect any team added to the league would see an increase in attendence and an increase in recruiting success.
By the way after last season Dayton was 45th in all time wins with an overall record of 1471 and 1026. Pittsburg was 49th with an overall record of 1465 and 1048. However MU was 48th with an overall record of 1467-905, so our winning percentage is a lot higher than Dayton or Pitt.

[muhs03]

By the way after last season Dayton was 45th in all time wins with an overall record of 1471 and 1026. Pittsburg was 49th with an overall record of 1465 and 1048. However MU was 48th with an overall record of 1467-905, so our winning percentage is a lot higher than Dayton or Pitt.

Winning percentage is relative, IMO. Pitt didnt experience a lot of parity throughout the years in the BE and they were never a perennial winner until recently (something that has never been easy to do in the BE). I think the A10 and CUSA were slightly more balanced through the years.

[Mr. Nielsen]

"Some could say that about Marquette in the Conf. USA days. Those schools have the same profile as MU, other than not being in the Big East."

RI and Dayton - are you serious?  MU had raised it's bball profile and status to being near the top of the best conference in the country.  These 2 schools can't even finish in the top half of a mid-major league.  

That's my point.
MU was an NIT team in it's final two season in conf. usa. Why couldn't Dayton? They have a solid fan base as MU has. It's could build it's basketball profile in a better league as MU has done in the Big East.

[muhs03]

That's my point.
MU was an NIT team in it's final two season in conf. usa. Why couldn't Dayton? They have a solid fan base as MU has. It's could build it's basketball profile in a better league as MU has done in the Big East.

I agree with you. The last time Dayton had good success was when Oliver Purnell was their head coach. 6 years later and where is Oliver Purnell? Trying to breath life into a lifeless program at DePaul. DePaul has no fanbase. Dayton runs circles around them and their students are far more passionate. Keep Purnell at Dayton and put them in the BE instead of DePaul and there is no doubt in my mind that UD competes (not for conference championships, but for NCAA berths).

[bilsu]

All time records of Big East teams or potential additions from top 50 winning programs. I also included all Big 12 teams or teams no one would think of.

2 Kansas 2038-647 .760
5 Syracuse 1810-819 .688
6 Temple 1766-974 .645 Nobody mentions because of Villanova
7 St John's 1724-896 .658
9 Notre Dame 1701-927
16 Western Kentucky 1639-809 .670 I think they were at one time in same conference as Louisville.
17 Texas 1638-963 .630
18 Louisville 1632-854 .656
21 West Virginia 1602-991 .618
23 Cinncinatti 1598-940 .630
26 Bradley 1565-1041 .601
27 Villanova 1551-870 .641
28 Connecticut 1549-864
29 Missouri State 1548-854 .644 surprise
30 Oklahoma 1526-977 .610
32 Georgetown 1520-946 .616
34 Oklahoma St. 1517-1055
35T St Joseph's  1499-1008 .598
35T Missouri 1499-1039
42 Kansas St. 1486-1058 .584
43 Illinois St. 1474-1066 .580 surprise
45 Dayton 1471-1026 .589
48 Marquette 1467-905 .618
49 Pittsburg 1465-1048

Xavier, Butler, DePaul, Seton Hall, Providence and South Florida are outside of the top 50.