Sultan debating on the Wisconsin Scout Board

[tower912]

I read with interest the thread with Sultan debating some of the regulars on the Wiscy Scout board about the future of the MU hoops.   The bucky denizens seem to thing that the new conference is going to be a mid-major and expect MU's 2013 class to de-commit.    Sultan did a decent job of defending MU's position.   It is fascinating to read a perspective 180 degrees from our own.    So, will the premiere basketball-only conference be a mid-major, or will it be one of the top 3-4 basketball conferences in the country?

[Golden Avalanche]

I read with interest the thread with Sultan debating some of the regulars on the Wiscy Scout board about the future of the MU hoops.   The bucky denizens seem to thing that the new conference is going to be a mid-major and expect MU's 2013 class to de-commit.    Sultan did a decent job of defending MU's position.   It is fascinating to read a perspective 180 degrees from our own.    So, will the premiere basketball-only conference be a mid-major, or will it be one of the top 3-4 basketball conferences in the country?

Same people who in 2007 claimed MU wouldn't sniff the upper tier of the vaunted Big East and better get used to winning only two or three conference games a year living in the basement, right?

[tower912]

I disagree with their premise.   Paricularly if the ACC implodes, I see our future conference as consistently the 2-3 hoop conference in the country.  I just enjoy trying to think about things from a completely different perspective. 

[LAMUfan]

as long as buzz stays I don't see any of those guys de-commiting, that doesn't make a ton of since.  The conference should be good, definitely better than the current A-10 which is probably a good measuring stick.

[🏀]

I didn't read Sultan's thread, but realistically, I don't see the conference being top 3.

You're looking at probably the 4th, 5th or 6th best conference year-to-year. I'm fine with that. If a bunch of teams get good one year, they'll get higher.

Does that make them a mid-major, no.

What keeps them from mid-major status is TV revenue, retaining coaching staffs and sustained tournament success.

[GGGG]

It didn't help that some of those guys misread what I wrote.  I simply said that it would be the best basketball conference that doesn't sponsor football...couple guys didn't pay attention to anything after the word "conference."

There are really only five BCS conferences now.  ACC, B12, B10, P12 and SEC.  The C7 is toward the bottom of that mix, but still very good.

[Abode4life]

I get into this debate all the time at work too as I work with a bunch of people from Big Ten schools, but UW in particular.  The thing that blows my mind, is people try to argue that we are making a big mistake and are going to go into basketball obscurity, but they also keep forgetting about what is/was happening with the Big East before the C7 announced that we were leaving.  The Big East was already on its way down, and we made the best decision that we could, rather than stay with the rotating door of conference members from every other Mid-Major Conference.  

Hopefully in the next 2-3 years this will all be over for us, and then we can just focus on producing on the court.

[tower912]

The important point that Sultan made there and many have made here is this.....this is the best deal MU and the rest of the basketball-only schools can get.   The other conferences aren't looking for basketball-only schools and it isn't in the best interest of the basketball-only schools to have ECU and Tulane in their conference.    It isn't the Big East.   But it is going to be pretty darn good. 

[🏀]

The important point that Sultan made there and many have made here is this.....this is the best deal MU and the rest of the basketball-only schools can get.   The other conferences aren't looking for basketball-only schools and it isn't in the best interest of the basketball-only schools to have ECU and Tulane in their conference.    It isn't the Big East.   But it is going to be pretty darn good. 

+1 and +1 to Sultan as well then.

This is the only argument against those saying it's a mistake. Playing Tulane, ECU, Charlotte, etc are not in our best interest. Even if that means playing Dayton.

[Lennys Tap]

I read with interest the thread with Sultan debating some of the regulars on the Wiscy Scout board about the future of the MU hoops.   The bucky denizens seem to thing that the new conference is going to be a mid-major and expect MU's 2013 class to de-commit.    Sultan did a decent job of defending MU's position.   It is fascinating to read a perspective 180 degrees from our own.    So, will the premiere basketball-only conference be a mid-major, or will it be one of the top 3-4 basketball conferences in the country?

Didn't read the debate (link?) but the 2013 class can't de-commit just because we're headed for a new conference. Only way they're not required to come is if Buzz leaves.

[GGGG]

Didn't read the debate (link?) but the 2013 class can't de-commit just because we're headed for a new conference. Only way they're not required to come is if Buzz leaves.

They're still required to come if Buzz goes...but MU might let them out.

ADD: Thanks Murs.

[Dawson Rental]

They're still required to come if Buzz comes goes...but MU might let them out.

FIFY

[TJ]

I get into this debate all the time at work too as I work with a bunch of people from Big Ten schools, but UW in particular.  The thing that blows my mind, is people try to argue that we are making a big mistake and are going to go into basketball obscurity, but they also keep forgetting about what is/was happening with the Big East before the C7 announced that we were leaving.  The Big East was already on its way down, and we made the best decision that we could, rather than stay with the rotating door of conference members from every other Mid-Major Conference.  

Hopefully in the next 2-3 years this will all be over for us, and then we can just focus on producing on the court.

Anyone who argues the new conference will be a step down from the current Big East needs to check out reality.  The new conference is basically the best of the Big East minus UConn and Cincy.  It's a loss, but not that big of one.

[Lennys Tap]

They're still required to come if Buzz comes...but MU might let them out.

If (due to the conference change) the 2013 class a) wants to de-commit and b) MU allows them, then the guys on the Wisky board are right. If would prove a) that we're now perceived as a mid major and b) MU is OK with that. Buzz would be (justifiably) gone it a heartbeat. So no chance of that happening. The only way we lose the class of 13 is if we lose Buzz first.

[🏀]

Anyone who argues the new conference will be a step down from the current Big East needs to check out reality.  The new conference is basically the best of the Big East minus UConn and Cincy.  It's a loss, but not that big of one.

From today's Big East, it's a step down.

Syracuse, Louisville, UConn, and Cincy.

[mileskishnish72]

Two of them are gone, the other two would like to be and would disappear in a New York minute.

[TJ]

From today's Big East, it's a step down.

Syracuse, Louisville, UConn, and Cincy.

In the first year that the new conference could possibly exist - this year in fact - Syracuse and Louisville will not be members of the Big East.  I know I used the word current, and this site loves to get all literal on me, but come on...

[brewcity77]

Let's not forget C-USA when we left was probably a top 4 or 5 conference. Routinely placing 4-6 teams in the dance (and back then that meant even more) and both Marquette and Louisville made the Final Four in the last few years.

I think this will be a top 3-5 conference to start. Right now, the B1G and ACC will still be the powers. The SEC is really improving with Missouri added to Florida and Kentucky but aren't very deep as a conference. The Big 12 is similar, Kansas is great and there are some good programs, but we'll be close to them.

I think this will be a league that puts 5-7 teams in the tournament most years to start. The question will be if a team or two can transition from solid top-25 team to legitimate powerhouse. If two of Marquette, Georgetown, Butler, and maybe Xavier or Villanova can become regular top-15 teams and threats to make the Final Four every year and the league regularly has 2-3 teams playing in the second and third weekend, we'll be right there below the big 2.

We certainly won't be the typical mid-major. Just like C-USA wasn't a typical mid-major. Back in those days, it was normal for C-USA to get more bids than many BCS leagues, including the Big 10 and Pac-10.

[AirPunches]

The fact is that Badger fans are concerned that MU has Buzz and that their team plays the most boring style of basketball in the country. If they didn't feel threatened, they wouldn't care if MU was in the Big East or the "mid-major" B7.

It's also pointless to debate if the conference will be a mid major or not when there is no definition of mid major other than "non bcs football conference." If that's the case, then I agree it's a mid major but there will be teams in the B7 conference that mean a great deal more to college basketball then some Big10 teams including their own.

[buckchuckler]

Cmon, really it is the big 10 that is a mid major bball wise.
Their conference has won 1 championship in the last 20 years.
They have a team in their conference that has never made the NCAA tourney
One of their new members hasn't made the tourney since 91

And don't give me the football crap either.  They are even less relevant there.  2 titles in the last 42 years. 

[ecompt]

Those Badger buffoons should worry more about their pathetic team that managed to score three points in the last eight minutes at home against Michigan State. Swing offense, my butt.

[GGGG]

To be fair, I think most Badger fans realize their team isn't very good this year. 

[Litehouse]

Not to make this political, but after the presidential election, there were a lot of stories about how people pick the news source that suits their views, and they're in a bubble isolated from outside viewpoints and don't have an accurate sense of reality.  The stories were primarily directed to republicans because they lost, but the argument goes both ways, people pick a news source that caters to their pre-existing beliefs.

I think a similar thing may be happening with Big Ten fans because of the BTN.  They watch Big Ten games and see the studio guys constantly talk about Big Ten teams without coverage of any of the other conferences.  I think they're starting to lose a sense of reality outside their bubble, because they don't see as much non-Big Ten coverage anymore.  They had a self-inflated view of the Big Ten to begin with, but I think the BTN is making it worse.

[madtownwarrior]

care to elaborate?

Two of them are gone, the other two would like to be and would disappear in a New York minute.

[TJ]

care to elaborate?

I know it wasn't my post, but what part wasn't clear enough for you?