New Big East Work Plan email

[MUMountin]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9108000/old-big-east-new-name-2

Guess this demonstrates it doesn't matter if you don't have public institutions in the league subject to FOIA--things are going to leak out anyway.

Few interesting things to me--

1. Exhorting schools to make sure that the BE tourney next year has good support.  Some recognition that the loss of 'cuse, UConn, Pitt, etc. fanbases will have an affect on attendance, and need to really get everyone on board to build this up now.  I had friends that just went to the A-10 tourney two weeks ago, and they said there were good crowds and atmosphere there, so hopefully that will continue.

2. Bringing up reffing/style of play--very interesting to see them questioning whether physical brand of play should be as liberally allowed in BE as it currently is.  Questioning the trend of basketball away from this.  States that may make it more difficult to succeed outside of conference and in the NCAAs if we are used to a style of play that is different than the norm in college bball.  Not sure what I think about this--I like the "brand" of tough, BE ball, and think MU has thrived well under those conditions.  But, I do wonder if that puts them at a competitive disadvantage when teams can't adapt to what's being called in different leagues.

3. Intrigued to see what happens with all of the other olympic sports--especially lacrosse, which currently only has 5 teams.  I think Lacrosse is going to continue to grow in popularity and become a significant addition to the conference and college sports in general.

[Groin_pull]

I agree about the importance of filling up MSG during the tourney, but let's not forget, there have always been plenty of good seats available during the first couple of days.

[JakeBarnes]

I agree about the importance of filling up MSG during the tourney, but let's not forget, there have always been plenty of good seats available during the first couple of days.

But Depaul is making a comeback!

[bradley center bat]

All sessions have been sold out for the Big East tourney.

[Groin_pull]

All sessions have been sold out for the Big East tourney.

Perhaps in tickets sold, but definitely not based on in-person attendance. Those early games look about half full.

[warriorchick]

Perhaps in tickets sold, but definitely not based on in-person attendance. Those early games look about half full.

You are never going to get 100% attendance in a tournament when

A.  You are required to buy tickets for all days of the tourney
B.  You have bye games.

Who is going to pay NYC hotel and meal prices to watch USF and DePaul play when their team isn't going to play until two days later?

[LAZER]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9108000/old-big-east-new-name-2

2. Bringing up reffing/style of play--very interesting to see them questioning whether physical brand of play should be as liberally allowed in BE as it currently is.  Questioning the trend of basketball away from this.  States that may make it more difficult to succeed outside of conference and in the NCAAs if we are used to a style of play that is different than the norm in college bball.  Not sure what I think about this--I like the "brand" of tough, BE ball, and think MU has thrived well under those conditions.  But, I do wonder if that puts them at a competitive disadvantage when teams can't adapt to what's being called in different leagues.

I'm glad they're addressing this.  I have liked the physical play of the Big East, but this season was too much for (Louisville raping Villanova up and down the floor in the BE tourney specifically).  I think the rough play only hurts you in the tourney and it hurts scoring too.  As much as I like the tough nature of the league, I think it's probably better to tighten up the officiating a bit and the formation of the new league is probably the best time possible to do it.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

But Depaul is making a comeback!

Guaranteed not to be playing on Tuesday night next year!

[GOO]

Based upon how the refs have called the last two games, if this is the way the NCAA's will be called, I hope we don't soften up the new Big East toughness and have the refs call cheap fouls.  As long as they call it the same both ways, and don't allow players to get out of control and hurt each other, let the small off ball stuff go...

The last two games were great, in that the game wasn't won or dictated by the refs.  Let em play physical ball as long as the refs keep it under control.

If this is how it will be in the NCAA's, then I hope the new Big East continues to be a physical league and reffed accordingly.   

[MUMountin]

Based upon how the refs have called the last two games, if this is the way the NCAA's will be called, I hope we don't soften up the new Big East toughness and have the refs call cheap fouls.  As long as they call it the same both ways, and don't allow players to get out of control and hurt each other, let the small off ball stuff go...

The last two games were great, in that the game wasn't won or dictated by the refs.  Let em play physical ball as long as the refs keep it under control.

If this is how it will be in the NCAA's, then I hope the new Big East continues to be a physical league and reffed accordingly.   

Agreed--very interesting to see this year that refs have been calling games a lot looser than what I remember in other years. 

Regardless, the most important thing is being able to adapt to whatever is being called in a particular game.  Seems to me it is easier to get guys to throttle up when a game is being called tight if they are used to playing aggressive than it is to try to get a team that plays more cautiously because of reffing to get more aggressive when the refs let 'em play.  So, I'd rather see the league remain on the "tougher" side of the equation.

[Coleman]

nvm.

it doesnt work out logistically.

[Windyplayer]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9108000/old-big-east-new-name-2
I had friends that just went to the A-10 tourney two weeks ago, and they said there were good crowds and atmosphere there, so hopefully that will continue.

I went to the Charlotte-SLU and Butler-LaSalle games at Barclays and the crowd was underwhelming to say the least. There were 5,000-7,000 at the games and the entire upper level was blocked off by a massive black sheet. Granted, I went on a Friday afternoon, but still, there was no atmosphere. I'm not saying that was any indication of what the new Big East will experience next year, just stating my contradictory opinion.