Marquette hire important for Big East

[mattyv1908]

I think that even more than the fans on scoop, every team in the Big East is really hoping Marquette gets this hire right.  I've been criticized for suggesting that Buzz left due to perceived strength of conference yet that same logic is applied as to why a coach at a mid major would come to Marquette.  I personally feel this hire may be more important to the long term success than the league's first year for several reasons.

Marquette is a big name in the latest Big East line up.  I understand that Georgetown and to a lesser extent St. John's underachieved as well this year, but those schools along with Marquette should be consistently at the top of the conference along with Villanova.  It's important to the league that Marquette continues being a preeminent basketball school with regular tournament success.  A Big East conference featuring a Marquette struggling with success diminishes the conference allure.

Regardless of what we feel about this realignment, it's important nationally that the Big East is perceived as a power conference in college basketball.  A top shelf coaching hire not only solidifies Marquette's status, it continues to prove the Big East is a conference where coaches can go to reach the upper echelon of success in the country including national titles.  If coaches no longer see the league as a chance to pursue national prominence, it's only a matter of time before the quality of the product the Big East produces suffers.

This week has been trying for sure.  I hope for the university and the conference that the powers that be make a strong statement with regards to who will be Marquette's next basketball coach.  There's more riding on this than we may think.

[Eldon]

Has Val Ackerman been in on these talks at all? 

Should she be?  Just curious.  I don't actually know, I'd have to give it more thought

[GoldenWarrior11]

Has Val Ackerman been in on these talks at all? 

Should she be?  Just curious.  I don't actually know, I'd have to give it more thought

No, not at all.  Her focus should be on building the brand - and possibly setting up some permanent offices.

[warriorstrack]

No, not at all.  Her focus should be on building the brand - and possibly setting up some permanent offices.

Bring those offices to Chicago

[Warrior_2002]

Speaking of Val, I really haven't heard much of anything since she's taken the helm of the Big East.  I mean even when she awarded the trophy to Providence at the tournament she did t say a word.  The commissioner of this league needs to have a strong presence.  I haven't seen that from her.

[Eldon]

No, not at all.  Her focus should be on building the brand - and possibly setting up some permanent offices.

My goodness, is she literally building the offices by hand?  Why has this taken so long?

[GoldenWarrior11]

If the Big East wanted to, it could really make a big splash in the next few weeks after experiencing some knock-down blows.  The conference didn't perform well in the tournament, and the big time players in the conference (Georgetown, St. Johns and Marquette) really under-performed this year.  St. Johns appears to be struggling mightily as well (missing out on NCAAs, first round loss in NIT, and several players have already said they are leaving).

If Marquette makes the "home-run" hire we have been hearing about, and the league decides to expand to include institutional fits Dayton (after a potential Final Four appearance) and Saint Louis (consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, big media market), then the league regains the momentum it started last year by breaking away from the American Conference.  

I don't think this will happen, but it certainly would make a big, necessary splash.

[GoldenWarrior11]

My goodness, is she literally building the offices by hand?  Why has this taken so long?

They still have the temporary offices set up in NYC.  It's been said this is one of main priorities going forward.  Good thing the league was only created a year ago....   

[mattyv1908]

Agree, I think those two additions would make a solid 12 team league.

I believe the Catholic 7 did the best thing they could with the poor hand they were dealt.  It's too bad that the 2-4 similar schools with serious basketball credentials are way out west or there could be a great 16 team league assembled.

[keefe]

My goodness, is she literally building the offices by hand?  Why has this taken so long?

"Val, the ladies sh1tter is clogged again..."

[Galway Eagle]

If the Big East wanted to, it could really make a big splash in the next few weeks after experiencing some knock-down blows.  The conference didn't perform well in the tournament, and the big time players in the conference (Georgetown, St. Johns and Marquette) really under-performed this year.  St. Johns appears to be struggling mightily as well (missing out on NCAAs, first round loss in NIT, and several players have already said they are leaving).

If Marquette makes the "home-run" hire we have been hearing about, and the league decides to expand to include institutional fits Dayton (after a potential Final Four appearance) and Saint Louis (consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, big media market), then the league regains the momentum it started last year by breaking away from the American Conference.  

I don't think this will happen, but it certainly would make a big, necessary splash.

If Dayton makes the final four this year I give up on basketball.  

[keefe]

If Dayton makes the final four this year I give up on basketball.  

Everyone is going on about Miller's wife but she looks, uh...uh, chubby

[warriorstrack]

Cute in a Midwestern sort of way

[GB Warrior]

Cute in a Midwestern Dayton sort of way

FIFY 

[warriorstrack]

FIFY 

Thanks, I married one of those Midwestern girls, mine graduated from MU though

[Galway Eagle]

Everyone is going on about Miller's wife but she looks, uh...uh, chubby

Looks like they're so jealous of Milwaukee that they had to take a Milwaukee staple and make it a dayton thing. 

[GB Warrior]

Thanks, I married one of those Midwestern girls, mine graduated from MU though

And that's where we both one-up Dayton.

[warriorstrack]

And that's where we both one-up Dayton.

+1

[Shark]

I think the Big East also really needs to look at adding two more teams. Think about it...this year The Big East was up there in the RPI rankings, but we only got 4 teams in. That's because there's only 10 teams. If you expand it allows possibly 5 or 6 teams to be in and it allows a couple teams to be bottom feeders. This year it seemed like the top 7 teams in the Big East were all relatively close in overall talent and that created a tough climate for getting extra teams in.

The ACC is quality, but it is also a quantity league. People look more at how many of your teams are dancing than they do at the overall quality of the league. Two extra teams allows a lot of win distribution among the whole league. Just my thoughts.

[Eldon]

First and foremost I think Georgetown needs to be ranked top 10 year in and year out.  They are by far the flagship of the league.  When you think ACC? Duke.  Big12?  Kansas.  Big East?  Cuse and Gtown.

Since Cuse is gone now, we really need to put Georgetown front and center IMO.  Note to whoever posts stats comparing post-season performance between Gtown and MU, I know, it's unexpectedly close, but perception is reality in this instance.  Georgetown is a household name, Marquette, Nova, etc. are not.  Part of that is their academic reputation, part of it is the guys they put in the NBA, and part of it is from their glory days of the 80s.  Nevertheless, they, along with the MSG, are the BE's most valuable assets IMO.

I also would like to see Seton Hall and St Johns both get really really good and form an intense rivalry.  I think this is the only way we continue to increase attendance at the MSG.

EDIT: To Matty's overarching point, I agree.  This hire is HUGE for MU and the BE, especially given Brent's parting shots.

[GB Warrior]

I think the Big East also really needs to look at adding two more teams. Think about it...this year The Big East was up there in the RPI rankings, but we only got 4 teams in. That's because there's only 10 teams. If you expand it allows possibly 5 or 6 teams to be in and it allows a couple teams to be bottom feeders. This year it seemed like the top 7 teams in the Big East were all relatively close in overall talent and that created a tough climate for getting extra teams in.

The ACC is quality, but it is also a quantity league. People look more at how many of your teams are dancing than they do at the overall quality of the league. Two extra teams allows a lot of win distribution among the whole league. Just my thoughts.

I agree with this. Unless they rejected the offer, I can't for the life of me figure out why SLU wasn't added. I would have traded any of the new members for them. Adding one upper-level fixture in the Big East is important (two would be great, but we don't have many options!). The beauty of the old BE (and ACC) is that you could get in by getting some good quality wins in conference play just through good teams beating up on each other. Remove the top teams, and if that process repeats itself, it just looks pitiful - as it did this year. Right now, this isn't a conference that you can get a bid simply through above average conference play.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Im actually really excited to see Seton Hall next year. Their coach (his name is escaping me at the moment) has done wonders with that program getting whitehead and getting the Jersey kids to stay. Like the direction theyre headed.

[Shark]

I agree with this. Unless they rejected the offer, I can't for the life of me figure out why SLU wasn't added. I would have traded any of the new members for them. Adding one upper-level fixture in the Big East is important (two would be great, but we don't have many options!). The beauty of the old BE (and ACC) is that you could get in by getting some good quality wins in conference play just through good teams beating up on each other. Remove the top teams, and if that process repeats itself, it just looks pitiful - as it did this year. Right now, this isn't a conference that you can get a bid simply through above average conference play.

The worst part was Brad Stevens leaving. That program at Butler is not set up to succeed without a great coach and I'm not sure how that guy is gonna do it. But nevertheless they can fill the role of doormat for a while. This league simply needs more teams.

[mattyv1908]

The worst part was Brad Stevens leaving. That program at Butler is not set up to succeed without a great coach and I'm not sure how that guy is gonna do it. But nevertheless they can fill the role of doormat for a while. This league simply needs more QUALITY teams.

I think that makes your statement perfect.

[GoldenWarrior11]

The worst part was Brad Stevens leaving. That program at Butler is not set up to succeed without a great coach and I'm not sure how that guy is gonna do it. But nevertheless they can fill the role of doormat for a while. This league simply needs more teams.

Barry Collier.  Thad Matta.  Todd Lickliter.

Butler had three strong head coaches before Stevens.  Miller will do just fine.  He wasn't hired until July last year, well after most coaches are hired.  Let's see how he does with a full year under his belt.