[Cracked Sidewalks] Big East announces 16-team tournament

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

Big East announces 16-team tournament

The Big East announced today that beginning in 2009, the Big East Tournament will be expanded to include all 16 teams.  Currently the league's top 12 teams punch a ticket to MSG.Here's the news release.

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2007/11/big-east-announces-16-team-tournament.html

[Ready2Fly]

I like it.

[Dish]

With the talent level being what it is, it will be nearly impossible for a 9-16 seed to pull off what Syracuse did two years ago in the BE Tourney. To win 5 games in 5 days against this level of competition won't happen.

[spiral97]

I predict that in 2009 we will make the Big East tournament.  Heck, I'll go out on a limb and say we'll make the 2010 big east tourney too. 

Seriously though, I am not sure I like this or hate it.  On one hand, leaving the bottom 4 teams out gave them something to play for at the end of the season.  On the other hand, putting them in either means no bye round for the top couple of teams or that the bye round includes more of the top teams.

[rocky_warrior]

Wow, and how about the two day bye for the top 4 teams.  Makes that top conference ranking even MORE important. 

[SoCalwarrior]

It's a great thing for the players and fans who otherwise wouldn't get a taste of March Madness.  Good move.

[rocky_warrior]

On the other hand, putting them in either means no bye round for the top couple of teams or that the bye round includes more of the top teams.

Apparently you didn't read the full release

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Presidents of the BIG EAST Conference voted to include all 16 member institutions in the men's and women's basketball championship tournaments beginning in 2009.  The Presidents took this action at their annual meeting, which was held Nov. 6 in Philadelphia, Pa.

"Our Presidents performed a very thorough review of the tournament format," said Commissioner Michael Tranghese.  "After extensive deliberation, it was decided that inviting all teams to participate would provide a special opportunity to every men's and women's basketball student-athlete."

Currently, the top 12 teams in the final regular-season standings advance to participate in the men's and women's championships.  The men's championship is held in New York City at Madison Square Garden.  The women's championship is held in Hartford, Conn., at the Hartford Civic Center.

The new format will have the teams seeded 9 through 16 meet on the first day of competition.  The matchups will be No. 9 vs. No. 16, No. 10 vs. No. 15, No. 11 vs. No. 14 and No. 12 vs. No. 13.

The winners of those four games will meet seeds 5 through 8 on the second day of play.  The 9/16 winner will advance to play the No. 8 seed.  The 10/15 winner will play the No. 7 seed.  The 11/14 winner will meet the No. 6 seed.  The 12/13 winner will play the No. 5 seed.

Those four winners will advance to play the top four seeds in the quarterfinal round.  Thus, the top four seeded teams still will not play until the quarterfinals, which occurs in the current 12-team format.

[NYWarrior]

Wow, and how about the two day bye for the top 4 teams.  Makes that top conference ranking even MORE important. 

how about bye days at the office.  cough, cough, cough

[Secret of the Ouse]

I don't know if i like this, a team in the big east could potentially have 23 conference games, that seems a little excessive

[Ready2Fly]

As opposed to the 22 they potentially have now?

I guarantee you players on the teams rated 13-16 would KILL to have that potential extra game in MSG.

The best thing this format does is make the race for the #8 seed and #4 seed that much more interesting.

Big East administration is so much better than the Big Ten admnistration right now.

ESPN > BTN
BE Tourney > B10 Tourney

Both by long shots

[ChicosBailBonds]

BIG EAST Will Increase Basketball Championship Fields

To Include All 16 Members For 2009

Providence, R.I. –

The Presidents of the BIG EAST Conference voted to include all 16 member institutions in the men's and women's basketball championship tournaments beginning in 2009. The Presidents took this action at their annual meeting, which was held Nov. 6 in Philadelphia, Pa.
"Our Presidents performed a very thorough review of the tournament format," said Commissioner Michael Tranghese. "After extensive deliberation, it was decided that inviting all teams to participate would provide a special opportunity to every men's and women's basketball student-athlete."

Currently, the top 12 teams in the final regular-season standings advance to participate in the men's and women's championships. The men's championship is held in New York City at Madison Square Garden. The women's championship is held in Hartford, Conn., at the Hartford Civic Center.

The new format will have the teams seeded 9 through 16 meet on the first day of competition. The matchups will be No. 9 vs. No. 16, No. 10 vs. No. 15, No. 11 vs. No. 14 and No. 12 vs. No. 13.

The winners of those four games will meet seeds 5 through 8 on the second day of play. The 9/16 winner will advance to play the No. 8 seed. The 10/15 winner will play the No. 7 seed. The 11/14 winner will meet the No. 6 seed. The 12/13 winner will play the No. 5 seed.

Those four winners will advance to play the top four seeds in the quarterfinal round. Thus, the top four seeded teams still will not play until the quarterfinals, which occurs in the current 12-team format.

[GoMarquetteSays]

BIG EAST Will Increase Basketball Championship Fields
         

The Presidents of the BIG EAST Conference voted to include all 16 member institutions in the men's and women's basketball championship tournaments beginning in 2009. The Presidents took this action at their annual meeting, which was held Nov. 6 in Philadelphia, Pa.
         

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110707aac.html
         

[tomcrean4pres]

I LOVE IT!

[TallTitan34]

Congrats to USF on their first BET appearance next year!