I wish the Big East hadn't collapsed

[GoldenWarrior11]

The Old Big East (whether you think of the post-2005 version, or the pre-2005 version) was a conference that was just not suited to last.  You can't have a large contingent of pro-football schools merged with non-football (or pro-basketball schools) and expect to survive.  No other conference operated that way.  

The way I view it, would you rather be associated with East Carolina, Tulane, Tulsa, UCF and Houston or Georgetown, Villanova, and St. Johns?  It's a no brainer for me - and it was a no brainer for the C7 Presidents (the reason why the blocked ECU numerous times over the years from being admitted as a member).  

Do you think UCONN is excited about having to travel to Texas, Oklahoma and Florida in football?  Over New York, Illinois and Washington D.C.?  I know they won last year, but they have essentially traded the Big East (both pre-2013 and post-2013) for a version of Conference USA 2.0 (or 3.0 - depending on how you view the conference).  

It's the best for both sides.  I hold no grudges.  

[HutchwasClutch]

The Old Big East (whether you think of the post-2005 version, or the pre-2005 version) was a conference that was just not suited to last.  You can't have a large contingent of pro-football schools merged with non-football (or pro-basketball schools) and expect to survive.  No other conference operated that way.  

The way I view it, would you rather be associated with East Carolina, Tulane, Tulsa, UCF and Houston or Georgetown, Villanova, and St. Johns?  It's a no brainer for me - and it was a no brainer for the C7 Presidents (the reason why the blocked ECU numerous times over the years from being admitted as a member).  

Do you think UCONN is excited about having to travel to Texas, Oklahoma and Florida in football?  Over New York, Illinois and Washington D.C.?  I know they won last year, but they have essentially traded the Big East (both pre-2013 and post-2013) for a version of Conference USA 2.0 (or 3.0 - depending on how you view the conference).  

It's the best for both sides.  I hold no grudges.  

I would really love to add Cincinnati and UConn, adding two premier programs, and bringing the conference to 12 schools.  And I think if the BE pursued them, we'd have a good change at getting them both.  The problem is you just couldn't trust them to not be ready to jump to the Big 10, ACC, BIg 12, if one of those conferences would ever invite them (which is debatable if they ever would be invited to any of those).   So I don't think it would ever work or be the right move long term, but those two would help raise the profile significantly and immediately.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Has anyone looked at the American's scores today?

Tulsa loses 52-7 to Oklahoma.  SMU loses 43-6 to North Texas.  Temple loses to Navy.  Tulane is losing to Georgia Tech.  USF is losing to Maryland.  Their only win today (thus far) is UCONN over Stony Brook.  STONY BROOK!

If you're going to associate yourself with football schools, at least make sure you associate yourself with DECENT football schools.   

[Johnny B]

I would really love to add Cincinnati and UConn, adding two premier programs, and bringing the conference to 12 schools.  And I think if the BE pursued them, we'd have a good change at getting them both.  The problem is you just couldn't trust them to not be ready to jump to the Big 10, ACC, BIg 12, if one of those conferences would ever invite them (which is debatable if they ever would be invited to any of those).   So I don't think it would ever work or be the right move long term, but those two would help raise the profile significantly and immediately.

Id love this to happen,however can UCONN and Cinncy play Big east ball and play football elsewhere, how would that work. As far as Uconn Cincy getting invited to P5 schools......never gonna happen.

[River rat]

I would really love to add Cincinnati and UConn, adding two premier programs, and bringing the conference to 12 schools.  And I think if the BE pursued them, we'd have a good change at getting them both.  The problem is you just couldn't trust them to not be ready to jump to the Big 10, ACC, BIg 12, if one of those conferences would ever invite them (which is debatable if they ever would be invited to any of those).   So I don't think it would ever work or be the right move long term, but those two would help raise the profile significantly and immediately.

100% agree i cant understand why we would not offer it.  Sure they would always be looking to move, who cares it mutually benificial to both while it lasts. 
My guess is the BE presidents dont want the illusion of instability but i dont see it that way, as everyone knows the deal going in.  Possibly a bigger hurdle is where do those teams house their football?  No way in heck does the aac allow them to pull their bball teams and keep their fball teams in the aac. 

[Johnny B]

100% agree i cant understand why we would not offer it.  Sure they would always be looking to move, who cares it mutually benificial to both while it lasts. 
My guess is the BE presidents dont want the illusion of instability but i dont see it that way, as everyone knows the deal going in.  Possibly a bigger hurdle is where do those teams house their football?  No way in heck does the aac allow them to pull their bball teams and keep their fball teams in the aac. 

That seems to be the only problem. Any possibilities to just move bball. Please big east prez make it happen!

[GGGG]

The BE isn't interested in UC and UConn and the feeling is mutual.  Not going to happen.

[Galway Eagle]

Not to burst our BE bubble but the AAC isn't terrible guys.  I mean UConn, Cincy, Memphis, Temple and SMU's been doing good since Larry brown I mean it's a huge drop off to the rest but it's still good at the top.

[The Equalizer]

The way I view it, would you rather be associated with East Carolina, Tulane, Tulsa, UCF and Houston or Georgetown, Villanova, and St. Johns?
 

Except that was never the tradeoff.  It was never a consideration to be in a conference without Georgetown, Villanova and St. Johns.

The tradeoff was wether we (plus Georgetown, Villanova and St. Johns) would be with UConn, Memphis, Cincy, and Temple (plus SMU, Tulane, UCF, and Houston), or be associated with Butler, Xavier and Creighton (and probably SLU and Dayton eventually).

Plus, ECU was a football only member.  They were only admitted for basketball after the C7 left.  Tulsa wasn't added until after the C7 left.

[Johnny B]

Except that was never the tradeoff.  It was never a consideration to be in a conference without Georgetown, Villanova and St. Johns.

The tradeoff was wether we (plus Georgetown, Villanova and St. Johns) would be with UConn, Memphis, Cincy, and Temple (plus SMU, Tulane, UCF, and Houston), or be associated with Butler, Xavier and Creighton (and probably SLU and Dayton eventually).

Plus, ECU was a football only member.  They were only admitted for basketball after the C7 left.  Tulsa wasn't added until after the C7 left.


Rather be with cinncy uconn Memphis smu

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Not to burst our BE bubble but the AAC isn't terrible guys.  I mean UConn, Cincy, Memphis, Temple and SMU's been doing good since Larry brown I mean it's a huge drop off to the rest but it's still good at the top.

Except....in 2015 the American reeled in a grand total of 3 top 100 recruits, one of which was #100. They got outrecruited by the likes of the Atlantic 10, Mountain West, and West Coast Conference. The conference is dragging down recruiting. The American will be the east "coast" version of the WCC in a few years, with UCONN/Memphis/Cincy playing the role of Gonzaga/BYU/St. Mary's...that's assuming that UConn/Cincy don't get poached for one of the power 5 conferences.

[THRILLHO]

To Skat's defense, he merely said he misses the old Big East.

If that's what he was trying to say, nobody would take issue. But what he actually said was this:

our fan base has a delusional sense of grandeur.

and

the current conference is pretty weak.

Those are the parts I'd take issue with. Nobody thinks the current conference is as good as a few years ago. Most people saw the writing on the wall a long time ago and knew the break up would happen eventually. I think the outcome was about as good as we could have expected. But people are happy we are better off than we were in CUSA and we are now stable, and see the potential in a bball only conference. I guess I don't know which part of that he thinks is delusional.

As for it being pretty weak, it is weak compared to the old Big East and I think it had a down year last year, but it should be Top 5 year in and year out, and is more balanced than previous conferences. Maybe that's all he meant, but "pretty weak" is stated in absolute terms with no frame of reference. We haven't become the Horizon League or something, we'll send multiple teams to the tourney, recruit plenty of Top 100 players, see our games on TV, and send teams to the Final Four when the dice fall our way.

[GGGG]

Rather be with cinncy uconn Memphis smu

So you'd rather be a basketball school in the football playing AAC than in the current BE?

[MU82]

And I wish Scarlett Johansson would return to my life. What we had was so beautiful.

Scarlett, I miss you!

[keefe]

And I wish Scarlett Johansson would return to my life. What we had was so beautiful.

Scarlett, I miss you!

Well, she is just glad to be with a real man, for a change. She said to say hi, by the way, and wants some of her things back. Please mail them to us in Seattle.

[muwarrior69]

If that's what he was trying to say, nobody would take issue. But what he actually said was this: and
Those are the parts I'd take issue with. Nobody thinks the current conference is as good as a few years ago. Most people saw the writing on the wall a long time ago and knew the break up would happen eventually. I think the outcome was about as good as we could have expected. But people are happy we are better off than we were in CUSA and we are now stable, and see the potential in a bball only conference. I guess I don't know which part of that he thinks is delusional.

As for it being pretty weak, it is weak compared to the old Big East and I think it had a down year last year, but it should be Top 5 year in and year out, and is more balanced than previous conferences. Maybe that's all he meant, but "pretty weak" is stated in absolute terms with no frame of reference. We haven't become the Horizon League or something, we'll send multiple teams to the tourney, recruit plenty of Top 100 players, see our games on TV, and send teams to the Final Four when the dice fall our way.

Marquette and Georgetown had a down year; The top 5 teams had 20 wins or more, not bad for a 10 team league.

[Galway Eagle]

Marquette and Georgetown had a down year; The top 5 teams had 20 wins or more, not bad for a 10 team league.

Yeah but when two of the three teams that the country actually knows are elite (in this era) have a down year then the overall perception will be that the conference has a down year

[MU82]

Well, she is just glad to be with a real man, for a change. She said to say hi, by the way, and wants some of her things back. Please mail them to us in Seattle.

Don't let your ego go wild. She just prefers Seattle to Charlotte (and I don't blame her).

[Johnny B]

So you'd rather be a basketball school in the football playing AAC than in the current BE?

Yes if gt and nova were included.

[keefe]

Don't let your ego go wild. She just prefers Seattle to Charlotte (and I don't blame her).

Hell, I know that. It's the salmon fishing that gets her

[tower912]

The current iteration of the Big East is the absolue best long term solution for MU.   The previous version had taken the hybrid concept as far as it could go and then the inevitable collapse occurred.   The C-7 schools teaming up as they did stabilized everything for the basketball only schools and provided a long term, stable basketball-only platform.   IMO, taking on state schools with football teams is like going back to an abusive, cheating ex-boyfriend.   'Take me back, I've changed, think of the good times' until one of the power 5 conferences come calling, and then they are nothing but a vapor trail.    That is the oppposite of what the basketball only schools want. 

Was the previous version better?   Yes.   Is there a better basketball-only option out there?   No.   Embrace it and see what can be done to improve it in any way that remains D-1 football free.   

[muwarrior69]

Yeah but when two of the three teams that the country actually knows are elite (in this era) have a down year then the overall perception will be that the conference has a down year

My apologies to all the Butler fans as they too had a down year. If any team (in this era) has an "elite" track record it is surly the Bulldogs. If the league is going to make it's mark as a premiere basketball league we should not besmirch a teams record because of perception, but what they actually do on the court. My hope is the league will be viewed as the best conference from top to bottom. I want MU to play the best competition.  Seton Hall and Providence are presently making that effort. I am sure Butler will bounce back as well. Hope Depaul will get their act together. The reformed league is making that effort and I expect will continue to recruit well.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

This would never happen, but just for the sake of argument.. The ACC invites Marquette, GT,Nova, and St. John's as basketball only members. All other sports remain in BE (which then expands further). How much do YOU consider that option if you're running the show?

[GoldenWarrior11]

The current iteration of the Big East is the absolue best long term solution for MU.   The previous version had taken the hybrid concept as far as it could go and then the inevitable collapse occurred.   The C-7 schools teaming up as they did stabilized everything for the basketball only schools and provided a long term, stable basketball-only platform.   IMO, taking on state schools with football teams is like going back to an abusive, cheating ex-boyfriend.   'Take me back, I've changed, think of the good times' until one of the power 5 conferences come calling, and then they are nothing but a vapor trail.    That is the oppposite of what the basketball only schools want. 

Was the previous version better?   Yes.   Is there a better basketball-only option out there?   No.   Embrace it and see what can be done to improve it in any way that remains D-1 football free.   

This x1000

[GoldenWarrior11]

This would never happen, but just for the sake of argument.. The ACC invites Marquette, GT,Nova, and St. John's as basketball only members. All other sports remain in BE (which then expands further). How much do YOU consider that option if you're running the show?

For the sake of the said argument, this hypothesis could NEVER happen.  There cannot be "affiliate-basketball members" in a conference.  There can be "affiliate-football members" - see Notre Dame in the ACC, Navy in the AAC.  If you play basketball in a conference, you are a full member.