Conference Tourney Title - We're Due

[brewcity77]

False equivalent.  The real comparison should be the win that got you to the Elite 8, in this case Miami.

Personally I go NC>FF>BE regular season/Elite 8 about the same> BET title/Sweet 16.

No, because to become a Big East champion, you do so by winning that distinction. You are only remembered as an Elite Eight team by losing in the Elite Eight. Had our NCAA run in 2013 not ended at the hands of Syracuse, no one would remember them in that way.

There's a limit to my thinking, which is the Final Four. Because at the start of the season, everyone in the country is playing to reach the Final Four. In college basketball, you play to win your league, win your league tournament, reach the Final Four, or win the national title.

I've never in November thought "boy, I hope we are a Round of 32 team this year." I have at that point thought about conference titles and Final Fours. And any NCAA Tournament goal short of the Final Four is just that, coming up short. Enjoyable, to a limited extent, but never feels satisfying.

Things worth celebrating are things you win. You don't win an Elite 8, Sweet 16, or Round of 32 appearance, you get that by losing at that stage.

[Herman Cain]

False equivalent.  The real comparison should be the win that got you to the Elite 8, in this case Miami.

Personally I go NC>FF>BE regular season/Elite 8 about the same> BET title/Sweet 16.

To me Any NCAA status >Any regular season status. That is why we are all focused on getting the team back to the NCAA. Winning the Big East Tournament Championship get you in the NCAA tournament, but winning the first game of the NCAA is better than winning the Big East Tournament. etc

It is like the PGA Tour

[Silkk the Shaka]

Jumbo shrimp.

I hope you're not allergic to oxymorons, because we're serving jumbo shrimp at our wedding next weekend!

[Benny B]

Championship > Final Four > Elite 8 > Sweet 16 > Regular Season Conference Champs > Conference Tournament Champs > playing the first round on the West Coast > a toothy hummer > beating UW > catching your parents "in the act" > losing to UW > an injured starter > waking up missing a kidney > being up to your eyeballs in Cobra whiskey and lady-boy hookers > losing a game after being up 3 with under 0:05 because you fouled the other team while they were shooting a desperation three from the corner > beating DePaul > losing to DePaul > being married to Lorena Bobbitt > cancer

FIFY.

[amen426]

In college basketball, you play to win your league, win your league tournament, reach the Final Four, or win the national title.

I've never in November thought "boy, I hope we are a Round of 32 team this year." I have at that point thought about conference titles and Final Fours.

If that were the case, why has our bubble watch thread reached 49 pages? People care about getting in the round of 68. That was everyone's hope was back in November. No one was thinking about the Big East Tournament (unless we were extremely pessimistic that this was our only shot at a bid).

Which game are you going to be more upset if we lose? A Big East Tournament title game, or ANY NCAA tournament game?

Not even a comparison. One loss starts the postseason. The other loss starts the offseason.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

If that were the case, why has our bubble watch thread reached 49 pages? People care about getting in the round of 68. That was everyone's hope was back in November. No one was thinking about the Big East Tournament (unless we were extremely pessimistic that this was our only shot at a bid).

Which game are you going to be more upset if we lose? A Big East Tournament title game, or ANY NCAA tournament game?

Not even a comparison. One loss starts the postseason. The other loss starts the offseason.

Mhmmm. But Brew clearly has his mind made up.  Not worth trying to convince him otherwise.

[brewcity77]

If that were the case, why has our bubble watch thread reached 49 pages? People care about getting in the round of 68. That was everyone's hope was back in November. No one was thinking about the Big East Tournament (unless we were extremely pessimistic that this was our only shot at a bid).

Which game are you going to be more upset if we lose? A Big East Tournament title game, or ANY NCAA tournament game?

Not even a comparison. One loss starts the postseason. The other loss starts the offseason.

We're in the field, so now it's seeding watch.

And again, I'd be more disappointed losing the Big East Title game than a Round of 64, 32, or Sweet 16 game. One secures a title that can't be taken away (and we've never won) and the other is the season ending like 98% of the seasons in Marquette history have ended.

[Tums Festival]

I care about tangible things. A title is forever. A Sweet 16 is a week of optimism. As soon as you lose, that optimism is gone. Not so with a title. Winning tangible things, trophies, banners, titles, that matters. A week (or the 2 days an Elite 8 buys you), far less so.

Final Fours matter because you're playing for a national title and because it's tangible.

National Championship > Runner Up > Final Four > Conference Title (Either) > Elite 8 > And so on...

Since you're all about trophies and the like, you must've been way more impressed with that giant Milwaukee Classic Champions trophy we have than that measly thing we got in Atlanta 40 years ago.

[drewm88]

I'd probably put a BET title around the same level as a Sweet 16. Give me a BET and a 1st round exit over no title and a 2nd round exit.

That being said, you people are way too angry for how good things are right now, relative to the last few years. Take a deep breath and enjoy.

[brewcity77]

Since you're all about trophies and the like, you must've been way more impressed with that giant Milwaukee Classic Champions trophy we have than that measly thing we got in Atlanta 40 years ago.

If people really think winning a Round of 64 (or Tuesday play in) game is bigger than a Big East title, I don't know what to say.

[Bocephys]

That being said, you people are way too angry for how good things are right now, relative to the last few years. Take a deep breath and enjoy.

Welcome to the internet. It's mostly porn here, but the non-porn sections are filled with what you describe above.

[GooooMarquette]

This is ridiculous. Going to the Elite 8 with Buzz was far and away more memorable and better for the program than a Big East Championship would have ever been.

+1000

[GooooMarquette]

Quick, without looking, does anyone remember what year Kent State made the Elite Eight?

No. Of course not. Anything less than a Final Four is less than Big East Tournament title. No one cares about any NCAA results a year later that aren't happening the last weekend. BET warrants a banner. Elite Eight does not. No question, none whatsoever, BET title trumps anything less than a Final Four.

Quick, without looking, can you remember the last time St. John's won the BE Tournament.

No.  Of course not.

[naginiF]

FIFY.

GOLD!

[Coleman]

If you care more about moments, what moment was better? Vander laying in the game winner at the Garden to clinch the Big East, or crashing out against Syracuse 2 weeks later. If you could relive one of those moments in perpetuity, which would it be? Title clinching win or soul crushing loss?

Vander's winner over Davidson and it's not even close.

[Coleman]

FIFY.

No argument on any of that!

[Coleman]

If people really think winning a Round of 64 (or Tuesday play in) game is bigger than a Big East title, I don't know what to say.

I'd say the excitement level is roughly equal. Winning in the sweet 16 to make the elite 8 is 4 or 5 times as exciting.

You are putting way too much value on a 10 team tournament. It'd be nice to win but at the end of the day I could care less. Most of its utility is its ability to get you into the NCAA tournament or better your seed. That's really it.

[BossplayaOtto]

Well, I'd rather win the Big East and go one and done in the tourney than lose the Big East Final and get knocked out in the Elite 8, so I'd be willing to take our chances of winning the final.

Quint J, I think we have a new candidate for your signature hall of shame.