Nova and the Mess the BE has in Rescheduling

[Not A Serious Person]

I just noticed that the BE has two games scheduled for today, Wed Jan 13 (Nova v Xavier and Depaul v Georgetown), and both of these games were postponed.

The BE has no game scheduled for Thursday, Jan 14 and the one game for Friday, Jan 15 (Nova v Uconn) is saying "postponed" on ESPN's website.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard/_/group/4/date/20210115

Unbelievably the last BE game scheduled that played was Tuesday, Jan 12, MU v Prov.  The next BE game that is currently expected to play is Saturday which is MU v St. Johns (Georgetown v Prov is scheduled at the same time)

To date, Nova has played three BE games, the least of any team (next is Depaul with four) As noted above, their next scheduled game for Friday has already been postponed.  Seton Hall has played the most, eight. MU and several other teams have played seven.

So Nova is four to six games behind the rest of the conference.  This means the BE has a decision.  Either some of these games do not get rescheduled (like Nova/MU) or Nova, Depaul and others are going to have to "suck it up" and play back-to-back or maybe three games in five days.

And all of this assumes the conference does not get waves of more postponements, which it probably will.

So, how many of these games get canceled, or do we see a bunch of games piled in a short number of days at some point this season? Does the NCAA have a rule about how many games can be played in a week (outside the conference tourney)?

[Not A Serious Person]

Follow-up. 

Nova is 3-0 and shown as being in first place in the conference.  Creighton is 6-1 and shown to be in second place in the conference?  Seton Hall is third at 6-2.

If the BE finishes with unbalanced schedules, how do you seed the BE tourney?  By total wins or winning percentage?  If it is total wins, Nova could wind up as a 3 to 6 seed considering how many games they are behind the rest of the conference.  Currently, they would be fourth by total wins.

[vogue65]

Let A.I. decide. 
That would be a good one.
Take the refs., fans, coaches, players, administrations, networks, NCAA, stadium managers, and travel staffs out of the equation.

[MUMonster03]

Follow-up. 

Nova is 3-0 and shown as being in first place in the conference.  Creighton is 6-1 and shown to be in second place in the conference?  Seton Hall is third at 6-2.

If the BE finishes with unbalanced schedules, how do you seed the BE tourney?  By total wins or winning percentage?  If it is total wins, Nova could wind up as a 3 to 6 seed considering how many games they are behind the rest of the conference.  Currently, they would be fourth by total wins.

I believe before the season started there was a minimum number of games that teams had to play against D1 opponents, I believe it was 13, so they only need a few more to be tournament eligible. I would think that most conferecnes planned for this type of scenario and already have a process in place to seed teams if games played are not equal.

It would be interesting to see a tie breaker for example betwen a 15-5 team and 12-4 one, especially if the 12-4 team swept the other one or won their only matchup. 

[WarriorFan]

Just waiting for a few notable teams to hit their 13 game target and then pack it in for the rest of the regular season.  MU is already at 13, but the record is too poor to consider this... but a strong team in a strong conference with 11-2 or 12-1 record really has no incentive to take risks between now and the tournament.

[Not A Serious Person]

Just waiting for a few notable teams to hit their 13 game target and then pack it in for the rest of the regular season.  MU is already at 13, but the record is too poor to consider this... but a strong team in a strong conference with 11-2 or 12-1 record really has no incentive to take risks between now and the tournament.

What about Fox Sports?  They are paying the conference big bucks for content.  I cannot think they are happy that they are not getting the conference games for programming?  As I noted above, Fox Sports has no BE content this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday!

Do they get a refund from the conference for missed games/content? If so, does this pressure the conference to start rescheduling, and sorry Nova, you might have to play 3 or 4 games in a week?

[GooooMarquette]

Just waiting for a few notable teams to hit their 13 game target and then pack it in for the rest of the regular season.  MU is already at 13, but the record is too poor to consider this... but a strong team in a strong conference with 11-2 or 12-1 record really has no incentive to take risks between now and the tournament.

Maybe...but there is something to be said for maintaining your momentum when things are going well. I know that doesn't last indefinitely, but when you're on a roll, coaches wanna coach, players wanna play and fans wanna watch.

And if some team pulls the plug now and conferences cancel conference tourneys, their next game might be mid-March. Going into the Dance coming off an 8-week layoff? Not so sure that's a good idea.

[CTWarrior]

Follow-up. 

Nova is 3-0 and shown as being in first place in the conference.  Creighton is 6-1 and shown to be in second place in the conference?  Seton Hall is third at 6-2.

If the BE finishes with unbalanced schedules, how do you seed the BE tourney?  By total wins or winning percentage?  If it is total wins, Nova could wind up as a 3 to 6 seed considering how many games they are behind the rest of the conference.  Currently, they would be fourth by total wins.

I've never heard of a league using anything other than winning percentage to determine order, and that makes the most sense.  I expect that is what the Big East would do.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

What about Fox Sports?  They are paying the conference big bucks for content.  I cannot think they are happy that they are not getting the conference games for programming?  As I noted above, Fox Sports has no BE content this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday!

Do they get a refund from the conference for missed games/content? If so, does this pressure the conference to start rescheduling, and sorry Nova, you might have to play 3 or 4 games in a week?

I'm sure they are going to pay the BE less by a prorated amount.  It's likely spelled out in the contract.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I've never heard of a league using anything other than winning percentage to determine order, and that makes the most sense.  I expect that is what the Big East would do.

True....but I don't think there have been any previous examples of conference teams not playing the same number of games.

I wonder if a system where each win counts for +1 and each loss for -1 (with winning% being the tiebreaker) would make sense with such uneven schedules. That would put the current rankings at:

Creighton 6-1
Seton Hall 6-2
Villanova 3-0
UConn 4-1
Xavier 3-2
Marquette 3-4
Providence 3-4
SJU 2-5
Butler 2-5
Georgetown 1-5
DePaul 0-4

Switches up the top 4 and keeps 5-11 the same as of right now.

[GooooMarquette]

I've never heard of a league using anything other than winning percentage to determine order, and that makes the most sense.  I expect that is what the Big East would do.

Yes, but we have also never seen a season where some teams may play several more or fewer conference games than other teams. If ever there was a year for conferences to consider a different methodology, this would be it....

[brewcity77]

My biggest worry is that other Big East teams could really use those games against Nova. Those are valuable resume building opportunities and make a big difference in terms of SOS.

[Not A Serious Person]

Yes, but we have also never seen a season where some teams may play several more or fewer conference games than other teams. If ever there was a year for conferences to consider a different methodology, this would be it....

Exactly, winning percentage or total wins produces exactly the same standings when everyone plays a balanced schedule and the same number of games.

This year to-date ... is a 6 -1 Creighton wrong to argue they have the best conference record over a 3-0 Nova.  It is not clear-cut like a balanced schedule gives you.

[brewcity77]

Exactly, winning percentage or total wins produces exactly the same standings when everyone plays a balanced schedule and the same number of games.

This year to-date ... is a 6 -1 Creighton wrong to argue they have the best conference record over a 3-0 Nova.  It is not clear-cut like a balanced schedule gives you.

All that matters is that the league members agree on the methodology. Winning percentage, fine. Games over .500, fine. Just as long as it's applied evenly, it doesn't really matter much.

[tower912]

This was always inevitable unless there was a bubble the players actually stayed in.

[Billy Hoyle]

Maybe...but there is something to be said for maintaining your momentum when things are going well. I know that doesn't last indefinitely, but when you're on a roll, coaches wanna coach, players wanna play and fans wanna watch.

And if some team pulls the plug now and conferences cancel conference tourneys, their next game might be mid-March. Going into the Dance coming off an 8-week layoff? Not so sure that's a good idea.

The NCAA is strongly encouraging conference tournaments to be canceled and coaches of some conferences are already being informed their tournaments are off. That gives an additional week (or two for some conferences to get in makeup games.

[Hards Alumni]

I get the feeling that these new more highly infectious strains are going to ruin the 2nd half of the basketball season as well as school/university years.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

The NCAA is strongly encouraging conference tournaments to be canceled and coaches of some conferences are already being informed their tournaments are off. That gives an additional week (or two for some conferences to get in makeup games.

It would probably be better for the teams to bubble up during that time and not travel.

[The Big East]

One of the related problems is the cancellation of the cupcakes. A component of NET is the win loss and efficiency. Those cupcakes give a team a chance to build up those two components . I think the 4 bottom teams would be 40-50 points higher if they would have got their cupcake games in.

[GooooMarquette]

I get the feeling that these new more highly infectious strains are going to ruin the 2nd half of the basketball season as well as school/university years.

A very real possibility. We have seen what the UK strain did across the pond, and now it's here. The strain from Ohio quickly overwhelmed hospitals in Columbus. And I don't see anyone rushing to impose new restrictions.

Down the road, it will be interesting to see how many teams get NCAA invites and then have to withdraw because of a positive test. I have a feeling the committee may need to have 'backup teams' on call....

[brewcity77]

A very real possibility. We have seen what the UK strain did across the pond, and now it's here. The strain from Ohio quickly overwhelmed hospitals in Columbus. And I don't see anyone rushing to impose new restrictions.

Down the road, it will be interesting to see how many teams get NCAA invites and then have to withdraw because of a positive test. I have a feeling the committee may need to have 'backup teams' on call....

I think that's almost a given, especially as I can't imagine them running a NIT this year.

[BrewCity83]

Let A.I. decide.
That would be a good one.
Take the refs., fans, coaches, players, administrations, networks, NCAA, stadium managers, and travel staffs out of the equation.

Why would Allen Iverson get to decide?  He'd put Georgetown first.

[GooooMarquette]

Why would Allen Iverson get to decide?  He'd put Georgetown first.

I thought he was talking about Andre Igoudala.

[Not A Serious Person]

All that matters is that the league members agree on the methodology. Winning percentage, fine. Games over .500, fine. Just as long as it's applied evenly, it doesn't really matter much.

Agree

With unbalanced schedules and teams all playing a different amount of conference games, it comes down to a simple question ....

What matters more?

If it is a conference win, then use total wins and Creighton is in first place.
If it is a conference loss, then use the winning % and Nova is in first place.

(again if everyone played a balanced schedule and the same number of games, either method would give the same answer.)

[GooooMarquette]

All that matters is that the league members agree on the methodology. Winning percentage, fine. Games over .500, fine. Just as long as it's applied evenly, it doesn't really matter much.

That would be ideal, but I have to wonder how they would get a consensus right now, since we already have a pretty good idea which teams will have played fewer games. It would have been preferable to develop a methodology before the season started.

[D'Lo Brown]

I get the feeling that these new more highly infectious strains are going to ruin the 2nd half of the basketball season as well as school/university years.

The extremely wide distribution of the virus was set in motion months before that variant even entered the United States.

Holiday parties, overrun malls & stores, people spending more time indoors, low vitamin D levels, kids coming back home, people just generally more willing to hang out with others... Lax behavior... Was the cause of all this.

[Hards Alumni]

The extremely wide distribution of the virus was set in motion months before that variant even entered the United States.

Holiday parties, overrun malls & stores, people spending more time indoors, low vitamin D levels, kids coming back home, people just generally more willing to hang out with others... Lax behavior... Was the cause of all this.

But we adapted to the known as a country.  This variant is going to make for a very rough couple of months until we understand more about it's ability to spread more easily.

[brewcity77]

But we adapted to the known as a country.  This variant is going to make for a very rough couple of months until we understand more about it's ability to spread more easily.

I think a lot depends on the vaccination roll out. It needs to be better, but from what I've read, the vaccination is proving effective against the new strains. If we can ramp up the vaccination rates, that will contribute to slowing the spread as there shouldn't be as many infected individuals.

[Not A Serious Person]

I think a lot depends on the vaccination roll out. It needs to be better, but from what I've read, the vaccination is proving effective against the new strains. If we can ramp up the vaccination rates, that will contribute to slowing the spread as there shouldn't be as many infected individuals.

Later today the US should exceed 12 million vaccinated, 36 million worldwide.

This number of vaccinated people is now increasing at about 1 million/day

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/

Sounds like this is good news for the upcoming baseball season.  Not fast enough for the CBB season.

[Galway Eagle]

Later today the US should exceed 12 million vaccinated, 36 million worldwide.

This number of vaccinated people is now increasing at about 1 million/day

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/

Sounds like this is good news for the upcoming baseball season.  Not fast enough for the CBB season.

Is that first dose or second?

[Hards Alumni]

Later today the US should exceed 12 million vaccinated, 36 million worldwide.

This number of vaccinated people is now increasing at about 1 million/day

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/

Sounds like this is good news for the upcoming baseball season.  Not fast enough for the CBB season.

Right, and this was what I was getting at.  The end of this mess is coming, but not soon enough to save CBB most likely.  Baseball should be somewhat normal, and I imagine that football will be back almost fully next season.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

We need to get up to 3M vaccinations per day.  Hopefully with JNJ and or AZ successfully finishing their trials will fix the supply end of that goal. 

[GooooMarquette]

We need to get up to 3M vaccinations per day.  Hopefully with JNJ and or AZ successfully finishing their trials will fix the supply end of that goal.

Doubt we'll ever get there in the US. By the time supply and distribution would reach that capacity (maybe by sometime this summer), we will probably have already vaccinated enough people that demand will be ramping down.

[Not A Serious Person]

Doubt we'll ever get there in the US. By the time supply and distribution would reach that capacity (maybe by sometime this summer), we will probably have already vaccinated enough people that demand will be ramping down.

The last three days we have averaged of 1.1 million vaccinations a day. A week ago it was 600k.

So Biden's goal of 100 million vaccinations in 100 days (1 million/day) is effectively done before he started.  We have already achieved the necessary daily rate and roughly 20 million should be vaccinated by January 20.

Not sure where the 3m/day number comes from ... did you just invent it because it sounds really large and ambitious?

[rocky_warrior]

The last three days we have averaged of 1.1 million vaccinations a day. A week ago it was 600k.

So Biden's goal of 100 million vaccinations in 100 days (1 million/day) is effectively done before he started. 

2 shots, so it's really 50M in 100 days right now.  But lets move the vaccine talk to the appropriate thread:
https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=60399.0

Thanks.

[GooooMarquette]

The last three days we have averaged of 1.1 million vaccinations a day. A week ago it was 600k.

So Biden's goal of 100 million vaccinations in 100 days (1 million/day) is effectively done before he started.  We have already achieved the necessary daily rate and roughly 20 million should be vaccinated by January 20.

Not sure where the 3m/day number comes from ... did you just invent it because it sounds really large and ambitious?

I wasn't the poster who raised the 3M per day number. As a matter of fact, I responded to the post with that number....

[Not A Serious Person]

Nova has been cleared for team practice again.  Their last full practice was Jan 3!

https://www.vuhoops.com/villanova-basketball/2021/1/15/22231483/cats-back-in-action-after-covid-related-pause-but-possibly-undermanned-for-seton-hall

Their next game is Tuesday against Seton Hall, then Friday against Providence.

They are way behind  ... they have played just three conference games and had six postponed. So, if the BE really intends on playing the postponed games, Nova has to add an extra game every week going forward (and, again, this assumes no more postponements).

Do you think they are going to make up these six games?

[Not A Serious Person]

This article was written Monday and said 18 conference games were postponed.  Since then five more games were postponed, for a total of 23.


The Big East schedule maker has a tough job in this season of COVID, rescheduling games for Villanova and other teams
by Joe Juliano, Posted: January 11, 2021

https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/villanova-wildcats-big-east-conference-postponed-games-covid-reschedule-ncaa-tournament-20210112.html

The official for the Big East Conference is Stu Jackson, the league’s executive associate commissioner for men’s basketball, and he has had plenty of work to do. At least 18 Big East games have been postponed to date, and Jackson is worried that he is running out of available dates to reschedule.

“I’m concerned because today we’re at a tipping point in that if a team or more teams go on pause due to COVID concerns, the opportunities to reschedule lost games and do so in a reasonable manner are dwindling because there’s just not enough time, schedule space, or the ability to match up games on a bye,” Jackson said Monday.

“We have our latest draft of the schedule [Monday] and it still contemplates everyone playing 20 games,” he said. “But again, being at that tipping point, if we get further pauses, I think that’s going to be near-impossible to do for all 11 teams.”

[tower912]

Sounds logical.   Going to be a hectic last month.   Hopefully.

[The Big East]

It is not the schedulers issue, it is the coaches who balk at playing games two days in a row. These are young kids in great shape . Also teams can go deeper into their roster .

[We R Final Four]

They don’t want to risk a loss. The want their best players (not the bottom 6) playing in these games. If playing back to back etc. is perceived as a disadvantage to your team—coach doesn’t want to play. I get it. These coaches play for Ws, not for the public’s entertainment.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

It is not the schedulers issue, it is the coaches who balk at playing games two days in a row. These are young kids in great shape . Also teams can go deeper into their roster .

They probably view the downside risk as larger than the potential upside gain.

[CountryRoads]

It’s beyond ridiculous that the BE let nova cancel their game against St. John’s before New Years because “they needed a break” and not because of COVID. They haven’t played since...

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Is the intention that our games with Gtown and Nova will be made up, or just cancelled? 

[rocky_warrior]

It’s beyond ridiculous that the BE let nova cancel their game against St. John’s before New Years because “they needed a break” and not because of COVID. They haven’t played since...

I'm really shocked the BE hasn't been more proactive in getting some extra games in.  Sure, it's impossible to get them all rescheduled, but they could have shuffled a few and opened up time (later/now) for make-up games.  Oh well.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I'm really shocked the BE hasn't been more proactive in getting some extra games in.  Sure, it's impossible to get them all rescheduled, but they could have shuffled a few and opened up time (later/now) for make-up games.  Oh well.

Right - like we have another week off.  Should totally be playing a game mid week, and using that opening to reschedule one of our missed games. 

[dgies9156]

One of the related problems is the cancellation of the cupcakes.

Would that include us????

We're not quite the bottom 4 of the BEast, yet, but.......

[BM1090]

Right - like we have another week off.  Should totally be playing a game mid week, and using that opening to reschedule one of our missed games.

Yep. No reason Marquette shouldn't be at UConn Wednesday or Thursday.

[Silent Verbal]

Yep. No reason Marquette shouldn't be at UConn Wednesday or Thursday.

With Bouknight out, Wojo would be down for that.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Yep. No reason Marquette shouldn't be at UConn Wednesday or Thursday.

I'm sure there are reasons.  If this doesn't come to pass, it's not like the BE just overlooked the rescheduling of games.  My guess is with the 13 game minimum, that the BE may not see the need to fly people around the country.

[BM1090]

I'm sure there are reasons.  If this doesn't come to pass, it's not like the BE just overlooked the rescheduling of games.  My guess is with the 13 game minimum, that the BE may not see the need to fly people around the country.

I should have amended it to "No reason Marquette shouldn't be at Uconn Wednesday or Thursday if the Big East is trying to play all the games".

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I should have amended it to "No reason Marquette shouldn't be at Uconn Wednesday or Thursday if the Big East is trying to play all the games".

Yeah I think there is zero chance of them making up a significant number of these games.  For the sake of the BET tournament seeding?  If there even is a BET when all is said and done?

The goal for this year is to get a significant number of games in to give schools decent tournament resumes and earn some $$$ in the process.

[Nukem2]

Yeah I think there is zero chance of them making up a significant number of these games.  For the sake of the BET tournament seeding?  If there even is a BET when all is said and done?

The goal for this year is to get a significant number of games in to give schools decent tournament resumes and earn some $$$ in the process.

Yep.  Nova has 4 unscheduled games with limited windows of opportunity except literally for back to back games

[Dawson Rental]

So far, MU hasn't had a Big East men's basketball game postponed due to a problem within MU's program in dealing with COVID.  That's actually a pretty awesome achievement for the athletic department and basketball program that should be acknowledged.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Yep. No reason Marquette shouldn't be at UConn Wednesday or Thursday.

One reason might be Xavier at UConn was a CBSSN game for this Wednesday that got postponed. MU at UConn in late February is a FOX/FS1. Yet, if that would be the lone reason, I would hope they could work around it.

[Billy Hoyle]

I'm really shocked the BE hasn't been more proactive in getting some extra games in.  Sure, it's impossible to get them all rescheduled, but they could have shuffled a few and opened up time (later/now) for make-up games.  Oh well.

they did early on, switching up St. Johns going to Gtown then Seton Hall.

How much of not adjusting is coaches thought? BYU was switched to got to Gonzaga with 36 hours to prepare and was not happy about that. Are BE coaches saying no to similar on the fly adjustments?

I say cancel the BET and do make-up game that week.  Schedule with one day in between if necessary. Tournaments are meant to be showcases and moneymakers, and the latter isn't going to happen this year.

[BrewCity83]

I say cancel the BET and do make-up game that week.  Schedule with one day in between if necessary. Tournaments are meant to be showcases and moneymakers, and the latter isn't going to happen this year.

No way.  Gotta keep the auto-bid dreams alive.

[Herman Cain]

Solid article on Xavier scheduling problems. Points out asymetrical standards among conferences.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/xaviersports/2021/02/03/paused-part-3-covid-has-left-xavier-between-rock-and-hard-place/4370764001/