Conference Comparables: BE is best

[Warrior of Law]

Obviously, the NCAA tournament is still to be played (and the official field, for that matter), but with a projected 7 of 11 teams in the field, this percentage leads all other leagues (Big 12 at 6/10).

MU's surprise rise in '21-22 is a big part of it.  UCONN returning to prominence has been great, too. Credit to the players, coaches & admin of the BE schools for creating the best men's basketball conference in the country.  A few BE teams in the SS and FF would solidify the claim.  What's also notable is that many of the former BE staples (Syracuse, Louisville, Pitt, BC, WV) are down.

The point is that we're in the upper half of the best league in college basketball, and that's where we belong. We have a lot to be thankful for as fans.

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-projecting-2022-march-madness-men-field

[Dickthedribbler]

Amen.

Couldn't agree more.

[BrewCity83]

Thi$ will likely pay big dividend$ when the NCAA tourney money i$ divvied up.  Only 11 teams to $plit the winnings of $even.

[romey]

I know with all the Scoop wisdom here someone can answer this.  I've often wondered why there are 2 12 vs. 12 play in games instead of 2 15 vs. 15 play in games?  Is it TV viewership driven, or is there a different reason.  It doesn't seem logical if you've earned a 12 seed that there are 12 lower seeded teams that don't have to play an extra game to get in the field of 64.  It would seem to make sense that the last 8 teams to get into the tournament should have to play in.

[GoldenWarrior11]

I know with all the Scoop wisdom here someone can answer this.  I've often wondered why there are 2 12 vs. 12 play in games instead of 2 15 vs. 15 play in games?  Is it TV viewership driven, or is there a different reason.  It doesn't seem logical if you've earned a 12 seed that there are 12 lower seeded teams that don't have to play an extra game to get in the field of 64.  It would seem to make sense that the last 8 teams to get into the tournament should have to play in.

Can't have play-in games featuring conference champions I thought. 

[LAZER]

I don't think the BE is the best conference in the country, but I think it's one of the best and that's good enough for me.  With the exception of VU, everyone else needs to do more damage in the tournament.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Can't have play-in games featuring conference champions I thought.

You can, you just need to be the bottom 4 seeds in the tournament.  But you can't (for example) put Loyola Chicago in the 11/11 or 12/12 play-in game because they got the auto bid.  Those play-in games are for the last 4 at large teams in the field. 

The 16 play in games are basically reserved for the worst leagues in NCAA - Big South, NEC, SWAC, MEAC and Southland. 

[panda]

Save nova, lots of decent to good teams. I'd like another program or two to take the step up to perennial top 25 status. Us and Uconn are the most likely imo.

[wadesworld]

I think they should either go back to 64 teams and remove the play-in games or make the play-in games be all of the 12 seeds, and make the 12 seeds the worst at at large bids.  Give all of the conference champions a chance to play a real NCAA Tournament.  It would suck to be a small school that never makes the Tournament, win your conference tournament, and then lose in Dayton before the Tournament even really starts.

[romey]

I think they should either go back to 64 teams and remove the play-in games or make the play-in games be all of the 12 seeds, and make the 12 seeds the worst at at large bids.  Give all of the conference champions a chance to play a real NCAA Tournament.  It would suck to be a small school that never makes the Tournament, win your conference tournament, and then lose in Dayton before the Tournament even really starts.

BLM
I like that idea.  I laugh when the Brewers tout that they "made the playoffs" when they essentially get the last one game wild card spot.  Pretty much a play in game.

[CountryRoads]

I think they should either go back to 64 teams and remove the play-in games or make the play-in games be all of the 12 seeds, and make the 12 seeds the worst at at large bids.  Give all of the conference champions a chance to play a real NCAA Tournament.  It would suck to be a small school that never makes the Tournament, win your conference tournament, and then lose in Dayton before the Tournament even really starts.

Agree. If you win your conference tournament then you should get to play on Thursday or Friday. The play in games just don't have the same feel at all.

It's also a complete joke that they are in Dayton every year. Moving it out of Dayton would make me like the play in games 100x more.

They aren't going back to 64 though, so I'd prefer the last 8 at larges play in that round. Preferably at the same site the actual tournament is so that fans can more easily attend the games.

[MarquetteMike1977]

I know with all the Scoop wisdom here someone can answer this.  I've often wondered why there are 2 12 vs. 12 play in games instead of 2 15 vs. 15 play in games?  Is it TV viewership driven, or is there a different reason.  It doesn't seem logical if you've earned a 12 seed that there are 12 lower seeded teams that don't have to play an extra game to get in the field of 64.  It would seem to make sense that the last 8 teams to get into the tournament should have to play in.

My understanding is from what I remember hearing at that time is when they expanded to 68 from 64 to get the agreement passed or ratified certain conferences wanted that as a condition for their approval.
Awesome post agree Big East is best.

[Galway Eagle]

Agree. If you win your conference tournament then you should get to play on Thursday or Friday. The play in games just don't have the same feel at all.

It's also a complete joke that they are in Dayton every year. Moving it out of Dayton would make me like the play in games 100x more.

They aren't going back to 64 though, so I'd prefer the last 8 at larges play in that round. Preferably at the same site the actual tournament is so that fans can more easily attend the games.

Yeah what's the logic of Dayton? Just  place that doesn't have enough else to do so they'll sell tickets?

[Spotcheck Billy]

Yeah what's the logic of Dayton? Just  place that doesn't have enough else to do so they'll sell tickets?

AFAIK, mostly related to geography and Eastern time zone (is that redundant?)

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

When the field expanded to 68, power conferences wanted the play in games to be all for 16 seeds.

The smaller conferences wanted the last 8 at large teams to play in the play in games.

We got the current setup as a compromise.

[Shark]

I think they should either go back to 64 teams and remove the play-in games or make the play-in games be all of the 12 seeds, and make the 12 seeds the worst at at large bids.  Give all of the conference champions a chance to play a real NCAA Tournament.  It would suck to be a small school that never makes the Tournament, win your conference tournament, and then lose in Dayton before the Tournament even really starts.

I agree with this completely but was talking to my friend who goes to Dayton every so often. His counter point was it allows some of the 16 seeds a chance to at least win a game in the tournament. That some of those fans seemed to enjoy that win. Though I don't fully agree it is at least something to consider.

[StillAWarrior]

When the field expanded to 68, power conferences wanted the play in games to be all for 16 seeds.

The smaller conferences wanted the last 8 at large teams to play in the play in games.

We got the current setup as a compromise.

As an admitted fan of a power conference program, I wish the smaller conferences would have gotten their way on this.

[wisblue]

Obviously, the NCAA tournament is still to be played (and the official field, for that matter), but with a projected 7 of 11 teams in the field, this percentage leads all other leagues (Big 12 at 6/10).

MU's surprise rise in '21-22 is a big part of it.  UCONN returning to prominence has been great, too. Credit to the players, coaches & admin of the BE schools for creating the best men's basketball conference in the country.  A few BE teams in the SS and FF would solidify the claim.  What's also notable is that many of the former BE staples (Syracuse, Louisville, Pitt, BC, WV) are down.

The point is that we're in the upper half of the best league in college basketball, and that's where we belong. We have a lot to be thankful for as fans.

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-projecting-2022-march-madness-men-field

I don't think percentage of conference teams in the field is a good measure of the strength of a conference.

It sounds good to get 7 of 11 teams in the field, but getting a lot of teams in the tournament with low seeds can also lead to the conference having a low overall performance in the tournament and having that pointed out after the first weekend.

[panda]

I don't think percentage of conference teams in the field is a good measure of the strength of a conference.

It sounds good to get 7 of 11 teams in the field, but getting a lot of teams in the tournament with low seeds can also lead to the conference having a low overall performance in the tournament and having that pointed out after the first weekend.

Yep - Save Nova, the new BE has been lackluster in the tournament.

[BrewCity83]

Yep - Save Nova, the new BE has been lackluster in the tournament.

...until 2022[/b]

[willie warrior]

I don't think the BE is the best conference in the country, but I think it's one of the best and that's good enough for me.  With the exception of VU, everyone else needs to do more damage in the tournament.

BEast is obviously a top 5 conference every year.

[Galway Eagle]

Yep - Save Nova, the new BE has been lackluster in the tournament.

Xavier has had two runs. Considering we didn't have a tournament in 2020 and haven't had 2022 yet 2/7 isnt half bad. But yeah I think Butler and Creighton have a sweet 16 each. Big goose egg from everyone else, not great.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

As an admitted fan of a power conference program, I wish the smaller conferences would have gotten their way on this.

I agree.  The at large play in games are more interesting to watch.

[panda]

Xavier has had two runs. Considering we didn't have a tournament in 2020 and haven't had 2022 yet 2/7 isnt half bad. But yeah I think Butler and Creighton have a sweet 16 each. Big goose egg from everyone else, not great.

There has only been four second weekend teams not named Villanova since the new BE inception. Not great - it surprised me when I looked it up.

[Dickthedribbler]

If the Big East failure to have many teams make deep runs in the NCAA Tourney is viewed as a sign of futility or weakness, what to make of the Big 10, who annually has 7-8 teams in the NCAA field, but hasn't won a Championship in 22 years. Even the blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.