What a difference a year makes

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

BIG EAST Statement on NCAA Tournament Selections – BigEast.com – March 18, 2024

We are very proud that UConn earned the No. 1 overall seed in this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament following another tremendous season that included both the Big East regular season and tournament titles.  Marquette, a No. 2 seed, and Creighton, a No. 3 seed, give the Big East three of the top 10 overall seeds in the tournament, as many as any other league.  We consider each of them legitimate contenders for a Final Four berth and another Big East national crown on April 8th.

2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament – Wikipedia

Record by conference

Overview of conference performance in the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Conference   Bids   Record   Win %   R64   R32   S16   
 
Atlantic Coast   5   12–5   .705   4   4   4   
Big East             3   10–2   .833   3   3   3   
Big Ten              6   10–6   .625   6   4   2   
Southeastern    8     8–8   .500   8   3   2   
Big 12                8     7–8   .467   8   5   2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Five BIG EAST Men's Basketball Teams to Compete in NCAA Tournament – BigEast.com – March 18, 2025

2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament – Wikipedia

Record by conference

Overview of conference performance in the 2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Conference   Bids   Record   Win %   R64   R32   S16   

Southeastern   14   15–7   .682   13  8   7          
Big 12                 7   11–3   .786    7   6   4             
Big Ten               8   12–4   .750    8   8   4             
Atlantic Coast    4     3–3   .500    4   1   1             
Big East              5     4–5   .444    5   3   0 

Big East men's NCAA Tournament update: It was fun while it lasted – SB Nation – March 24, 2025, 8:17pm EDT

The Big East got five bids to the NCAA Tournament and none made it out of the first weekend.

The NCAA Tournament that we all used to enjoy is officially dead.

With no limits on the NIL money that P4 basketball programs can funnel to college scholar athletes, 27 of the 31 NCAA Division I basketball conferences will inevitably become 'the minor leagues', feeding the major leagues. The Big East should remain the top AAA conference for the foreseeable future, but that's a big step down from the Big East's glory days.

Any way you slice it, the 2025 NCAA Tournament was a PR disaster for the Big East.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Not all of us can be good enough for the NIT.  Like Dayton.

[wadesworld]

BIG EAST Statement on NCAA Tournament Selections – BigEast.com – March 18, 2024

2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament – Wikipedia
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Five BIG EAST Men's Basketball Teams to Compete in NCAA Tournament – BigEast.com – March 18, 2025

2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament – Wikipedia

Big East men's NCAA Tournament update: It was fun while it lasted – SB Nation – March 24, 2025, 8:17pm EDT
The NCAA Tournament that we all used to enjoy is officially dead.

With no limits on the NIL money that P4 basketball programs can funnel to college scholar athletes, 27 of the 31 NCAA Division I basketball conferences will inevitably become 'the minor leagues', feeding the major leagues. The Big East should remain the top AAA conference for the foreseeable future, but that's a big step down from the Big East's glory days.

Any way you slice it, the 2025 NCAA Tournament was a PR disaster for the Big East.

A PR disaster for the Big East? 😂😂😂😂

Lol dude. Nobody gives a fugg about what Dayton or A10 fans use to make themselves feel better about themselves. If you think the ACC has separated themselves along with the other 3 football conferences from the BE and everyone else you're not as smart as you pretend to be. I can't imagine being so insecure with myself.

[tower912]

Regale us with tales of deep runs by the Flyers.

And yes, MU was responsible for COVID just to keep Dayton from having their first decent run since 67.

[Captain Quette]

I believe Marquette beat Purdue, Wisconsin, and Maryland this year. They are from the big 10, from what I understand.

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

Nobody gives a fugg about Dayton or A10 fans ...

I agree. The thread topic has absolutely nothing to do with Dayton nor the A10.

Do your honestly think that the P4 head coaches (who are competing against Big East coaches) for top-quality transfers and HS recruits are not going to refer to the Big East as a 'lesser' conference going forward?

[tower912]

The A-10 is the new JUCO.

[rocky_warrior]

Since I don't have patience for FF posts( tl;dr), I asked AI for a summary.  It said:

Big East excelled in 2024 (3 teams, Sweet 16), flopped in 2025 (5 teams, none past second round). NIL changes threaten conference's future.

[wadesworld]

I agree. The thread topic has absolutely nothing to do with Dayton nor the A10.

Do your honestly think that the P4 head coaches (who are competing against Big East coaches) for top-quality transfers and HS recruits are not going to refer to the Big East as a 'lesser' conference going forward?

Yes I think that. If their recruiting pitch is "we're better than the Big East!" They'll probably be losing a lot of recruiting battles.

Like I said, if Dayton/A10 fans sleep better at night because the BE had a down year, we all congratulate you.

Serious question. Why do you post here? You're a Dayton fan. MU fans care about you the one day a year we play you every 15 years or so on average. If any MU fans are going on Dayton websites telling Dayton their program is in trouble and their conference is collapsing they are a complete loser. Or if MU fans are doing that on B1G message boards they are completely losers.

Anyway, thanks for notifying us that we're effed. I can now stop caring about MU basketball. Appreciate you!

[Tha Hound]

Genuinely curious why Dayton of all schools has such bizarrely behaving fans. No history, no recent major success. Why is it that I always see insane ramblings from their fans on both this board(???)and Twitter? What's in the water down there?

[K1 Lover]

Dayton fans have the biggest inferiority complex, it's unreal. Hilarious, really.

[Hards Alumni]

BIG EAST Statement on NCAA Tournament Selections – BigEast.com – March 18, 2024

2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament – Wikipedia
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Five BIG EAST Men's Basketball Teams to Compete in NCAA Tournament – BigEast.com – March 18, 2025

2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament – Wikipedia

Big East men's NCAA Tournament update: It was fun while it lasted – SB Nation – March 24, 2025, 8:17pm EDT
The NCAA Tournament that we all used to enjoy is officially dead.

With no limits on the NIL money that P4 basketball programs can funnel to college scholar athletes, 27 of the 31 NCAA Division I basketball conferences will inevitably become 'the minor leagues', feeding the major leagues. The Big East should remain the top AAA conference for the foreseeable future, but that's a big step down from the Big East's glory days.

Any way you slice it, the 2025 NCAA Tournament was a PR disaster for the Big East.

No one asked.

[Uncle Rico]

Dayton sucks

[brewcity77]

Since I don't have patience for FF posts( tl;dr), I asked AI for a summary.  It said:

Big East excelled in 2024 (3 teams, Sweet 16), flopped in 2025 (5 teams, none past second round). NIL changes threaten conference's future.

If you want to follow it up with a "banned-no one cares about your constant ramblings" it would be a public service.

[TallTitan34]

[TallTitan34]

Genuinely curious why Dayton of all schools has such bizarrely behaving fans. No history, no recent major success. Why is it that I always see insane ramblings from their fans on both this board(???)and Twitter? What's in the water down there?

They have similar behavior as Providence fans yet with different intentions.

Providence fans act this way just to troll.  Dayton fans actually believe it.

[🏀]

Holy unnatural carnal knowledge man. We know Dayton and all of Ohio is a completely miserable place to live a life, but this is what you're resorting to?

You realize if you want to compare conferences from 2024-2025 it's actually:

SEC
--------
Big Ten
Big 12
--------
Big East
--------
ACC
MWC
--------
WCC
--------
A10
CUSA
AAC
MVC

You're not even bottom of the barrel. The A10 is nothing, it's a feeder conference to the big leagues. It's because Dayton surrounds themselves with like-minded mid-majors that have absolutely no idea what sustained success is because Dayton fucking sucks. That's why no one gave Dayton a thought when the Big East reformed itself into the most stable conference in America. The Big East knew Dayton was trash, is trash, has trash fans and will always be trash. I'm sorry, that's just what you have to deal with. I mean, even Buffalo Wild Wings made fun of Dayton in that "Expanded Tournament" commercial from way back.

Anyone. But. Dayton. Say it out loud everyone.

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

The A-10 is the new JUCO.

No cigar for that post.

NET - Conference Rankings - WarrenNolan.com

MAJOR LEAGUE
SEC
Big Ten
Big 12
ACC

AAA
Big East
Mountain West
Atlantic 10
Conference USA
West Coast
Missouri Valley
American Athletic
Big West
Ivy League

AA
Southern
Western Athletic
The Summit League
Coastal 
Big South
Horizon League
Sun Belt

A   
Big Sky
Southland
Mid-American
ASUN
America East
MAAC
Patriot League
Ohio Valley
MEAC
Northeast
SWAC

[Billy Hoyle]

With no limits on the NIL money that P4 basketball programs can funnel to college scholar athletes, 27 of the 31 NCAA Division I basketball conferences will inevitably become 'the minor leagues', feeding the major leagues. The Big East should remain the top AAA conference for the foreseeable future, but that's a big step down from the Big East's glory days.

Any way you slice it, the 2025 NCAA Tournament was a PR disaster for the Big East.

How did the A10 do again with their ONE bid, which seems to be the norm for them recently?

The BE is poised to be at an advantage when it comes to House and revenue sharing considering they do not have to share the overwhelming amount of the money with football:

The House settlement could ensure that trend continues, or even blossoms. Power conference schools are expected to pay football programs 75% of the $20.5 million pool. Take Texas Tech's reported breakdown: 74% to the football team, 17% to 18% to the men's basketball team, 2% to the women's basketball team, 1.8% to baseball, and the rest to other sports. That leaves less than $4 million for the men's program recruiting opportunities, and only $410,000 for the women's.

Meanwhile, schools without football programs can pour more of their resources into hoops—potentially enticing recruits away from power conference schools and building on their existing success. And because of a revenue-sharing cap, basketball-only schools don't even have to offer all $20.5 million to be competitive if they can't afford it. If a Big East program, for example, can afford only $10 million in revenue sharing, it can still pay its men's and women's basketball players more than its power conference counterparts.

https://frontofficesports.com/basketball-only-schools-could-see-power-surge-after-house-settlement-approval/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Power%20Surge%20for%20Hoops-Only%20Schools&utm_content=Power%20Surge%20for%20Hoops-Only%20Schools+CID_871b5a3573b4ffd7514b74c089277bd6&utm_source=FOS%20Daily%20Newsletter&utm_term=Basketball-Only%20Schools%20Could%20See%20Power%20Surge%20After%20House%20Settlement%20Approval

[Hards Alumni]

No cigar for that post.

NET - Conference Rankings - WarrenNolan.com

Shut it down guys, Warren Nolan has spoken!

Let's just ignore the NET I guess. (which is what you and Warren are using)   And the old RPI system.

The BEAST is 4th.

Honestly, are you stupid? (Rocky, you gotta let this go)

[wadesworld]

No cigar for that post.

NET - Conference Rankings - WarrenNolan.com

MAJOR LEAGUE
SEC
Big Ten
Big 12
ACC

AAA
Big East
Mountain West
Atlantic 10
Conference USA
West Coast
Missouri Valley
American Athletic
Big West
Ivy League

AA
Southern
Western Athletic
The Summit League
Coastal 
Big South
Horizon League
Sun Belt

A   
Big Sky
Southland
Mid-American
ASUN
America East
MAAC
Patriot League
Ohio Valley
MEAC
Northeast
SWAC

Guy comes here pretending to be some superior basketball knowledge and has to use warrennolan.com.  Maybe pay for a KenPom subscription if you want to sound intelligent.

Then again, you're a Dayton fan so checks out.

[🏀]

Shut it down guys, Warren Nolan has spoken!

I was wondering who was keeping Warren Nolan around, Dayton fans make perfect sense. 15 years behind the times and always behind the times.

[🏀]

Guy comes here pretending to be some superior basketball knowledge and has to use warrennolan.com.  Maybe pay for a KenPom subscription if you want to sound intelligent.

Then again, you're a Dayton fan so checks out.

T-Rank is free as well, but why upgrade to a 2005 Cavalier when the 1994 is still running strong.

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

The thread topic has absolutely nothing to do with Dayton nor the A10. [Post# 5 above]

Yet, you still persist in talking about Dayton on this thread, so I'm going to tell you a story that is highly relevant to the Big East Conference. I'll start by introducing you to Koby Brea – a totally unknown, unscouted, unrahked high school senior five years ago, who received only one Division I basketball scholarship offer – from Coach Anthony Grant.

Koby Brea Recruiting Profile (HS Class of 2020) – 247 Sports

Koby Brea Bio – Dayton Flyers official website

2023-24 (R-Junior)

• Named A-10 Sixth Man of the Year for the second time.  Only the second two-time A-10 Sixth Man ever.
• Led the nation in 3-pt. FG% (.498, 100-201); It was the highest mark in the NCAA in six years

Koby rarely, if ever, was in the Flyers' starting line-up during his injury-plagued four seasons at Dayton. His injuries hampered his lateral movement, so he was a defensive liability, but kept working to improve his strength and mobility.

Last summer it was learned (from multiple sources in UD's wealthy benefactor / NIL syndicate) that the Kentucky's wealthy benefactor / NIL syndicate had offered Koby $1 million to play is fifth season at Kentucky.  Dayton's NIL syndicate (not nearly as rich as Kentucky's) coulf only come up with $500,000 fo the 2024-25 season, so they wished Koby well, as he now had a fiancée and child to support.

Kentucky Lands Koby Brea; Dayton Transfer Considered Duke, UNC, More – Bleacher Report – May 2, 2024

Brea is coming off a historic shooting season for the Flyers. Per ESPN's Jonathan Givony, he became the fourth player in college basketball history to make 100 three-pointers while connecting on 50 percent of his attempts, joining Salim Stoudamire (2005), Mike Iuzzolino (1991) and Steve Kerr (1988).

Givony noted that Brea chose the Wildcats over a long list of suitors that included Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and back-to-back reigning national champion UConn.

Koby Brea Bio – Kentucky Wildcats official website

Koby Brea Career Stats – ESPN – updated March 24, 2025

As things turned out, Kentucky is getting their money's worth:

#6 Illinois Fighting Illini 86, # 11 Xavier Musketeers 73 – ESPN Box Score – March , 2025

#3 Kentucky Wildcats 84, #6 Illinois Fighting Illini 75 – ESPN Box Score – March 24, 2025

#3 Kentucky Wildcats 84, #6 Illinois Fighting Illini 75 – ESPN Game Recap – March 24, 2025

Koby Brea leads the way as Kentucky beats Illinois 84-75 for first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019

The Wildcats didn't return a single scholarship player from last season. Pope added nine transfers from programs that generally lacked Kentucky's history or stature. Koby Brea, a fifth-year senior who spent his first four seasons at Dayton, shot 10 of 16 from the floor and scored 10 straight Kentucky points during one second-half stretch.

The moral of this story is highly relevant to the Big East conference, as well as the other triple-A conferences:

If P4 programs such as Kentucky can afford to pay $1 million per season for a Dayton Flyers' reserve player, they can afford to buy most players on Big East rosters, and the situation will only become worse in the future, as the P4 conferences are widening the gap over triple-A conferences in both the accumulation of NCAA Tournament 'credits' for wins, and the value of TV media rights contracts between the P4 conferences and triple-A conferences is widening each year. They're going to have a lot of money to spend in the years ahead, and that's a direct threat to Big East and the other triple-A conferences. [/quote]

 

Koby Brea is now an NBA Draft prospect – SB Nation – February 13, 2025

Brea made the cut in ESPN's updated mock draft

Koby Brea has taken his game to a new level this season. Having spent four seasons at Dayton prior to joining the Kentucky Wildcats under the leadership of Mark Pope, Brea was a two-time A-10 Sixth Man of the Year.

He consistently impressed, but going from the Sixth Man of the Year in the A-10 to a key piece of a potentially championship-contending Kentucky team is not a small feat. Brea's game, especially as a passer and defender, have improved drastically. 

He has continued what he's known for, too — his red-hot shooting, and Pope has also praised his defense multiple times this season. Despite that, Brea, who is 22 years old, hasn't been ranked as a top draft prospect.

Well, his recent performances might be changing that script. In an updated mock draft by ESPN's Jeremy Woo and Jonathan Givony, Brea came in at No. 58, being taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2025 NBA mock draft: Pick projections ahead of March Madness – ESPN – updated March 13, 2025

58. Houston Rockets (Oklahoma City): Koby Brea, SG/SF, Kentucky, super senior

[Hards Alumni]

no one asked.