All Realignment Talk Here

[jerseyshorejohnny]

Hope they add Dayton if they go to 10.

Think St. Louis and Creighton would make sense if they go to a dozen.

I prefer a 10 team league, although it would be great for the soccer program to add St. Louis and Creighton.

 

[jerseyshorejohnny]

Andy Katz


Big Questions for Big East:


http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/70110/big-questions-on-exits-from-big-east

 

[jerseyshorejohnny]

I know there are logistical considerations but I would like to see Gonzaga and USF in this new configuration.

And - I think there's someone else we're all familiar with who would love to see USF a member of this new league.

Would like to see the "new" Big East form a strategic partnership with the West Coast Conf.

That is to say, would like each "new" BE team to play at least 1 game vs. a West Coast Conf. team every year.

Delighted that we are playing The University of San Francisco again next season at CA.

Wouldn't mind a road trip to play the University of San Diego and/or Pepperdine !!!!

 

[ras]

I know there are logistical considerations but I would like to see Gonzaga and USF in this new configuration.

And - I think there's someone else we're all familiar with who would love to see USF a member of this new league.

Would like to see the "new" Big East form a strategic partnership with the West Coast Conf.

That is to say, would like each "new" BE team to play at least 1 game vs. a West Coast Conf. team every year.

Delighted that we are playing The University of San Francisco again next season at CA.

Wouldn't mind a road trip to play the University of San Diego and/or Pepperdine !!!!

Dont think you have to worry about that w Lavin. Hes a W coast guy and always seems to schedule a W coast team.

 

[tom in salem]

Hope they add Dayton if they go to 10.

Think St. Louis and Creighton would make sense if they go to a dozen.

I prefer a 10 team league, although it would be great for the soccer program to add St. Louis and Creighton.

Perfect Kevin.
No need to be flying all our sports teams to California.
Good soccer additions also.
Time is on our side here.
Let's see what happens to the ACC first.

 

[qcredman]

I know there are logistical considerations but I would like to see Gonzaga and USF in this new configuration.

And - I think there's someone else we're all familiar with who would love to see USF a member of this new league.

Would like to see the "new" Big East form a strategic partnership with the West Coast Conf.

That is to say, would like each "new" BE team to play at least 1 game vs. a West Coast Conf. team every year.

Delighted that we are playing The University of San Francisco again next season at CA.

Wouldn't mind a road trip to play the University of San Diego and/or Pepperdine !!!!

Coach Lavin has helped us to snap out of our provincialism and being instrumental in the foundation of a coast to coast league would propel us into the twenty-first century.

 

[dee]

I know there are logistical considerations but I would like to see Gonzaga and USF in this new configuration.

And - I think there's someone else we're all familiar with who would love to see USF a member of this new league.

Would like to see the "new" Big East form a strategic partnership with the West Coast Conf.

That is to say, would like each "new" BE team to play at least 1 game vs. a West Coast Conf. team every year.

Delighted that we are playing The University of San Francisco again next season at CA.

Wouldn't mind a road trip to play the University of San Diego and/or Pepperdine !!!!

Dont think you have to worry about that w Lavin. Hes a W coast guy and always seems to schedule a W coast team.

The real question is how long will Lavin be at st johns?

 

[salty dog]

Does anyone have an idea of what Lavin thinks about all this? I'm a bit worried about losing him...

Despite the fact that Lavin is merely an employee, and this decision is about the long term viability of our basketball program, I cannot imagine that the decision would have been made without Lavin being consulted and offering positive input.

Lavin was consulted and agreed with the move.

 

[salty dog]

Forgetting things like travel, here is how I would rank the teams that have the most appeal for making this basketball conference:

1.) Butler
2.) Gonzaga
3.) Xavier
4.) VCU
5.) St. Louis
6.) Dayton
7.) Creighton

Insofar as Butler, my gut is that Stevens will eventually move on to a super elite program and big bucks. He will be UCLA's top target, and if not UCLA it will be a job too good to pass up. At that point Butler will once again be an unheralded mid major. There are safer choices than Butler, even if at present they don't look quite as appealing.

Not so fast. This guy seems like a character person and was already pursued. Maybe he is like Boeheim and will stay forever. Calhoun was another lifer at UCONN after the move from Northeastern.
Besides UCLA should stick with Howland. He is a proven coach who has demonstrated superior winning records at two Universities.

 

[Della9250]

If UCLA doesn't make the tourney, Howland is gone. It will be five straight years without a Sweet 16 appearance and three times in the last four years without making it to the dance. And this comes out of a conference that should make that almost automatic.

 

[newsman13]

Forgetting things like travel, here is how I would rank the teams that have the most appeal for making this basketball conference:

1.) Butler
2.) Gonzaga
3.) Xavier
4.) VCU
5.) St. Louis
6.) Dayton
7.) Creighton

Insofar as Butler, my gut is that Stevens will eventually move on to a super elite program and big bucks. He will be UCLA's top target, and if not UCLA it will be a job too good to pass up. At that point Butler will once again be an unheralded mid major. There are safer choices than Butler, even if at present they don't look quite as appealing.

Not so fast. This guy seems like a character person and was already pursued. Maybe he is like Boeheim and will stay forever. Calhoun was another lifer at UCONN after the move from Northeastern.
.

wishful thinking. this is how a small big east will turn into a small atlantic 10. the true majors will cherry pick the best coaches and PAY them...the rest will be stuck looking for diamonds in the rough, top assistants, and successful low major coaches. bold thinking is needed here.

 

[Coaster1955]

One program not being mentioned that I believe should at least warrant consideration is Davidson. Has a strong basketball history and pedigree. And might also work as a symbolic move into the Carolinas.

Forgetting things like travel, here is how I would rank the teams that have the most appeal for making this basketball conference:

1.) Butler
2.) Gonzaga
3.) Xavier
4.) VCU
5.) St. Louis
6.) Dayton
7.) Creighton

Insofar as Butler, my gut is that Stevens will eventually move on to a super elite program and big bucks. He will be UCLA's top target, and if not UCLA it will be a job too good to pass up. At that point Butler will once again be an unheralded mid major. There are safer choices than Butler, even if at present they don't look quite as appealing.

Not so fast. This guy seems like a character person and was already pursued. Maybe he is like Boeheim and will stay forever. Calhoun was another lifer at UCONN after the move from Northeastern.
.

wishful thinking. this is how a small big east will turn into a small atlantic 10. the true majors will cherry pick the best coaches and PAY them...the rest will be stuck looking for diamonds in the rough, top assistants, and successful low major coaches. bold thinking is needed here.

 

[juniorRed]

The real question is how long will Lavin be at st johns?

over/under - 10 years... Lav is da man!

 

[salty dog]

Forgetting things like travel, here is how I would rank the teams that have the most appeal for making this basketball conference:

1.) Butler
2.) Gonzaga
3.) Xavier
4.) VCU
5.) St. Louis
6.) Dayton
7.) Creighton

Insofar as Butler, my gut is that Stevens will eventually move on to a super elite program and big bucks. He will be UCLA's top target, and if not UCLA it will be a job too good to pass up. At that point Butler will once again be an unheralded mid major. There are safer choices than Butler, even if at present they don't look quite as appealing.

Not so fast. This guy seems like a character person and was already pursued. Maybe he is like Boeheim and will stay forever. Calhoun was another lifer at UCONN after the move from Northeastern.
.

wishful thinking. this is how a small big east will turn into a small atlantic 10. the true majors will cherry pick the best coaches and PAY them...the rest will be stuck looking for diamonds in the rough, top assistants, and successful low major coaches. bold thinking is needed here.

Well newsman, you could be right but remember the TV deal that these schools are predicting is not chicken feed and they could pay their coaches. Even when the Big East was on top, big schools cherry picked the coaches. Look at how many Providence, and Boston College coaches went to greener pastures. Recently the schools got good coaches away from other conferences ala, Lavin and Purnell. Must spend money though.

 

[Moose]

Forgetting things like travel, here is how I would rank the teams that have the most appeal for making this basketball conference:

1.) Butler
2.) Gonzaga
3.) Xavier
4.) VCU
5.) St. Louis
6.) Dayton
7.) Creighton

Insofar as Butler, my gut is that Stevens will eventually move on to a super elite program and big bucks. He will be UCLA's top target, and if not UCLA it will be a job too good to pass up. At that point Butler will once again be an unheralded mid major. There are safer choices than Butler, even if at present they don't look quite as appealing.

Not so fast. This guy seems like a character person and was already pursued. Maybe he is like Boeheim and will stay forever. Calhoun was another lifer at UCONN after the move from Northeastern.
.

wishful thinking. this is how a small big east will turn into a small atlantic 10. the true majors will cherry pick the best coaches and PAY them...the rest will be stuck looking for diamonds in the rough, top assistants, and successful low major coaches. bold thinking is needed here.

Well newsman, you could be right but remember the TV deal that these schools are predicting is not chicken feed and they could pay their coaches. Even when the Big East was on top, big schools cherry picked the coaches. Look at how many Providence, and Boston College coaches went to greener pastures. Recently the schools got good coaches away from other conferences ala, Lavin and Purnell. Must spend money though.

Also some coaches don't mind being the big fish in a little pond. Job security is better than being in one of the Big 4 conferences and finishing 9-12 every year.

This will not be a mid major conference. For that lets refer to Nate Silver piece.

 

[MCNPA]

Forgetting things like travel, here is how I would rank the teams that have the most appeal for making this basketball conference:

1.) Butler
2.) Gonzaga
3.) Xavier
4.) VCU
5.) St. Louis
6.) Dayton
7.) Creighton

Insofar as Butler, my gut is that Stevens will eventually move on to a super elite program and big bucks. He will be UCLA's top target, and if not UCLA it will be a job too good to pass up. At that point Butler will once again be an unheralded mid major. There are safer choices than Butler, even if at present they don't look quite as appealing.

Not so fast. This guy seems like a character person and was already pursued. Maybe he is like Boeheim and will stay forever. Calhoun was another lifer at UCONN after the move from Northeastern.
.

wishful thinking. this is how a small big east will turn into a small atlantic 10. the true majors will cherry pick the best coaches and PAY them...the rest will be stuck looking for diamonds in the rough, top assistants, and successful low major coaches. bold thinking is needed here.

I don't think our league will be small time. I think we'll be more specialized ala the Special Forces of college ball. The one thing I agree with though, is that this league has to bring money to the table to pay coaches, and needs a commitment from all member schools that they will do so as well. If we are going to make a go at this, we can't have half dozen schools that are trying to do things on the cheap. Butler is paying Stevens competitive money. SJU's paying Lavin competitive money. Need all schools to be on board with this and treat their bball programs with kid gloves. Being a big time program means real financial commitment to that program much like the big football schools do with their football programs.

 

[fan5577]

Forgetting things like travel, here is how I would rank the teams that have the most appeal for making this basketball conference:

1.) Butler
2.) Gonzaga
3.) Xavier
4.) VCU
5.) St. Louis
6.) Dayton
7.) Creighton

Insofar as Butler, my gut is that Stevens will eventually move on to a super elite program and big bucks. He will be UCLA's top target, and if not UCLA it will be a job too good to pass up. At that point Butler will once again be an unheralded mid major. There are safer choices than Butler, even if at present they don't look quite as appealing.

Not so fast. This guy seems like a character person and was already pursued. Maybe he is like Boeheim and will stay forever. Calhoun was another lifer at UCONN after the move from Northeastern.
.

wishful thinking. this is how a small big east will turn into a small atlantic 10. the true majors will cherry pick the best coaches and PAY them...the rest will be stuck looking for diamonds in the rough, top assistants, and successful low major coaches. bold thinking is needed here.

Newsman, I truly believe you are underestimating the strength of the new proposed conference. We could make more through a new TV contract then we are currently receiving. We also are not sure where the ACC will end up after the next round of "re-alignment". This new proposed conference could be the strongest "top to bottom" basketball conference in the country. Is it as top heavy as the ACC or other "power" conferences maybe not (yet) but the potential is good. As I said I "believe" you are wrong. No one knows for sure. We all have to wait and wee how this shakes out.

 

[fan5577]

Forgetting things like travel, here is how I would rank the teams that have the most appeal for making this basketball conference:

1.) Butler
2.) Gonzaga
3.) Xavier
4.) VCU
5.) St. Louis
6.) Dayton
7.) Creighton

Insofar as Butler, my gut is that Stevens will eventually move on to a super elite program and big bucks. He will be UCLA's top target, and if not UCLA it will be a job too good to pass up. At that point Butler will once again be an unheralded mid major. There are safer choices than Butler, even if at present they don't look quite as appealing.

Not so fast. This guy seems like a character person and was already pursued. Maybe he is like Boeheim and will stay forever. Calhoun was another lifer at UCONN after the move from Northeastern.
.

wishful thinking. this is how a small big east will turn into a small atlantic 10. the true majors will cherry pick the best coaches and PAY them...the rest will be stuck looking for diamonds in the rough, top assistants, and successful low major coaches. bold thinking is needed here.

Well newsman, you could be right but remember the TV deal that these schools are predicting is not chicken feed and they could pay their coaches. Even when the Big East was on top, big schools cherry picked the coaches. Look at how many Providence, and Boston College coaches went to greener pastures. Recently the schools got good coaches away from other conferences ala, Lavin and Purnell. Must spend money though.

Newsman, I truly believe you are underestimating the strength of the new proposed conference. We could make more through a new TV contract then we are currently receiving. We also are not sure where the ACC will end up after the next round of "re-alignment". This new proposed conference could be the strongest "top to bottom" basketball conference in the country. Is it as top heavy as the ACC or other "power" conferences maybe not (yet) but the potential is good. As I said I "believe" you are wrong. No one knows for sure. We all have to wait and wee how this shakes out.

 

[indyredmen97]

Forgetting things like travel, here is how I would rank the teams that have the most appeal for making this basketball conference:

1.) Butler
2.) Gonzaga
3.) Xavier
4.) VCU
5.) St. Louis
6.) Dayton
7.) Creighton

Insofar as Butler, my gut is that Stevens will eventually move on to a super elite program and big bucks. He will be UCLA's top target, and if not UCLA it will be a job too good to pass up. At that point Butler will once again be an unheralded mid major. There are safer choices than Butler, even if at present they don't look quite as appealing.

Not so fast. This guy seems like a character person and was already pursued. Maybe he is like Boeheim and will stay forever. Calhoun was another lifer at UCONN after the move from Northeastern.
Besides UCLA should stick with Howland. He is a proven coach who has demonstrated superior winning records at two Universities.

Stevens is an Indianapolis man (and perhaps most importantly, so too is his wife). He's got a 20 year contract and is not likely bolting Butler for one of the more glamorous schools any time soon. Other than Duke, Indiana University, or maybe even Notre Dame, Brad Stevens probably wont even listen.

 

[Class of 72]

If UCLA doesn't make the tourney, Howland is gone. It will be five straight years without a Sweet 16 appearance and three times in the last four years without making it to the dance. And this comes out of a conference that should make that almost automatic.

+1
Add to that scenario that Anderson and Muhammad will be gone regardless, it will be hard to hold the job at a college BB Mecca like UCLA. I think the names Mark Few, Jamie Dixon and ........John Calipari will be discussed.