Around the Big East 18/19

Would be nice to actually compete in these real MSG tournaments instead of the stupid Holiday Festival against Cupcake U every year. I know Princeton is a pretty good team, but I mean in general over the years. I've been begging for Texas at MSG for a while now. Hopefully our new AD will demand that we start playing a lot more games that will put butts in seats at MSG OOC. Schedule Oklahoma, Florida, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Bama, Texas, Tennessee, FSU, etc. In other words, real national brand names that anyone will know even if they don't follow college hoops. That being said, I understand we will probably need to start winning again before getting chances at those guys consistently. I have total faith Cragg will ensure we don't schedule like a MAAC team again.
 
There are quite a few instant draw teams at the Garden. Syracuse and UConn should be there as much as I can’t stand both of them. They draw crowds, bad feelings, and big games. Duke does as well. A few more teams that draw well in nyc like Michigan and we are set and bringing the big games into msg. I’m sure the new AD will be all over this stuff.
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=297071]There are quite a few instant draw teams at the Garden. Syracuse and UConn should be there as much as I can’t stand both of them. They draw crowds, bad feelings, and big games. Duke does as well. A few more teams that draw well in nyc like Michigan and we are set and bringing the big games into msg. I’m sure the new AD will be all over this stuff.[/quote]

Those types of games definitely get circled on calendars for fans. Obviously fans like me will go regardless of who we play, but there's clearly much more anticipation for the opponents you listed. I still remember the last time we beat UConn I think in 2013 which is also the last time we played them I believe. They weren't a great team then, but I still remember being in a friend of a friend's place in Boston watching it (he was a UConn fan). It still felt great to see a win even when UConn was trending down. Cuse vs. St. John's should happen every year...make it some big event like the Empire State Cup at MSG/Carrier Dome alternating each year. When they stop being sore losers they can come to their senses. I think West Virginia/Virginia/VT would also be great options as well as Maryland to play somewhat regularly. What if we had Marist, St. Bonnies, Siena/Buffalo/Binghamton, Columbia, Fordham, Hofstra, Cuse, and St. John's in an Empire State Tournament?
 
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[quote="Mike Zaun" post=297073][quote="MCNPA" post=297071]There are quite a few instant draw teams at the Garden. Syracuse and UConn should be there as much as I can’t stand both of them. They draw crowds, bad feelings, and big games. Duke does as well. A few more teams that draw well in nyc like Michigan and we are set and bringing the big games into msg. I’m sure the new AD will be all over this stuff.[/quote]

Those types of games definitely get circled on calendars for fans. Obviously fans like me will go regardless of who we play, but there's clearly much more anticipation for the opponents you listed. I still remember the last time we beat UConn I think in 2013 which is also the last time we played them I believe. They weren't a great team then, but I still remember being in a friend of a friend's place in Boston watching it (he was a UConn fan). It still felt great to see a win even when UConn was trending down. Cuse vs. St. John's should happen every year...make it some big event like the Empire State Cup at MSG/Carrier Dome alternating each year. When they stop being sore losers they can come to their senses. I think West Virginia/Virginia/VT would also be great options as well as Maryland to play somewhat regularly. What if we had Marist, St. Bonnies, Siena/Buffalo/Binghamton, Columbia, Fordham, Hofstra, Cuse, and St. John's in an Empire State Tournament?[/quote]

Notre Dame would be a huge draw and good game for us at the garden also.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=297070]Would be nice to actually compete in these real MSG tournaments instead of the stupid Holiday Festival against Cupcake U every year. I know Princeton is a pretty good team, but I mean in general over the years. I've been begging for Texas at MSG for a while now. Hopefully our new AD will demand that we start playing a lot more games that will put butts in seats at MSG OOC. Schedule Oklahoma, Florida, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Bama, Texas, Tennessee, FSU, etc. In other words, real national brand names that anyone will know even if they don't follow college hoops. That being said, I understand we will probably need to start winning again before getting chances at those guys consistently. I have total faith Cragg will ensure we don't schedule like a MAAC team again.[/quote] Before your time, they had the holiday festival at MSG and every year there was a marquee opponent like UNC et al. I agree w you .
 
If we are going to be the host team every year for the Holiday Festival, I would love to see it be tied together with the old Lapchick Tournament and award a trophy to the winner.

Since Lapchick coached both St John's and the Knicks and the game is played at MSG, it seems like an appropriate thing to do to honor his memory.
 
[quote="MarkRedman" post=297081]If we are going to be the host team every year for the Holiday Festival, I would love to see it be tied together with the old Lapchick Tournament and award a trophy to the winner.

Since Lapchick coached both St John's and the Knicks and the game is played at MSG, it seems like an appropriate thing to do to honor his memory.[/quote]

Very good idea. Put together a four team, two night event, between Christmas and New Years. Have SJU the host team, include another good local (Iona) and have two good outside teams, maybe ND and West Virginia, for example. I would think that might revive what the old Holiday Festival was years ago.
 
[quote="Las Vegan" post=297087][quote="MarkRedman" post=297081]If we are going to be the host team every year for the Holiday Festival, I would love to see it be tied together with the old Lapchick Tournament and award a trophy to the winner.

Since Lapchick coached both St John's and the Knicks and the game is played at MSG, it seems like an appropriate thing to do to honor his memory.[/quote]

Very good idea. Put together a four team, two night event, between Christmas and New Years. Have SJU the host team, include another good local (Iona) and have two good outside teams, maybe ND and West Virginia, for example. I would think that might revive what the old Holiday Festival was years ago.[/quote]
It would be extremely tough -- if not impossible -- to revive what the old HF was years ago, when there were eight teams, including top-ranked teams like Michigan, UCLA (with Lew Alcindor) and Indiana, and a host of top-tier teams (like Bill Bradley's Final-Four Princeton squad). There was a Big Dance electricity about it back then. That said, there's a lot that could be done to make the current Festival a whole lot more attractive.
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=297068]Per Rothstein
Sources: Duke, Georgetown, Texas, and Cal will headline the 2019 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden.[/quote] Jesus 2 of the evil empire
 
Redken wrote: It would be extremely tough -- if not impossible -- to revive what the old HF was years ago, when there were eight teams, including top-ranked teams like Michigan, UCLA (with Lew Alcindor) and Indiana, and a host of top-tier teams (like Bill Bradley's Final-Four Princeton squad). There was a Big Dance electricity about it back then. That said, there's a lot that could be done to make the current Festival a whole lot more attractive.

Redken, I did not recall that in those days of yore, HF included 8 teams. The one you reference where the Johnnies beat Michigan in the finals after Bradley had a phenomenal game against Michigan in a losing effort in the semis was my first game watching the Johnnies in the Garden. I believe it was 1965. I just assumed it was a four team tournament as it was in later years. I still remember that great Johnnies team pretty vividly - the McIntyre brothers, Sonny Dove, Bobby Duerr and Houston (can't recall his first name). What a win that was!
 
Matt105 wrote: Gerry Houston scored 69 points in a game for lasalle HS

Thanks, I kept wanting to call him Allan Houston (one of my favorite Knicks who gave all of my kids personalized Jesus loves you autographs) - age does that to you!
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=297122]Redken wrote: It would be extremely tough -- if not impossible -- to revive what the old HF was years ago, when there were eight teams, including top-ranked teams like Michigan, UCLA (with Lew Alcindor) and Indiana, and a host of top-tier teams (like Bill Bradley's Final-Four Princeton squad). There was a Big Dance electricity about it back then. That said, there's a lot that could be done to make the current Festival a whole lot more attractive.

Redken, I did not recall that in those days of yore, HF included 8 teams. The one you reference where the Johnnies beat Michigan in the finals after Bradley had a phenomenal game against Michigan in a losing effort in the semis was my first game watching the Johnnies in the Garden. I believe it was 1965. I just assumed it was a four team tournament as it was in later years. I still remember that great Johnnies team pretty vividly - the McIntyre brothers, Sonny Dove, Bobby Duerr and Houston (can't recall his first name). What a win that was![/quote]
Expressed my agreement with you about the Michigan game in a separate thread that's currently posted. It was on January 2, following a brief New Year's break. Great, great win, but what most non-Redmen fans remember most about that tournament was the December 30 semi-final between All-America Cazzie Russell's No. 1 Wolverines and All-America Bill Bradley's Princeton squad. Princeton, behind Bradley, was up by something like 12 with four & a half minutes to go, but Bradley fouled out and UM prevailed, 80-78, on a game-winning shot by Russell. Ironically, both guys ended up being first-round picks by the Knicks. You got the starting Redmen team right, including Jerry Houston who scored the team's final three points with 20 seconds to go. Sonny (my all-time favorite) was magnificent, battling against UM's muscular front line.
 
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[quote="redken" post=297142][quote="NCJohnnie" post=297122]Redken wrote: It would be extremely tough -- if not impossible -- to revive what the old HF was years ago, when there were eight teams, including top-ranked teams like Michigan, UCLA (with Lew Alcindor) and Indiana, and a host of top-tier teams (like Bill Bradley's Final-Four Princeton squad). There was a Big Dance electricity about it back then. That said, there's a lot that could be done to make the current Festival a whole lot more attractive.

Redken, I did not recall that in those days of yore, HF included 8 teams. The one you reference where the Johnnies beat Michigan in the finals after Bradley had a phenomenal game against Michigan in a losing effort in the semis was my first game watching the Johnnies in the Garden. I believe it was 1965. I just assumed it was a four team tournament as it was in later years. I still remember that great Johnnies team pretty vividly - the McIntyre brothers, Sonny Dove, Bobby Duerr and Houston (can't recall his first name). What a win that was![/quote]
Expressed my agreement with you about the Michigan game in a separate thread that's currently posted. It was on January 2, following a brief New Year's break. Great, great win, but what most non-Redmen fans remember most about that tournament was the December 30 semi-final between All-America Cazzie Russell's No. 1 Wolverines and All-America Bill Bradley's Princeton squad. Princeton, behind Bradley, was up by something like 12 with four & a half minutes to go, but Bradley fouled out and UM prevailed, 80-78, on a game-winning shot by Russell. Ironically, both guys ended up being first-round picks by the Knicks. You got the starting Redmen team right, including Jerry Houston who scored the team's final three points with 20 seconds to go. Sonny (my all-time favorite) was magnificent, battling against UM's muscular front line.[/quote]
Bill Buntin & Oliver Darden were two of those muscular guys. Great battle
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=297144][quote="redken" post=297142][quote="NCJohnnie" post=297122]Redken wrote: It would be extremely tough -- if not impossible -- to revive what the old HF was years ago, when there were eight teams, including top-ranked teams like Michigan, UCLA (with Lew Alcindor) and Indiana, and a host of top-tier teams (like Bill Bradley's Final-Four Princeton squad). There was a Big Dance electricity about it back then. That said, there's a lot that could be done to make the current Festival a whole lot more attractive.

Redken, I did not recall that in those days of yore, HF included 8 teams. The one you reference where the Johnnies beat Michigan in the finals after Bradley had a phenomenal game against Michigan in a losing effort in the semis was my first game watching the Johnnies in the Garden. I believe it was 1965. I just assumed it was a four team tournament as it was in later years. I still remember that great Johnnies team pretty vividly - the McIntyre brothers, Sonny Dove, Bobby Duerr and Houston (can't recall his first name). What a win that was![/quote]
Expressed my agreement with you about the Michigan game in a separate thread that's currently posted. It was on January 2, following a brief New Year's break. Great, great win, but what most non-Redmen fans remember most about that tournament was the December 30 semi-final between All-America Cazzie Russell's No. 1 Wolverines and All-America Bill Bradley's Princeton squad. Princeton, behind Bradley, was up by something like 12 with four & a half minutes to go, but Bradley fouled out and UM prevailed, 80-78, on a game-winning shot by Russell. Ironically, both guys ended up being first-round picks by the Knicks. You got the starting Redmen team right, including Jerry Houston who scored the team's final three points with 20 seconds to go. Sonny (my all-time favorite) was magnificent, battling against UM's muscular front line.[/quote]
Bill Buntin & Oliver Darden were two of those muscular guys. Great battle[/quote]
Exactly. And 6'-6" Cazzie was built like a contemporary NFL linebacker or DE. Our guys looked like sticks against them, which made that victory all the more impressive.
 
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Redken wrote: Exactly. And 6'-6" Cazzie was built like a contemporary NFL linebacker or DE. Our guys looked like sticks against them, which made that victory all the more impressive.

Yup. Sonny Dove is also one of my all-time favorites, but he was not exactly burly. Bill Buntin & Cazzie were both built like brick you know whats.
 
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[quote="redken" post=297142][quote="NCJohnnie" post=297122]Redken wrote: It would be extremely tough -- if not impossible -- to revive what the old HF was years ago, when there were eight teams, including top-ranked teams like Michigan, UCLA (with Lew Alcindor) and Indiana, and a host of top-tier teams (like Bill Bradley's Final-Four Princeton squad). There was a Big Dance electricity about it back then. That said, there's a lot that could be done to make the current Festival a whole lot more attractive.

Redken, I did not recall that in those days of yore, HF included 8 teams. The one you reference where the Johnnies beat Michigan in the finals after Bradley had a phenomenal game against Michigan in a losing effort in the semis was my first game watching the Johnnies in the Garden. I believe it was 1965. I just assumed it was a four team tournament as it was in later years. I still remember that great Johnnies team pretty vividly - the McIntyre brothers, Sonny Dove, Bobby Duerr and Houston (can't recall his first name). What a win that was![/quote]
Expressed my agreement with you about the Michigan game in a separate thread that's currently posted. It was on January 2, following a brief New Year's break. Great, great win, but what most non-Redmen fans remember most about that tournament was the December 30 semi-final between All-America Cazzie Russell's No. 1 Wolverines and All-America Bill Bradley's Princeton squad. Princeton, behind Bradley, was up by something like 12 with four & a half minutes to go, but Bradley fouled out and UM prevailed, 80-78, on a game-winning shot by Russell. Ironically, both guys ended up being first-round picks by the Knicks. You got the starting Redmen team right, including Jerry Houston who scored the team's final three points with 20 seconds to go. Sonny (my all-time favorite) was magnificent, battling against UM's muscular front line.[/quote]

I remember watching the team practice at Alumni Hall before the Michigan game. Bobby Duerr was nailing it from the outside. I remember my buddies urging Bobby on, and muttering something like: “We’re going to need Bobby to shoot like that against Michigan!”
 
Bradley was magnificent vs the bruisers of Mich before fouling out which led to Mich getting back into the game and winning it.
 
[quote="Enright" post=297159]Bradley was magnificent vs the bruisers of Mich before fouling out which led to Mich getting back into the game and winning it.[/quote]
Princeton's coach, Butch van Breda Kolff, took a lot of heat for not sitting down Bradley when he had four fouls and the team had a double-digit lead over Michigan with about five minutes to go ... especially since there was no shot clock and they could have run lots of time off the clock.. Instead, he decided to stick with Bradley and the rest was history ... disappointing history for the Tigers and their fans, for sure.
 
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[quote="redken" post=297165][quote="Enright" post=297159]Bradley was magnificent vs the bruisers of Mich before fouling out which led to Mich getting back into the game and winning it.[/quote]
Princeton's coach, Butch van Breda Kolff, took a lot of heat for not sitting down Bradley when he had four fouls and the team had a double-digit lead over Michigan with about five minutes to go ... especially since there was no shot clock and they could have run lots of time off the clock.. Instead, he decided to stick with Bradley and the rest was history ... disappointing history for the Tigers and their fans, for sure.[/quote]

It just dawned on me, that I ‘could’ be old, because I remember that game...
 
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