OT: Minny columnist pines for the old Big East

[srru86]

Minneapolis Star Tribune
Yeah, Villanova. Hallelujah, Big East. You have it right.

Can't deny Villanova credit for this year, but what is now the Big East is never going to be circa 1985 BE. That was a special, and gone, never to be seen again era.

I'm not old enough to remember a 25 team NCAA bracket. My father told me about going see the Big Dance in MSG hosting the NIT while NCAA was an also ran event.

I did live through the Big East history he mentions. It is funny how things change. I remember when UConn was at best the fourth best hoops team in New England and they hired some guy named Calhoun from Northeastern. We'll see if Ollie can keep things up in the AAC.

Despite the Wildcats success this year I think the hoops centric schools for the long haul will have some heavy lifting to remain relevant.

 

[RUfinal4]

Minneapolis Star Tribune
Yeah, Villanova. Hallelujah, Big East. You have it right.

Can't deny Villanova credit for this year, but what is now the Big East is never going to be circa 1985 BE. That was a special, and gone, never to be seen again era.

I'm not old enough to remember a 25 team NCAA bracket. My father told me about going see the Big Dance in MSG hosting the NIT while NCAA was an also ran event.

I did live through the Big East history he mentions. It is funny how things change. I remember when UConn was at best the fourth best hoops team in New England and they hired some guy named Calhoun from Northeastern. We'll see if Ollie can keep things up in the AAC.

Despite the Wildcats success this year I think the hoops centric schools for the long haul will have some heavy lifting to remain relevant.

Looking at this year's final 4 in both men and ladies you have Syracuse in both along with Nova for the men and UConn for the ladies. The former Big East had 50% representation in both.

 

[srru86]

That's right the old BE was the best hoops conference ever. But 'Cuse and UConn are not there anymore. Don't know that we'll ever see such dominance again. Next time the ACC, or anybody else, gets 3 into the final four will be the first.

Despite what all the Gavitt apologists claim, the idea that Hoops only schools might be a driving force in sports or TV hasn't been true since Lee Leonard and Bryant Gumble hosted the ESPN studio show aka SportsCenter.

 

[ru8081]

I don't miss the BE or the A10 at all! We had no business being in a conference competing against schools that don't even field FCS level football programs.

 

[OntheBanks]

I don't miss the BE or the A10 at all! We had no business being in a conference competing against schools that don't even field FCS level football programs.

We did compete with the BE football schools. BC, Miami, VT, Cuse, Pitt, and WVU.

 

[ru8081]

We did compete with the BE football schools. BC, Miami, VT, Cuse, Pitt, and WVU.

Yes that was great but sadly Paterno was correct. Would have been a great conference.

 

[ru66]

face it--football rules and so do p5 leagues--VU was an exception to the rule and the current BE basically bombed out if not for them

 

[friar10]

face it--football rules and so do p5 leagues--VU was an exception to the rule and the current BE basically bombed out if not for them

Just how do you figure that every team in the conference one at least a game except for the Hall who was screwed in the seeding. If any conference bombed it was the Big with Purdue and Mich state going out in the first round. The Pac 12 also was pretty pathetic think they were all gone after the first game except Oregon.

 

[ru8081]

Just how do you figure that every team in the conference one at least a game except for the Hall who was screwed in the seeding. If any conference bombed it was the Big with Purdue and Mich state going out in the first round. The Pac 12 also was pretty pathetic think they were all gone after the first game except Oregon.

I actually thing the BE will be fine. The NCAA allows them to spend 90% of the Athletic budgets on basketball while having 5 other sports. RU would probably be towards the bottom in HC compensation in the BE. 3M for a HC and most don't even have a FCS football team. Nice arrangement.

 

[srru86]

I don't miss the BE or the A10 at all! We had no business being in a conference competing against schools that don't even field FCS level football programs.

Agreed. Just because I respect what the BE was I have no desire to go back. And we can't forget the best years of the BE we were not part of that show.

 

[PatrickRU92]

Pine away.

 

[srru86]

I think the guy who wrote it is still wishing he could use his Remington Upright to file copy.