Te Big East is easily the best conference in college basketball. With Louisville, UCONN, Syracuse, Villanova, & West Virginia the Big East has five top 15 type teams.

Throw in very good teams in Marquette, Georgetown, Cincy, Pittsburgh, and Notre Dame and the Big East potentially has 7-9 NCAA tounrey teams.

Should be a great year for Eastern Basketball!

and WVU has it's first real test tonight--we go into Austin to play Texas

it used to be we'd hope that we won't get blown out but after last year, we know that we could pull this off and beat Texas

I'm not sure if we will because Texas is just a superior team, but we beat more than one "superior" team last season

Should be a great game of contrasting styles

WVU's patient back door cuts versus Texas inside low post game of rebounding.

If we don't come out on top, Im hoping to draw Kentucky tomorrow night. I think WVU matches up well with UK and will win this game.

have these guys ever heard of a freaking free throw?????

we should have had this game-missing 3 of one and ones

that is not the way to win close games

Great game by WVU until the end. They are such a fun team to watch, so skilled in their offense. But what hurt them throughout the second half is that they did not box out. I know Texas was taller, but if they had just gotten rebounds and not given Texas second and third shots, they would have won easily.

Ok, they could have made a couple of free throws as well.

But good game by WVU, they are legit this year as well.

Rebounding, uncharacteristic turnovers, and free throw shooting allowed for Texas to win this game.

We should beat Kentucky tomorrow night. I love this team. Its great to be a fan of WVU athletics right now. Two teams close to being in the top 10 in football and basketball.

Joe Herber is a hot one, huh?

yes he is my friend, yes he is

Syracuse lost to Bucknell at the carrierDome tonight 74-69. I guess beating Kansas in the NCAA tourney last year wasn't a fluke.

I wouldn't be surprised if UConn doesn't play with the composure needed to beat the Zags tonight, but it should be a good game.

Should be a fantastic game. I love the Zags. Typically, I would root for a Big Eas team. But, Gonzaga captured my heart five years ago.

UCONN should win this game IMO. Gonzaga is probably exhaused after the 3 OT game against MSU.

The ZAGS have depth, so they will sub a lot.

Rudy Gay is looking special. However, Adam Morrison's 41 points was Larry Birdish willing his team to the victory.

Should be a great one!

I wasn't going to go there....but you made the fatal error of talking smack on the ACC board. So, I'll just point out that a less subjective view, that of Jeff Sagarin's computer ratings, begs to differ. As of 11/23:

1 ATLANTIC COAST = 83.40
2 SOUTHEASTERN = 82.90
3 BIG 12 = 82.18
4 BIG TEN = 81.82
5 BIG EAST = 81.51

Cumulative record of Big East vs. non-conference opponents: 26-7 (78.7%)
ACC vs. non-conference opponents: 31-4 (88.6%)

Yes, the Big East has some very strong teams, but thats expected when you have a conference with something like 43 schools in it.

yeah, and?

the season is what-two weeks old

who has Duke played as opposed to who someone like Texas or Gonzaga, or even WVU, has played

Duke doesn't play a real team until they host Indiana and then again until they go to Austin

we'll see how Duke and the rest of the ACC finish out the cupcake time

Just a minor point,but if Duke is hosting IU then the people who are paying upwards of $300 for seats at Assembly Hall next week are in for a major shock. :cool:

....wow this thread has gotten quiet....
...to revive it, I have a question for you Big Easters....what is the system behind scheduling games this year for the 16 teams?? It looks like most teams play each of the other teams once, maybe one or two of them twice, but it also looks like some teams don't even play their other conference members at all this season. Does anyone know if there's some method to the mayhem?

Yeah, you play 3 opponents twice and 2 opponents once, and TV Dictates most of the time who you play twice because normally CBS will pick up a game and then ESPN will pick up the other game, and then everything else filters down.

ummmm....3 opponents twice and 2 opponents once??? that's a total of only 8 games...??? Do you mean 3 opponents twice and 2 opponents you don't play at all?

Yeah, that's what I mean, 2 opponents they don't play at all. I'm happy as a Pitt fan not to play Villanova this year.

It appears like good scheduling, that the better teams get a tougher schedule but the Selection Committee has not rewarded that in last several years.

Case in Point: Notre Dame going 9-7 in conference last two seasons while playing UCONN, Pitt, and Syracuse twice and not getting a bid. Last year got a little tainted, cause they lost to Rutgers I think in opening round of Big East tourney.

I think it's going to be difficult for the conference to get more than six bids just the way the selection committee often favors that out-of-conference schedule much more than the in-conference performance, but at the same time, the Big East teams beating each other up can hurt a teams "resume".

WVU just pulled off a major win tonght--handed the Sooners their jocks

whoo hoo!

great win for the mountaineers. they needed it.

http://bigeastball.blogspot.com

Eers shot lights out, hitting 24 of 28 from the field. and playing against a very partisan OU crowd. Next major test comes in early January at Villanova. That game could be a war. Last year, we lost to Nova by about 40 at their place.

do we play Nova before or after UCLA

We're at Nova on Jan. 8; at UCLA Jan. 21

I'm excited for the Big East season which starts tomorrow.

Pitt is it again! We've known for a while that we have some awesome freshman like Levance Fields and Tyrell Biggs, now with these victories (like over Wisconsin), people will start taking notice. Pitt is 16-1 in the last 17 games against Big Ten opponents. That doesn't include just Penn State. They've also won against Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio State in that span.

West Virginia got that big win against Oklahoma and Pittsnoggle is shining. I'm looking forward to the 2 WVU-Pitt matchups in February.

The conference will be tough. Even DePaul, with a record towards the bottom, has got an RPI in the top 20. Wonder how much teams will beat each other up. There are probably 12 teams that still could put together soild NCAA resumes (UCONN, Syr, L'Ville, Cin, Pitt, WVU, GTown, Nova, Rutgers, ND, Marq, DePaul)

Who might choke?

WVU almost did last night

barely beat USF

UConn bounced back sort of against LSU, being fortunate to win by one at home. LSU is a very tough team that nobody will want to face in the tournament should they make it- I think they will- they should just keep getting better.

LSU has already beaten WVU this season

they're a good team--I'm curious to see how they do in the SEC

LSU is ultra talented & a hard team to figure out. They lost to some teams they should have beaten & beat WVU on the road & almost pulled off a monster upset in Storrs.

Tough loss for Villanova at home against West Virginia. Besides this loss, they have looked spectacular so far this season. They should be able to compete with Connecticut and Louisville for 1st in the Big East. West Virginia is going to give a lot of teams fits, and could be a tough team to go up against in the Big Dance.

Louisville has already lost to Nova this season

I think that WVU has a great chance to take the championship this year

I think that WVU will win the basketball and football championships for the next 3 years !!!

HotlantaTarheel: WVU is good, but you're a dreamer. John Denver will come back to life before that happens.

I sensed a note of sarcasm from Mr. TarHeel on that one.

Take me home.....country roads.....

[ January 10, 2006, 07:06 PM: Message edited by: blueraider ]

That was directed toward me. Lets see if the basketball crwd has a better sense of humor than the football board.

It took me all of 2 months to have the Queen and her subjects in full attack mode. LOL!

WVU has an outstanding chance to make the Final Four this year coming off their Elite 8 run of last season. However, you can never tell because unlike football, basketball in March is very difficult to figure out and all about matchups.

WVU will be rebuilding next year & probably be a NIT team with Gansey, Pittsnoogle, and Mr. Joe Herber all seniors and moving on to play Pro ball at some levels.

Look for the Big East to get 8-10 teams in the NCAA tourney. I think the Big East Title will be a three team race between UCONN, NOVA, WVU or Pitt.

Other NCAA tourney teams will be

Syracuse
Marquette
Cincy
Georgetown
Louisville

Bubble Teams

Notre Dame
Rutgers


Simply this is the best basketball league ever assembled.
Notre Dame

....the best basketball league ever assembled....well anyhoo....any conference with 16 teams is bound to have a few good ones....yet the national championship will still go to an ACC team. (and no I don't enjoy implying that Duke will win it all).

15 of the 15 teams have winning records
13 of the 16 teams have RPI's in the top 100
7 teams ranked in top 25
10 teams expected to make NCAA tounrey
4 other to the NIT

Keep me posted on the Big East has a "few" good teams.

Its by far the best basketball league ever assembled with the best history of teams.

Its gonna be a great year watching my EERS play in this amazing league of talent, coaches, and tradition.

YAWWWWWNNNN.

15 of the 16 teams have winning records Well guess what? All 12 of the ACC teams have winning records. (thats 100%).
13 of the 16 teams have RPI's in the top 100 (that's 81%) Well, the ACC has 10 of its 12 (that's 83%, so you guys are just a little bit behind).
7 teams ranked in top 25 Actually you have 6 ranked in each of the AP and the ESPN/USA today. That's 37.5%, while the ACC has 5 of 12 or 41%. (once again, just a wee bit short)
10 teams expected to make the NCAA tourney LOL. Ok, just because you made that bold prediction a few posts up, doesn't mean it has now become fact. ESPN predicts 8 teams for the Big East...or 50% of its members, the exact same percentage as the ACC.
So if you're going to be making all these claims of the Big East being by far the best basketball league ever assembled, it needs to be when it is actually out-performing the ACC who's having a down year.

And of course the team that played in the Big East last year, that started 20-0 most of the games in Big East play, amassed the best record and tied for first place in the Big East during the regular season last year, is now playing in the ACC. And Boston College is----0-3 in ACC play. Moving up to the big league is a bit tougher than they thought it would be.

What is more telling is, VT only qualified for the ig East tourney ONCE in its sad existence in Big East hoops only to see it prosper in the ACC last year.

Virginia Tech & Miami had .500 records in the ACC last season after being HORRIBLE programs in the Big East, yet are now good programs in the ACC? LOL that is some funny stuff.

It quite the joke amongst the inner circles of the Big east last season to see Bottom Feeders and horrible porgrams actually beating the ACC elite and knocking them off the fence of the NCAA selection commmittie consideration.

What is very telling is Virginia Tech ( a team that lost to a bad MAC team & Old Dominion take DUKE to the wire in Cameron.

Also, a lower level Big East team ( DePAUL) spanking Wake Forest in Winston Salem.


Also, Clemson, Miami, VT, UVA, & Georgia Tech, all losing to very inferior teams and playing cupcakes in OOC. That is pretty much half your conference that is absolutely AWFUL and are programs that would be all 16th if part of the Big East's 16 team conference.

Of course, the Big East doesn't allow programs like the ones listed above play in our great conference. Winners only...

There have only been 6 games between ACC and Big East teams(ACC leading 4-2) this year and most of them have been against St John's, Seton Hall, Georgetown (coming up against Duke)

6 games! Are you kidding me? How can 2 power conferences NOT play each other. It's being chicken, even with the recent swap of teams. I was amused to see that some Big East-ACC Football matchups were forced because of the ACC Sweep, but there were none in basketball.

Intra-conference games are usually set up for one reason: television. Ok, two, tv and money. The Big 10-ACC challenge was set up by ESPN. It was great but you don't see any of the teams from either conference begging for the challenge to be renewed. I doubt that either the Big East or the ACC would be interested in pushing their teams to play a series of games with each other, the two conferences are both too strong and the teams involved have a tough enough conference schedule to also try to play other tough teams out of conference, except for ones that the teams pick and choose.

Big East has some of the best teams in UConn, Villanova, and Louisville. But Georgetown, Marquette, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, and Rutgers cannot be included as good.
Also, the crap teams that some of these teams play before conference games start is pretty pathetic. Look at the competition of Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Marquette, Syracuse, etc.
If any of these teams didn't stay above .500 against this competition the coaches would be fired before conference play started.

yes, all those teams can be considered "GOOD"

Why can't they?

marquette, pitt, and the teams you named have played better schedules than Boston College, Clemson, FSU, Miami, VT, NC State, and so forth.

As I have said the Big East could possibly get 10 teams in the dance this year.

I will get back with you in March.

Im not here to convince the biased and envious. I will alow for the season to play itself out.

Why can't they?

Those other teams had as easy a schedule (except NC State), but those other teams aren't good either (except NC State).

My guess is 7 teams will come from the Big East: UConn, Villanova, Louisville, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and either Cincinnati or Marquette (probably Cincinnati).

Pitt played 2 Big Ten Teams and 2 SEC teams (went 4-0)

Georgetown won at Oregon, lost to decent Vandy and Illinois teams and has Duke coming up.

Marquette beat South Carolina up in Alaska and has lost at Nebraska and at Wisconsin

UCONN, Villanova and West Virginia have tremendous out-of-conference schedules/results....Nova/Texas coming up

There's no made-for-TV-power games there, but I would not call it a weak schedule for the conference.

Just because a team plays in a specific conference does not make them good. Auburn, South Carolina, Penn St., Nebraska? These are not good teams.
UConn, Villanova, and WV stepped up and played tough teams. The others have primed themselves for games against South Florida, St. Johns, and Seton Hall (these are all poor teams).

Georgetown, Cincy, & Marquette all go

8 without question
90 percent certain 9 teams go
50/50 on 10 teams going from the Big East

Notre Dame & Rutgers could slip in

And here's why you shouldn't make predictions:
from WVU Buff on Nov. 23:
(Maryland didn't lose to Arkansas by the way)

Despite your biased belief the Big East might get 10 teams in (lol...still laughing on that one), here's what a panel says....from USA Today's Roundtable:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/men.../roundtable.htm

SIMPLY THE BEST

Big East
Team Conf. W-L Tot. W-L
West Virginia 3-0 11-3
Syracuse 2-0 14-2
Pittsburgh 1-0 12-0
Villanova 2-1 11-1
Cincinnati 2-1 13-3
Georgetown 2-1 10-3
Marquette 2-1 12-4
Connecticut 1-1 13-1
Louisville 1-1 13-2
Rutgers 1-1 11-4
DePaul 1-1 8-5
Seton Hall 1-2 9-5
Providence 0-2 7-6
St. Johns (N.Y.) 0-2 7-6
South Florida 0-2 6-9
Notre Dame 0-3 9-5

I think the Big East will probably get 12 teams in the NCAA tourney (the other 4 will go to the NIT). The Final Four will be UConn, Villanova, West Virginia, and either Pitt or Louisville. Anyone who thinks the Big East will have less than 12 teams in the NCAA tourney is just jealous.

[ January 12, 2006, 11:03 AM: Message edited by: HotlantaTarheel ]

I think you are dead wrong. They will get 14 into the NCAA, with the Final Four being WVU, WVU JV, UConn and Villanova. WVU will win by such a margin that they'll be declared national champs for the next 3 years right there on the spot.

The two that don't make it to the NCAA are St. John's and S. Florida. St. John's plane will crash the last day of the season, killing all but 2 players, otherwise they'd make it too. And S. Florida - they lose 12 players to a late season hurricane, finish up the season with 3 walk-ons, the team manager and a cheerleader on the roster, and manage to get a bid to the NIT, where they so dominate in the first round that everyone else unanimously votes them champion.