Big East expands basketball tourney

[MikeInClifton]

Big East expands basketball tourney (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071107/SPT0101/311070031/1062/SPT)

The Big East Conference announced today that beginning in 2009, all 16 league members in men’s and women’s basketball will compete in the Big East Tournament.

[shaunsimpson]

I don't like this. I know the other conferences are like this, but give a reward to the top teams with a bye.

[bearcatn8]

This helps teams in the lower half of the conference, no? Now, can recruit with the certainty of a trip to MSG at the end of the year.

BTW, are there any plans to start rotating the site of the Big East tourney or will it always be in New York. I would hope that with the addition of some more southern/western teams to the conference, they would maybe rotate the tourney among a few cities (New York, Chicago, Cincinnati, 'Ville). I can see why from a financial standpoint they don't want to take the tourney out of NY City, but why should the east coast programs have the advantage every year?

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Big East expands basketball tourney (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071107/SPT0101/311070031/1062/SPT)

The Big East Conference announced today that beginning in 2009, all 16 league members in men’s and women’s basketball will compete in the Big East Tournament.

As it should be - all 16 teams SHOULD play and have NCAA bid possibility.

[CincyBeerCo]

This helps teams in the lower half of the conference, no? Now, can recruit with the certainty of a trip to MSG at the end of the year.

BTW, are there any plans to start rotating the site of the Big East tourney or will it always be in New York. I would hope that with the addition of some more southern/western teams to the conference, they would maybe rotate the tourney among a few cities (New York, Chicago, Cincinnati, 'Ville). I can see why from a financial standpoint they don't want to take the tourney out of NY City, but why should the east coast programs have the advantage every year?

A) Its great that every team is in. Selfishly that means I can plan my trip every year and never fear the Cats not being there. Also, the point of conference tourneys is that every team (not just 75%) still has a chance to make the dance.

B) I hope they never move the Tourney. The best conference's tourney in the country's most famous arena. Just the way it should be. And I don't think it really gives any team an advantage. If anything it helps out of region schools recruit the NYC area more succesfully with the knowledge that a player will be able to go play in front of family and friends come year's end.

[jkwuc89]

The link I posted on the main Bearcatnews.com site explains the format.

The bottom 8 teams play in the first round.
The winners of the 1st round play seeds 5 - 8 in the 2nd round
The winners of the 2nd round play seeds 1 - 4 in the quarterfinals

That means that a team in the bottom half of the standings will have to play 5 games in 5 days to win the Big East tournament.

[NorrisHopper30]

Sweet, now I don't have to listen to X fans say "You can't even make your own conference's tournament" anymore!

[shaunsimpson]

After seeing the layout I like it. This way the better teams still get a significant advantage, but everyone has a chance.

[Bp4thebest]

Yeah every team gets a chance in a very good con but i like the idea of having to make the tourney.. gives bubble teams something to strive for the last 5 games sorta like uc will this year.. it will make nit picks out of the big east tourney harder too b/c upsets could move more teams from our con in.. with the way it is now the bubble teams would just need a big east tourney win and their in.. all hypothetically speaking!

[ralph1950]

This means, starting in 2009, that if you are in the Big East Conference you are automatically in the NCAA tourney. All it takes is 11 consectutive wins and you are NCAA Tourney Champion.

[DBSUC1982]

Seeds 1-4 (win 3 games) & 5-8 (win 4 games) have same burden under new Tourney format. Seeds 9-12 must now win 5 games instead of 4 & seeds 13-16 must win 5 rather than have their season end. A good change IMO.

[Irishbearcat]

****************Breaking News****************

UC hoops team qualifies for the '09 B-East tourney!