 |
The Big East Conference is splitting up
http://rantsports.media.s3.amazonaws.com/
ncaa-basketball/files/2012/12/uspw_60877941.jpg |
Today was the last day of the Big East's regular season. This is significant because it was the last time that Big East will have regular season games. For years, the Big East was known as the best basketball conference and the worst football conference. Now, the conference is on it's last ride. After the spring sports season, the conference will be splitting up, with members going in all different directions. Some will not be leaving for a few years, but by 2014, all but three members of current members will be playing somewhere else (and who knows if those three will stay). They already lost West Virginia before this season. The Big East is going to be missed. Here are some final thoughts on the conference.
The Big Impact of the Big East
When the Big East began play for the 1979-80 season, there were seven teams (Boston College, UCONN, Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall, St. Johns, and Syracuse), a six-game conference season, and only three teams made the NCAA tournament. Now, there are fifteen teams, with last season's eighteen-game conference schedule. In 2012, nine teams made the NCAA tournament. In the 34 year history of the conference, the Big East has become the best basketball conference in the nation.
Since the founding of the Big East, conference members have won six national championships. Members have also had eighteen final four appearances. During the last 34 seasons, the Big East teams have had more then 7750 wins, compared to less then 7200 wins for the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC teams. They have also have 114 teams in the final AP Poll. Their members have always play well in the tournament. Since 1980, UCONN, Syracuse, and Georgetown all have 44+ victories in the tournament.
What We'll Miss
 |
Scoreboard of the 6 OT Game between 'Cuse and UCONN
http://media.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/photo/syracuse-uconn
-six-overtimes-scoreboardjpg-ee4234c574958e6c_large.jpg |
There will be a lot to miss. Every year, more the half of the teams had a chance to win the conference and/or make a NCAA tournament run. The annual Big East Men's Basketball Tournament will be remembered as one of the better conference tournament/title games in all sports. Since 1983, Madison Square Garden, arguably the most famous arena in the world, hosted the tournament. There was no better setting. Many tournaments held multiple remarkable games that are remembered for years. One of the most memorable of games was the 6 Overtime Game between Syracuse and UCONN in the 2009 tourney. Whenever a college game heads into overtime and especially double overtime, the game will be referenced. This game has become the new "standard" of overtime games. Match ups like this will be missed.
The Big East has had many notable rivalries that have made the conference great. None are bigger then the Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry. These Big East founding members have two of three best winning percentages of teams during their Big East history. When this rivalry is remembered, Syracuse coach Jim Boehiem and Georgetown's former head John Thompson Jr and the current head coach, his son, John Thompson III will always be mentioned. These teams will definitely play again, but it will not be the same.
What will happen to UCONN, Cincinnati, and USF?
 |
UCONN celebrating their 2011 NCAA championship,
possibly the last win by a Big East team
http://images.tmcnet.com/featurestory/ap/2011/04/08/
NCAA-Final-Four-Butler-UConn-Basketball-JPEG-4.jpg |
There are the three teams that are currently staying in the current Big East Conference. If I am UCONN and Cincinnati, I am looking for a way to quickly get out of the conference. The best fit may be leaving with the "Catholic Seven" for the new Big East. Both teams have more National Championships by themselves then any of the "Catholic Seven". UCONN and Cincy have nine and seven NCAA appearances since 2000-01 respectively. Only three of the other seven teams are in that range of appearances since 2000-01 (Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova). They are all high profile programs that will draw fans and attention to the new conference. The problem with joining the "Big East" is that the new conference will not sponsor a football program. That may be a deal breaker. If they want a place to play where they can do both, the ACC will have an odd amount of teams (fifteen) when Maryland leaves (this includes Notre Dame, who will join the ACC in all sports except football). The conference may want to even out the number of teams to sixteen.
There is never going to be a conference like the Big East again. It changed college basketball multiple times with the performance of the teams, the innovations, the competition and the consistency of high caliber of play. The Big East will be missed by many and remembered forever.
