Can the Big East live to the hype ?

cuse_man · #1 09-14-2008, 11:08 PM

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: The Big East is being touted as the best league in the country. Already there is talk of a record number of NCAA bids. Will the conference live up to the hype?

# GREG ANTHONY

The Big East has been solid for the last several years, and I expect nothing different this year.

While the Big East is and will always be good, the nature and the landscape of college basketball is such that we'll never see the kind of dominance that was so compelling in the 1980s. There's a BIG difference between good and great.

College basketball is forever changed with the influx of freshmen to the NBA. The best teams won't necessarily feature the best talents because chemistry plays such a big role in basketball. Look at the impact on West Virginia and Syracuse. I guarantee you Bob Huggins didn't expect to lose Joe Alexander, and I bet Jim Boeheim didn't expect to lose Donte Greene.

Yes, these programs will rebuild and be good. However, they won't contend for the title this year. Having said that, teams like Connecticut, Louisville, Villanova and Notre Dame will be really good. This quartet has the potential to get at least one team to Detroit. The best NCAA Tournament preparation for those teams will be the grind of the regular-season schedule.

It seems like forever since UConn and Syracuse won back-to-back titles in 2003-04. But, yes - give the Big East the love because the conference will live up to the hype. And I can't wait to see who will emerge as this year's Joe Alexander.

# BOB McCLELLAN

I guess that depends on how you define "living up to the hype." If it's a record number of NCAA Tournament teams, that's a distinct possibility. If it's seven or even eight teams in the polls, that also could happen. If it's produce the national champion, I'll say no. I'll pick the Tar Heels till I'm Carolina Blue in the face.

But, yes, the Big East is going to be ungodly. It has eight teams in the Rivals.com preseason Top 25. No typo. There are 31 conferences in Division I and one composes nearly a third of our top 25.

Here's the thing: You could be a really good Big East team and go 8-10 or 7-11 in conference play. And that isn't going to get you into the Big Dance. If you can finish .500 or better in the Big East this season, you should get an automatic bid.

I believe, top to bottom, the 2008-09 Big East might be one of the best leagues ever. But it won't be the best unless it has the eventual national champion. And it doesn't.

ANDREW SKWARA

I lean heavily toward yes. Even in the worst-case scenario, the Big East is going to send eight teams to the NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina is undoubtedly the best team in the nation, but the next best four may be Connecticut, Louisville, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh – and each is from the Big East.

Marquette and Villanova have Final Four potential. Some analysts are down on Georgetown because they lose Roy Hibbert and Jon Wallace. But the Hoyas beat teams with their system more than their players. I have no doubt they'll be dancing again. Same goes for West Virginia, which has a good blend of veterans and big-time recruits.

The real key to getting a record ninth team in the field of 65 is Syracuse. The Orange are one of the five most-talented teams in the league. But that was the case in each of the past two seasons, which both ended with the Orange on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. If the Orange finally play to their potential and the Big East doesn't beat up on itself too much – which is a big if – I think this will go down as the best season by one conference that anyone ever has seen.

# MIKE HUGUENIN

There is no doubt the Big East is going to be the best league in the nation this season. None. That said, there is a lot of doubt about whether a Big East team can win it all.

Can the Big East "live up to the hype" without having a national champion? Sure, and that's because of the sheer number of top-flight teams in this league. Almost every league game (and we say "almost" because, just as with every other league, there is some flotsam and jetsam at the bottom of the conference) is going to be a battle royal. Even teams that finish .500 in the league will have legitimate chances to be Sweet 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament.

In other words, if a .500 team from the ACC or Big 12 or SEC or Pac-10 were to make it to the Sweet 16, that team would be lucky. But if a .500 team from the Big East were to make it, it would be because that team is darned good.

cuse_man · #2 09-14-2008, 11:12 PM

At least people are finaly realizing Big Easy by far best conference... was last season too... but anyways.

How retarded is this GREG ANTHONY ?

Sure Daunte Greene is a tough loss, but there is no doubt the cuse will be stronger next season WITHOUT him. Flynn is one of the best PG in the country.... devendorf comes back whose just a backyard baller, onuaku was a force down low last season... then you have HArris a kid that was on his way to the NBA right outta high school before they made the rule, and he FINALLY broke out last season so there is no question he will have a big year.... you still got routines who will be one of the best 3 point threats in the country... If this team starts to click... which is ahrd under JB but these guys are all friends.... they have the potential to be scary good...

loss of daunte greene puts us back... HAH !

PHILLYBIRDS20 · #3 09-15-2008, 10:26 AM

Agreed love Big East BBALL. Irish top team in the East

cuse_man · #4 09-15-2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHILLYBIRDS20

Agreed love Big East BBALL. Irish top team in the East

irish... uhmm no?

PHILLYBIRDS20 · #5 09-16-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuse_man

irish... uhmm no?

best team in the Big East and a final 4 contender Cuse.
Watch Nova also they are also stacked

cuse_man · #6 09-16-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHILLYBIRDS20

best team in the Big East and a final 4 contender Cuse.
Watch Nova also they are also stacked

How can the Irish be the best team in the big east... they were not even competitive against the ville, and pitino is only coming back stronger this year.

PHILLYBIRDS20 · #7 09-16-2008, 02:24 PM

Whole team is back there one flaw will be what it always is even with Hrangoudy sp they live by the 3 if its off they will have some probs but i really do like them this year. Louisville is a top team in the country also and will be ranked higher than ND but in the long run I like the Irish