According to the Hartford Courant, The Big East catholic schools that don't have football programs could vote to dissolve the Big East and start their own basketball-only conference.
"The conference's seven non-football schools -- St. John's, Providence, Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova, Seton Hall and DePaul -- are said to be concerned about recent departures and have considered dissolving the league."
The Hartford Courant goes on to say that Big East commissioner Mike Aresco says this isn't true and that those schools are "committed" to going forward. Yeah sure they are. I'm sure St. John's is looking forward to a trip to New Orleans to play a basketball game that will probably have no meaning.
One thing that has been lost in all this conference realignment has been basketball, especially in the Big East. The Big East is desperate. They are losing schools left and right and they only have scrap heaps to choose from to add to their conference.
My favorite part of the Courant story is that the Big East wasn't very happy with either UCONN and Cincinnati when they weren't picked up by the ACC.
"The meeting came less than two weeks after Louisville's announced move to the ACC. UConn and Cincinnati were both vying for an invitation and both remain candidates if the ACC continues to expand or needs another replacement.
ESPN.com quotes a Big East source saying the league was "not happy the way Cincinnati and UConn reacted to the news they were not selected by the ACC."
I can picture Aresco and the rest of the Big East schools now looking on like a disapproving parent at both UConn and Cincinnati as they pout about not being picked to join the ACC kickball game. "What do you mean we don't get to play and Louisville does?" Funniest part is Cincinnati tried to get Urban Meyer, a grad of that school, to lobby on their behalf to the ACC.
At the end of the day it wouldn't surprise me if we see super conferences in ten years with football and basketball teams along with non-football conferences for schools like St. John's and Seton Hall. Either way it's fascinating to see schools like UConn and Cincinnati try to claw their way out of a conference and then pout and whine when the ACC doesn't accept them.
With news this morning that both Maryland and Rutgers are leaving their respective conferences the Big East has announced they have added the University of Phoenix to their conference to replace Rutgers.
"The University of Phoenix brings a great athletic tradition to the Big East," said Big East commissioner Mike Aresco.
When asked what "athletic tradition" the University of Phoenix had Mr. Aresco just stared at the press with a blank expression.
"The University of Phoenix can field teams all over the United States and even over seas with their 200 campus'," continued Aresco. "If Boise State needs an opponent we can send the University of Phoenix to Idaho because of their campus in Moscow, Idaho. If San Diego State needs an opponent their's a University of Phoenix right there in San Diego. It's really a good fit for everyone in our conference."
The University of Phoenix's bid was bigger than DeVry University, Wyoming Tech, Cal Tech, MIT, and UTI to gain entrance into the Big East. Expect the University of Phoenix to suit up a team for the first time at the Big East tournament in New York with failed junior college players from New Mexico.
"This is a new day for the Big East," Aresco finishing the press conference and then running to the bar next door where he drank hard alcohol for the next 10 hours.
I will be in and out today so I am posting an open thread for today.
The main games being played today are:
ACC Quarterfinals
Big Ten Quarterfinals
Big East Semifinals
Pac-10 Semifinals
Patriot League Championship
Please leave your comments on today's action.
Updated, 11:08: North Carolina has just snuck by Virginia Tech with the help of the refs. The ACC refs just flat out stink. This loss though will knock Tech into the NIT.
Updated, 11:12: Michigan St. has gotten by Michigan. The most shocking thing of this game is a Big Ten team reached the 60 point plateau.
Updated, 11:29: A shocker! Jeanine Edwards is at the ACC tournament and not at the SEC tournament making Billy Gillispie mad. ESPN might have finally learned.
Updated, 1:42: Florida St. needed every second to beat Georgia Tech. And the good news for them. They play North Carolina tomorrow, should be fun for them.
Updated, 1:46: Ohio St. escapes with a win against Wisconsin. They play Michigan St. next. The most shocking part of the game, Brent Musberger saying the Big Ten could have eight teams in the tourney. Yes! Eight teams! I don't know if Brent was drinking already, but that would be crazy if the Big Ten gets eight teams in the tourney. I could make a case for Michigan St. Illinois, Purdue, and Penn St. but no one else. Brent needs to lay off the Johnnie Walker so early in the day.
Evan Rachel Wood, is a great way to start the mourning. Wood, couple of years ago, became famous when she started dating Marylin Manson. They have since broken up and she was rumored to be dating 'Wrestler' co-star Mickey Rourke. Look for her this year in Woody Allen's 'Whatever Works'.
The Big East Tournament: So far the 1st round of the Big East tournament has been pretty interesting. First, Cincinnati loses to DePaul, who didn't win a Big East regular season game, and now St. John's has beat Georgetown. Both Georgetown and Cincinnati were both considered bubble teams. Now with their early exits from the Big East tournament, they will be playing in the NIT. And to think, ESPN could have broadcasted these games. (Newsday)
College basketball just has one week remaining in the regular season before conference championships begin. The contenders and pretenders are starting to show up in the biggest games.
The final week always provides us a glimpse at what team will make the strongest tournament run. Remember Florida two years ago? They struggled for most of the season and then turned on the afterburners with only a few games remaining. They won the SEC tournament and cruised right to the national championship. This final week is huge to see what team rises and which team falls.
Lets take a look at some of the other highlights for the past weekend.
Kansas is better than predicted: Kansas wasn't expected to be this good this season. They lost their starters from a National Championship team. But Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich have picked up where that team left off. Kansas has only lost one game in the Big 12 and yesterday they avenged that lost by blowing out Missouri. Granted they did play against an Oklahoma team that was playing with Blake Griffin, but they have proved that they have what it takes to compete in the tournament.
Oklahoma missed Blake Griffin: Without Giffin, OU went lost two games to their rivals(Texas and Kansas). OU needs Griffin's energy. His hustle and guts is what powers this team. Without him they are a middle of the pack type of team. I expect an epic showdown between Oklahoma and Kansas in the Big 12 title game.
The Big East has come down to Lousiville and UConn: Both Villanova and Marquette blew their chance to claim a piece of the Big East title. Lousiville and UConn is all what stands at the top right now. Both teams will most likely get a bye in the first round of the Big East tournament.
Clemson basketball is starting to resemble Clemson football: Clemson was on the verge of being the top team in the ACC. Then they lost to both Virginia Tech and Florida St. Clemson football has been known to not to live up to the expectations. Now the basketball team is feeling the same pressure. When they have had their chances they have blown them to teams of a lesser quality.
Duke gets all the calls: During their game against Virginia Tech, Duke player Jon Scheyer was allowed to take three steps then finally call a timeout. The refs didn't call any fouls and shockingly it came during a key stretch of the game. Virginia Tech lost the game and their tournament bubble most likely popped. Just another reason to hate Duke. During the Duke-North Carolina documentary on HBO, Coach K complained that UNC was getting all the calls by the refs. I guess things have turned the other way.
Bubble Watch:
In
Florida St: They punched their ticket for the dance by sweeping their series against Clemson. They are playing with house money right now.
Tennessee: They scored huge by beating Florida yesterday. They have only South Carolina and Alabama next. Unless they play careless, they should be fine.
Dayton: They got their much needed win against Temple. They have already beat Xavier and Marquette this season. If they could beat Xavier again this week, then they should be fine.
St. Mary's: Everyone expected them to struggle without point guard Patty Mils. And they did losing two straight. They though have righted the ship and have won the past five games. And with Mils returning for the WCC tournament, this team will get huge consideration for the tournament.
California: Even though they lost to UCLA at home on Saturday, they did split their series by getting a win over USC.
On the verge:
Texas A&M: The Aggies have won four straight and they do have key wins over LSU, Texas, and Arizona. They still need a win against Missouri.
Providence: A key win against Pittsburgh helped their case. They will need a win though against Villanova to secure a spot in the tournament.
Davidson: Davidson will need to win their league title to get an at-large bid. Their only key win came against West Virginia earlier this year.
Out:
Arizona: While they have played admirably this season, their lost to Washington did them in. They will need to get a win against the Bay Area teams to get in.
Florida: The Gators have struggled down the stretch. They dropped a tough one against Tennessee yesterday and their match up with Kentucky will most likely be a play-in game.
Michigan: Their early season wins against UCLA and Duke will help them. They will need to beat Minnesota to get in.
Virgina Tech: Their heartbreaking loss to Duke heart their case. They will need to make a nice run in the ACC tournament to get considered for a at-large bid.
This should be a fun last week of college basketball. A lot of fates will be on the line this week and it will also set up an epic Championship week.
