ESPN.com has a look at the Big East going into next year. Not to preview the teams so much as the nature of the new league. The success of the and ability to stay together will be tested right away in the article’s view simply by whether or not at least 8 teams make the tournament next year. If not, the schools may quickly determine that they are too big and going to be penalized by the NCAA selection committee.
BE Commissioner Mike Tranghese is dismissive of such issues (of course he is), but makes it clear how the middle/bubble teams will make the Tournament:
Greg Shaheen, the director of the men’s basketball championship for the NCAA, also met with the Big East coaches and told them that the committee will dissect their schedules, noting who the wins are against, regardless of conference affiliation.
“You can’t say we play in a great league and not play any nonconference games [of note],” Tranghese said. “I don’t know the right number, but if you choose to play no one, then you’ll pay the price. The only way you’ll get in doing it that way is to dominate the conference.”
Tranghese said the teams in the middle have to play quality nonconference teams. He understands there are rebuilding seasons, but he’s convinced the recipe to get a bid would be to play four home-and-home nonconference series: two at home, two on the road.
But that’s not necessarily how coaches who could be in that middle of the league are looking at their nonconference scheduling for next season.
“We’re looking at playing no more than one road game in the nonconference [schedule],” Marquette coach Tom Crean said. “We’ve got two contracted for next season at Wisconsin and at Nebraska, but we’ve got to be smart about how many high-powered games we play.”
Brey said he’ll still play a tough schedule, but he doesn’t want to go “crazy” with it since he “doesn’t know what’s coming in the league.”
In 2005-06, Pitt will likely be one of those middle teams. Pitt’s non-con will be vital — not for seeding as it has the last couple years — for having an RPI good enough to make the field. Pitt can’t count on the conference schedule to raise them up.
Especially now that Krauser looks to be gone, and will likely face an easier conference schedule thanks to TV. If you think I was harping on the non-con last year, you can bet I’ll be worse this year.
Beano Cook thinks the BE is just too big and it is ridiculous to do a single division with 16 teams (Insider Subs.). He recommends that the BE go to a 2 divisions or even a 4 division (2 divisions with 2 sub-divisions) format.
