ESPN has announced the match-ups for the SEC/Big East Challenge. Prepare to be awed.
| Date | Game |
| Thu, Nov 29 | Kentucky at Notre Dame |
| Marquette at Florida | |
| South Carolina at St. John’s | |
| Seton Hall at LSU | |
| Fri, Nov 30 | Syracuse at Arkansas |
| Tennessee at Georgetown | |
| DePaul at Auburn | |
| Georgia at South Florida | |
| Sat, Dec 1 | Alabama at Cincinnati |
| Villanova at Vanderbilt | |
| Mississippi State at Providence | |
| Rutgers at Mississippi |
Apparently the Big East, SEC and ESPN never got around to adjusting for the SEC having 14 teams. So, no Missouri or Texas A&M participation. That means leaving Pitt, UConn and Louisville off the rotation.
Obviously, with Pitt leaving it was somewhat expected that the Panthers would be excluded. Still annoying as hell considering that Pitt only played Tennesse — twice. And never a true home game in this thing.
But Louisville seems like the most egregious screw-up. The Cards will likely be the preseason Number One team in the Big East, and they don’t represent the Big East? They do have non-cons with Kentucky and Vandy for 2012-13, so that is the only possible reason.
Still, not having your (possibly) best team represent you in the conference challenge, while making sure all the basketball schools participate. Well, that seems like the most Big East thing possible.
UPDATE: WOW. Here’s something to mess with things.
The night before Friday’s release of the pairings for the 12-game challenge, which listed Syracuse playing at Arkansas, Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross said the Orange would not participate.
Gross replied “all” to an email from the Big East that was sent to coaches, athletic directors, league administrators and sports information directors announcing the pairings and dates for the games and said the Orange would not play. The email was obtained by ESPN.com from multiple league sources.
…
Gross wrote to Big East associate commissioner Tom Odjakjian directly but sent the email to the entire conference. It read:
OJ this is premature as we are over committed and can’t play at this point.
I wish we could have agreement as you have put us all in what could be an embarrassing situation
We are not confirmed. I find it amazing that there is no discussion to make a better plan. We have been collegial with the Big East yet it appears that there is no willingness to cooperate. Daryl
ESPN.com contacted Gross through his email account Thursday night and he reiterated that communication was lacking and that the Orange are in a “very difficult scheduling predicament.” Gross said that his intent was not to take this disagreement beyond the people included on the email chain. But the email was sent to the entire conference, and multiple league officials told ESPN.com that they interpreted it as if Syracuse would not play.
In response to Gross’ email, ESPN, which televises the SEC-Big East Challenge, said, “Consistent with past practice, we worked with both the Big East and SEC to mutually agree on the participating teams and match-ups for this year’s event. Both conferences have approved all of the games that were released today.”
Join us Orange. Join us in the lawsuit. Or just file your own in New York.
And while as a Pitt alum I was not surprised Pitt was left out of the Challenge. Pitt was.
Pitt wasn’t selected to play in the challenge this season, which came as a shock to athletic director Steve Pederson and coach Jamie Dixon when Gavitt called Wednesday. Dixon and Pederson told ESPN.com that they were promised by the league that it would be part of the challenge for the coming season — and that the Panthers would play at home (Pitt played at Tennessee last year). Dixon said the Panthers had planned on the SEC game being one of their marquee home games as part of their non-conference schedule. Now, the Panthers are scrambling to find a replacement.
“We were led to believe we had a home game all along,” Pederson said. “At no point were we told that we wouldn’t get a home game. They’ve put us in a difficult spot. All Jamie and I were waiting on was who we were playing. We’re very disappointed, obviously.”
Gavitt said calling a personal friend in Dixon to tell him the news was one of the hardest calls he has had to make during his tenure in the league.
“We went on the road last year, and there was a clear assumption that if we went on the road that we would get a return,” Pederson said. “I feel bad for our players. We have a hole on our schedule that we have to fill now.”
Gavitt said there was always a possibility that Pitt would not participate. The Panthers currently do not have a non-conference home game against an opponent from a power-six conference.
Safe to say that this has gotten ugly fast. Going to be a wild time from now until April.
Pitt can’t get out of this mess quick enough whether FSU, Clemson, or whoever leaves the ACC.
If ESPN wants to make some money, blow up the BE-SEC challenge and replace it with a BE-ACC challenge. How much fun would it be to watch Pitt, ‘Cuse, ‘Ville, VT, and BC play the BE BB schools that don’t even realize how irrelevant they have become.
Gavitt was, is, and always will be a supreme jerk.
Also note that ND gets the premiere game against Kentucky. It is a good move for the BE to dangle bait in front of ND.
Could it also be that the BE expects Louisville and UConn to jump to another league asap. Nothing like stirring the pot for teams that want to leave and giving them more reasons why they want to leave.
Pitt should play itself in a big east / ACC challenge to make up for the lost game.
That being said, I think the Big East just gave Pitt yet another measure of damages for the lawsuit (which will probably affect the eventual buyout). I recall public statements from Dixon from several months ago about getting a home game in this invitational, and I suspect that it was based on more than an assumption.
Lastly, the problem with scheduling one of the other SEC teams left out, or any big time program, is that they probably won’t agree to a game at Pitt. Best case would probably be a neutral site game. More likely, we have to pay big bucks to get a low level Div. 1 team to come to the Pete.
SP said many years ago when we were in the process of rebuilding that we had to play a soft schedule to get wins. Now, 12 years later we still don’t have a partner (or 2)from a BCS conference for an out-of-conference game? Come on Jamie/Steve. You make the first 2 months of the season a complete bore. Man-up and schedule someone. Michigan St has no problem playing anyone and everyone in the non-conference. I can’t watch much more of Duquesne and Bobby Mo
plus every one from last year and taylor will be playing power foward this year not center . we have it all going on
Pre-season powdwerpuffs = skill beats desire.
Big East Regular = skill vs. skill
Big East Tourney = skill vs. skill + passion
NCAA = Skill vs. skill + passion + next level defense
The style Pitt has played in the past did not allow them to play at a higher level in the ncaa tourney because they were conditioned to play at only one level all year. They need the “next level” which is what you see from the Kentucky’s. They know how to turn it on full speed at the end of the year on both ends of the court and are not soft. Unfortunately Pitt has been soft for a couple of years running.
Only someone as clueless as he could phuck this up so badly. Gotta give the BE brass its due. Their bench is as incompetent as their starters.
what a bnuch of bull shit.
the big east is petty small mined
I say fuck them .