The Big East is REALLY Good. Maybe Historically Good

[xubrew]

So, a little bit of data about the Big East this year.

It's #1 in the NET

The RPI doesn't exist anymore, but if it did, the Big East would be #1 in that.

The league was 102-26 (if I counted right, which I probably didn't) for a winning percentage of 80% in OOC games.


Not only that, but the schedules everyone played were tough. Below are the number of OOC games each team played against teams that are either projected as being on the bubble or in the field by the majority of bracketologists. This is what REALLY built the strength of the conference, and I'd venture to say it's way more per average than any other power conference. That's why the Big East is ahead of them:

Seton Hall - 4 (2-2)
Creighton - 5 (3-2)
Nova - 4 (2-2)
Marquette - 4 (2-2)
Butler - 4 (3-1, arguably 5-1 if you want to count Minnesota and Ole Miss)
Providence - 3 (1-2)
Xavier - 2 (1-1)
Georgetown - 5 (3-2)
Johnnies - 3 (2-1)
DePaul - 2 (2-0, not counting Minney)

The league has five teams in the top 25, and two more in position to make the NCAA Tournament. I can't think of the last time a conference had half it's teams in the Top 25 since the ACC had its classic 9 team format.

There was a year where the 16 team Big East got 11/16 into the NCAA Tournament, but as many as that is it's still a smaller percentage than 7/10 (which the league has done before and may do again), and while the overall OOC record was better the year they sent 11/16, I remember looking at it and they didn't play anywhere near the number of OOC games against other tournament teams that this year's Big East has played. There were 36 games against OOC teams that are either on the bubble or in the field. That's more than three PER TEAM on average!! I'd love to see the BE put seven teams into the tournament, and five into the Sweet Sixteen.

And...I hate to end on a down note, but....

When I stand back, and look at this, I can't help but ask myself....why change anything?? We're doing pretty good. You can't get more first than first, and the Big East is first. I have nothing against UConn. I just don't think they're going to make the league any better (I mean...how the hell can they?) And I really like the formula we have now with 18 games, 11-13 OOC games, and everyone playign between 3 and 4 bubble or better teams.

[GoMuskies]

On the last point, I hear you....but we're the Big East and this is UConn. There's no greater embodiment of Big East basketball than UConn. Not even Villanova is on that level. So for any other program I'd agree. But you can't pass up a chance to get UConn back into the fold.

[xavierj]

And with DePaul it sucks for them that they play in the Big East. If they played in a lesser conference like the A10 of AAC and won say 8 or 9 league games, they would get in the tourney. They may have had one of the best non conference resumes in the country with the wins they had.

[Masterofreality]

So, a little bit of data about the Big East this year.

It's #1 in the NET

The RPI doesn't exist anymore, but if it did, the Big East would be #1 in that.

The league was 102-26 (if I counted right, which I probably didn't) for a winning percentage of 80% in OOC games.

Actually, the final record after Nova beat Temple at Temple Sunday was 105-25 for 81%.

What UConn does is totally punk two of the biggest thorns in the League's, and Fox's, side= The AAC and ESPN.
Having ESPN's home state team in the league forces the four letter network to finally recognize the league as the fully high major loop that it's been all along, and not the "Circus" it was called right after it was formed. It also gives Fox a highly recognized school in the New York area that brings eyeballs and pulls them away from ESPN. Also it kills the only NE presence for the AAC (Temple doesn't count in NY). Finally, it solidifies Madison Square Garden because it gives the league one more NY area school that draws well there. They could even schedule Big East Saturday Doubleheaders there with St. Johns & UConn playing separate games in the non-con. Remember the old "Holiday Festival"?
UConn brings two more high quality games to the league schedule, one less buy game and one more guaranteed sellout. That is plus money.
It's all good. Can't wait to punk them.

[xubrew]

Actually, the final record after Nova beat Temple at Temple Sunday was 105-25 for 81%.

What UConn does is totally punk two of the biggest thorns in the League's, and Fox's, side= The AAC and ESPN.
Having ESPN's home state team in the league forces the four letter network to finally recognize the league as the fully high major loop that it's been all along, and not the "Circus" it was called right after it was formed. It also gives Fox a highly recognized school in the New York area that brings eyeballs and pulls them away from ESPN. Also it kills the only NE presence for the AAC (Temple doesn't count in NY). Finally, it solidifies Madison Square Garden because it gives the league one more NY area school that draws well there. They could even schedule Big East Saturday Doubleheaders there with St. Johns & UConn playing separate games in the non-con. Remember the old "Holiday Festival"?
UConn brings two more high quality games to the league schedule, one less buy game and one more guaranteed sellout. That is plus money.
It's all good. Can't wait to punk them.

I fail to see how the AAC and ESPN are thorns in anyone's side. Does anyone with the Big East who actually matters even think about the AAC? much less care about them? Much less care to the point to where they are a thorn in the side? They just got locked into a long term deal. It would be hard for them to have anything less to do with the Big East.

[Masterofreality]

I fail to see how the AAC and ESPN are thorns in anyone's side. Does anyone with the Big East who actually matters even think about the AAC? much less care about them? Much less care to the point to where they are a thorn in the side? They just got locked into a long term deal. It would be hard for them to have anything less to do with the Big East.

They are thorns in the side because A) The AAC with UConn draws NY attention away from the Big East. Now there will be no diversion. B) Fox LOVES being able to punk ESPN by stealing back one of the names that ESPN built their brand on, and, for a while, was keeping Fox from domination in the NY CBB TV market. C) The Garden being locked for the BE in removes any remaining thorn that some other league would try to steal it for a conference tourney. It's no coincidence that UConn was announced to the BE almost simultaneously with the Garden deal being extended.

[UCGRAD4X]

f' UCONN

I still don't like that we let Butler in.

[Masterofreality]

f' UCONN

I still don't like that we let Butler in.

UConn will be great to hate!

[OTRMUSKIE]

Does this open the door for the venereal disease school up north? I don’t want to expand past 11 unless we’re talking adding Gonzaga.

[GoMuskies]

Does this open the door for the venereal disease school up north?

No

[Lloyd Braun]

Or to play devils advocate- perhaps there is more parity in general this year than most. Which makes it easier for a unique conference such as the BE to have a better rating with the computers. Which is the best team in the BE? Can you picture that team winning the NC? Can you picture them in the FF? Strangely enough some of the best teams are from conferences other than the traditional power conferences.

It is difficult to compare conferences from different years but I would say in general this just may be a “down” year for college basketball talent-wise. Which I enjoy more and think is great. Depends how we define greatness.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Or to play devils advocate- perhaps there is more parity in general this year than most. Which makes it easier for a unique conference such as the BE to have a better rating with the computers. Which is the best team in the BE? Can you picture that team winning the NC? Can you picture them in the FF? Strangely enough some of the best teams are from conferences other than the traditional power conferences.

It is difficult to compare conferences from different years but I would say in general this just may be a “down” year for college basketball talent-wise. Which I enjoy more and think is great. Depends how we define greatness.

The best teams are still from the power 5 + Beast. SDSU is elite 8 ceiling. VD sweet 16 ceiling. Gonzaga well they arnt winning shit bc they have been overrated for 20 years and still haven’t won shit and it won’t be this year. I’m going Kansas, Baylor, Michigan State, UK, DUKE and of course Xavier bc why the hell not.

[scoscox]

Does this open the door for the venereal disease school up north? I don’t want to expand past 11 unless we’re talking adding Gonzaga.

dayton isn't in a market. no one wants to take a road trip to dayton

[Lloyd Braun]

The best teams are still from the power 5 + Beast. SDSU is elite 8 ceiling. VD sweet 16 ceiling. Gonzaga well they arnt winning shit bc they have been overrated for 20 years and still haven’t won shit and it won’t be this year. I’m going Kansas, Baylor, Michigan State, UK, DUKE and of course Xavier bc why the hell not.

I said “some of the best teams”. Look at the top 5 as it stands today: The 3 teams you mention are not “power” conference teams (I hate that term btw) and are currently sitting in the top 5. Has that happened anytime recently this late in the year? I am struggling to recall an instance but could be wrong.

Also last time I checked there can only be 4 teams in the FF.

[xcellentx]

Does this open the door for the venereal disease school up north? I don’t want to expand past 11 unless we’re talking adding Gonzaga.

I think adding one more was all they wanted to do because you could still play the round-robin schedule by expanding to 20 league games.

[xudash]

Does this open the door for the venereal disease school up north? I don’t want to expand past 11 unless we’re talking adding Gonzaga.

Ha! Oh, you were asking seriously?

Well then, hell no.

[xudash]

Or to play devils advocate- perhaps there is more parity in general this year than most. Which makes it easier for a unique conference such as the BE to have a better rating with the computers. Which is the best team in the BE? Can you picture that team winning the NC? Can you picture them in the FF? Strangely enough some of the best teams are from conferences other than the traditional power conferences.

It is difficult to compare conferences from different years but I would say in general this just may be a “down” year for college basketball talent-wise. Which I enjoy more and think is great. Depends how we define greatness.

Not that we were in the BE then, but 2011 UCONN is waiting for you to call them for the answer to your question.

Makes the point about playing in a legitimate conference more clearly: battle tested throughout the course of the season means better prepared for the NCAAT.

[xudash]

Actually, the final record after Nova beat Temple at Temple Sunday was 105-25 for 81%.

What UConn does is totally punk two of the biggest thorns in the League's, and Fox's, side= The AAC and ESPN.
Having ESPN's home state team in the league forces the four letter network to finally recognize the league as the fully high major loop that it's been all along, and not the "Circus" it was called right after it was formed. It also gives Fox a highly recognized school in the New York area that brings eyeballs and pulls them away from ESPN. Also it kills the only NE presence for the AAC (Temple doesn't count in NY). Finally, it solidifies Madison Square Garden because it gives the league one more NY area school that draws well there. They could even schedule Big East Saturday Doubleheaders there with St. Johns & UConn playing separate games in the non-con. Remember the old "Holiday Festival"?
UConn brings two more high quality games to the league schedule, one less buy game and one more guaranteed sellout. That is plus money.
It's all good. Can't wait to punk them.

This.

It's about the product on the court, but this time around it's about the front office decision to bring them in, because of the unique strengths they're going to bring to the product on the court.

Seriously, I haven't been able to make a BET yet. This would be the year. Tickets are going to be insane moving forward.

[SM#24]

Everyone in the league likes the home and home format. The most we could add and retain that was 1 team. Personally, I think UConn was the only reasonably available team the Big East would take in (yes, we would take in Syracuse but that ain't happening).
Also, someone needs to explain to me how Dayton makes the Big East better, because I've never seen it ?

[Xville]

Not that we were in the BE then, but 2011 UCONN is waiting for you to call them for the answer to your question.

Makes the point about playing in a legitimate conference more clearly: battle tested throughout the course of the season means better prepared for the NCAAT.

That team had a lottery pick and 2 other nba players on it...just saying. Dont think there is anyone in the be this year with that kind of talent level.

[scoscox]

That team had a lottery pick and 2 other nba players on it...just saying. Dont think there is anyone in the be this year with that kind of talent level.

he wasn't a lottery pick before he went on that run.

[xudash]

he wasn't a lottery pick before he went on that run.

Exactly.
More to the point, UCONN was left for dead that year, going into the BET. They were like 11th out of 14 teams. 4 wins in the BET that year propelled then into the NCAAT when they went on their magic carpet ride.

[Masterofreality]

Does this open the door for the venereal disease school up north? I don’t want to expand past 11 unless we’re talking adding Gonzaga.

That ship sailed a long time ago. It was clear from the start that X was going to block any attempt by VD to try to enter, although the League never considered them anyway. Even the Blue Haired Red Sweater Brigade in the expensive seats at the Dump have stopped talking about it. Will never happen unless waaaay down the road, there is a huge conference upheaval.

Fox is overjoyed with the League, with the setup and the eyeballs, and everyone loves the Round Robin. We done with this madness.

[Lloyd Braun]

he wasn't a lottery pick before he went on that run.

This is purely hypothetical. He recently signed a max contract. $141 million contract. Are you suggesting those tournament run got him to this contract? Talent was always there and I think that’s the point.... there is probably not a 2011 UConn team this year in the BE. And that’s ok!

[XUOHTX]

f' UCONN

I still don't like that we let Butler in.

This

[GIMMFD]

This is purely hypothetical. He recently signed a max contract. $141 million contract. Are you suggesting those tournament run got him to this contract? Talent was always there and I think that’s the point.... there is probably not a 2011 UConn team this year in the BE. And that’s ok!

I don't remember, so not arguing, just asking, but I could have sworn Kemba was like a first round pick, and not guaranteed lottery before he went on his crazy run via projections. I could have sworn I read somewhere that he moved up in the lottery due to his performance in the BET and NCAAT, something about executives loving his "clutch gene." Also, I don't think it's necessarily fair to correlate the max contract with college performance, Kemba earned his max contract by being an NBA All-Star (one as a Hornets fan hurts to think about how we botched that situation so bad), talent was definitely there but he also honed his skills a bit more in the NBA, being in Charlotte, he didn't have many eyes on him, but Kemba was unreal good for the Hornets. Some picks develop, some don't. A perfect example is Kidd-Gilchrist who was the #2 overall pick and won't be anywhere close to sniffing a max contract in his career.

I do agree that I don't see anybody with a 2011 UConn run in them in the Big East, Seton Hall is already established (Myles Powell could take over a game like Kemba Walker), Marquette is also already established (Markus Howard could take over a game like Kemba Walker), but from the bottom half of the Big East, I just don't see somebody with that level of talent, or that level of determination to just take over. Kemba was a perfect mix of sheer talent, and just clutch. Not many guys have that period.

[Masterofreality]

f' UCONN

I still don't like that we let Butler in.

Butler was probably asked before X, TBH.

[xudash]

Butler was probably asked before X, TBH.

Actually, that’s not true.

Georgetown to Xavier was the first quiet call.

[IM4X]

Georgetown to Xavier was the first quiet call.

Even if someone steps forward with proof that this was not the case, I am sticking to this story.

[xubrew]

Actually, that’s not true.

Georgetown to Xavier was the first quiet call.

....that you know about.

[xubrew]

Even if someone steps forward with proof that this was not the case, I am sticking to this story.

Why does it bother you??

Look at it this way. Of the three schools that joined the previous Big East 7, Xavier was the only one that (at least as far as I know) did not have any direct affiliation or ties to the Big East. Creighton's president at the time was on Marquette's Board of Trustees, so to think that Creighton was not in touch with the other schools even years prior to the official announcement is almost impossible. Same with Butler. Their president (who is still there) came from Villanova. They hired him in 2011, which was right at the time that Pitt and Syracuse were leaving, and I think that one of the reasons he got the job was because they knew he could help get them into a new Big East type conference. Similar to Creighton, Butler had probably been in contact for years prior to the announcement. Even before they joined the A10 they were probably in communication. There's almost no way that they wouldn't have been.

Xavier, on the other hand, had no political help at all other than maybe being Jesuit, which probably didn't hurt, but a lot of Jesuit schools did not get in. It was all merit and brand. So, let's feel good about that and just stop caring about whether or not we were the first ones called, shall we!!?

[Masterofreality]

Actually, that’s not true.

Georgetown to Xavier was the first quiet call.

Thanks Dash for setting me straight!!! That shows the esteem that we were held in.....and VD was not.

[Masterofreality]

....that you know about.

Actually Dash was on the Xavier Board at that time, so I'll trust him implicitly on that.

[xubrew]

Actually Dash was on the Xavier Board at that time, so I'll trust him implicitly on that.

...and Creighton's president was on Marquette's board, and Butler's president came from Villanova. In the case of those two schools, joining the Big East would have been brought up just in the normal conducting of university business. Creighton literally had a Marquette board member running their university. They had political ties that would have opened up communication that Xavier didn't have.

And again, why does it even matter?? I actually think it's a much better narrative to say that we got in without any sort of political help.

[xudash]

...and Creighton's president was on Marquette's board, and Butler's president came from Villanova. In the case of those two schools, joining the Big East would have been brought up just in the normal conducting of university business. Creighton literally had a Marquette board member running their university. They had political ties that would have opened up communication that Xavier didn't have.

And again, why does it even matter?? I actually think it's a much better narrative to say that we got in without any sort of political help.

Enjoy your narrative.

[xubrew]

Enjoy your narrative.

Thanks! You too!

[Xville]

Why does it bother you??

Look at it this way. Of the three schools that joined the previous Big East 7, Xavier was the only one that (at least as far as I know) did not have any direct affiliation or ties to the Big East. Creighton's president at the time was on Marquette's Board of Trustees, so to think that Creighton was not in touch with the other schools even years prior to the official announcement is almost impossible. Same with Butler. Their president (who is still there) came from Villanova. They hired him in 2011, which was right at the time that Pitt and Syracuse were leaving, and I think that one of the reasons he got the job was because they knew he could help get them into a new Big East type conference. Similar to Creighton, Butler had probably been in contact for years prior to the announcement. Even before they joined the A10 they were probably in communication. There's almost no way that they wouldn't have been.

Xavier, on the other hand, had no political help at all other than maybe being Jesuit, which probably didn't hurt, but a lot of Jesuit schools did not get in. It was all merit and brand. So, let's feel good about that and just stop caring about whether or not we were the first ones called, shall we!!?

Well it doesnt matter, except that yours is based on what could have happened based on the "political" climate, dash's "narrative" is based on fact

[xubrew]

Well, we all get told different things at different times by different people, I guess. I don't doubt at all that Georgetown's president reached out to Xavier. In fact, I'm rather certain that happened. I just that the other schools also had lines of communication and had been strategically using them even prior to the official December announcement that the seven schools were splitting off. But, obviously, I wasn't personally involved, so I won't say that I have complete certainty. But, whatever narrative makes you happy. We got in!

[Masterofreality]

Well, we all get told different things at different times by different people, I guess. I don't doubt at all that Georgetown's president reached out to Xavier. In fact, I'm rather certain that happened. I just that the other schools also had lines of communication and had been strategically using them even prior to the official December announcement that the seven schools were splitting off. But, obviously, I wasn't personally involved, so I won't say that I have complete certainty. But, whatever narrative makes you happy. We got in!

And it really doesn't make any difference, so it's all good with me Brew.
Bottom line is that there was no way Butler and Creighton weren't getting in too.
And it's turned out to be incredibly awesome for all schools. Fantastic for us little school on Victory Parkway!!

[paulxu]

From arguing about being in the A10...to wondering whether we were the 1st, 2nd or 3rd pick for the BE.

How times have changed.

[Xville]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28733251/the-ncaa-tournament-here-soon-enough-ready

Found this to be incredibly interesting. Although I don't see Creighton going that deep, I do believe that if anyone is going to do it from the league this year, it would probably be them.

[GoMuskies]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28733251/the-ncaa-tournament-here-soon-enough-ready

Found this to be incredibly interesting. Although I don't see Creighton going that deep, I do believe that if anyone is going to do it from the league this year, it would probably be them.

Perhaps it WILL be Creighton. Would be good to eliminate the "0" under the "S16" column for the program ranked #253 out of 257 on these rankings: http://barttorvik.com/cgi-bin/ncaat.cgi?type=team&sort=1&yrlow=2000&yrhigh=2019

[xudash]

From arguing about being in the A10...to wondering whether we were the 1st, 2nd or 3rd pick for the BE.

How times have changed.

So true, as far as your A10 comment goes.

The inability to look beyond ivy-covered protocol in order to make material, corrective, constructive change remains that conference's hallmark legacy. LossSalle. Fordham. Subtraction by ineffective replenishment and a failure to set standards in order to move out non-performers against those standards. Remaining at 14 to this day. Simply amazing.

A truly mishandled brand that may have had limited upside, but still had some upside and momentum with Xavier and Temple in the fold and in the time of Xavier and St. Joe's going deep in the NCAAT.

God knows it all worked out for the best for Xavier. March of 2013 made all the frustration and angst finally go away.

[X-band '01]

So true, as far as your A10 comment goes.

The inability to look beyond ivy-covered protocol in order to make material, corrective, constructive change remains that conference's hallmark legacy. LossSalle. Fordham. Subtraction by ineffective replenishment and a failure to set standards in order to move out non-performers against those standards. Remaining at 14 to this day. Simply amazing.

A truly mishandled brand that may have had limited upside, but still had some upside and momentum with Xavier and Temple in the fold and in the time of Xavier and St. Joe's going deep in the NCAAT.

God knows it all worked out for the best for Xavier. March of 2013 made all the frustration and angst finally go away.

Did you see this article?

The Blackburn Review Eviscerates Fordham (https://www.blackburnreview.com/2020/02/04/thats-enough-fordham/)

[xudash]

Did you see this article?

The Blackburn Review Eviscerates Fordham (https://www.blackburnreview.com/2020/02/04/thats-enough-fordham/)

Thanks for sharing band.

No, I hadn't seen nor read it. I truly do not pay any attention to UD anymore. But I have to say that I just read it and that it is well written.

He makes a great point about how unfair it is to Fordham fans to have this level of mismanagement and Fordham's insincere takes on their relative position.

[X-band '01]

I'm sure MOR will have more takes than I will on this subject, but look at former AD Frank McLaughlin as the main culprit behind Fordham not giving a damn.

They really damaged their program in the mid-90s when they moved to the Patriot League and dropped athletic scholarships as a condition of joining the league. (It is worth noting that the Patriot League no longer has this restriction in place.)

Also think about why Nick Macarchuk was named A-10 Coach of the Year in 1999 despite finishing 5-11 in the league. He had only one player (Bevon Robin) who had any business competing in the A-10, and the other coaches knew he had a)no talent to work with whatsoever and b)no support whatsoever from the suits at Fordham. He wasn't fired, but took the Stony Brook job the minute they moved up to D-1 basketball.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier is 23-3 against Fordham, yet somehow I'm 0-1 in my trips to Rose Hill HS Gymnasium.

[paulxu]

In 2012, a Bleacher Report guy argued the 7 catholic BE schools should break off, and add Fordham, Northeastern, William & Mary, and others.
He said this about what would be the eventual expansion:


What is more likely is that the remaining Big East schools take the cream of the conference, culling teams like Xavier, Dayton and Butler. That would form quite a good basketball league.

Nevertheless, the Big East schools should not take that route. The quality of basketball in a “Catholic league” would likely be high. But by joining the Midwestern Catholic schools in a conference, the Big East schools would be condemning themselves to permanent non-power conference status

That was a big, big miss.
I don't understand Fordham. They have a healthy endowment and a boat-load of deep pocket alumni. They could build a program if they wanted.

[xudash]

In 2012, a Bleacher Report guy argued the 7 catholic BE schools should break off, and add Fordham, Northeastern, William & Mary, and others.
He said this about what would be the eventual expansion:

That was a big, big miss.
I don't understand Fordham. They have a healthy endowment and a boat-load of deep pocket alumni. They could build a program if they wanted.

They have had back to back “father mulligans“ in the number one seat there. Very bright, very well educated gentlemen, who just happen to possess zero vision.

[bjf123]

Xavier is 23-3 against Fordham, yet somehow I'm 0-1 in my trips to Rose Hill HS Gymnasium.

Well that’s just plain embarrassing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GIMMFD]

In 2012, a Bleacher Report guy argued the 7 catholic BE schools should break off, and add Fordham, Northeastern, William & Mary, and others.
He said this about what would be the eventual expansion:



That was a big, big miss.
I don't understand Fordham. They have a healthy endowment and a boat-load of deep pocket alumni. They could build a program if they wanted.

What I don't understand is how this guy just completely contradicts himself :that would form quite a good basketball league" but "permanent non-power conference status," I don't see how William & Mary, Northeastern, and Fordham push the needle. Sure, decent markets, but none of those scream "great basketball prestige to move things forward."

As for the Fordham case, it just really depends on what the deep pocket alumni care about. Do they really care for a great athletics program? If not, then they're perfectly happy just being well off and spending money on dumb things. Alumni donations are weird, some people are all for them, while a lot of people are very "meh" about the situation. It is weird that even a few of them haven't been like "hmm, let's see what we can do here," being in the Bronx should be able to recruit some decent players with the right resources.

[xudash]

My daughter went to William and Mary. Great school. Beautiful school. But nobody is going to mistake Bill and Mary with good sports.

[Strange Brew]

My daughter went to William and Mary. Great school. Beautiful school. But nobody is going to mistake Bill and Mary with good sports.

You are very polite in saying Bill and Mary. I’ve heard it’s commonly called something else...

[xudash]

You are very polite in saying Bill and Mary. I’ve heard it’s commonly called something else...

You are a dirty bird.

[Masterofreality]

I'm sure MOR will have more takes than I will on this subject, but look at former AD Frank McLaughlin as the main culprit behind Fordham not giving a damn.
.

You can’t spell McLaughlin without Laugh.
He’s a joke and as Chairman of the NIT committee before the NCAA took it over couldn’t see fit to give Xavier an invite in 2013. That despite Xavier beating 2 Top 20 ranked teams in the last 4 games.

[Xuperman]

Nova with the ol' woodshed treatment in Omaha! All of us here should be delighted.....we desperately need parity in conference and it's very refreshing that one of the BE newbies start the process.
��

[JTG]

Nova with the ol' woodshed treatment in Omaha! All of us here should be delighted.....we desperately need parity in conference and it's very refreshing that one of the BE newbies start the process.
��
Umm , no we shouldn't. It just means Nova will be really pissed when we roll into Philly on Tues.

[MADXSTER]

Umm , no we shouldn't. It just means Nova will be really pissed when we roll into Philly on Tues.

Or Nova is really going to be pressing.

[paulxu]

XU now the NET leader of the BE.

[X-band '01]

Providence shouldn't be too far behind - they got a nice win at UConn yesterday.