ESPN stumping for Big East tourney bids

[waggy]

We're less than 3 weeks into the season and I can't count how may references I've heard from ESPN talking heads about how many bids the BE "deserves". Sorry, but this is just coming off as stumping, a concerted effort. I don't really care how many teams the BE gets - only that the best teams regardless of conference affiliation get the bid they've earned. Or am I paranoid?

[jdm2000]

Nope. I'm probably in the minority, but it seems pretty clear that ESPN is in bed with the BE in B-ball and the SEC in football. There's more open campaigning about how those conferences are so difficult than I care to hear.

[Billy]

Nope. I'm probably in the minority, but it seems pretty clear that ESPN is in bed with the BE in B-ball and the SEC in football. There's more open campaigning about how those conferences are so difficult than I care to hear.

Announcers and journalists are going to tout what they know.

Fraschilla has done a bunch of Xavier games, and so he carries on about them in a way that's probably nauseating to some.

I don't think there's an orchestrated effort by ESPN per se, as much as it is has to do with the fact that college basketball is a sport covered by mostly East Coast guys on a national basis. They all know the Big East...they know Calhoun, Boeheim, JTIII, and Huggins.

Look at the Heisman voting every year, and the regional bias built into that...and very few of those voters have anything to do with ESPN.

[GuyFawkes38]

Nope. I'm probably in the minority, but it seems pretty clear that ESPN is in bed with the BE in B-ball and the SEC in football. There's more open campaigning about how those conferences are so difficult than I care to hear.

As you know, I disagree with the SEC part of this statement. It's hard to argue that a Big Ten or PAC Ten team deserves to be in the BCS game rather than an SEC team this year.

But I agree with ya 100% on ESPN broadly favoring Big East teams. Of course, the TV contract might have a little to do with it.

But I think the primary reason is simply because ESPN is on the east coast. Most of the commentators are from the east coast. And most of the commentators are friends with coaches and AD's on the east coast. It's a nasty combination.

It would be a disaster if ESPN gained all of the rights to the NCAA tourney from CBS.

[GuyFawkes38]

Ha, kind of copied Billy. Maybe I should read prior posts before I post.

[jdm2000]

As you know, I disagree with the SEC part of this statement. It's hard to argue that a Big Ten or PAC Ten team deserves to be in the BCS game rather than an SEC team this year.



I agree that the FL/AL winner deserves to be in the BCS title game. Really, the stuff that gets me about the SEC-boosting is not the teams at the top of the conference--it's the constant harping on how it's "so tough" week in and week out, no matter what the team. Come on. I'd gladly have Ohio State play Kentucky, Miss. St., Vandy, etc. every year in football.

I think that ESPN does the same thing in basketball--they're always talking up the depth of the BE. I would love to be able to play St. John's, USF, DePaul, and Providence year-in and year-out and have that prove how good you are as a program.

That's where I see the parallels. (Along with the massive monetary investment ESPN has made in each league, which it has not in the B10 (B10 network started with Fox) or Pac10 (which has games on Fox).

[XUglow]

I agree that the FL/AL winner deserves to be in the BCS title game. Really, the stuff that gets me about the SEC-boosting is not the teams at the top of the conference--it's the constant harping on how it's "so tough" week in and week out, no matter what the team. Come on. I'd gladly have Ohio State play Kentucky, Miss. St., Vandy, etc. every year in football.


What is OSU's record against the SEC?

[jdm2000]

I prefer to think of it as unblemished. ;)

i also think that there's quite a difference between those teams and the ones the Bucks normally face in bowl games.

[Stonebreaker]

1. North Carolina (31) 3-0 775
2. Connecticut 4-0 730
3. Louisville 2-0 697
4. Pittsburgh 4-0 635
5. Duke 6-0 625
6. Michigan State 2-0 615
7. Texas 2-0 576
8. Notre Dame 2-0 551
9. Purdue 4-0 516
10. Gonzaga 2-0 481
11. UCLA 3-1 437
12. Tennessee 3-0 434
13. Oklahoma 4-0 415
14. Arizona State 3-0 343
15. Marquette 3-0 284
16. Georgetown 2-0 251
17. Memphis 4-1 246
18. Florida 3-0 238
19. Wisconsin 4-0 171
20. Xavier 5-0 166
21. Miami (FL) 2-1 146
22. Villanova 3-0 143
23. Kansas 2-0 125
24. Wake Forest 2-0 123
25. Davidson 3-1 100
Others Receiving Votes
UNLV 58, Saint Mary's 43, Ohio State 29, Baylor 27, West Virginia 19, Washington State 15, Syracuse 14, Siena 10, Creighton 8, Texas A&M 7, Brigham Young 6, USC 4, UAB 3, Clemson 3, Michigan 3, Oklahoma State 2, Washington 1.

Now I could be wrong, but the Big East actually does look like the best conference (today). I'm not going to ignore that just because espn goes overboard in it's 'analysis'. 6 of the top 16 is pretty damn impressive.

[XURunner85]

Yes the ESPN announces keep saying that the BE should get 10 in this year....but half of those teams are not playing anybody until the league games then they beat each other up and .500 records in the conference...to me that is wrong to put them in the big dance with a .500 record in conference...now if those teams would play the toughest non-conference schedule then maybe I could accept it....I believe we will be the first tough team for UC in non-conference and I am not sure if they have anyone else as good until league starts...I will say the BE will only get 6 in NCAA maybe they screw someone else and get 7....

[waggy]

Vitale was announcing one of the games being played in Kansas City last night, and he said that Notre Dame football should turn down any bowl opportunities that might be offered since they will only be .500 on the season (assuming they lose to USC). It'll fun and disgusting to watch his tune change in March when he's stumping for teams that have sub .500 conference records.

[XUglow]

I prefer to think of it as unblemished. ;)

i also think that there's quite a difference between those teams and the ones the Bucks normally face in bowl games.

I doubt we will see OSU playing any of those teams a home and home any time soon to find out.

As with any conference, there are haves and have nots, but for me, the beauty of the SEC is that it is fairly dynamic compared to other leagues. Alabama is on top this year, they were ninth last year. Ole Miss was the worst team in the league last year, and they will be 3rd or 4th this year. The reason things change so quickly is that the bad teams are all pretty close to being good.

[XUglow]

As for the main topic, I believe that the Big East is earning the kudos that they are getting this year.

[waggy]

Recognizing that the Big East is deep and has a bunch of good teams is one thing. Saying that any team has earned a tournament berth before Thanksgiving is a little much. It's even a little early to say definitively that the BE is the best conference.

[Stonebreaker]

Yes the ESPN announces keep saying that the BE should get 10 in this year....but half of those teams are not playing anybody until the league games then they beat each other up and .500 records in the conference...to me that is wrong to put them in the big dance with a .500 record in conference...now if those teams would play the toughest non-conference schedule then maybe I could accept it....I believe we will be the first tough team for UC in non-conference and I am not sure if they have anyone else as good until league starts...I will say the BE will only get 6 in NCAA maybe they screw someone else and get 7....

So exactly which of the top 7 (currently ranked 22 or higher) don't go? If they have the rankings, and rpi...they should go.

[AdamtheFlyer]

It's shameless stumping. Nothing more, nothing less.

I fully agree that the Big East is, on paper, the strongest league in the country this year. It might not even be close. But saying that, right now, the Big East deserves any number of bids is downright laughable. I loathe the "right now" mentality of college basketball. Enjoy watching things unfold instead of overreacting to every little up and down along the way.

We need more WH's, and far less Doug Gottleibs.

[X-band '01]

In other breaking news, water is wet, the sun rises in the East, and it's Thanksgiving on Thursday.

As long as the Big East remains as it is, the media (read: ESPN) is always going to be propping up that conference. What do people really expect around here - do you want to hear that the Temples and Creightons of the world are more worthy of tournament bids?

[xu95]

I'd gladly have Ohio State play Kentucky, Miss. St., Vandy, etc. every year in football.



Me too. I would love to see Ohio St. lose every game. The Big 10 is no where near as good as the SEC year in and year out.

I will admit this is a top heavy year for the SEC (meaning there is a large drop off between the top and everyone else) but last year the SEC had 9 teams out of 12 in bowl games. Oh and they won something called the national championship.

xu95

[PMI]

Ohio State in the SEC = 8-4 or 7-5. Discuss.

[XUglow]

Ohio State in the SEC = 8-4 or 7-5. Discuss.

Depends on which division. Probably 10-2 on average if playing in the West and 9-3 on average if playing in the East.

[jdm2000]

Don't we already have a thread for OSU bashing? Let's keep this for bashing ESPN.

[AdamtheFlyer]

I doubt we will see OSU playing any of those teams a home and home any time soon to find out.

They have a home and home with Tennessee in like 10 years. After home and homes with Miami, Cal, VT, and Oklahoma.

[Strange Brew]

I agree that the FL/AL winner deserves to be in the BCS title game. Really, the stuff that gets me about the SEC-boosting is not the teams at the top of the conference--it's the constant harping on how it's "so tough" week in and week out, no matter what the team. Come on. I'd gladly have Ohio State play Kentucky, Miss. St., Vandy, etc. every year in football.

UK or Vandy would give OSU a run for their money. Especially if OSU actually played them on the road.

[BiggieXU]

You really think Vandy could beat OSU? Have you seen Vandy play?????? Pfft. I've seen most of their games this year, they were overrated because they beat a couple of overrated SEC teams early.

[AdamtheFlyer]

Vandy was the worst BCS offensive team in the country this year. Had to be. OSU would roll them in any stadium. OSU would beat UK by 20 at home, 14-17 neutral, and 7-10 in Lexington. Kentucky plays a reactionary defense, and Pryor and Wells would put up 30+ without much trouble.

OSU only struggles with offensive lines that can manhandle you out of a spread offense, because it takes away their LBs. This year in the SEC the only team that can do that is Florida. OSU will either play Bama in the Sugar Bowl (Can't see Bama hanging with Florida right now), or Georgia in the Capital One bowl. I think they beat either. OSU dominates pro style offenses. On the flip side, Georgia's defense is mundane, and a game with Bama would be low scoring anyway.

[xu95]

Vandy was the worst BCS offensive team in the country this year. Had to be. OSU would roll them in any stadium. OSU would beat UK by 20 at home, 14-17 neutral, and 7-10 in Lexington. Kentucky plays a reactionary defense, and Pryor and Wells would put up 30+ without much trouble.

OSU only struggles with offensive lines that can manhandle you out of a spread offense, because it takes away their LBs. This year in the SEC the only team that can do that is Florida. OSU will either play Bama in the Sugar Bowl (Can't see Bama hanging with Florida right now), or Georgia in the Capital One bowl. I think they beat either. OSU dominates pro style offenses. On the flip side, Georgia's defense is mundane, and a game with Bama would be low scoring anyway.

Even though it would mean that Bama isn't in the National Championship game I would love to see that match up. I could then enjoy the Bama is awesome OSU sucks conversation for years.

xu95

[STL_XUfan]

the sun rises in the East


Even the sun is Big East biased.

The Big East has impressed me so far this year (and I am normally a hater). Most of the teams have gone out and played some competition in the preseason tournaments and done relatively well. Hell even Syracuse got on a plane before the month of January and that never happens.

No one knows how many bids they will or should get yet, but they currently look like the best conference.

[jdm2000]

UK or Vandy would give OSU a run for their money. Especially if OSU actually played them on the road.

Come on. Vandy couldn't even beat Duke when it hosted them. OSU would drill them.

[PMI]

As powerful as the Big East is, let's not forget it has 16 teams. They added good basketball programs to an already stacked league and can get more than half of them into the dance. It's obviously the best conference and they will beat each other up a bunch, but considering that some of the teams (Syracuse traditionally) decide to schedule so weak knowing their conference schedule will more than make up for it, and the amount of teams they have, of course they're going to have the most teams in. ESPN does not need to campaign for them. If you can stay at or near .500 in conference, you stay in the conversation.

Personally, I think the conference is too big. If you're east of Chicago you can be in the Big East. It makes for great competition so I can't complain, but don't suck off the league tell me how incredible it is that they get 9 teams into the dance. That's about what it should be when you build an all-star league that is bigger than the rest of them.

Oh, and if Bama plays OSU I would ask the moderators to please open an illegal gambling forum and would be happy to take bets from any Buckeye fans.