THE BIG EAST CONFERENCE

[bandl]

12 th elite eight for Nova. Business as usual. ACC victim this time just like 2009. Duke Miami.

How'd Nova do against the ACC (among other conferences) in between 2009 and 2016?
I think that's part of what just about everyone here is stating...

[vutomcat]

That is one dumb post. Nova has won three straight. You really aren't very smart clucker.

Since you don't grasp even the most simple concepts, your opinion doesn't matter.

Apparently it does to you. You feel the need to comment on my posts like you are hanging on my every word. Can't have it both ways. Either I'm relevant and you want to have a discourse or I'm not and you go away. Either way I'm fine with it. The first way I make mince meat out of your weak ass posts, second way I have one less clucker to correct.

[vutomcat]

Well, cutting through the hyperbole on both sides, it looks like Nova is a darn good basketball team and the Big East is an above average conference. Nova gets an A and the Big East gets a B on the report card? ACC is an A+, Big Ten and Big 12 A-?

Did I get this right? I really don't follow monkey ball much. I try to restrict it to March, sort of like restricting the NHL until after the tax deadline and the NBA to never.

Looks about right to me. ACC despite the two losses last night is obviously the best.

[vutomcat]

12 th elite eight for Nova. Business as usual. ACC victim this time just like 2009. Duke Miami.

How'd Nova do against the ACC (among other conferences) in between 2009 and 2016?
I think that's part of what just about everyone here is stating...

I looked quickly- 4-3 record from what I could see. unless you wanted to count the Big East games played prior to the split

10- win over Maryland
11 win over Maryland
12 no games
13 loss to UNC in the tourney
14 no games
15 loss to NC St in the tourney
16 wins over Ga Tech and Miami and a loss to UVA

[bandl]

How'd Nova do against the ACC (among other conferences) in between 2009 and 2016?
I think that's part of what just about everyone here is stating...

I looked quickly- 4-3 record from what I could see. unless you wanted to count the Big East games played prior to the split

10- win over Maryland
11 win over Maryland
12 no games
13 loss to UNC in the tourney
14 no games
15 loss to NC St in the tourney
16 wins over Ga Tech and Miami and a loss to UVA

My point was you just conveniently skipped over the fact that Villanova:
in 2015 - as #1 seed, lost to ACC team NC State
in 2013 - as a #9 seed, lost to ACC team UNC
in 2009, as a #3 seed, lost to ACC team UNC (not a bad result; and they did curb stomp ACC team Duke that year, which everyone enjoys)

And I don't even know what conferences St. Mary's (Villy lost to in 2010 as a #2) or George Mason (Villy lost to in 2011 as a #9) are in, but those aren't good results for Villy no matter how it's twisted...

[vutomcat]

I looked quickly- 4-3 record from what I could see. unless you wanted to count the Big East games played prior to the split

10- win over Maryland
11 win over Maryland
12 no games
13 loss to UNC in the tourney
14 no games
15 loss to NC St in the tourney
16 wins over Ga Tech and Miami and a loss to UVA

My point was you just conveniently skipped over the fact that Villanova:
in 2015 - as #1 seed, lost to ACC team NC State
in 2013 - as a #9 seed, lost to ACC team UNC
in 2009, as a #3 seed, lost to ACC team UNC (not a bad result; and they did curb stomp ACC team Duke that year, which everyone enjoys)

And I don't even know what conferences St. Mary's (Villy lost to in 2010 as a #2) or George Mason (Villy lost to in 2011 as a #9) are in, but those aren't good results for Villy no matter how it's twisted...

Point made. No doubt Nova's results the last few years in the tourney were disappointing. This is a different year thankfully.

[tribe_pride]

My point was you just conveniently skipped over the fact that Villanova:
in 2015 - as #1 seed, lost to ACC team NC State
in 2013 - as a #9 seed, lost to ACC team UNC
in 2009, as a #3 seed, lost to ACC team UNC (not a bad result; and they did curb stomp ACC team Duke that year, which everyone enjoys)

And I don't even know what conferences St. Mary's (Villy lost to in 2010 as a #2) or George Mason (Villy lost to in 2011 as a #9) are in, but those aren't good results for Villy no matter how it's twisted...

Point made. No doubt Nova's results the last few years in the tourney were disappointing. This is a different year thankfully.

Think we all agree with that and they are looking good.

All ACC Sunday as 4 ACC teams (UNC vs ND and UVA vs Cuse) remain on the right side of the bracket and 1 ACC team will make the finals
2 Big 12 teams (Kansas and Oklahoma) also in the Elite Eight as they also have an opportunity to make a same conference Final Four game
Other 2 teams on the left side of the bracket are from the Big East (Nova) and Pac-12 (Oregon)

If UVA, UNC, Kansas and Oregon win, this will be only the 2nd time that all four #1 seeds made it to the Final Four. 2008 was the other year.

[89Hen]

Since you don't grasp even the most simple concepts, your opinion doesn't matter.

Apparently it does to you. You feel the need to comment on my posts like you are hanging on my every word. Can't have it both ways. Either I'm relevant and you want to have a discourse or I'm not and you go away. Either way I'm fine with it. The first way I make mince meat out of your weak ass posts, second way I have one less clucker to correct.

[93henfan]

Congrats to the Nova fans. Great effort tonight.

Hey, maybe don't wear those shirts that say "Party Like It's 1985". IIRC, that team liked to party with special stuff.

[vutomcat]

Arch madness!!!! Wow! Not bad for a complimentary player.

[Ivytalk]

I am a ND hater, but I think they're going to beat the Heels tonight. I don''t see Syracuse upsetting Virginia, though.

[vutomcat]

I am a ND hater, but I think they're going to beat the Heels tonight. I don''t see Syracuse upsetting Virginia, though.

That would really be a surprise.


If chalk holds tonight kenpom looks like it was amazing at predicting the final four.

[89Hen]

to Nova. The media sure was trying to prop up Kansas as the savior to this tournament. When KU went back up in the second, I thought it was over. Props to nova.

[Ivytalk]

I am a ND hater, but I think they're going to beat the Heels tonight. I don''t see Syracuse upsetting Virginia, though.

Well, I'm 0 for 1 so far tonight. Three #1 seeds out in 3 games.

[∞∞∞]

I actually have Nova winning the National Championship in my bracket. They've done me well so far; I can't get worse than 3rd place now which means $$$$. So thanks Wildcats!

(also thanks UNC, but UNC can suck it)

[bluehenbillk]

Congrats to Nova - they gutted one out vs Kansas. As much as OU walloped Nova the 1st time around I think the Cats have a really good shot to advance Saturday - I'd play Bridges on Heild as much as possible.

All that being said I was at the East Regional all weekend, I don't think there is a team that can beat UNC. They look like a NBA team at times & have all kinds of size, they'll have a big rebounding edge against any of the 3 teams left.

And don't overlook my Cuse!!!!

[tribe_pride]

UNC probably has the best overall team if they play well together
Syracuse is playing on hate all tournament
Oklahoma has been very consistent
And Nova has at times looked like the best team in the tourney

I would guess UNC and Nova in the finals (despite the December score in the OU-Nova game) but that should give little confidence to either Nova or UNC based on my bracket.

Nova representing Big East very well this year.

[vutomcat]

I agree with almost all of the last two posts. This one is up for grabs. I can see any of them win, even the Cuse. I am not a Roy Williams fan and I think he can be outcoached at times. The other three coaches are superior to him tactically. But, as you point out, he probably has the superior talent.

This positive posting is great and I hesitate to put this part in, but can we finally put to rest the theory that the Big East is not good enough (not saying it is the old Big East) to prepare a team for the NCAA? I mean a Final Four run in one of three seasons might be enough evidence to the contrary don't you think?

[vutomcat]

NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORDS BY CONFERENCE
The first record is the league's record in tournament games. The second record is “upsets”: wins as a lower seed-losses as a higher seed. Teams have to be more than one seed apart to count in the upset record.

ACC: 18-5, 2-1
West Coast: 2-1, 2-0
Big East: 7-4, 0-2
Big 12: 9-6, 0-3
Missouri Valley: 3-2, 2-0
Big Ten: 8-7, 1-2
SEC: 3-3, 0-0
Atlantic Sun: 1-1, 0-0
Big West: 1-1, 1-0
Conference USA: 1-1, 1-0
Ivy League: 1-1, 1-0
Patriot: 1-1, 0-0
Southland: 1-1, 1-0
Sun Belt: 1-1, 1-0
Pac-12: 4-7, 0-4
A-10: 2-3, 1-1
American: 1-4, 0-0
15 other conferences: 0-1, 0-0

[YoUDeeMan]

Well, cutting through the hyperbole on both sides, it looks like Nova is a darn good basketball team and the Big East is an above average conference. Nova gets an A and the Big East gets a B on the report card? ACC is an A+, Big Ten and Big 12 A-?

Did I get this right? I really don't follow monkey ball much. I try to restrict it to March, sort of like restricting the NHL until after the tax deadline and the NBA to never.

To compare it to FCS football...the Big East is the Southern Conference. They really can't compete anymore, depth wise, with the big boys.

They lost their former prestige with the departure of their traditionally power teams.

The ACC is the MVFC, the Big 10 and Big 12 come next (put in CAA and Big Sky).

So, what do we have left? The Southland or the Southern. Pacifist and the Big East. Both can't hold a candle to the real power conferences, so they hope for a few close games or early season contests to help float their reputation. But, when it comes to playoffs time, the Big East simply can't perform with any quality across the board.

[GannonFan]

Well, back from my vacation in Florida - good times. Caught a Twins/Pirates spring training game - not sure why people even bother with those games, they are brutal to watch.

Onto basketball. Good to see nova doing well - Big 5 teams are always fun to watch. Surprised at the ease of beating Miami, but wasn't terribly surprised at Kansas falling. Oklahoma will be a good challenge assuming Heild stays Heild. Oklahoma also shouldn't have the turnover problem that Kansas (and really Miami) ran into. I thought nova should've kept the half court trap going against Kansas as I didn't see them really handling it well. Oklahoma has the size and the length on nova, at least on the perimeter, so it will be interesting how much Ochefu gets used. Only UNC has the bigs that will stop him so this is a game he needs to get the ball more.

I tried watching more Big East games in the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8 but could only find the nova games. Why was that?

Nobody saw Syracuse coming. Now granted, they got to play a #7, then a #15, then a #11 seed, but UVA was a whole different story. As much as UNI choked before you have to put the UVA loss up there too. That's what an epic collapse looks like.

[vutomcat]

Well, back from my vacation in Florida - good times. Caught a Twins/Pirates spring training game - not sure why people even bother with those games, they are brutal to watch.

Onto basketball. Good to see nova doing well - Big 5 teams are always fun to watch. Surprised at the ease of beating Miami, but wasn't terribly surprised at Kansas falling. Oklahoma will be a good challenge assuming Heild stays Heild. Oklahoma also shouldn't have the turnover problem that Kansas (and really Miami) ran into. I thought nova should've kept the half court trap going against Kansas as I didn't see them really handling it well. Oklahoma has the size and the length on nova, at least on the perimeter, so it will be interesting how much Ochefu gets used. Only UNC has the bigs that will stop him so this is a game he needs to get the ball more.

I tried watching more Big East games in the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8 but could only find the nova games. Why was that?

Nobody saw Syracuse coming. Now granted, they got to play a #7, then a #15, then a #11 seed, but UVA was a whole different story. As much as UNI choked before you have to put the UVA loss up there too. That's what an epic collapse looks like.

Glad you're enjoying the Nova wins.

The UVA collapse was really weird. We turned it off and didn't get it back on until my son got an "upset alert" on his phone so we didn't really see how Syracuse pulled it off. I understand the press had a lot to do with it. Boeheim gets into another final four.

Beating Oklahoma will be quite a challenge. But, Kansas beat them twice so they are vulnerable. Jay should be able to figure them out.

Is Jay now in the conversation for best all time coach in the Big Five? Lots of competition there.

[YoUDeeMan]

I tried watching more Big East games in the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8 but could only find the nova games. Why was that?

Occam's razor...there was, most probably, some WC bias involved with the TV stations choosing which games to show.

What other reason could account for the lack of more Big East Sweet 16 coverage?

[vutomcat]

I tried watching more Big East games in the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8 but could only find the nova games. Why was that?

Occam's razor...there was, most probably, some WC bias involved with the TV stations choosing which games to show.

What other reason could account for the lack of more Big East Sweet 16 coverage?

Just check the final four tv listings. You'll find only three conferences are left. Big East is one of them.

7-4 overall this year in the tourney. Best OOC record (I think). A very good year. Would have liked to seen X win a couple more. They surely were good enough. But, the tourney can be cruel sometimes even to the best of teams. Ask Michigan State this year.

[GannonFan]

Occam's razor...there was, most probably, some WC bias involved with the TV stations choosing which games to show.

What other reason could account for the lack of more Big East Sweet 16 coverage?

Just check the final four tv listings. You'll find only three conferences are left. Big East is one of them.

7-4 overall this year in the tourney. Best OOC record (I think). A very good year. Would have liked to seen X win a couple more. They surely were good enough. But, the tourney can be cruel sometimes even to the best of teams. Ask Michigan State this year.

Pretty sure the ACC's mark of 18-5 far surpassed anyone's record, the Big East included. And that 7-4 has the big old "SEC" asterisk on there as being really the result of one team. I believe similar records by the SEC in the past tournament were pooh-poohed by new Big East fans like yourself - hypocritical to trumpet it now. I agree, Xavier should've made a better showing of it as Wisconsin struggled all year. But again, the rigors of the tournament are not always kind to teams from conferences like the Big East - again, just not nearly enough good teams at the top. Sure, you'll get outliers like this year's nova where they win in spite of the lack of top echelon competition in conference, but that's not a recipe for year after year success.

Tournament has proven what we've always known, the ACC, especially after siphoning off the top of the old Big East, is by and far the best conference out there.