With five teams from the Big East in the Sweet Sixteen, this seems like an ideal time to engage in a little premature Big East triumphalism. Especially after having to endure the past year of Big East football (and having to hear nothing but ess-eee-seee arrogance).
It’s a full slate of Big East bloggers representing the teams in the Sweet Sixteen to discuss this coming week. Laugh at the lesser conferences and poop on the hopes of others.
The participants include:
- Mike Rutherford operator of the Card Chronicle, who is feeling a lot better about getting a haircut this time.
- Sean Keeley who directs Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician (Syracuse) and knows who Devendorf has on speed dial.
- Andrew Porter from UConnBlog will be explaining the magic of Jim Calhoun’s hospital visits.
- Chris of I Bleed Blue and White (Villanova) who will be taking time away from stalking the Wildcats.
Come on by at about 9pm tonight. We will discuss some of the match-ups. What we are looking for in the games. Is there still cross-support amidst the Big East programs or simple hate? And plenty of other things.
I’ll be moderating, and if time allows we will take some questions. The liveblog can be found when you Click Here
Wake was ranked #1 and isn’t alive any more.
but, well put. I find it frustrating to hate teams like WVU on one level, but to root for them on another. It’s like the 13-9 game. HUUUUGE for Pitt in a recruiting, program boosting sense. TERRIBLE for the conference.
I don’t agree that Nova vs. Pitt would be any better for the league than Pitt vs. Duke. I think Pitt beating Duke in the Elite 8 spotlight, rather than Nova beating Duke in the Sweet 16, would shed better light on the conference. I just think the bigger the game you beat an out-of-conference rival in, the better it looks for your conference (assuming anyone is judging conferences at that point).
“(Note, the other five teams who got ranked #1 at any point this year are seeded 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 overall — 1,1,1,1,2 in regional seedings –in the tournament, and are all still alive.)”
Totally disagree with Paul for the simple reason: certain scenarios might be easier for Pitt this year, but they don’t help the conference’s enduring image. OF COURSE we all would rather beat Duke than lose to Nova. Or beat ANYONE than lose to UConn. But in terms of what I want to happen THIS ROUND without saying “Well, you can either get what you want in all games of this round, or all of Pitt’s games in every round” then I want the BE to win win win win win.
Come to think about it — Nit Lions are on ESPN at 9 … Chas, ignore this message, 9:00 is fine.
I too feel the same way…I despise WVU, but I also appreciate what they did for all of us when they won against Georgia… and then a few years later against Oklahoma in the Fiesta bowl–after the ACC did everything in it’s power to destroy the Big East.
They did a great deal to establish legitimacy of this conference during those dark days…and I truly am grateful for that (Wish it could’ve been Pitt that did it though 🙂 ).
People…let’s never forget that…Swofford was trying to marginalize the BE into losing its BCS automatic bid so that the ACC could almost always rely on two bids.
I hate the ACC and dare I say it, moreso than WVU. I remember how dark it looked for the Big East and while I can criticize a lot Tranghese did…I will always thank his creative thinking and reaction to save the BE (mind you his big shortcoming was not seeing this perfect storm occuring…not a lot of forsight, but boy he really came through during the crisis).
Anyway…I want to see the ACC get pounded by the Big East…I know it’s petty but I want them to be dominated and destroyed.
(I know, I know, I need to tell you how I really feel)
🙂
DaveD
It’s great for the schools, the fans, our TV contracts, and recruits; yes, these “kids”
know which conference is great, and which teams are on TV.
Hail to PITT!
-al-
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