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There’s nothing but cross-support. Pitt knows full well that the further UConn goes, the better those two Ws look against them. Wake got ranked #1 this year because they beat Carolina. Otherwise, no chance they sniff the top spot. (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.) Your conference means EVERYTHING. People on this blog are some of the most devoted Pitt fans around…and yet they root for the Hoopies in bowl games, UConn’s women to keep dominating, and cheered when Louisville was announced as the top seed because we all know they deserved it. We hate the ACC, we’re sick of the SEC, we dream of being as overrated as the Big Ten, and we look down our noses at the Big XII and the Pac 10. But we know that as funny as it is to see DePaul go 0-18 in conference, it hurts the league. As great as it is to see the Hoopies lose, I want them to be undefeated in Nov and Dec every year until BE play starts. And I root for them to whip up on Auburn/their random non-con football games every year. We’re St. John’s fans once a year — when they head into Cameron Indoor — before returning to a world where the only reason we remember that St. John’s is even in the conference has to do with strip clubs and the least compelling home floor advantage ever. I don’t care how badly you hate Boeheim/Calhoun/Huggy Bear/random Georgetown softball coach/whomever, we’re in this together. And if you hear a BE fan tell you they’re rooting for anything other than 5 of the Elite Eight and closing out the Final Four, they’re either lying or they’re stupid. I want a crack at Duke as much as the next guy, but I know its better for the long-term health of the all of our programs if we get ‘Nova as part of “the 2009 Big East Tournament Redux: If Milwaukee and Chicago count as ‘East’ then so does Detroit!”

Well said Maz.

Maz-

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).

PatS, that’s what Maz said…

“(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.)”

At this point the BE has already proven it is the best conference this year. From here on in I’m for whatever helps Pitt get to the championship. If we think our chances are better if we play Duke than Villanova, that is what I want. Do we really want to play CT a third time? I don’t. I would hate to lose to them in a championship game after we won 2 of 3 meetings. That would sting. I’m for BE, but only when Pitt is eliminated. Otherwise I’m for whatever makes our path easier.

As Navin said, I noted that it was the teams OTHER than Wake that reached 1 that are still alive. I disagree with your statement that us beating Duke would be just as good/better than Nova. You seem to ignore that if Nova beats Duke, the conference still gets the win over Duke. The fact that we have 5 Sweet 16 teams is making everyone take notice of the BE. The quantity of Elite 8 teams will be better than the quality of wins earned in the Elite 8. For instance: I’d much rather have 5 Elite Eight teams and say 3 Final Four teams where the EE round wins are Nova, Gonzaga, and Missouri than have 3 or 4 Elite Eight teams and 3 FF teams who beat Duke, Carolina, and Michigan State to get there. I hope that makes sense.

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.

I probably don’t wanna play CT for a third time either, but I have no problem rooting for Louisville and UCONN to make the final four.

Chas, can’t you move the liveblog up to 8:00? It then will be opposite Presidential news conference — nothing against Mr. Obama; my focus is now on college bb and tired about hearing about the economy.

Come to think about it — Nit Lions are on ESPN at 9 … Chas, ignore this message, 9:00 is fine.

Any Pitt fans in the DC area congregating for the game?

I agree with Maz. I root for the Big East all the time which is why my bracket is a mess now, but I don’t regret it. Marquette losing to a good Missouri team the way they did hurt but they made the BE look real good with their performance. If anyone else thinks the BE isn’t the best conference you can blame WVU but I still had them in the E8. Of course those people are probably insane or ACC homers.

Maz,

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

Great commentsall. I agree…I’m a PITT fan first and a Big East fan second…when they aer playing out of conference, I want all Big East teams to be undefeated in all sports!

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-

MoE:

Location: Penn Quarter Sports Tavern
639 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
Description: Join fellow Pitt alumni and the Chesapeake & Potomac Pitt Club every time the Panthers play in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, beginning on March 19.
For updated game times, visit http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com

Don’t miss out on the fun! Wear blue and gold and bring plenty of friends!

Cash Bar.

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How about we hope Pitt wins and not care about anything else?

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