Raftery and Gus on New Years Eve

[Barley]

Can't wait to hear those guys calling games this year. And that X/SJU game should be a great kickoff to this league. Saw Raftery when he was in Omaha last week. Not going to lie, though, that I am a little disappointed that those two aren't calling Creighton/Marquette on the league's first day/night of conference action -- two teams that are pretty universally predicted to finish in the top 3 seems like it would justify having the marquee announcing team. Probably the first -- and not the last -- incidence of geography and its impact, eh?

Although Creighton may be picked to come in one of the top spots, I liken them to the Tampa Bay Rays of the nBE. They may be talented and may win their share of games this year but they have not yet earned their stripes to get top billing. I would think, for now, those spots are reserved for the SJU, Gtwn, Marq, Nova (the Yanks, O's & Sox of the league) as they promote the league early on. McDermott, alone, probably creates the buzz rather than the Creighton brand as a whole.

For this billing it seems clear that it works geographically and the Nova/Butler game airs in prime time in most of the BE markets so they might have wanted them there for that.

I would think a game between 2 of the top teams would be more appealing than one with Butler. Marquette at Creighton is a National interest game.

[SJUREDMEN85]

I can`t wait. Isn`t Xavier winning percentage around 900 in their building?
Very impressive

[xu1990]

Xavier is 148-18 at the Cintas Center (.892).
Tough place to play even in down years.