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last year or this year?

to me, it's this year, and not even close. I'd take a year with only 3 teams if all 3 got sweet 16's over last year even.

I would say last season was better than this year because 6 beats 4. The reason I hear the four letter network saying good this like the Big East is back, is the Big East has 4 highly ranked schools.

This year, no question. Better to be a top-heavy conference with decent depth than a deeper conference with only one regularly ranked team.

Absolutely this year. Last year we had Nova in the top 10 and various teams in and out of the top 25. This year we have multiple Final Four contenders.

We have our four of (in no particular order) Butler, X, Nova, and Providence that, barring a catastrophe, will nab bids, with possibly all four receiving very good seeds. At times this year we were looking at legitimately getting in six. Then it went to five. Now we are talking four.

I understand that its probably better to get in four strong, highly seeded teams capable of making deep runs instead of 5-6 middling seeded squads.

Personally, I want FIVE. 50% of our conference. FIVE, quantity wise, puts us with with and/or above most of the P5.

So is five still the realistic number or is it looking like more of a pipe dream? Who are the main contenders/most likely teams to snag that fifth spot? Is six at all possible?

If the Big East this season ends up with a top heavy, let's say 4 bids, wouldn't last season be better with 6 bids?

It's a legitimate debate. I think it is pretty close. I think both seasons established credibility for different reasons.

Thing is, last year it wasn't a 1 seed and a bunch of 8-12 seeds. The other 5 teams were mainly in the 4-6 seed range and did advance. Last year showed that we were a complete conference, one that must be taken seriously.

But 4 teams in the top 10 at some point this year is huge. This year is showing that we have the high end teams that we need to advance our credibility.

Not sure one season is better than the other. Both are huge.


How about this question:
2009 when we had 8 tourney teams, but three 1 seeds and a pair of 3 seeds? or
2011 when we had 11 tourney teams but only one 1 seed and only one 2 seed with a pair of 3 seeds?

Seems to be the similar debate. Both are great for different reasons.

Don't forget that a GTown, Marq, Hall could get hot and win the BET and we'd end up with 5 bids.

If Creighton, Marquette and Seton Hall can get home wins versus the likes of Villanova, Providence and Butler, you will be looking at 6 bids.

MUPanther wrote:If the Big East this season ends up with a top heavy, let's say 4 bids, wouldn't last season be better with 6 bids?

It's not just about the number of bids. Seeding matters too. This year the BE might get more than one team on the top 2 lines and four on the top 4 lines, and there's still a chance that a fifth team gets in.