The NCAA Div 1 playing field is unlevel, unequal - that's a given. But there is one standard. The Top 6 -8 conferences
have decided advantages, in terms of money, recruiting prowess/power, media exposure/money, etc,; over everyone else.
After the Top 6 there is a huge gulf between those few haves and the other 280 or so schools. We all know the story.
See: MidMajority.com's "the Red Line" (2014) - pull it up on Google or DuckDuckGo.
However, all 351 or so schools are still playing for that same sole championship. Now after the Top 8-10 conferences,
the reality is that the other conferences are generally "Glad to be here" in the dance. But St. Peters EE is the same as
UMiami's, Texas Tech's, and UMichigan's EE. The accomplishment is the same. St Pete's run seems to be more, due to the
severe handicap schools in the non-power leagues have, in terms of money, recruiting, media exposure, etc which I alluded
to above. Schools in the power conferences, plus the next 2-3, can oftentimes repeat such success (see: Butler, VCU,
Gonzaga), while the vast majority of schools (George Mason, St Peters, St Bonaventure) cannot repeat such runs with any regularity.
Omaha1 wrote:League is judged by the top. Villanova to the F4 is enough to warrant an A grade.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion - you have yours.
You are speaking in terms of 'external judgement' by outsiders and the general public, I presume. That is a/those are biased view(s),
mainly from ESPN cronies, competitor leagues, a jaundiced major media, poorly informed lesser media and poll voters, and a lazy
ill-informed public.
I thought this is a well-informed, internal review sort of exercise by expert BE fans/pundits. Internally, we should hold our conference
to the highest of standards. The Big East is NOT a one-man band...all due respect to JW & the Radnorites.Wizard of Westroads wrote:Big 12 had the champion, but only one other team in the Sweet 16.
ACC had 2 teams in the FF and 3 in the EE, but only 5 bids total.
That might be a B+ by their standards
Wiz. Is there more than one "standard"? There can be ONLY ONE!! The Big East should be held to the
same standards as the other Major Conferences. After all - we are they. (Please don't double count NCAA
results).ACC: Puke & UNCCheat - FF, UMiami - EE, Notre Dame 2&out, VT 1&Done,
B12: KU Champ, TT Sweet 16, other 4 out in 1st two rounds. Very similar to the BE showing... 3/2&O, 1/1&D.
BEast: Nova - FF, Prov - SS, other 4 out in the 1st two rounds...1/2&0, 3/1&D.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Nicholas Klein (1918)
"Top tier teams rarely have true "down" years and find a way to stay relevant every year." - Adoraz
Creighton