Ideas for 2020-21 Big East Schedule

[kayako]

Why would we allow the teams which killed the Big East access to the Garden, our crown jewel? Those teams are hurting because of their lack of northeastern exposure, even with their 30 pieces of silver football money. I'll consider pissing on them if they're on fire, but other than that let them play down on tobacco road.

Even more, why highlight the old big east vs. "new"? We're the Big East. We're doing fine, no need to sit around and mull about the old girlfriend.

And, leave our Big 5 alone. It's a Philly thing; if you don't get it, that's your problem. We'll figure it out.

Totally agree with you. No sense in helping ACC and B1G teams, as we recruit against them as well.

Also no more scheduling commitments please. 2 conference challenges are more than enough with 20 game schedule.

But whether you like it or not, the Big 5 will need to change in ways to make it sustainable long term. Nova would end up with exactly 1 free spot in the schedule in years we participate in gavitt games.

[adoraz]

I believe the conference challenges are highly influenced by television partners. The SEC and ACC are currently subsidiaries of the evil empire and therefore are probably not viable for conference challenges. I am happy with the Big Ten and Big 12 challenges.

That's a very good point. I agree TV partners makes an ACC challenge very unlikely, but as you mentioned we have a great setup right now.

I also agree with other posts regarding not helping northeastern schools out. Those NE based ACC schools that left have really become irrelevant.

[Letsgonova]

Villanova isn't leaving the Big 5, and the 20 game BE schedule won't change that. We have a very established scheduling matrix right now:

18 BE games
4 Big 5 games
1 exempt tourney
2 high-level OOC (e.g. Kansas + Ohio State this year)
1 mid-level OOC (UCONN the last three years)
2-3 cupcakes, often with one of those at a neutral site in NJ or somewhere else that Jay values showing the flag.

I'd guess that we lose one of the cupcakes and one of the high- or mid-level matchups. The Big 5 is great - we get a bunch of top 150 games with zero travel burden, pay no $100K buy game fees and win basically all of them. Why would we ever stop doing that?

[gtmoBlue]

Since UConn is now back in conference, it would seem likely to lose the so called "mid level" game.
Keep the 2 high profile games. As for the Big5 games. How could anyone suggest dropping a historic tradition.
This is college basketball and some things are above money, TV rights and coverages, outside perceptions. TRADITION is one of those things.
How could you "fix" your mouth to utter such nonsense? Obviously someone who has never attended a B5 game nor visited the Palestra or Philly.
Philly/Palestra is one of the Historic areas/venues in college basketball. Been to several games at different venues in the city...Palestra, Drexel, St. Joes...
go check it out.

AND...now that their highasses, the vaunted Nova Wildcats, have to play us twice a year. Maybe, just maybe I'll finally get a chance to visit the WF and ol' Radnor.
(whaaa? grudge, long memory, hate, chip on my shoulder? Nah. Just a lil' Creighton tradition of keepin' it real. Keepin' the fires stoked!)

Needless to say: Keep the Big 5 games.

[adoraz]

Villanova isn't leaving the Big 5, and the 20 game BE schedule won't change that. We have a very established scheduling matrix right now:

18 BE games
4 Big 5 games
1 exempt tourney
2 high-level OOC (e.g. Kansas + Ohio State this year)
1 mid-level OOC (UCONN the last three years)
2-3 cupcakes, often with one of those at a neutral site in NJ or somewhere else that Jay values showing the flag.

I'd guess that we lose one of the cupcakes and one of the high- or mid-level matchups. The Big 5 is great - we get a bunch of top 150 games with zero travel burden, pay no $100K buy game fees and win basically all of them. Why would we ever stop doing that?

Well, so far you're 3-0 this year so it's hard to argue, although the games have been really close (and that's not even counting @ Temple). I feel like your in-city rivals really get up for these games when you aren't top 5 caliber (aka beatable). Could have easily been a 2-2 type year, which ultimately would have resulted in at least 4 (probably 5) OOC losses. Can't really afford going less than 3-1 next year when we switch to the 11 game OOC. Everyone is happy when you're winning, but it hasn't been a cakewalk these past 2 years and I'd be surprised if Nova can keep up their consistency. There's a reason why very few power teams play away games @ in-state mid-majors.

That said, if it makes sense financially for Nova and they want to continue doing them, then they should. If it's simply about tradition, though, then I'd say Nova should do what is best for Nova.

[Jet915]

Villanova isn't leaving the Big 5, and the 20 game BE schedule won't change that. We have a very established scheduling matrix right now:

18 BE games
4 Big 5 games
1 exempt tourney
2 high-level OOC (e.g. Kansas + Ohio State this year)
1 mid-level OOC (UCONN the last three years)
2-3 cupcakes, often with one of those at a neutral site in NJ or somewhere else that Jay values showing the flag.

I'd guess that we lose one of the cupcakes and one of the high- or mid-level matchups. The Big 5 is great - we get a bunch of top 150 games with zero travel burden, pay no $100K buy game fees and win basically all of them. Why would we ever stop doing that?

Well, so far you're 3-0 this year so it's hard to argue, although the games have been really close (and that's not even counting @ Temple). I feel like your in-city rivals really get up for these games when you aren't top 5 caliber (aka beatable). Could have easily been a 2-2 type year, which ultimately would have resulted in at least 4 (probably 5) OOC losses. Can't really afford going less than 3-1 next year when we switch to the 11 game OOC. Everyone is happy when you're winning, but it hasn't been a cakewalk these past 2 years and I'd be surprised if Nova can keep up their consistency. There's a reason why very few power teams play away games @ in-state mid-majors.

That said, if it makes sense financially for Nova and they want to continue doing them, then they should. If it's simply about tradition, though, then I'd say Nova should do what is best for Nova.

Good points about saving money.

[Letsgonova]

I'm too lazy to look up the actual stat, but we're something like 26-1 against the Big 5 the last 7 seasons, and there were several years there where our average margin of victory was over 20. I think this is a solution looking for a problem. I'm fully aware that stretch coincides with our best run ever, but still.

[Husky_U]

Mid-level? Soooooooooooo nasty and sooooooooooooo rude! Ollie is gone. Nothing mid-level about Hurley's UCONN these days!

[GumbyDamnit!]

I’m with LGN, DeltaV and Git. I grew up on Big 5. I hope they keep it. Also I agree that we don’t have to do defectors any favors. Pitt, Cuse...screw them. They need our fertile recruiting areas; we can schedule anyone. Do t need them.

NO VA to Balt, Philly, NJ, NY, to Boston. Great talent bed that Cuse and Pitt used to pick players from. Now, not so much. Now you see Big Mac and Travis and Jordan coming East to pluck players. I LOVE it!

[adoraz]

I'm too lazy to look up the actual stat, but we're something like 26-1 against the Big 5 the last 7 seasons, and there were several years there where our average margin of victory was over 20. I think this is a solution looking for a problem. I'm fully aware that stretch coincides with our best run ever, but still.

Can't understate how dominate they were during that stretch. One of the best stretches in history and beat nearly everyone they played. I don't think that had anything to do with the Big 5 games. Personally I was sweating vs Penn and St. Joe's this year (and to a lesser extent, even La Salle). I think they got very lucky not to drop at least one of them, and @ Temple will be very tough. I agree with you that these games have certainly worked out for them thus far, I am just skeptical moving forward. The target they have on their backs is much, much bigger than it was before winning the 2 titles. They went from being NC State to Duke overnight.

And no, I'm not looking for a problem. The topic is about changes to our schedules given the reduced OOC games next year. Duke and St. John's for instance ended their series since Duke went to 11 OOC games this year and ran out of space. Nova is the most obvious Big East candidate with a lotttttt on their plate OOC, so it's a valid question.

As I said, Nova should do whatever they think is best. They know much more about this than I do. I'd just be really surprised if there aren't discussions taking place. My guess is they'll reduce it from 4 to 2 games next year.