This league is wide open

[Django]

I definitely think the conference tournament is bigger in the Big East than any other conference in the country because with that stage at MSG, it is our league's identity. Every other league in the country could probably drop their conference tournament, give the auto bid to the regular season champ, and not really miss a beat. It's not like any ACC schools are selling recruits on how great it is to go play in Greensboro. If the Big East Tournament was dropped though, it would leave a significant hole in our league. When college hoops fans hear "Big East Basketball" they think of tournament games at the Garden.

Nice post Hall. I agree with your take.

Ok, in this METOO / pol. correct world what I'm about to say is completely unacceptable...

Regular Season is like looking back at an old college girlfriend that you dated for a while. Lots of tape to review... good and bad, but ultimately fond memories. It is a good indication of my overall "game" in college.

The BET is that one night stand when you may have ultimately played up in class. That smoke show, you somehow landed that you'll never forget. Saturday Night finals in MSG is just that. All things come together perfectly. You're on the big stage performing. Everyone else is watching in admiration. For that one night, very few things are sweeter.

So...I think back to my time as an undergrad and both are emblazoned in my memories. Which is better? Regular season has more highlights--buzzer beaters in Hinkle, rock fights in the Dunk, $1 beer night in Omaha in front of a packed crowd, The Ski Lodge rocking after a barrage of 3's. Great memories of a great season march to a Regular Season Title. But oh man, to have that one night back...in MSG with that place rocking. Nothing like it.

Nice

[stever20]

I definitely think the conference tournament is bigger in the Big East than any other conference in the country because with that stage at MSG, it is our league's identity. Every other league in the country could probably drop their conference tournament, give the auto bid to the regular season champ, and not really miss a beat. It's not like any ACC schools are selling recruits on how great it is to go play in Greensboro. If the Big East Tournament was dropped though, it would leave a significant hole in our league. When college hoops fans hear "Big East Basketball" they think of tournament games at the Garden.

Nice post Hall. I agree with your take.

Ok, in this METOO / pol. correct world what I'm about to say is completely unacceptable...

Regular Season is like looking back at an old college girlfriend that you dated for a while. Lots of tape to review... good and bad, but ultimately fond memories. It is a good indication of my overall "game" in college.

The BET is that one night stand when you may have ultimately played up in class. That smoke show, you somehow landed that you'll never forget. Saturday Night finals in MSG is just that. All things come together perfectly. You're on the big stage performing. Everyone else is watching in admiration. For that one night, very few things are sweeter.

So...I think back to my time as an undergrad and both are emblazoned in my memories. Which is better? Regular season has more highlights--buzzer beaters in Hinkle, rock fights in the Dunk, $1 beer night in Omaha in front of a packed crowd, The Ski Lodge rocking after a barrage of 3's. Great memories of a great season march to a Regular Season Title. But oh man, to have that one night back...in MSG with that place rocking. Nothing like it.

The Saturday night Final is great- but the Friday Night Semifinals are always so incredible to me. Almost always seems to be 2 great games, occasionally with a team needing a win to make the tourney.

[XUFan09]

What's better? Prime rib or lobster tail? You know what, both are great.

This BET vs. RS title argument is played out, IMO the BET is sexier, while the RS is more satisfying. Either way you're hanging a banner.

There’s absolutely nothing satisfying about coming in first then losing the BET.

How would you know?

[Savannah Jay]

Like, Jesus, this whole thing started cause Xavier and Creighton were pissed they lost in the BET so they started claiming themselves BE champs to feel better. Underlying motive is they’re pissed they didn’t win the BET! DING DING DING!

WTF are you talking about? Show me one place where a Creighton fan claimed a Big East championship because we won the regular season but lost in the BET? We haven't won either in MBB. Please pay attention.

I have been to every conference tournament, except one, that Creighton has played in since 2002. I've watched them cut down the nets after winning the MVC in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2012, and 2013. I am beyond thrilled to be in this conference and to go to this tournament. I've never been pissed that they lost. Disappointed? Of course. But I've watched them win a few conf tournaments. In fact, Creighton has more conference tournament titles than regular season titles, albeit in the MVC. My view isn't skewed by their success in one vs. the other. (Since I've been a fan, we've won the regular season outright 4 times, tied for first twice; in that same time, we've won 10 conference tournaments). From my experience, it's "easier" to win the tournament than the regular season.

But this hard-on for the conf tournament and claiming anyone else is a whiner who doesn't think like you isn't very insightful. Conference tournaments, as stated in an earlier comment, are about money. The Big Ten didn't even have one until 1998 and they saw how much money the Big East, ACC, and SEC were making in their conference tournaments and thought, "hey, we need some of that money."

The reason the conferences give the automatic bid to the tournament winner is to sell tickets to the tournament. Pure and simple. It's about the almighty dollar. The BET this year, more than any since we've joined, is anyone's for the taking. Dangle the BET winner as the NCAAT auto bid carrot? More tickets. Oh...it's a sell out? Higher ticket prices. Regular season ticket sales? Goes to the schools. It's not very hard to discern the conference's interest in who they proclaim the "champ."

Facts matter, sport, and if you wanna disparage someone at least know what you're talking about first. It's a better look.

[Xudash]

BET or Regular Season Champ? Let me see.

I think we "newbies" get it. After all, at least some of us were watching the BET when we were stuck in the wilderness, pining to be a part of it.

The BET is truly unique. MSG. NYC. It's simply big-time freakin basketball on a truly national stage at a VERY hyped-up, crescendo point in the season. The BET is a huge ASSET to the conference; it's a nice chunk of our identity, coming from the city that never sleeps. Other conferences want to move into our place, literally. Other conferences gawk at our attendance results and atmosphere in MSG. Winning the BET means locking in an NCAAT invite without question.

And Gumby, you're close, but slightly off. It isn't about the BET trading you up into a hot one-night stand when you win it. It's about the BET trading you up into a hot 3-way in Laguna Niguel with the windows open, overlooking the Pacific with a nice breeze blowing through to keep you going for a while. (Editor's Disclaimer: not that I would know, and certainly not knowing what it is like to win the BET yet as a Xavier fan).

With all that noted, the thing to do is to WIN THEM BOTH - - the regular season and the BET. Doing that assures your school of good seed positioning in the Dance. Otherwise, take one of the two? Great for your school, both in terms of what that means to your school's program and what it means for the next day's announcement of your place in the Dance. Nova's business model since the reorg has been very effective: win them both as much as possible, but take one of them at least if it comes to that.

I have no problem with tradition dictating that winning the BET is the bigger achievement between itself and the regular season title, though strong and very logical arguments have been made about the notion of winning an 18 game schedule versus a weekend tournament event.

[Django]

What's better? Prime rib or lobster tail? You know what, both are great.

This BET vs. RS title argument is played out, IMO the BET is sexier, while the RS is more satisfying. Either way you're hanging a banner.

There’s absolutely nothing satisfying about coming in first then losing the BET.

How would you know?

[FenwayFriar]

Maybe if SH and Providence stopped overvaluing the rather meaningless conference tournament they'd stop shitting the bed every March in the real tournament....

The NCAA Tournament committee publicly stated Providence would not have gotten into the 2014 NCAA tournament without winning the BE Tournament. Nice try though. Love how an automatic bid is now considered "meaningless." Clown.

[FenwayFriar]

Like, Jesus, this whole thing started cause Xavier and Creighton were pissed they lost in the BET so they started claiming themselves BE champs to feel better. Underlying motive is they’re pissed they didn’t win the BET! DING DING DING!

WTF are you talking about? Show me one place where a Creighton fan claimed a Big East championship because we won the regular season but lost in the BET? We haven't won either in MBB. Please pay attention.

I have been to every conference tournament, except one, that Creighton has played in since 2002. I've watched them cut down the nets after winning the MVC in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2012, and 2013. I am beyond thrilled to be in this conference and to go to this tournament. I've never been pissed that they lost. Disappointed? Of course. But I've watched them win a few conf tournaments. In fact, Creighton has more conference tournament titles than regular season titles, albeit in the MVC. My view isn't skewed by their success in one vs. the other. (Since I've been a fan, we've won the regular season outright 4 times, tied for first twice; in that same time, we've won 10 conference tournaments). From my experience, it's "easier" to win the tournament than the regular season.

But this hard-on for the conf tournament and claiming anyone else is a whiner who doesn't think like you isn't very insightful. Conference tournaments, as stated in an earlier comment, are about money. The Big Ten didn't even have one until 1998 and they saw how much money the Big East, ACC, and SEC were making in their conference tournaments and thought, "hey, we need some of that money."

The reason the conferences give the automatic bid to the tournament winner is to sell tickets to the tournament. Pure and simple. It's about the almighty dollar. The BET this year, more than any since we've joined, is anyone's for the taking. Dangle the BET winner as the NCAAT auto bid carrot? More tickets. Oh...it's a sell out? Higher ticket prices. Regular season ticket sales? Goes to the schools. It's not very hard to discern the conference's interest in who they proclaim the "champ."

Facts matter, sport, and if you wanna disparage someone at least know what you're talking about first. It's a better look.

Please learn your Big East history and Big East Tournament history. We're not the Big 10.

[Savannah Jay]

Like, Jesus, this whole thing started cause Xavier and Creighton were pissed they lost in the BET so they started claiming themselves BE champs to feel better. Underlying motive is they’re pissed they didn’t win the BET! DING DING DING!

WTF are you talking about? Show me one place where a Creighton fan claimed a Big East championship because we won the regular season but lost in the BET? We haven't won either in MBB. Please pay attention.

I have been to every conference tournament, except one, that Creighton has played in since 2002. I've watched them cut down the nets after winning the MVC in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2012, and 2013. I am beyond thrilled to be in this conference and to go to this tournament. I've never been pissed that they lost. Disappointed? Of course. But I've watched them win a few conf tournaments. In fact, Creighton has more conference tournament titles than regular season titles, albeit in the MVC. My view isn't skewed by their success in one vs. the other. (Since I've been a fan, we've won the regular season outright 4 times, tied for first twice; in that same time, we've won 10 conference tournaments). From my experience, it's "easier" to win the tournament than the regular season.

But this hard-on for the conf tournament and claiming anyone else is a whiner who doesn't think like you isn't very insightful. Conference tournaments, as stated in an earlier comment, are about money. The Big Ten didn't even have one until 1998 and they saw how much money the Big East, ACC, and SEC were making in their conference tournaments and thought, "hey, we need some of that money."

The reason the conferences give the automatic bid to the tournament winner is to sell tickets to the tournament. Pure and simple. It's about the almighty dollar. The BET this year, more than any since we've joined, is anyone's for the taking. Dangle the BET winner as the NCAAT auto bid carrot? More tickets. Oh...it's a sell out? Higher ticket prices. Regular season ticket sales? Goes to the schools. It's not very hard to discern the conference's interest in who they proclaim the "champ."

Facts matter, sport, and if you wanna disparage someone at least know what you're talking about first. It's a better look.

Please learn your Big East history and Big East Tournament history. We're not the Big 10.

Did I say something that is factually incorrect?

[GumbyDamnit!]

I absolutely stand corrected Dash. YOU are correct Sir!