Three Years Later

[GoldenWarrior11]

Three years ago, the C7 began discussions to break away from the football-playing schools of what was then considered the Big East - UConn, Cincinnati, USF, SMU, Houston, UCF, Memphis, Tulane, East Carolina and Temple. The league had already lost Syracuse, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Rutger, Louisville and Notre Dame in the months prior, and there was a genuine fear and angst among the schools and their fans as to what direction their basketball (and athletic programs) would go. There were discussions of the C7 possibly joining the A-10, staying on with the new football schools of the Big East, or even breaking away to start a new league. Thankfully, after invitations were extended to both Tulane and ECU, the C7 separated from the football schools, managed to keep the Big East name, Madison Square Garden, earned a huge TV contract from Fox and, most importantly, extended invitations to Butler, Creighton and Xavier - all of which helped (re)create the absolute best non-football conference in the country. It also helped that the TV contract-disparity (Big East/FOX - 12 years for $500 million, AAC/ESPN - 7 years for $126 million) was substantial, as it only affirmed the decision to walk away from the weaker football programs that were invited. The league averages five tournament bids per year, and has made progressions each year since. The future, heading into this year's tournament, looks as bright as ever.

Personally, I could not be more happy and glad that the split occurred - and that Butler, Creighton and Xavier were invited to be a part of the reorganized conference. The C7 would have been pulled into mediocrity or even into a permanent cellar had they been in a conference with historically awful basketball programs like Tulane, East Carolina, UCF, and USF. SMU could have even been grouped into that club too, had it not been for the hiring of Larry Brown. Hindsight is 20/20, but SMU is banned from the postseason and, once Larry Brown leaves, there is no guarantee they continue with the same amount of success. Houston had also only been to three tournaments since 1990 - so they weren't exactly bringing anything to the table either. The thought of that possible marriage (between the C7 and now AAC schools) is troubling to say the least...

Anyways, it's been a wonderful three seasons (despite Marquette's struggles). Very excited about the potential for the conference and the schools. Looking forward to the BE tournament and the NCAA Tournament. Good luck to all teams.

[milksteak]

Yeah. The league has been awesome. I don't miss the days of streaming an away game against Youngstown State or the University of Illinois-Chicago. Bill Raftery is much more enjoyable than some sophomore communications major at Youngstown State.

The Big East experience is also much better than the A-10, and I'm sure my fellow Xavier fans will agree. While we were only in the league for one year, it was hard to get up for games against the likes of Duquesne and Fordham. Big games on that league were shown on CBSSN, NBCSN and occasionally one of the minor ESPN channels. The vast majority of the Big East's games are on FS1, and we have a smaller percentage that are shown on FSN and FS2. Big games are on FOX...a freakin' national network channel. It still blows my mind.

The Big East has been very good to Butler so far. Our recruiting is really starting to take off as well. We would've never landed a guy like Joey Brunk if we were still in the A-10/Horizon League.

[marquette]

I couldn't be more happy with the league. We really made the right decision with the split and I think we will continue to get better.

I am really happy that the NCAA didn't change the rule about football championship games back then. My guess is that if that had happened I think it would be much harder for the C7 to split and we would still be in a hybrid league with (likely):

Originals: UConn, Cincinnati, USF.
Additions: Temple, Memphis, Houston, Tulsa, SMU.
FB Only: ECU, Navy.
BB Schools: MU, G'town, Nova, Hall, SJ, PC, DePaul.

I think that really could have been a disaster for our basketball schools in comparison to how things actually turned out. Thankfully we are here with the BE brand, the great tv contract, and a really bright future.

[cu blujs]

Oh, I don't know. Playing home and home against traditional power basketball schools, multiple top twenty teams, including #1 and #5, and mostly top 100 RPIs in cities such as DC, NYC, Philly, Natti, Chicago, etc. vs. an occasional top 20 team every few years or so and a few top 100 RPIs in such metropolitan areas as Cedar Falls, Springfield, Evansville, Wichita, Carbondale. Virtually every game on national television vs. internet streaming for half the games. Gee, I'm going to have to think about that one a while.

(Although this time of the year, I do get nostalgic for the now long gone Creighton reunion 5,000 plus strong at the annual Bluejay invitational in St. Louis.) Sigh. O.k., moment over.

Not only Yes, but HELL YES!! As a life-long CU fan and double graduate of the university who waited a few decades for this league, I can tell you unequivocally that there is no fan base more happy with the BE than the CU fan base. Each time I get annoyed with some of the posts on here, I pinch myself and remind myself that at least I'm not reading some stupid post from Coldblooded or Dr. Wu or some other numbnuts on Valley Talk. Only 5 more days, and I can even start cheering from some of your teams again

[DudeAnon]

[milksteak]

Coldblooded or Dr. Wu

WSU fans I'm guessing?

[stever20]

I couldn't be more happy with the league. We really made the right decision with the split and I think we will continue to get better.

I am really happy that the NCAA didn't change the rule about football championship games back then. My guess is that if that had happened I think it would be much harder for the C7 to split and we would still be in a hybrid league with (likely):

Originals: UConn, Cincinnati, USF.
Additions: Temple, Memphis, Houston, Tulsa, SMU.
FB Only: ECU, Navy.
BB Schools: MU, G'town, Nova, Hall, SJ, PC, DePaul.

I think that really could have been a disaster for our basketball schools in comparison to how things actually turned out. Thankfully we are here with the BE brand, the great tv contract, and a really bright future.

Interesting thought there. Would guess Butler probably would have been offered still as #16. With UConn, Cincy, Temple, Houston, Tulsa, SMU, Nova, Seton Hall, PC, and Butler as top 100 teams, and then Marquette and Georgetown close- that's a pretty good conference.... really only USF, Memphis(even there, only at 150), St John's, and DePaul down.... That conference would be looking at least at 7 bids, and quite possibly 8. You say you have 2 more bad teams. That's true- but you would have only seen St John's and DePaul once instead of 2x, and there was no difference between St John's/DePaul and Memphis/USF. That conference would be at least where the Big East is this year, if not closer to #3. I mean think about it- the ACC could only have 5 teams make it this year.

[DudeAnon]

Mentioning the AAC is like the bat signal for stever.

[anXUfan]

I can only laugh.

[redmen9194]

This league is a home run. No doubt about it. On selection Sunday, we should have 5 bids which means we average half the league every year. We have had every team ranked at some point in each of the last three seasons except DePaul (90%). On Sunday, we will have placed 8 different teams in the NCAA tourney in three years (No DePaul or Quette) for 80%. We are developing rivalries to supplement the ones that already exist. We are also 4-0 against Syracuse for the last two seasons (had to add that). It's all good.