Gavitt Games Announced

[billyjack]

It seems like many get cynical about the Gavitt matchups.
Not sure why exactly. The Big Ten will have a pretty even distribution of talented teams taking part.

Here's a list of the 14 Big Ten schools...
- first group of teams are playing in the Gavitts this year,
- second group of teams are NOT in the Gavitts.

The schools are shown with numbers ranking them (my opinion) in order of a combination of interest, recent success and exciting buzz:

Those taking part:
2 - Maryland
3 - Ohio State
6 - Wisconsin
- - -
7 - Iowa
8 - Purdue
9 - Minnesota
- - -
12 - Northwestern
13 - Rutgers

Which 6 Big Ten teams are NOT taking part this year?
1 - Michigan State
4 - Indiana
5 - Michigan
- - -
10 - Illinois
- - -
11- Nebraska
14 - Penn State

There are only 6 Big Ten teams that anyone gives a shit about, and half (3) of them are participating.
There are 4 dregs, and half (2) of them are participating.
There are 4 teams in the midrange, and (3) are taking part.

If anything, the Gavitts get a pinch less enthusiasm because half the Big East already plays interesting non-conference games in local rivalries...

[anXUfan]

The games are great and I don't think the Big 10 is failing to hold up their end. Just too bad that X is scrambling. I bet they pull a rabbit out of their hat.

[X-man]

The games are great and I don't think the Big 10 is failing to hold up their end. Just too bad that X is scrambling. I bet they pull a rabbit out of their hat.

They need to for at least two reasons. First, they need a good game to help their nonconference SOS. Other than the exempt tournament, that schedule is looking pretty skimpy at the moment. Second, they plan to force all season ticket holders to go into the seat pool for "new seats" based on a point system in order to accommodate some changes to the Cintas seating structure. This has angered a lot of long-time season ticket holders (including me) who threaten to not renew after next season if they don't get their seats back. So the product better be a damn good one next season to encourage long-time fans to go through the reseat process.

[cu blujs]

All I know is CU will have a "warm" welcome waiting for UW. This is all still new enough to us that any named school coming to Omaha will create plenty of energy in the building. Hoping the fellas get all healed up this summer and are ready to rock out of the gates next year.

[stever20]

It's funny- but look at it from the other side.....

those taking part-
1 Villanova
3 Seton Hall
4 Georgetown
5 Creighton
7 Providence
8 Butler
9 DePaul
10 St John's

those not taking part-
2 Xavier
6 Marquette

You could even make the case that if Marquette higher than Creighton- the bottom 5 teams from the Big East are in it. The games would look better if our stronger teams were all in it.

Also to Billyjacks "ratings".... pretty comical to say that Minnesota is 9th.
Big 10 standings
1 Indiana- out
2 Michigan St- out
3 Purdue- in
4 Iowa- in
5 Maryland- in
6 Wisconsin- in
7 Ohio St- in
8 Michigan- out
9 Northwestern- in
10 Penn St- out
11 Nebraska- out
12 Illinois- out
13 Minnesota- in
14 Rutgers- in

so getting 3,4,5,6,7,9,13,14 It's a decent cross section. Just not getting Michigan St hurts.

[NJRedman]

It seems like many get cynical about the Gavitt matchups.
Not sure why exactly. The Big Ten will have a pretty even distribution of talented teams taking part.

Here's a list of the 14 Big Ten schools...
- first group of teams are playing in the Gavitts this year,
- second group of teams are NOT in the Gavitts.

The schools are shown with numbers ranking them (my opinion) in order of a combination of interest, recent success and exciting buzz:

Those taking part:
2 - Maryland
3 - Ohio State
6 - Wisconsin
- - -
7 - Iowa
8 - Purdue
9 - Minnesota
- - -
12 - Northwestern
13 - Rutgers

Which 6 Big Ten teams are NOT taking part this year?
1 - Michigan State
4 - Indiana
5 - Michigan
- - -
10 - Illinois
- - -
11- Nebraska
14 - Penn State

There are only 6 Big Ten teams that anyone gives a shit about, and half (3) of them are participating.
There are 4 dregs, and half (2) of them are participating.
There are 4 teams in the midrange, and (3) are taking part.

If anything, the Gavitts get a pinch less enthusiasm because half the Big East already plays interesting non-conference games in local rivalries...

And lets not forget that 2 of those B1G schools not participating are playing Big East teams later in the season CU vs NU and Butler vs IU. So as of now only 4 B1G schools wont play a Big East team so far this season.

[FriarJ]

It seems like many get cynical about the Gavitt matchups.
Not sure why exactly. The Big Ten will have a pretty even distribution of talented teams taking part.

Here's a list of the 14 Big Ten schools...
- first group of teams are playing in the Gavitts this year,
- second group of teams are NOT in the Gavitts.

The schools are shown with numbers ranking them (my opinion) in order of a combination of interest, recent success and exciting buzz:

Those taking part:
2 - Maryland
3 - Ohio State
6 - Wisconsin
- - -
7 - Iowa
8 - Purdue
9 - Minnesota
- - -
12 - Northwestern
13 - Rutgers

Which 6 Big Ten teams are NOT taking part this year?
1 - Michigan State
4 - Indiana
5 - Michigan
- - -
10 - Illinois
- - -
11- Nebraska
14 - Penn State

There are only 6 Big Ten teams that anyone gives a shit about, and half (3) of them are participating.
There are 4 dregs, and half (2) of them are participating.
There are 4 teams in the midrange, and (3) are taking part.

If anything, the Gavitts get a pinch less enthusiasm because half the Big East already plays interesting non-conference games in local rivalries...

On what planet do you live where Rutgers is anything other than dead last in any conceivable ranking in that conference? RI?

[billyjack]

Yeah, things get blurry here in RI.

I like Steve Pikiell as a coach. Great hire for Rutgers.

[billyjack]

It's funny- but look at it from the other side.....

those taking part-
1 Villanova
3 Seton Hall
4 Georgetown
5 Creighton
7 Providence
8 Butler
9 DePaul
10 St John's

those not taking part-
2 Xavier
6 Marquette

You could even make the case that if Marquette higher than Creighton- the bottom 5 teams from the Big East are in it. The games would look better if our stronger teams were all in it.

Also to Billyjacks "ratings".... pretty comical to say that Minnesota is 9th.
Big 10 standings
1 Indiana- out
2 Michigan St- out
3 Purdue- in
4 Iowa- in
5 Maryland- in
6 Wisconsin- in
7 Ohio St- in
8 Michigan- out
9 Northwestern- in
10 Penn St- out
11 Nebraska- out
12 Illinois- out
13 Minnesota- in
14 Rutgers- in

so getting 3,4,5,6,7,9,13,14 It's a decent cross section. Just not getting Michigan St hurts.

Either your way or my way, 6 of the top 9 schools in the Big Ten are participating this year.
I could give two shits about Michigan State. They're ducking the National Champions.

[David HD]

I don't think "outrage" is the right word, but it's certainly disappointing. It should be disappointing for everyone involved.

The whole point of these "Challenges" is to create intrigue. It gives us showcase games at a point in the season where they're aren't many of them, which is good for the teams, the conferences, and the sport itself.

They had a chance to create a likely top ten match up, which would maximize the amount of intrigue, wouldn't you say? Yet, they didn't do it. Michigan State should be playing Xavier. Even if they couldn't make it happen in the Tuesday through Friday window, they could have made it happen a day or two sooner or later. The goal shouldn't be to get all the games into a four day window and work backwards from that. The goal should be able to create the best match ups possible, and work backwards from that. If you have to play it a day or two sooner or later, then so be it. Two not match up two top ten teams when you absolutely had the chance to do it because "the scheduling didn't work" is ridiculous! It's a self sustained boundary. So...why not make an exception and get the game scheduled??