Holy Land - 4th Anniversary...!

[Jet915]

Thanks to all the mods and everyone posting to make this such a great place to exchange info and discuss Big East hoops! Feels like it was just yesterday the C7 separated and brought some elite basketball schools to join us. If you would have told me the new Big East would still have 3-4 ranked teams every year and 5-6 bids every year along with a national championship, I'd think you were nuts. If you were to tell me that the new conference turned into a huge success without Georgetown playing a major role in it, I'd also call you nuts. The fact remains that this conference is in perhaps its best year so far...and Georgetown and St. John's have not even been a real factor yet. Just wait until one or maybe both programs get back to relevancy. Can you imagine #10 Georgetown vs. #15 St. John's at MSG? Man...I want to see the day.

Not to mention Marquette who hasnt made the tourney since reconfiguration.

[SJHooper]

Thanks to all the mods and everyone posting to make this such a great place to exchange info and discuss Big East hoops! Feels like it was just yesterday the C7 separated and brought some elite basketball schools to join us. If you would have told me the new Big East would still have 3-4 ranked teams every year and 5-6 bids every year along with a national championship, I'd think you were nuts. If you were to tell me that the new conference turned into a huge success without Georgetown playing a major role in it, I'd also call you nuts. The fact remains that this conference is in perhaps its best year so far...and Georgetown and St. John's have not even been a real factor yet. Just wait until one or maybe both programs get back to relevancy. Can you imagine #10 Georgetown vs. #15 St. John's at MSG? Man...I want to see the day.

Not to mention Marquette who hasnt made the tourney since reconfiguration.

Very true, good point. It's funny people at work here on Long Island (I work about 35 min from the Queens campus) are still talking about the thrashing of Cuse. The psychiatrist who is from Illinois originally jumped in and added that he remembers the Big East clearly in the 80's and how great and unique it was. He told a story from back when he was working at North Shore LIJ (now Northwell) hospital and seeing Lou Carnesecca as one of the patients. He said he was star struck. It's amazing...the guy was in Illinois and he knew everyone on St. John's and Georgetown. He said the conference really made college hoops into a big deal nationally. Cool stuff hearing these stories. Lots of older SJU alumni I work with too who tell stories about Mullin with some "lady friends" on campus back in the day. Apparently basketball wasn't his only talent...LOL.

[gtmoBlue]

Has it been 4 years already...time #Take(s)Flight when you're having fun. Happy Birthday HLH, and many more! #HolylandofHoops #BigEast #LetitFly

[ArmyVet]

:o Has it been 4 years already...time #Take(s)Flight when you're having fun. Happy Birthday HLH, and many more! #HolylandofHoops #BigEast #LetitFly

And a Merry Christmas to all.

[NJRedman]

Some of the articles surrounding the Catholic 7's break off and the formation of the league.

Sources: Big East expected to split

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... d-to-split

Catholic 7 already banking on Butler and Xavier?

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... and-xavier

The bright side of blowing up the Big East

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... e-big-east

'Catholic 7' officially announce separation from Big East

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... m-big-east

Catholic 7 departing June 30

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/stor ... st-june-30

Sources: Xavier, Butler also joining

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... ng-sources

What's next for the Catholic 7 and the Big East?

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/20 ... c-7-future

Creighton Announces Conference Change, Jays to Join Big East

http://www.gocreighton.com/news/2013/3/ ... _east.aspx

SLU left behind (for now) as new Big East adds 3 schools

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/ ... ce7ad.html

New Big East heavenly for hoops fans

http://nypost.com/2013/03/04/new-big-ea ... oops-fans/

FAITH AND HOPE IN THE NEW BIG EAST

http://www.newyorker.com/news/sporting- ... w-big-east

[FenwayFriar]

Thank you for mentioning it. Safe to say a lot has happened since the first days of this board and no one knew what might happen if / when the C7 broke apart. For a walk down memory lane, I encourage you to go all the way back and read some of the earliest threads on this board - it's almost unreal to think that was only 4 years ago.

So I took your advice and went down the rabbit hole of reading some of the earliest posts while I had a little extra free time around the holidays. As we all know, it is freakin' AMAZING where this conference is today compared to where it was on Dcember 27, 2012 (aka just two weeks after Mark Blaudschun broke that the C7 would split). Four years later look where we are. It was cool to look back at all those early posts because I wasn't following all of it as closely as I would have if it was all happening today. It was nice to check it out right before conference season starts so I could feel all nice and fuzzy about everyone before I start to hate everyone starting tomorrow. If you weren't on the board back then I would definitely check the first few (or many) pages out.

Also: maybe the most amazing part is where we are without much (or any) success from Georgetown or Marquette to date. It was a common theme during the early days that the only way the BE could possibly be a success is if Nova, GTown, and Marquette continue to be flag bearers for the league. So much for that! Obviously Nova has done their share and then some but it's a testament to Butler, Creighton, Providence, Seton Hall, and Xavier for what they've all been able to accomplish for the good of the league (and themselves).