UConn to the Big East? Rumors and Discussion Thread...

[stever20]

If only UConn joins the 20 game double round robin is a nice fit.

Projecting that it will cause BE bubble teams to miss the tourney is a reach. If they drop dreg games for a stringer SOS that is taken into account. If the selection was based solely on number of wins everyone would be seeking a weak SOS, which is not the case.

UConn strengthens the conference and the SOS. It likely improves the schedule of all members.

More importantly from bmorex:

UConn provides:
1. National brand (just a down year, IMO. I'm not going to try and argue otherwise, just my opinion)
2. Increased attendance at MSG (which should help to extend the contract when it is up)
3. Interest from FOX (and in general, the next TV contract)
4. Traditional rival for half the league

that's fine, but take 2 gimme wins, and replace with a 1-1, look at these records today....
Marquette 14-11
Seton Hall 14-10
Georgetown 13-13
Providence 14-12

Sure SOS is great, but end of the day, until the committee starts to take 17-15 record teams in the tourney due to great SOS, your W-L record matters.

Right now in the P5 conferences- you have 24 teams already with at least 18 wins. Add in the 4 from the Big East and you have 28 teams with at least 18 wins. Another 3 have 17 wins and 7 have 16 wins. With teams having between 4-6 games left in the season.

[Hall2012]

the thing that I don't get is the logic that going to 20 games to keep the precious round robin will automatically help the conference get more spots.

The games that would be taken out of the OOC schedule won't be the exempt tourney games, it won't be the Gavitt games, it won't be the top tier games. It'll be the dreg games.

So let's take Seton Hall this year. The games that would get removed would be your games like Fairleigh Dickinson, Central Conn., or Delaware. 2 wins. Replaced with UConn. So say they go 1-1 in those 2 vs UConn. Now, instead of Seton Hall being where they are at 15-9 they would be at 14-10, and in far more danger of missing the tourney.

The point is that replacing two cupcakes with UConn (in most years, this year is an obvious exception) would be an easy SOS and thus RPI boost. Of course, you still have to win the games, but it's not like beating CCSU and UDEL are doing anything for Seton Hall's resume. Replace them with two wins over UConn, and the Pirates are suddenly on much better footing.

[stever20]

the thing that I don't get is the logic that going to 20 games to keep the precious round robin will automatically help the conference get more spots.

The games that would be taken out of the OOC schedule won't be the exempt tourney games, it won't be the Gavitt games, it won't be the top tier games. It'll be the dreg games.

So let's take Seton Hall this year. The games that would get removed would be your games like Fairleigh Dickinson, Central Conn., or Delaware. 2 wins. Replaced with UConn. So say they go 1-1 in those 2 vs UConn. Now, instead of Seton Hall being where they are at 15-9 they would be at 14-10, and in far more danger of missing the tourney.

The point is that replacing two cupcakes with UConn (in most years, this year is an obvious exception) would be an easy SOS and thus RPI boost. Of course, you still have to win the games, but it's not like beating CCSU and UDEL are doing anything for Seton Hall's resume. Replace them with two wins over UConn, and the Pirates are suddenly on much better footing.

I get that, but it's even this year a lot tougher playing UConn. Sweeps are rare.

[DudeAnon]

Wait. Stever is arguing that having having 2 cupcake games is better than a yearly home-home with UCONN?

[Dave]

Wait. Stever is arguing that having having 2 cupcake games is better than a yearly home-home with UCONN?

It must be easier to get a bid if you are in the America East.

[Vill]

Wait. Stever is arguing that having having 2 cupcake games is better than a yearly home-home with UCONN?

It must be easier to get a bid if you are in the America East.

Dave might be a wolf in sheep's clothing. My recollection was he was a UConn fan and when he started posting here the past few days, that idea was reinforced. Despite that little "nova" in the signature line. And that's all well and good as far as I'm concerned, but I want it ifyou are.

[stever20]

I'm arguing that the double round robin isn't the must keep that folks here want to make it out to be. I would keep at 18 games.

[Vill]

Sorry to have sidetracked the discussion. Back to the matter at hand. If the Huskies join, I'm not sure that is the end of it. I suspect the new additions to the Big East could really care less if we add UConn or not. I wonder if there will be pressure to add another school further west like Wichita State or St. Louis maybe?

[billyjack]

Marquette has an RPI of 85, SOS of 66, and a W-L of 15-10.

Using RPI Wizard:

If you remove their 2 weakest wins:
- SIU-Edwardsville (332) and
- Howard (344)...

and replace them with a split, and therefore a W-L of 14-11, with the following teams:
- Providence (68), their RPI would be 71, SOS 48.
- or Seton Hall (49), their RPI would be 69, SOS 42.
- or Creighton (17), their RPI would be 58, SOS 27.

Assuming UConn could most years maintain an RPI in the 40's or 50's at a minimum, then a 20 game BE schedule would be fantastic. Games vs Howard, Maine, St Francis Brooklyn, etc, are millstones around our necks... replacing those with UConn matchups would be great.

[stever20]

Marquette has an RPI of 85, SOS of 66, and a W-L of 15-10.

Using RPI Wizard:

If you remove their 2 weakest wins:
- SIU-Edwardsville (332) and
- Howard (344)...

and replace them with a split, and therefore a W-L of 14-11, with the following teams:
- Providence (68), their RPI would be 71, SOS 48.
- or Seton Hall (49), their RPI would be 69, SOS 42.
- or Creighton (17), their RPI would be 58, SOS 27.

Assuming UConn could most years maintain an RPI in the 40's or 50's at a minimum, then a 20 game BE schedule would be fantastic. Games vs Howard, Maine, St Francis Brooklyn, etc, are millstones around our necks... replacing those with UConn matchups would be great.

Howard was in their exempt tournament.

The thing is, even with the upgraded RPI, they would still only be 14-11. Marquette to make it would need to go 4-1 down the stretch. Until the committee starts to send 17-15 teams to the tourney, SOS only means so much.

looking at the MAAC(which is only conference that goes to 20 right now)
last year- 5th place team finished at 12-8, 6th at 9-11.
2015- 5th place team 11-9, 6th at 9-11
2014- 5th 11-9, 6th 9-11(3 way tie)