Big East needs another Nova, who will it be?

[Bill Marsh]

They need to first make the Final Four or better, and then sustain that success.

Not that I am dying to add them, but that's exactly what Wichita State and VCU is doing?

They got to their current national prestige by doing that, but they need to prove they're a power. For VCU, it's been six years (first FF in history) and Wichita it's been 4 (second in history). VCU in fact only has ONE Sweet 16 despite all their recent success. National powers win championships and go to the FF more consistently.

Best case would obviously be for these schools to do what Nova did last year. In that case I don't think the Big East could/should say no.

The one in 1965 for WSU doesn't count as a Final Four.

[Bill Marsh]

Whether Villanova wins a national championship or not this league will be fine. I think the inferiority complex needs to go...

How often does a PAC-12 team win it all?

It's been 20 years.

How often does B10 team win it all?

Once in 30 years.

or a SEC team besides Kentucky?

Only Florida and Arkansas.

Even a B12 team?

Kansas . . .

Those are still strong conference and respected.

At the end of the day... the B.E has demonstrated it will continue to be in the running as the best college basketball conference... very least TOP 3. That is unlikely to change

[kmacker69]

Little ole Butler made back to back Final 4's with 3 and 4 star recruits... We're getting 4 stars and 3 stars that people later figure out should have been 5 star recruits still... I think we're going to only get better in the next few years. But yeah Nova is still King of the league, for at least one more year...

[kayako]

They got to their current national prestige by doing that, but they need to prove they're a power. For VCU, it's been six years (first FF in history) and Wichita it's been 4 (second in history). VCU in fact only has ONE Sweet 16 despite all their recent success. National powers win championships and go to the FF more consistently.

I don't disagree, but outside options are highly unlikely in that case. That's late 80s early 90s UNLV level success, and honestly I don't think even Villanova is the juggernaut program you may think it is. Let Jay Wright make another final four or two to warrant the need of such a powerhouse rival...

[Bill Marsh]

Given their success on the court and their ability to attract top talent, Xavier has to be the choice for me.

[Toronto Rapture]

To me, the BE already has at least two prestige programs: NOVA and Georgetown. What needs to happen is for Georgetown to be good every year. Xavier and Butler are pretty consistent, though not quite reaching NOVA levels yet. The conference doesn't need anyone from the outside.

[scoscox]

It would take Xavier a long time and still might not happen. I think next year could be a step down from this year.

What? Even losing Bluiett and Sumner, we will be very very good next year. I don't think it will take a long time at all. We've been making consistent noise in march for awhile. We just pulled in the best recruiting class in our history. This is a bonkers take. I don't want to rehash the last 15 or so seasons, but its reasonable to say we're on the rise.

As much as it pains me, I think under Holtmann, Butler is very secure. I expect them to be very good, as well as us, for some time moving forward. I hope St. John's will rise again as well. Nova is not really an established power I don't think. They're very good, but I don't think the program is impervious yet. Were they to get their act together, Georgetown's prestige would still carry the day I think. Even now I think the Georgetown brand carries the most weight in the conference.

[JohnW22]

It would take Xavier a long time and still might not happen. I think next year could be a step down from this year.

What? Even losing Bluiett and Sumner, we will be very very good next year. I don't think it will take a long time at all. We've been making consistent noise in march for awhile. We just pulled in the best recruiting class in our history. This is a bonkers take. I don't want to rehash the last 15 or so seasons, but its reasonable to say we're on the rise.

As much as it pains me, I think under Holtmann, Butler is very secure. I expect them to be very good, as well as us, for some time moving forward. I hope St. John's will rise again as well. Nova is not really an established power I don't think. They're very good, but I don't think the program is impervious yet. Were they to get their act together, Georgetown's prestige would still carry the day I think. Even now I think the Georgetown brand carries the most weight in the conference.

Don't get me wrong I think Xavier will be fine as a program but we are talking Final 4/Championship here which Xavier has never made. To get up to the level where Nova is currently at will take a lot of things going in the right direction and a lot of luck.

[Novachap]

Scoscox, curious... in your opinion, what does Nova have to do to be an "established power"?

[ecasadoSBU]

Whether Villanova wins a national championship or not this league will be fine. I think the inferiority complex needs to go...

How often does a PAC-12 team win it all?

It's been 20 years.

How often does B10 team win it all?

Once in 30 years.

or a SEC team besides Kentucky?

Only Florida and Arkansas.

Even a B12 team?

Kansas . . .

Those are still strong conference and respected.

At the end of the day... the B.E has demonstrated it will continue to be in the running as the best college basketball conference... very least TOP 3. That is unlikely to change

I knew the answers. I just wanted people to realize that the Big East is in good shape. This fan base needs to relax and just enjoy the great basketball being played. You cannot win every year (and this March may be full of surprises for the B.E). That doesn't mean your league needs to start looking for options or replacements. This league has a lot of on court success, tradition, and recruits at a high level to keep it alive for the long haul