ESPN is now using the term "Power-Six"

[adoraz]

For as much hate as ESPN gets, I've noticed they've given us a decent amount of respect this year. Their front page college basketball article today, as it is every Monday, is their power rankings.

Here is a direct quote from the introduction:

It might be a small sample size, but the Pac-12 has been the most disappointing power-six conference in the country so far this season -- which is saying something considering the Big Ten's performance against the ACC this week in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... ess-pac-12

The term Power 5 is an officially used term for football. Is there any reason it can't be the same for basketball with the P6? Obviously the results speak for themselves.

The Big East should start using this term as well, if they aren't already.

[Edrick]

Calling the sky 'blue' doesn't show it respect, it's just an obvious observation.

The Big East is annually a Top 3 conference. To act as otherwise, brings into question the integrity of the source.

[adoraz]

Calling the sky 'blue' doesn't show it respect, it's just an obvious observation.

The Big East is annually a Top 3 conference. To act as otherwise, brings into question the integrity of the source.

Think you're missing the point. They didn't say the BE is a Top 6 conference, they used the term P6 which has a lot more significance. P5 is a mainstream official term for football, while P6 is definitely not for basketball. In fact, over the past few years there have been many times where the term P5 was STILL used, or at best "major conferences" or something similar to include the BE. P6 is implying conferences like AAC (ESPN's property) don't belong. The same way the G5 is diminished vs the P5. Obviously the BE is a major step above the AAC this year (as well as the last few) and is clearly a top 3-4 conference, but still coming from ESPN has some relevance. AAC at least has a couple top 15 programs this year, in addition to UConn, Memphis, SMU, etc that have historically been good.

What I'm saying is this is not a mainstream term, but it should be. It would bode well for the future, especially if the P5/P6 ever decides to break away from the NCAA.

I get that we're playing really well this year, and have been for some time, but we will inevitably have a year like the B1G is having this year.

[ecasadoSBU]

hmmm. Who cares...

Whether ESPN admits it or not is irrelevant now. Big East is legit and here to stay. They no longer monopolize the market and they know they need to stay on top of their game.

CBS/NBC/FOX doing a great job making ESPN more balanced!

Only the ACC has more Championships than the Big East since the relaunch of the Big East! B12/B10/PAC12/SEC have nothing!

[adoraz]

Google the term "Power 6". The first page is solely results about the AAC's marketing campaign to join the P6. In basketball there is no equivalent term. In football, the term has a lot of significance and is constantly used. Many casual fans use P5 for basketball as well. Just check Twitter.

You guys can say "who cares" now because the league is doing a great job this year. In fact, we've been winning the big majority of "close" games which implies there has been a little bit of luck involved. But again, when the league inevitably has a down year, it'd be nice for P6 to already be established so we don't go back to the days of "P5". Never forget all the attempts to destroy the league, they will probably come back at some point even if short lived.

Even on this board, rather than using the term Football 5 we might as well just say P6.

[ecasadoSBU]

Google the term "Power 6". The first page is solely results about the AAC's marketing campaign to join the P6. In basketball there is no equivalent term. In football, the term has a lot of significance and is constantly used. Many casual fans use it for basketball as well. Just check Twitter.

You guys can say "who cares" now because the league is doing a great job this year. In fact, we've been winning the big majority of "close" games which implies there has been a little bit of luck involved. But again, when the league inevitably has a down year, it'd be nice for P6 to already be established so we don't go back to the days of "P5". Never forget all the attempts to destroy the league, they will probably come back at some point even if short lived.

Even on this board, rather than using the term Football 5 we might as well just say P6.

I would prefer the more inclusive term Major conferences. No need for the term P6.

[adoraz]

Google the term "Power 6". The first page is solely results about the AAC's marketing campaign to join the P6. In basketball there is no equivalent term. In football, the term has a lot of significance and is constantly used. Many casual fans use it for basketball as well. Just check Twitter.

You guys can say "who cares" now because the league is doing a great job this year. In fact, we've been winning the big majority of "close" games which implies there has been a little bit of luck involved. But again, when the league inevitably has a down year, it'd be nice for P6 to already be established so we don't go back to the days of "P5". Never forget all the attempts to destroy the league, they will probably come back at some point even if short lived.

Even on this board, rather than using the term Football 5 we might as well just say P6.

I would prefer the more inclusive term Major conferences. No need for the term P6.

Fair enough, but again, when we have a down year they won't be saying major conferences. They'll be saying P5 once again. It is such an established term already for football, and the only reason it isn't for basketball is because of the performance to date by the Big East.

The nice thing about conferences in the P5, such as the PAC 12, is that they'll always be included no matter how many down years they have. That is not the case for the Big East.

[Hall2012]

It doesn't really matter in basketball. The "Power 5" exists in football because those 5 conferences all receive a tangible benefit in that their conference champion is guaranteed either a New Year's 6 bowl or CFP place. This almost always lacks relevancy because these conference champions usually deserve these places regardless, but it does give them a notable advantage over the G5 who are all fighting it out for 1 spot in these bowl games.

That doesn't exist in basketball because every conference champion (with the exception of new ones in their probationary period) is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament. If the Sun Belt has 5 teams put together deserving resumes they're all going to get in - nobody's getting screwed because of a spot reserved for the ACC. By rule at least.

[adoraz]

It doesn't really matter in basketball. The "Power 5" exists in football because those 5 conferences all receive a tangible benefit in that their conference champion is guaranteed either a New Year's 6 bowl or CFP place. This almost always lacks relevancy because these conference champions usually deserve these places regardless, but it does give them a notable advantage over the G5 who are all fighting it out for 1 spot in these bowl games.

That doesn't exist in basketball because every conference champion (with the exception of new ones in their probationary period) is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament. If the Sun Belt has 5 teams put together deserving resumes they're all going to get in - nobody's getting screwed because of a spot reserved for the ACC. By rule at least.

I get what you're saying, but I think it's only a matter of time before the power basketball schools do something similar. I've felt that way for at least the last 6-7 years. I highly doubt it'll be as dramatic as some predict with the power schools completely separating, but any type of benefit would be an advantage. Just during the past couple years they've already started doing stipends and similar benefits, right? If it doesn't progress though, I agree the term is a lot less important.

[FriarJ]

How funny is it that the AAC created a term for themselves and the press is now giving it to us. LOL, poor AAC.