Big Blue Nation Linkapalooza: Big East Expansion Edition
by Glenn Logan on Dec 6, 2011 4:30 PM EST
in Kentucky Wildcats News
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PrintIs it the Big East, or Big West? With the alleged candidates for expansion, it's really hard to tell. How a conference this geographically challenged holds together is anybody's guess, but at this point, I think they have little choice.
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Indeed.
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You see, Ken Pomeroy released his individual player stats this weekend and it should come as no surprise that I've spent an inordinate amount of time breaking them down. My main conclusion: UK is an even more equal opportunity team than I thought.
Make no mistake, the Hoosiers are itching for an upset.
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During his weekly radio show Monday night, Kentucky Coach John Calipari defended the idea of ending one of the program's traditional series. Such a move would be consistent with his philosophy of doing what's best for players, he said.
Balderdash, coach. You don't get to use that reason to excuse everything. Won't wash with me.
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The "real" Conference USA?
From “sea to shining sea”…….the Big East has become the true carpetbaggers of college football…….everybody and anybody!
The Hoosiers may be itching for an upset, however, they don’t have the athletes this year to go 40 minutes against the Cats. Maybe in a year or two, or maybe never again!
Yeah I am not that impressed with the new teams going to Big East...
Basically mid-major teams that have good years every so often.
Slower Traffic Keep Right!
Exactly
I don’t see how that keeps them in the BCS when the contract comes up for renewal. Sorry, but the big bowls and TV networks aren’t paying to see San Diego State on New Year’s Day. What then? Do they blow it up again? You have to think that Boise et al would have negotiated free outs in their contract if they do lose the BCS affiliation.
Yep, I would definitely not join that conference without some sort of "Get Out of Jail" free clause
Slower Traffic Keep Right!
The expanded Big East reminds me of this...
.
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The little girl in front should be wearing a chicken bucket on her head, though…
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by HSLex on Dec 6, 2011 6:04 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Got to disagree with you glenn....
Not strongly, of course :)
But if we are picking up Missouri on a home and away each season(a top 10-15 team), then one of the more intense rivalries probably needs to go. Did not say has to go, but “probably needs” to go.
Certainly with the talent cal is bringing in, he could take more of a “bring all comers” attitude, but I maintain with the young squads he has each year (and 2013 may be the youngest one ever), he will need one less intense game and the ability to play a cupcake.
Will not go to the mat in disagreement with you, but I do think your objection a bit stronger than necessary….IMHO
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Dec 7, 2011 8:20 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I'd only be ok with dropping Indiana
No way should UK drop Louisville or UNC. I’d also like to see the Kansas series restarted.
Dayman, Fighter of the Nightman, Champion of the Sun
No. No. 1000 times no.
I say, man up. Get some freaking huevos. No rivalry games must go, or I will bitterly complain.
I’m serious, this is unacceptable to me. I’m okay with not adding more, or discontinuing the BE/SEC challenge. But I am not willing to sacrifice one single rivalry game except for one season to stagger the home-away thing.
I don’t normally swear, but this is a “Not only no, but f*ck no!” issue for me.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I think that ESPN or CBS would want to try
and preserve some of these rivalries. I am not just talking about for UK, but Roy Williams was singing the same song as Coach Cal. Conference expansion is behind much of this and if they go to 16 teams it could get worse.
I am all for people expressing their opinions, as long as they back them up with facts.
I guess ESPN should have thought about that
before they gave their conference expansion marching orders.
Eagle Totem - Comprehensive EMU coverage.
Glenn, are you perhaps intimating it's not a good idea?
Sometimes it’s hard to tell where you stand.
Two things struck me: the suggestion that dropping Indiana would make our schedule notably easier (is Cal seriously concerned about the threat that is IU?), and the suggestion that next year’s recruiting class might be relatively weak, which would disproportionately affect his freshman-oriented team. Maybe this is his way of telling us that UK is going to be down next year.
He’s already said the selection committee doesn’t value strength of schedule as much as people think, given our seeding last year, so he doesn’t see the value in playing the strongest schedule possible. We traditionally have one of the strongest. And with the addition of Missouri, who is very strong, and Texas A&M, dropping two cupcakes seems needlessly masochistic. Better to drop one cupcake and one – what can we say – mid-level opponent in IU. It won’t give us a weaker schedule on an absolute basis; it’s still going to be stronger than usual (Missouri + Texas A&M > IU + cupcake). It’s just not going to be as burdensome as it can possibly be. That strikes me a sensible compromise, and there’s no suggestion this would be a longstanding arrangement. To the contrary, it appears to be ad hoc.
Besides, the fewer losses, the better. KU is within spitting distance. We have to keep an eye on their schedule as well.
by Wheatgerm on Dec 8, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
my point exactly
but in my response below, i would agree that keeping a rivalry game over some other challenge game would be best - or at least my preference.
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Dec 8, 2011 11:05 PM EST up reply actions
Let me put it this way...
… I don’t give a shit. Keep the schedule the way it is. That is all.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
to me that is what cal is doing....
He is keeping the schedule the same by rebalancing the non conference schedule based on a stronger conf schedule.
Where I AGREE with you is that he do it by dropping a made for tv challenging series rather than a rivalry game. Of course the made for tv part is the fly in the ointment..
In fact I would be happy to have a stronger conf schedule with Missouri twice a year rather than a big east team in a far away city….
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Dec 10, 2011 8:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
you make two different points....
i am looking at it from a difficulty situation – these are young men that are supposed to be student athletes. if they did not have school i would say play anyone.
However, i would agree with you 100% on keeping the rivalry games and letting a BE/SEC challenge game go – but that was not the “choice” Cal gave us.
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Dec 8, 2011 11:03 PM EST up reply actions
I really hate this idea
of Cal basically saying that his team isn’t good enough to play any team in the beginning of the season.
Cupcakes don’t do squat for your program, especially a program dominated by freshmen. They give freshman an inflated sense of their skills, because these are the same kids who dominated their high school programs. These kids have spent the last 4 (at least) years thinking they are the BEST of the BEST, and if they don’t face challenges in the early season which will teach them how good they really are or are not, they won’t be ready for conference play, when it actually matters. I shudder to think how big our kids’ egos would be if they weren’t playing Kansas and UNC this year.
No, no, 1000, million times, no way should we be making our pre-conference schedule any easier. This isn’t about how you’re seeded in March. This is about making sure you actually know what kind of team you have. I know I’m not a coach, and I am sure as heck not John Calipari, but everything about this idea just seems very bad.
You can put it on the board....YES.
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