IT'S A BIG BEAST

[Papa_Bull]

The dark side members better get it all out of their system now, because it aint gonna get any prettier next year.

IT'S A BIG BEAST

By LENN ROBBINS

February 20, 2005 -- Twenty-four hours after his Friars lost to Connecticut in double overtime, Providence coach Tim Welsh still couldn't pull himself off the couch and pop a tape of the game in the VCR.

Despite a career-high 37 points from Ryan Gomes, Providence, voted sixth in the Big East coaches' preseason poll, was still stuck with one measly league win after a 94-89 loss.

Welsh, and his fellow Big East coaches, knew the Big East would become a monster conference next season with the additions of Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida.

The monster came out of the dark a year early.

"We beat Michigan when they were at full strength early in the season," said Welsh. "We went down to Memphis and really handled them. We dominated what I think is a very talented Virginia team. And we have one conference win."

"It's amazing," Welsh added. "It's an amazing bleeping conference."

The Big East peaked two years ago when Syracuse stunned Kansas in the NCAA championship game, and there's been no let up. Connecticut manhandled Georgia Tech in last season's NCAA title game. Boston College opened the season with a school-record 20 wins.

"Every single night out, whether it's Syracuse or at West Virginia or at the Rutgers Athletic Center or at Seton Hall, St. John's, that's what separates our league," said Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun. "You know, really, clearly, definitively, we're the toughest one because there isn't a team that can't play."

"You're watching Providence beat Virginia by 20," continued Calhoun. "I think this could really shape up to be one of the more exciting three weeks in Big East history."

That's a shocking statement considering the Big East remains the only conference to send three teams to a Final Four, as it did in 1985. It also sent seven teams to the NCAA Tournament in 1991 and is poised to make a similar run this year.

BC (22-1), Syracuse (22-5) and Pittsburgh (18-4) are in. Connecticut (17-6) needs a couple more wins, but its 26 power rating and status as reigning national champs give it an edge.

Georgetown (16-7, 36 RPI), Notre Dame (15-7, 46), Villanova (16-6, 19) and West Virginia (15-8, 64) are all looking to enhance their portfolios down the stretch.

"I think Syracuse can get to the Final Four," said Calhoun. "Pittsburgh can get to a Final Four. BC, I don't see any reason why they can't continue what they've done.

"And then there are the dangerous teams," continued Calhoun. "Both Villanova and Notre Dame can shoot their way into the Final Four. And even the teams that aren't as good in our league, one of best players in league, Ryan Gomes, is on a [1-11] team. It just tells you how close our league is."

According to the most recent power numbers the ACC is the best conference, with .584 rating, followed by the Pac-10 and the Big East, at .569. Without question, no conference can match the ACC's troika of North Carolina, Wake Forest and Duke, but on the other end of the standings sit Virginia, FSU and Clemson.

Next year the Big East will match  if not usurp  any conference. Louisville (22-4), Cincinnati (20-6), Marquette (17-8 ) and DePaul (16-6) could all garner NCAA berths this season, giving the Big East a 16-headed monster in 2005-06.

"I can only tell you, in my five years on the [NCAA tournament selection committee] never was one word spoken about how many at-large teams a conference was getting," said Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese. "The goal was to get the best 34 teams."

"Now if a league can get seven bids in 1991, like we did, when we were a nine-team league, I don't see why we couldn't get nine or 10 bids when we're 16 teams," Tranghese added. "There's never been a conference this large, so the thinking is going to have to change."

No wonder Welsh wasn't eager to pop in that tape. It could have been a league preview of next season.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/40860.htm

[Guest BasketBull.]

Well that's great, that's just truckin' great man. Now what the truck are we supposed to do? We're in some real pretty flowers now man... That's it man, game over man, game over! What the truck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?

---Private W. Hudson

[bulls96go]

Well that's great, that's just truckin' great man. Now what the truck are we supposed to do? We're in some real pretty flowers now man... That's it man, game over man, game over! What the truck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?

---Private W. Hudson

now that is a classic quote!

great movie! the best in that series!

[Markeymark]

That's it man, game over man, game over!

game over

[Cubanbull]

Its funny to hear people on this board continue to expect USF to compete because of our size in basketball and now that we are going into BE for our coach to use this to get top talent.

Here is a FACT:

Our school expends LESS on basketball than many in CUSA and A-10 schools.

Our fan support is AWFUL even compared to schools in mid major conferences.

Our facilities are not that great compared to those same schools.

Notice im not comparing us to BE schools. The coaching staff at Dayton makes MORE money than USF.

So if we really want to compete in BE then we need to put our money and support where our mouth is.Sun Dome MUST be renovated,coaching salaries increased,fans need to start showing up no matter what and support the team.Im driving up from Miami to support our team and seniors in their last home game vs a RANKED team, if 4,000 other local alumni and students CANT spare two hours on a saturday to support our team what does that say to potential recruits?

As for Coach Mc not being outgoing enough to bring in more fans, please spare me the crying routine,Seth was here for many years going out of his way to get fans to come to the games and how was our attendance?

I expect coaches to COACH and win, and fans to be there and support the teams. the FACT is that our support as fans of USF SUCKS and until it improves we will have a hard time getting those top players to choose USF.Why should they when our fans wont be there? There i feel much better ;D

[Markeymark]

I think it all goes back to the school's ability to support and promote hoops. We have seen what a large group of alums can do for football...basketball is never going to have that same support in Tampa...I sincerely hope that the rising tides of fortune will carry all boats higher, including hoops...maybe something will spark a change. Maybe Woolard can put the focus back on basketball a little bit more than LRS, who was a football guy.

All I know is, something is lacking right now.

[Guest Sprtsfn627]

The only thing our BBall has to compete with is Lightning hockey.  There is no pro BB team here.  Renovating the Sun Dome is a good first step.  We need to get the student body and the alumni caring about the games.

Cubanbull hit it right on the head.  If we don't get fans, it's gonna be tough to get better recruits.

[USF_Kenny]

It will take some time to build a solid and strong basketball tradition here.  I don't see it happening next year or even within the next 5 years; however, after being in the Big East after 5 years, things should catch on.  I don't forsee a good season next year, maybe even winless in the Big East, but I do expect us to play hard and I expect us to have some good crowds like we did last night.  

[Cubanbull]

I think what the athletic association is doing by creating a supporting a student group to attend games is good start, we need to create an atmosphere where going to sporting events is common for students that will continue ad they graduate. Thats the problem with most of our alumni they did not go to USF and developed an attachment to attending and supporting sports. So it will take time and WINNING to create thar fan base

[Bull Matrix]

BasketBull,

Classic post by using that Bill Paxton quote. I got another good laugh at reading that one. Thanks again. Now I am just waiting for Sigourney Weaver to tell Paxton that some little girl survived for a long time only to hear Paxton say that we should put her in charge. In this case, maybe we should put McCullum and staff in charge.