Big East schedule set at 13 games

[smazza]

it won't be easy making that  tourney

too bad i was hoping  everyone would make it and give byes to top four teams

[TexanMark]

As a Cuse fan--the BE Tourney is an institution.   Many fans come from all teams to watch 3-4 days of BB in MSG.   The only way for you guys to experience NYC/BE BB is too come and play those Wed opening games.  It allows everybody a chance to think they can play their way to the NCAAs.  Only 12 teams qualifing right now limits your chances the next couple years...I suspect you'll do fairly well in the SunDome.  Many teams will treat your game as a midwinter break and go in unfocused.  I expect you to bite a couple of the mid/lower BE teams in 05-06--maybe enough to earn a bid to MSG in March 06.

[79 Bull]

Have they ever considered allowing all 16 teams a shot at the tournament?  Something like the bottom 8 teams play each other on home courts of the higher seed (9,10,11,12) for the right to advance to MSG.  This would still put 12 teams in NYC but everyone has a shot.

[GarySJ]

TexanMark,

Every basketball league seems to has that one trip, where the opponent isn't that good but overachives and plays good defense and stings anyone who doesn't take it seriously enough. I'm hoping that USF will be that team in its early days in the BE. I think we have the right coach for the job in Robert McCullum.

And yeah, the Big East tourney at MSG is great. It'll be even greater now that schools like Louisville, Cincinnati and Marquette are a part of it. I definitely plan to take a trip to that someday.