Dickie V told us this morning that UConn's trip to the Final Four validated the Big East about how tough it was, since they were 9-9 in the Big East.
On that same logic, how tough must the Colonial Athletic Association be, as VCU was 12-6 in league play (4th in the league) with losses to Northeastern, Old Dominion, George Mason, Drexel and Georgia State? The Hofstra Pride finished ahead of VCU in conference play, and were rewarded with an invitation to play at Evansville in the first round of the College Basketball Insider tournament. While Hofstra lost that game, ODU and GMU represented the CAA well in the NCAA tourney.
Or the Horizon League, where Butler was in a three way tie for the regular season title with Cleveland State and Milwaukee. The Bulldogs went 13-5 with losses to Milwaukee (twice), Valpo, Yougstown State and Wright State.
Of course, Cleveland State's 26-8 regular season record and Horizon League shared title, with a record of 1-1 against the vaunted Big East teams, got them a bid to the NIT. They would have helped my argument further had they not lost to the College of Charleston in the 2nd round of the NIT.
Milwaukee was hampered by a 6-9 non-conference record and lost in the first round of the NIT at Northwestern.
I guess it would have helped them if they had a) more Italian coaches in their leagues, or b) had ESPN based closer to their leagues.
On that same logic, how tough must the Colonial Athletic Association be, as VCU was 12-6 in league play (4th in the league) with losses to Northeastern, Old Dominion, George Mason, Drexel and Georgia State? The Hofstra Pride finished ahead of VCU in conference play, and were rewarded with an invitation to play at Evansville in the first round of the College Basketball Insider tournament. While Hofstra lost that game, ODU and GMU represented the CAA well in the NCAA tourney.
Or the Horizon League, where Butler was in a three way tie for the regular season title with Cleveland State and Milwaukee. The Bulldogs went 13-5 with losses to Milwaukee (twice), Valpo, Yougstown State and Wright State.
Of course, Cleveland State's 26-8 regular season record and Horizon League shared title, with a record of 1-1 against the vaunted Big East teams, got them a bid to the NIT. They would have helped my argument further had they not lost to the College of Charleston in the 2nd round of the NIT.
Milwaukee was hampered by a 6-9 non-conference record and lost in the first round of the NIT at Northwestern.
I guess it would have helped them if they had a) more Italian coaches in their leagues, or b) had ESPN based closer to their leagues.
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1 comment:
C of C can be a powerhouse...
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