Sporting News CBB Preview

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Just my $0.02 on Fox Sports 1... their nightly highlight show called Fox Sports Live is pretty good. I have hated ESPN (as many have) for a while so I am happy to make that switch. They anchors are pretty good and the panel of "experts" they have is played just enough to be entertaining, and not so much that it's annoying (IMO). Give it a try for a few nights if you haven't. FS1 as a whole is lacking on live sports (a lot of racing and UFC) but with CFB and CBB starting, that will only get better as well. I believe it is on most standard cable packages (was formally the Speed Channel) which I don't believe was on many Sports specific packages only. Of course it has room to improve but not a bad first month IMO

I'm a college football guy first and foremost and Fox is dreadful at college football. Just horrible. ESPN and CBS do such a better job it isn't even funny. I've watched their highlight show and while I think having Gary Payton, Andy Roddick, and Donovan McNabb in studio is nice, I don't like the anchors that well. While they have taken a fair amount of talent from ESPN, I just don't see them ever rivaling it. ESPN is flawed but it still is by far the best at producing live games, studio shows, and documentaries. Think 30 for 30, IX for IX and so forth.

[Valley_Fan]

I'm not sold that the Big Priest will be a Top 6 conference. CU definitely gets more money and probably more exposure, but that's assuming people get FS1. I know they've reached deals with some cable and satelite companies, but is it on a basic package or some special package with them? I honestly have no idea as I haven't looked into it as I simply don't give a s*** about FS1.

They may be a Top 6, but will that matter if it is really only the Top 5 BcS Football Conferences that appear in the media and public eye? ACC, B1G, Big XII, SEC, PAC may just freeze out everyone below them if there is any shake out on the football side of things, which may leave the Priest looking at the 'next best' but still on the outside of the 'club'. In that sense, it may be more likely that they fall back into the mix with the rest of the 'mid-major' conferences such as the A-10, CAA, Remnants of C-USA, Remnants of Big East, MVC, and a few others. (I know a couple of those shun the mid-major label, but I think the delineating line becomes even more clear over the next few years between the haves, almost haves, and have nots)

The MWC is still going to be better than the Big Priest and maybe even a couple of the BCS conferences. But someone said as long as they're a Top 6 conference it's a good move for CU, or something along those lines. I'm not saying it's good or bad, but I don't think the Big Priest is as strong as some think. Improved exposure is good if you can keep winning. Being in the Big East didn't do a lot for DePaul or Seton Hall and it got more exposure than the BP will. CU still has to win, and when they lose Doug and Gibbs they take quite a hit. Unless they have young guys that are ready to step up and fill that void, they're going to fall pretty hard.

And I don't see 7 in consideration on any given year. Georgetown and Marquette definitely. Butler and Xavier most likely. That is if Butler can continue with a new coach. Hit and miss are going to be Creighton and St. John's and highly doubtful are Providence, Seton Hall and DePaul. I suppose I could give you four or five on any given year, which isn't bad, it's not like the BCS conference you describe as they'll get higher seeds. I could see two BP schools getting good seeds and then the rest are iffy.

Lets not forget that the BP isn't near as strong in conference as the former BE. They're losing most of their fire power at the top and it will show. We'll have a better idea in a couple of years, but outside of the money that FS1 threw at them, I don't think it's a slam dunk move or conference long term. At least when talking about basketball strength. It's a slight step up from the MVC, but still well behind the Big 12, 10, ACC and MWC. And behind the SEC and PAC as well.

If MVC schools would step up and build something, we could easily compete with what they put on the floor. I keep hoping a few of our fellow schools will increase their level of recruiting and funding and I'm still waiting.

Take a look at Providence and Seton Hall recruiting. You will be surprised. That said, it looks like we agree. 3-5 any given year, 5-7 if people step up recruiting efforts. Even 4 out of 10 is enough to make it a top 5 conference thought

[TylerDurden]

Sporting News is spot on with this one. After Dougie is gone and the luck finally runs out on Gibbs (unless he's granted a 7th year of eligibility), Bluejay Nation will be in trouble. Nebraska has a nice, shiny new arena that already is sold out. If Nebraska ever does anything with that, the Clinky Center will soon only need the lower bowl open for seating.

I took a look over on their board the other day and it's downright hilarious how their 12 message board fans are all over Fox Sports 1, like it's ESPN's equal and is equivalent to high-level "national tv".

Has anyone ever watched that network for more than 10 minutes yet?

They are hoping and praying up there in Cornhuskerland.

I rarely agree with you, but you are spot on. I've thought a lot about Husker hoops too with the new arena. If Tim Miles gets that thing going and the Blue Jays are a mid pack Big East team then I have to think that a large part of their fanbase (the part that are Husker football fans already) will get more interested in that. They have had a perfect storm up there, but I honestly think it is dissipating.

Fox Sports One is marginal national television. It's the equivalent of CBS College Sports or something. I hear their fans crowing all the time too. It's going to be really fun to watch them struggle. And it won't have to wait until Dougie is gone, it'll start this year.

I don't know how well Creighton will do in the Big East, but Fox Sports 1 is a very legitimate national outlet that has clearance in approximately 90 million households. For that matter, CBS Sports Network is available in about 96 million homes.

For comparison, based on quick searches (rounded numbers):
NBC/ABC/CBS/Fox: 111 million
ESPN/ESPN2: 99 million
NBC Sports Network: 77 million

[AngryShock]

They may be a Top 6, but will that matter if it is really only the Top 5 BcS Football Conferences that appear in the media and public eye? ACC, B1G, Big XII, SEC, PAC may just freeze out everyone below them if there is any shake out on the football side of things, which may leave the Priest looking at the 'next best' but still on the outside of the 'club'. In that sense, it may be more likely that they fall back into the mix with the rest of the 'mid-major' conferences such as the A-10, CAA, Remnants of C-USA, Remnants of Big East, MVC, and a few others. (I know a couple of those shun the mid-major label, but I think the delineating line becomes even more clear over the next few years between the haves, almost haves, and have nots)

The MWC is still going to be better than the Big Priest and maybe even a couple of the BCS conferences. But someone said as long as they're a Top 6 conference it's a good move for CU, or something along those lines. I'm not saying it's good or bad, but I don't think the Big Priest is as strong as some think. Improved exposure is good if you can keep winning. Being in the Big East didn't do a lot for DePaul or Seton Hall and it got more exposure than the BP will. CU still has to win, and when they lose Doug and Gibbs they take quite a hit. Unless they have young guys that are ready to step up and fill that void, they're going to fall pretty hard.

And I don't see 7 in consideration on any given year. Georgetown and Marquette definitely. Butler and Xavier most likely. That is if Butler can continue with a new coach. Hit and miss are going to be Creighton and St. John's and highly doubtful are Providence, Seton Hall and DePaul. I suppose I could give you four or five on any given year, which isn't bad, it's not like the BCS conference you describe as they'll get higher seeds. I could see two BP schools getting good seeds and then the rest are iffy.

Lets not forget that the BP isn't near as strong in conference as the former BE. They're losing most of their fire power at the top and it will show. We'll have a better idea in a couple of years, but outside of the money that FS1 threw at them, I don't think it's a slam dunk move or conference long term. At least when talking about basketball strength. It's a slight step up from the MVC, but still well behind the Big 12, 10, ACC and MWC. And behind the SEC and PAC as well.

If MVC schools would step up and build something, we could easily compete with what they put on the floor. I keep hoping a few of our fellow schools will increase their level of recruiting and funding and I'm still waiting.

Take a look at Providence and Seton Hall recruiting. You will be surprised. That said, it looks like we agree. 3-5 any given year, 5-7 if people step up recruiting efforts. Even 4 out of 10 is enough to make it a top 5 conference thought

That still won't make them a top 5 conference. They're not going to be better than the Big 12, 10, MWC or ACC for sure. The PAC seems to be rebounding and should stay ahead of them as well. I think 6th is the best they can hope for on any given year and I think that'll take their best years to do.

I've been hearing about Seton Hall and Providence making strides in recruiting for a decade. It hasn't made much difference in the grand scheme of things. I think they're good for three bids for sure. Four maybe. Five only if they have a perfect season. It's a good conference, but it's a step behind the top dogs and not far ahead of where we should be in the near future.

[rlh04d]

I guess I cannot disagree. It might be harder for them to reach the post season. Using that logic, maybe they should have gone to the swac and made the ncaa it every year.

Yep. No way to disagree with that point, it's just a stupid point.

Under that same argument, every program that ever moves up in conference pecking order is a "loser" based on greater difficulty of getting to the postseason. Wichita State would be a loser if they joined the Big12. Joining the ACC will make Louisville a "loser" -- sure would be easier to make the tournament every year in the AAC.

Dumb. I'm all for trashing Creighton, but it's going to take a major flop from the Big Priest that I don't see coming for them to be a loser in this process.

[FreddyMac]

The MWC is still going to be better than the Big Priest and maybe even a couple of the BCS conferences.

The MWC has had a nice run the past 2 or 3 years but this is extremely wishful thinking. The Big East has commits from 9 out of the Rivals top 100 and 13 out of the top 150. The MWC has one right now. Georgetown has 3 and Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette, Villanova and Xavier all have 2 from that list. That means 6 teams from the BE individually have more top 150 recruits than the entire MWC at the moment. Based on money and exposure there's no reason at all to believe that disparity won't continue to exist in the future.

It's yet to be seen whether Creighton can up their recruiting and compete in this league but there's very little reason to believe that the Big East won't compete among the best conferences in the country. The ACC will be the best year in and year out with all their new adds but after that pretty much anyone from about 4 or 5 conferences can move into that 2 spot in a given year. If FS1 hadn't come along when it did then I could see the Big East dropping in status but fortunately it did and the money and exposure it has brought means it's very unlikely the Big East loses it's status as a major conference.

[hoopsfan1234]

The MVC needs for Bradley to be good. Bradley has a large arena, a national basketball tradition, a knowledgeable fan base, and most importantly when they make it to the national stage, they feel they belong. Their Sweet 16 season when they beat Kansas is a perfect example. Over the decades, the MVC has been at its strongest when Wichita State and Bradley were both good at the same time.

If they were to become a power again, they would be the opposite of Creighton - who thought the MVC Tournament was the super bowl and then petered out in the first round of the NCAAs most of the time. Creighton was in the league for over 35 years and never made a Sweet 16.

The MVC needs for Southern Illinois to be good. When SIU is good, their fans pack the arena in St. Louis. Last time they were in the sweet 16 they were one incompetent/corrupt call away from beating Kansas and advancing to the Elite 8. The MVC needs the arena in St. Louis to be packed for the title game on CBS. That's a showcase game for the nation. SIU does that. A smaller crowd makes the conference look small time.

It's my impression that the other 7 schools don't think of themselves as belonging on the national stage. I'm sure I'll get slammed for that.

The ideal MVC would have WSU, Bradley, and SIU in the NCAAs most years. Missouri State and UNI making it would be icing on the cake. With the money Loyola is spending to become relevant again, it would be great for the MVC to have a Chicago school on the national stage a few years down the road.

I could see the MVC getting a decent TV contract if all those suns and moons aligned.

[rlh04d]

The MVC needs for Bradley to be good.

The MVC needs for Southern Illinois to be good.

The ideal MVC would have WSU, Bradley, and SIU in the NCAAs most years. Missouri State and UNI making it would be icing on the cake. With the money Loyola is spending to become relevant again, it would be great for the MVC to have a Chicago school on the national stage a few years down the road.

I could see the MVC getting a decent TV contract is all those suns and moons aligned.

I absolutely agree with all of this.

[Valley_Fan]

The MVC needs for Bradley to be good. Bradley has a large arena, a national basketball tradition, a knowledgeable fan base, and most importantly when they make it to the national stage, they feel they belong. Their Sweet 16 season when they beat Kansas is a perfect example. Over the decades, the MVC has been at its strongest when Wichita State and Bradley were both good at the same time.

If they were to become a power again, they would be the opposite of Creighton - who thought the MVC Tournament was the super bowl and then petered out in the first round of the NCAAs most of the time. Creighton was in the league for over 35 years and never made a Sweet 16.

The MVC needs for Southern Illinois to be good. When SIU is good, their fans pack the arena in St. Louis. Last time they were in the sweet 16 they were one incompetent/corrupt call away from beating Kansas and advancing to the Elite 8. The MVC needs the arena in St. Louis to be packed for the title game on CBS. That's a showcase game for the nation. SIU does that. A smaller crowd makes the conference look small time.

It's my impression that the other 7 schools don't think of themselves as belonging on the national stage. I'm sure I'll get slammed for that.

The ideal MVC would have WSU, Bradley, and SIU in the NCAAs most years. Missouri State and UNI making it would be icing on the cake. With the money Loyola is spending to become relevant again, it would be great for the MVC to have a Chicago school on the national stage a few years down the road.

I could see the MVC getting a decent TV contract if all those suns and moons aligned.

So one question. How are Bradley and SIU going to get and stay relevant?

[stl scooter]

So one question. How are Bradley and SIU going to get and stay relevant?

two different answers:
SIU:

One reason SIU went downhill was because Lowery recruited prima donnas that thought they were better than the team and soon defected for bigger spotlights.
SIU's blueprint for their successful teams were the ones driven by defense and senior leadership...no easy shots and one shot per possession. Recruit hard working players that are truly committed to the team and hard nosed D.

Bradley:

Bradley is much more on the fast track to the top of the MVC than SIU. When Bradley's ship is right they are bringing in the 'higher' rated MVC recruits...athletes at the point and wings, solid bigs, and normally one player that can take over a game (e.g.: Anthony Parker). Is Jordan Swoopshire that guy?
Butts in the seats is a must.