Post by hifigator on Mar 22, 2011 11:56:29 GMT -5
I'm not going to get into the VCU argument. While I agree that their resume' as a whole, certainly wasn't significantly better than Colorado, Alabama or Va. Tech, for example, it also wasn't considerably worse. That being said, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, and they have won when it really mattered. So for that, hats off to them.
As for what's wrong with the BE, I'm not sure anything is. Cincy and Cuse get knocked out by other BE teams, so that doesn't reflect negatively on the conference at all. Notre Dame was a terrible matchup problem with FSU, and the Noles -- as much as it pains me to say it -- put together a great effort. Pitt, who looked like a true elite team some 3 or 4 weeks ago, really faltered down the stretch and was clearly the weakest of the #1s in my opinion -- even over Duke ... something else it pains me to say. Butler has proven themselves to be a really disciplined tournament team. Last year wasn't a fluke and they very nearly won the whole thing. Stevens is an excellent coach, and I would be surprised if he doesn't get snatched up by one of the bigger programs within a couple of weeks after the tourney ends, if not sooner. G'town didn't play a good game and ran into that VCU team with a chip on its shoulder. And of course Wright being out for the previous 6 games didn't help at all. West Virginia also faded dramatically down the stretch and I think they were very overseeded as a 5 based on their strong first half of the season. St. Johns also ran into a team playing its best ball of the season, and combined with the loss of one of their key players, could not overcome it.
Of course, UConn and Marquette are still carrying the flag for the BE. Yes, we've all heard that the capital of Virginia has as many Sweet 16 teams as the entire BE and that is somewhat annoying when you take hat out of context. But overall, I don't think the BE has anything to worry about. The fact that the ACC has 3 teams left and an outside shot at 3 final four teams is meaningless in the ranking of conferences. The BE was clearly the strongest conference and a subpar tournament can't take that away.
As for what's wrong with the BE, I'm not sure anything is. Cincy and Cuse get knocked out by other BE teams, so that doesn't reflect negatively on the conference at all. Notre Dame was a terrible matchup problem with FSU, and the Noles -- as much as it pains me to say it -- put together a great effort. Pitt, who looked like a true elite team some 3 or 4 weeks ago, really faltered down the stretch and was clearly the weakest of the #1s in my opinion -- even over Duke ... something else it pains me to say. Butler has proven themselves to be a really disciplined tournament team. Last year wasn't a fluke and they very nearly won the whole thing. Stevens is an excellent coach, and I would be surprised if he doesn't get snatched up by one of the bigger programs within a couple of weeks after the tourney ends, if not sooner. G'town didn't play a good game and ran into that VCU team with a chip on its shoulder. And of course Wright being out for the previous 6 games didn't help at all. West Virginia also faded dramatically down the stretch and I think they were very overseeded as a 5 based on their strong first half of the season. St. Johns also ran into a team playing its best ball of the season, and combined with the loss of one of their key players, could not overcome it.
Of course, UConn and Marquette are still carrying the flag for the BE. Yes, we've all heard that the capital of Virginia has as many Sweet 16 teams as the entire BE and that is somewhat annoying when you take hat out of context. But overall, I don't think the BE has anything to worry about. The fact that the ACC has 3 teams left and an outside shot at 3 final four teams is meaningless in the ranking of conferences. The BE was clearly the strongest conference and a subpar tournament can't take that away.