Guess we'll just wait and see

If you’ve read this page a few times, you probably already understand my affinity for the Big East, at least from a historical perspective. I won’t get into my past memories of growing up a fan of the league from a basketball perspective. Instead, with the new college basketball season upon us, I wanted to put into words a discussion I had today with a colleague.

Will the 2014 Big East basketball tournament electrify Broadway yet again? 

It was only a matter of time that the last known version of the Big East Conference, 16 teams and arguably the best basketball conference in all the land. The conference landscape has been as stable as the San Andreas fault.  Tradition and rivalries have been brushed aside by colleges in search of the bigger payday that comes with television deals with major conferences.

So with the “new” BIg East ready to embark on its first basketball season since the split, just how is the league going to fare?  

There is no question it is a superb basketball league, especially with the addition of Xavier, Butler, and Creighton to the break-a-way seven: Providence, Georgetown, DePaul, Marquette, St. John’s, Villanova and Seton Hall.  Schools with great basketball tradition and history.

But it’s the last word that is particularly interesting. Sure curiosity of the “new” league will peak some interest and intrigue with great matchups once conference play begins in January. But how long can the league sustain it’s place among the best of the best, will be interesting to follow.

Keep in mind, you won’t be able to find any league games on ESPN. Nope. The Big East signed a long-term deal with the fledgling FoxSports1.  That can be huge. True sports fans will find the games if they really want to, but obvisously ESPN is the go-to network to watch college sports, especially with younger adults.

And that is my second point. The audience. Today’s kids are more than likely going to be drawn to the attention of the big-time college basketball matchups of Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC, and Pac-10 … excuse me, Pac-12. Why, because ESPN has pretty much blanket coverage of these power conferences just about every night of the week.

The appeal of Georgetown-Villanova, St. John’s - Butler, Xavier-Providence will be great. But will that buzz last. Will Madison Square Garden been filled with college basketball fans hungry for that Marquette-St. John’s championship game in March, just as they did when Louisville and Syracuse electrified the city.

I think back to when UNLV was the program. The Running Rebels, with a sparkling arena just off the famed Las Vegas strip and a lineup of future NBA stars. They reached the NCAA championship game twice walking away with one national title.  But how many kids today even remember those teams or can even name a player from that era.

NCAA infractions deflated the program over the years and today, the Rebels play in a solid conference and have made some great strides to get back to the postseason tournament, they are still not quite what they used to be.

Maybe it’s not the best example and I hope not. I’m a  big fan of the Big East Conference … at least it’s history.