Big East/SEC Challenge Wish List

The SEC and Big East announced today a two-year agreement to play one another in an annual challenge.  This follows on the heels of back-to-back seasons in which a mini-version of this challenge existed, in which four teams from each conference competed for the challenge bragging rights.  There was enough momentum from this subsample for the conferences to agree on including all members in the SEC (12 teams) against twelve (out of 16) teams from the Big East.  The twelve teams from the Big East will be chosen at a later date.

The fact that we still don’t know which Big East teams will compete makes for a great opportunity to blog.  As with any challenge it’s all about the matchups.  You have to select matchups that will ultimately be competitive but also have as much marketability as possible in order to draw the highest ratings.  I put pen to pad tonight and did my best to break down the matchups I would want to see and some logic behind the choice.  Below is my personal wish list.  The conferences are free to use this in their decision making.

Kentucky vs Syracuse

Hype factors:  Both are perennial power basketball schools; the teams met in the 1996 Championship game; they almost never meet adding to the sexy matchup factor; perhaps most importantly they are #1 or #2 in annual home attendance every year, something the announcers can hype up until you vomit; the famed Syracuse 2-3 zone defense against the Dribble Drive Motion Offense of Kentucky.

Tennessee vs Connecticut

Hype factors: I went with this matchup mainly because Tennessee has already played Pittsburgh and Villanova this year, so I feel like there’s some process of elimination here.  Next year’s matchup should have new blood.  Now that UConn has rebounded from last year’s disappointing campaign this matchup oozes excitement.  Tennessee continues to be a giant-killer with wins over several Top 10 teams in recent years.  Lets throw the Vols another chance to add a feather to the hat.

Florida vs Louisville

Hype factors:  Lock this up.  Done deal.  Ricky P vs Billy D.  Mentor vs Pupil.  Championship winning coaches.  This is long overdue.  Marketing dream.

Vanderbilt vs West Virginia

Hype factors: This is a coaching decision for me.  I appreciate what Stallings and Huggins get out of their players.  The Mountaineers stifling defense pitted against Vanderbilt’s persistent offense.  I really think this could be the best matchup of the entire challenge.  Both coaches are gracious competitors and I think they would provide a great scene for college basketball fans.

Dominic James Done For The Year

This year has been full of injuries to key players all across the nation.  Now it’s Marquette’s turn.  Senior point guard, Dominic James, broke a bone in his left foot early in the first half as Marquette fell to Connecticut 93-82.  He didn’t return to the game.  The Golden Eagles’ leading assist man (5.1 apg) will have surgery soon, and his outstanding career is over.

James has scored 1,749 career points and has amassed 631 assists and 238 steals.  A true team player, his scoring average has decreased each year.  But he played an integral role as the Marquette Golden Eagles have become a national powerhouse.  First year coach, Buzz Williams, will surely miss him.  Marquette finishes the regular season at Louisville, at Pittsburgh, and versus Syracuse.

Why Marquette Could Lose Early In The Dance

We all know how good Marquette has been this season.   They, no doubt, have the top guard trio in the nation in Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews, and Dominic James – and they’re all seniors.  Guards plus senior leadership equals a solid formula necessary to win big games.  But how far can they go?

Here is why Marquette may get stumped earlier than people think.  One reason is that Marquette is not a deep team.  One of the most important components of a championship caliber team is the ability to have several players contribute night in night out.  They have four players averaging over 30 minutes per game;  no one else is over 20.  This spells tired legs down the stretch.  Let’s hope they can hold up when each game begins to mean much more than the one before.

Another reason Marquette may lose early is that they’re not big on the inside at all.  Their main frontcourt contributors: 6’8″, 6’7″, 6’6″.  And it shows in their rebounding stats.  They’re averaging a mere 36.2 rebounds per game.  Against teams like North Carolina, Connecticut, Michigan State, and Memphis, this could mean trouble for the Golden Eagles.

Buzz Williams has done a terrific job at the helm in his first year at Marquette.  He has great guards, senior leadership, speed, and quickness.  For his team to keep winning late in March, has has to find relief for his outstanding backcourt and get his troops to put a higher priority on rebounding.  He would hate to have an early exit in this year’s Dance.