I'll Miss the Big East

Well, it finally happened. The Big East's seven Catholic schools are breaking out their own, and the great basketball conference that so many fans have known is now on its death bed. I can't speak as longingly about the Big East as Georgetown, Connecticut or St. John's fans can. Marquette has only been in the league eight years, but it's been great for Marquette. For the 33 years its been in existence, it's been great for college basketball.  I'll definitely miss watching my alma mater compete is such a deep, competitive league year in and year out.

I guess this is a collector's item now.

As the football-driven conference realignment slowly tore about the leagues we were all used to, we hoops fans speculated time and time again about ways the Big East might be saved somehow so that the great basketball league would be preserved. Ultimately, the basketball schools breaking out on their own was inevitable. It was either going to happen because they took action or because the football schools all left. As excited as I was the day Marquette joined the Big East, I'm just as relieved to see them leave it.

Now, Marquette and the other Catholic schools are no longer on pins and needles every time someone jumps leagues. First, it was Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Then Notre Dame. Then Rutgers. Then Louisville. It was only a matter of time before Cincinnati and Connecticut bailed as well. After a few years in the new-look cross-country Big East, who's to say that SMU or Houston or Memphis wouldn't suddenly be in demand and jump ship as well? Eventually, Marquette would have been stuck in a league with the likes of Florida Atlantic and Rice. They had to bail.

The basketball schools had no leverage on their own. Georgetown and Marquette couldn't approach a league like the Big Ten or ACC and sell itself as a great addition. United, however, the "Catholic 7," as they've been called, have a future. I'm glad to see they realized that and stuck together for the sake of preserving some sort of watchable basketball conference. I only hope they get the television deal that can help not only basketball but other sports at the schools so they can continue to compete at the levels they expect.

These guys are a big reason why Marquette's run in the
Big East has been a positive one.

I will miss the Big East, though. Again, my best memories are limited to the eight years Marquette has spent in it. While Marquette hasn't been the best team in the league, it has consistently been one of the stronger teams. Marquette has made the tournament every year as a Big East member. It's a string of success made possible by the great recruiting class of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal, and Wesley Matthews. The steady stream of leaders that followed kept the run going: Lazar Hayward, Jimmy Butler, Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder all played large roles in making sure Marquette remained a solid program. The coaches who recruited them deserve credit too: Buzz Williams, and yes, folks, Tom Crean. Give credit where it's due.

I'll miss the classic games, even the ones in which Marquette didn't play. The UConn-Syracuse six overtime game was unforgettable. It's a shame the Big East Tournament as we know it is dead. It was one of the great events in college basketball.

I'll miss the rivalries that Marquette developed in the Big East, some that extended from Conference USA. Marquette had some bitter battles with Louisville, many of which Marquette was on the wrong side of. They were great games, though. Marquette had some classic games with Pitt and was able to continue its rivalry with Notre Dame. I hope some of these games continue in non-conference form, especially the Notre Dame series. I'd even all for some sort of Big East Reunion Series. Instead of a Big East-SEC Challenge, Big East Catholic schools vs. former Big East schools that left? Catholics vs. Football? Something to think about down the road. Keep rivalries, folks. They're important.

All good things come to an end, though. The good news for Marquette fans and the fans of the other Catholic schools leaving the league is that their futures will be much more secure once they secure a television deal (which I assume is in the works or else they wouldn't have broken away). They no longer have to hold their breath foolishly hoping football schools will stay in the Big East. Now, they're in control of their own destiny as schools like Xavier, Butler, SLU, Gonzaga and others seem interested in their mission to form a strong basketball conference.

I'm optimistic for the future, but I'll always miss the Big East. And I'll always be bitter at college football for killing it.