(02-10-2017 10:56 AM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  I don't think I understand the OP's question at all? Honestly, it's a strange question.

If it's about quality, then the ACC is the obvious answer. Historically speaking, those have been the two strongest conferences in college basketball for the better part of the last three decades. Occasionally, the Big Ten is also in that conversation and the Big 12 as well. However, year in, year out, it has been the Big East and the ACC battling for the mantle of top college basketball conference.

If it's about structure, the old Metro was probably the closest to the Big East and that it to was comprised of urban markets with the primary up at six on basketball. However, it too was obviously a far, far cry short of the Big East - Louisville is not New York City and Memphis is not Boston.

Truthfully, the Big East is a unique conference and there's nothing like it anywhere else in the country. It is obviously not nearly what it once was but it still cool. They still have the best tournament in college basketball and always have and frankly, it's not close. I have been to Indianapolis for the Big Ten tournament, I have been to Greensboro for the ACC tournament and neither one compares in any way to Madison Square Garden on a Saturday night in March. It's just not even close.

The way I took it was a basketball-centric conference that didn't sponser football. So the original Metro and to a lesser extent the Sun Belt of the 80's. There is none now because all of those schools are scattered everywhere.