...in terms of numbers only.

It's hard to compare one year to another year in terms of strength of teams. I don't believe anyone seriously believes that any of the top Big East teams are as strong or as talented as Louisville, Pitt, and UConn were in 2008-09. Nor are there 7 teams from outside the conference this year that look as strong as North Carolina, Oklahoma, Memphis, Michigan State, Duke, Missouri, and Kansas were that year. This year's Duke (with a healthy Kyrie Irving), Ohio State and Kansas might be as good as the top three non-Big East teams from that year, but there is a significant downturn after those three.

So, understanding this from the start, it's still amazing to me how well the Big East is performing this year in what was considered to be a "down year".

Here is how the league stacks up with itself from 2008-09 through Christmas Day of 2008.

In terms of overall individual RPIs:

2008-09

1. Pitt (11-0)
7. UConn (10-0)
23. G'Town (9-1)
27. SU (11-1)
30. WVU (9-2)
33. Nova (11-1)
46. L'Ville (7-2)
53. Marq (10-2)
70. Cincy (9-2)
84. ND (9-2)
91. DePaul (7-5)
95. SH (7-3)
132. Prov (8-4)
144. St. John's (9-2)
201. RU (9-3)
259. USF (4-7)

2010-2011

2. G'Town (11-1)
4. WVU (8-2)
6. SU (13-0)
7. UConn (10-0)
16. Pitt (12-1)
24. St. John's (7-3)
31. L'Ville (10-1)
36. Nova (10-1)
38. ND (11-1)
54. Prov (11-2)
94. Cincy (12-0)
99. RU (9-2)
102. USF (6-7)
144. SH (6-5)
168. Marq (9-3)
271. DePaul (6-6)

In 2008-09, the league was 140-37 at this point in time for a .791 winning percentage. This year the league is 151-35 for an .812 winning percentage.

In 2008-09, the league was 19-17 versus BCS teams. This year it is 24-12.

Overall league RPI in 2008-09 was .5712. This year it is .5882. While OOC SOS was .5139 while this year it is .5137.

Considering how well the conference has performed OOC this year and the fact that there are so few outstanding teams this year, could this be the year the league gets 10 or more bids?

Cheers,
Neil

I think it's possible, Neil. But the odds are against us. The voters have shown no sign that they'll vote for more BEast teams even if we deserve it. So I kind of doubt it...

It all depends on whether the voters will allow us to have as teams in the tourney as we deserve, or whether they have some arbitrary made up ceiling on how many teams from one conference make the tourney...

I know they say there are not limits in place, but I think 8 is pretty much it. Maybe that changes with the move to 68 teams, but I think there is this unwritten rule to only max out with 1 conference team per 8 team pod.

With 68 spots I see 9 teams this year...the committee will not allow the Big East to get 10 teams we might deserve this year.

I think you're right about 9 being our arbitrary ceiling limit, Mark. But The BEast could very well deserve 11 bids this year. It all depends on how conference play shakes out...

I can't see past 9....and 9 is a stretch. You get too many (even if deserved) and you start running up against rules like two teams from same conference can't meet until whatever round etc.....

We've already had 2 BEast teams meet prior to the Elite Eight, which is the arbitrary cutoff you're thinking of, dude. We had that last year...

I could see us getting 9 this year with one team being in one of the play-in games. Can't see us getting any more than that ever tho.