I know this has been discussed before. I know Steve was concerned that the scheduling, at a crucial point in the conference season, caused some problems for us. Still, it doesn't make sense to me that the Belt doesn't participate when conferences like the MoValley, Horizon, MAC, Colonial, Southern, and WAC do. The Bracketbuster was created to give midmajors a chance to get some national exposure late in the season. No doubt, FAU (RPI 90 last time I checked) would have gotten a TV game against a solid midmajor. Seems like we're missing a chance for our conference to get a little respect on the national level.

(02-09-2011 12:18 PM)mjs Wrote:  I know this has been discussed before. I know Steve was concerned that the scheduling, at a crucial point in the conference season, caused some problems for us. Still, it doesn't make sense to me that the Belt doesn't participate when conferences like the MoValley, Horizon, MAC, Colonial, Southern, and WAC do. The Bracketbuster was created to give midmajors a chance to get some national exposure late in the season. No doubt, FAU (RPI 90 last time I checked) would have gotten a TV game against a solid midmajor. Seems like we're missing a chance for our conference to get a little respect on the national level.

I agree. It makes no sense that the SBC does not choose to participate. Sometimes I get the feeling that this league really doesn't care much about basketball anymore, and is completely absorbed with being a bottom feeder football league. If the Bracketbuster is good enough for the CAA, Horizon, and MVC, how can the SBC turn its nose up at it?

Although we currently would have a difficult time being competitive with the top, it sure would be great to be part of a league like the MVC where basketball is king. That's one of the reasons I really like the Atlantic 10 for the Spiders. Basketball is absolutely king of that conference.

Screw the bracketbuster!

It is bad for the mid-majors because you have the top 10 mid-majors playing one another. If one of those teams is in line for an at-large and loses they may miss the tournament. Someone has to travel in the middle of conference season, remember our trip to Bowling Green? We lost that game big and our chance at the NIT with it.

a 20-10 La Tech team went to SIU and won and still did not make the tournament. That team had a win at TT and 10 road wins total.

(02-10-2011 07:24 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 12:18 PM)mjs Wrote:  I know this has been discussed before. I know Steve was concerned that the scheduling, at a crucial point in the conference season, caused some problems for us. Still, it doesn't make sense to me that the Belt doesn't participate when conferences like the MoValley, Horizon, MAC, Colonial, Southern, and WAC do. The Bracketbuster was created to give midmajors a chance to get some national exposure late in the season. No doubt, FAU (RPI 90 last time I checked) would have gotten a TV game against a solid midmajor. Seems like we're missing a chance for our conference to get a little respect on the national level.

I agree. It makes no sense that the SBC does not choose to participate. Sometimes I get the feeling that this league really doesn't care much about basketball anymore, and is completely absorbed with being a bottom feeder football league. If the Bracketbuster is good enough for the CAA, Horizon, and MVC, how can the SBC turn its nose up at it?

Although we currently would have a difficult time being competitive with the top, it sure would be great to be part of a league like the MVC where basketball is king. That's one of the reasons I really like the Atlantic 10 for the Spiders. Basketball is absolutely king of that conference.

It was also king in the "orginal" Sun Belt. Football was not a league sport for a number of years after the merger. Now it is taking a lot resources and attention away from basketball. Seems ridiculous to me to put so much money into what will always be second rate football, instead of basketball where the league really could make some noise on the national level.

(02-10-2011 07:34 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(02-10-2011 07:24 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 12:18 PM)mjs Wrote:  I know this has been discussed before. I know Steve was concerned that the scheduling, at a crucial point in the conference season, caused some problems for us. Still, it doesn't make sense to me that the Belt doesn't participate when conferences like the MoValley, Horizon, MAC, Colonial, Southern, and WAC do. The Bracketbuster was created to give midmajors a chance to get some national exposure late in the season. No doubt, FAU (RPI 90 last time I checked) would have gotten a TV game against a solid midmajor. Seems like we're missing a chance for our conference to get a little respect on the national level.

I agree. It makes no sense that the SBC does not choose to participate. Sometimes I get the feeling that this league really doesn't care much about basketball anymore, and is completely absorbed with being a bottom feeder football league. If the Bracketbuster is good enough for the CAA, Horizon, and MVC, how can the SBC turn its nose up at it?

Although we currently would have a difficult time being competitive with the top, it sure would be great to be part of a league like the MVC where basketball is king. That's one of the reasons I really like the Atlantic 10 for the Spiders. Basketball is absolutely king of that conference.

It was also king in the "orginal" Sun Belt. Football was not a league sport for a number of years after the merger. Now it is taking a lot resources and attention away from basketball. Seems ridiculous to me to put so much money into what will always be second rate football, instead of basketball where the league really could make some noise on the national level.

It's a regional thing. Football is king in the sun belt. Basketball was big in the original SBC only because football wasn't an option. Now, it is, and basketball always loses out to football in the south.

You should see the main board. They really think football in the Sun Belt is going places.

(02-10-2011 10:59 PM)eh9198 Wrote:  You should see the main board. They really think football in the Sun Belt is going places.

Going places? Like where? To move in front of the Mid-America Conference or something. Wow Whee! The WAC is disintergrating so that's a gimmie, but still, moving to where? The day an SBC Football team gets in a BCS Bowl will be the same day that hell freezes over or pigs fly. It just ain't gonna happen. Ever.