I would think the tournament would be on the ESPN family of networks. But, it could be like pre-realignment C-USA when the first round, quarterfinals and semifinals were on ESPN+ and then the title game was on CBS. It will be interesting to see how it is done.
I agree though that if the finals is on CBS, it will be early as hell again.
I'm not so sure about America12 having that early Saturday game time.
First, we have to keep in mind the Big East for 2014 is NOT the same 1979 - 2013 Big East that had those fantastic 4 day tournaments. Louisville, Cincy, UConn, and Notre Dame are replaced by St. Louis, Xavier, Butler, and Dayton. Plus quite honestly after Georgetown, Marquette, and Villanova....not too much there.
The real key is how important to America12 is it to have CBS show the title game?
C-USA will basically be UAB, So Miss, and the 10 chumps. Their tournament could very easily be moved to the Championship Week coverage with their title game being on a Thursday night.
What if ESPN asked America12 to have their championship game in primetime on Friday night? With 10 BB schools next year, the tournament will be three days (Wed/Thu/Fri). Even when it is 12 teams, the same format would work. As long as MEMPHIS, UConn, Cincy, and Temple are involved, ESPN will want to spotlight those games. Basically ESPN would use ESPN/ESPN2 to show the ACC, Big East and America12 tournaments. They would wait to see how the matchups fall for each round before assigning the specific network. The tips could be slightly staggered so the nation could be switched immediately to see the end of a tight game.
Another alternative is to have America12 play their title game that Sunday. Make it a Fri/Sat/Sun tournament. Again, ESPN could have the full tournament and show the title game at noon Sunday EST with the ACC final at 230pm. Or flip it and have America12 at the end. CBS would have the SEC title game and Big12 title games, ABC the PAC12.
(03-09-2013 03:48 PM)boss man Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not so sure about America12 having that early Saturday game time.
First, we have to keep in mind the Big East for 2014 is NOT the same 1979 - 2013 Big East that had those fantastic 4 day tournaments. Louisville, Cincy, UConn, and Notre Dame are replaced by St. Louis, Xavier, Butler, and Dayton. Plus quite honestly after Georgetown, Marquette, and Villanova....not too much there.
The real key is how important to America12 is it to have CBS show the title game?
C-USA will basically be UAB, So Miss, and the 10 chumps. Their tournament could very easily be moved to the Championship Week coverage with their title game being on a Thursday night.
What if ESPN asked America12 to have their championship game in primetime on Friday night? With 10 BB schools next year, the tournament will be three days (Wed/Thu/Fri). Even when it is 12 teams, the same format would work. As long as MEMPHIS, UConn, Cincy, and Temple are involved, ESPN will want to spotlight those games. Basically ESPN would use ESPN/ESPN2 to show the ACC, Big East and America12 tournaments. They would wait to see how the matchups fall for each round before assigning the specific network. The tips could be slightly staggered so the nation could be switched immediately to see the end of a tight game.
Another alternative is to have America12 play their title game that Sunday. Make it a Fri/Sat/Sun tournament. Again, ESPN could have the full tournament and show the title game at noon Sunday EST with the ACC final at 230pm. Or flip it and have America12 at the end. CBS would have the SEC title game and Big12 title games, ABC the PAC12.
I'm sure it will be worked out.
I'd wager that part of the CBS deal was putting the conference championship on their network.
(03-09-2013 03:48 PM)boss man Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not so sure about America12 having that early Saturday game time.
First, we have to keep in mind the Big East for 2014 is NOT the same 1979 - 2013 Big East that had those fantastic 4 day tournaments. Louisville, Cincy, UConn, and Notre Dame are replaced by St. Louis, Xavier, Butler, and Dayton. Plus quite honestly after Georgetown, Marquette, and Villanova....not too much there.
The real key is how important to America12 is it to have CBS show the title game?
C-USA will basically be UAB, So Miss, and the 10 chumps. Their tournament could very easily be moved to the Championship Week coverage with their title game being on a Thursday night.
What if ESPN asked America12 to have their championship game in primetime on Friday night? With 10 BB schools next year, the tournament will be three days (Wed/Thu/Fri). Even when it is 12 teams, the same format would work. As long as MEMPHIS, UConn, Cincy, and Temple are involved, ESPN will want to spotlight those games. Basically ESPN would use ESPN/ESPN2 to show the ACC, Big East and America12 tournaments. They would wait to see how the matchups fall for each round before assigning the specific network. The tips could be slightly staggered so the nation could be switched immediately to see the end of a tight game.
Another alternative is to have America12 play their title game that Sunday. Make it a Fri/Sat/Sun tournament. Again, ESPN could have the full tournament and show the title game at noon Sunday EST with the ACC final at 230pm. Or flip it and have America12 at the end. CBS would have the SEC title game and Big12 title games, ABC the PAC12.
I'm sure it will be worked out.
CUSA may actually be stronger overall next year. USM, MTSU, UTEP and Tulsa along with UAB will create a stronger and more competitive base. Will not be a high profile top 25 program, but an overall stronger 1-12.
(03-09-2013 03:48 PM)boss man Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not so sure about America12 having that early Saturday game time.
First, we have to keep in mind the Big East for 2014 is NOT the same 1979 - 2013 Big East that had those fantastic 4 day tournaments. Louisville, Cincy, UConn, and Notre Dame are replaced by St. Louis, Xavier, Butler, and Dayton. Plus quite honestly after Georgetown, Marquette, and Villanova....not too much there.
The real key is how important to America12 is it to have CBS show the title game?
C-USA will basically be UAB, So Miss, and the 10 chumps. Their tournament could very easily be moved to the Championship Week coverage with their title game being on a Thursday night.
What if ESPN asked America12 to have their championship game in primetime on Friday night? With 10 BB schools next year, the tournament will be three days (Wed/Thu/Fri). Even when it is 12 teams, the same format would work. As long as MEMPHIS, UConn, Cincy, and Temple are involved, ESPN will want to spotlight those games. Basically ESPN would use ESPN/ESPN2 to show the ACC, Big East and America12 tournaments. They would wait to see how the matchups fall for each round before assigning the specific network. The tips could be slightly staggered so the nation could be switched immediately to see the end of a tight game.
Another alternative is to have America12 play their title game that Sunday. Make it a Fri/Sat/Sun tournament. Again, ESPN could have the full tournament and show the title game at noon Sunday EST with the ACC final at 230pm. Or flip it and have America12 at the end. CBS would have the SEC title game and Big12 title games, ABC the PAC12.
I'm sure it will be worked out.
CUSA may actually be stronger overall next year. USM, MTSU, UTEP and Tulsa along with UAB will create a stronger and more competitive base. Will not be a high profile top 25 program, but an overall stronger 1-12.
If they ain't spending dollars, it won't make sense.
UAB, UTEP, and Tulsa should be allocating resources to basketball because it traditionally was as important to them as it was to us.