(09-18-2010 08:23 AM)KnightLight Wrote: Interesting that one of the Big East/SEC Double-Headers taking place will be in Louisville....but the 2 Big East Teams will not include UL.
I'm not really surprised to be honest. Look at UofL's home basketball schedule and consider the fact that they have two very larger athletic projects to pay off. UofL could play in the tournament at Freedom Hall or they could play at home (they actually do on the same day) and make significantly more money. When you have a brand new $250+ million dollar arena to help pay for, you better be using the heck out of it.
(09-18-2010 08:23 AM)KnightLight Wrote: One would have thought that the Big East (and UL) would have wanted to "show up" their new downtown arena with a showcase event like this.
After years of having UK schedule a game in Freedom Hall (usually right before our match up), I'm honestly kind of glad to see that the event won't be held in the YUM center. UofL finally has scheduling priority and they can lock UK out of playing on their home court. Considering UK plays @UofL later in the month, I wouldn't be surprised if UofL told the Big East that the event would not be permitted to be held at the Yum Center just to re-enforce to UK that it is UofL's arena and that any pull they use to have in scheduling is now gone.
The funny part about the whole thing was when it final came out that UK wouldn't not be allowed to play in the YUM center without UofL's approval. You should have seen some of the reactions from the local bluenecks.
(09-18-2010 08:23 AM)KnightLight Wrote: SEC/BIG EAST Invitational – The fourth annual meeting between the two conferences will be carried by ESPN and ESPN2. On Dec. 8 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Seton Hall battles Arkansas on ESPN2 followed by Notre Dame and Kentucky on ESPN.
I actually think one event that would be great for the city of Louisville would be to host a Big 12 v. Big East Invitational in the YUM Center. Louisville is centrally located between each of the conferences and I think a Saturday/Sunday event featuring some of the top teams from each conference would draw particularly well. For example:
Saturday
12:00 p.m. - Kansas State v. Cincinnati
3:30 p.m. - Oklahoma v. Pitt
7:00 p.m. - Texas v. WVU
Sunday
12:00 p.m. - Missouri v. UConn
3:30 p.m. - Kansas v. Louisville
Best out of 5 wins the invitational (no ties possible).