Found this on a WVU board...I think the article is a few weeks old...really hope this even takes off where most teams in each league can participate

Jackson



Nashville vying to host SEC-Big East hoops
11/28/06
By BRYAN MULLEN
Staff Writer


From league championship games to the selling of official athletic merchandise, college athletic conferences always are keeping an eye on one another when it comes to new ideas about making money.

And the mighty Southeastern Conference is no different.

Consider the league's announcement last month at the SEC basketball media days in Birmingham, Ala., where Commissioner Mike Slive unveiled his conference's agreement with the Big East for a preseason men's basketball event starting next season.

It's been a moneymaker for two other conferences for years. The ACC/Big Ten Challenge has become ultra-popular, and it gives fans and analysts a good primer for what to expect from the two conferences throughout the season.

The SEC/Big East event doesn't have an official name yet, although garnering a title sponsor shouldn't be a problem. But even if that doesn't happen, ESPN has agreed to broadcast the event for the length of the contract between the SEC and Big East, which is three years.

The financial impact also could impact Nashville. Nashville Sports Council Executive Director Scott Ramsey confirmed to The Tennessean that his organization is in discussions with conference officials about Nashville serving as a host city.

The event will feature four teams from both conferences each season. There will be two doubleheaders, with one of the doubleheaders taking place in an SEC region and the other in a Big East region.

Other cities reportedly in discussions to host the event in the SEC region are Memphis, Atlanta, Tampa and New Orleans.

Cincinnati should be loaded next year, unfortunately we probably won't get a crack at Kentucky in that event.

CatsClaw Wrote:Cincinnati should be loaded next year, unfortunately we probably won't get a crack at Kentucky in that event.

Probably Ole Miss and Auburn for you guys.

fsquid Wrote:

CatsClaw Wrote:Cincinnati should be loaded next year, unfortunately we probably won't get a crack at Kentucky in that event.

Probably Ole Miss and Auburn for you guys.

howdy squid.

what you up to these days?

think the cats got a shot at your tigers this year?

Since it would be FOUE teams. You can probably expect from Big East it will be:
Syracuse, UConn,Louisville and either Pitt or Villanova. I wonder if BE will have to choose TWO football members and TWO non football ones?

fsquid Wrote:Probably Ole Miss and Auburn for you guys.

It would be fun to play AK.

a) Only four teams? I was hoping it'd be 12 v 12. This means some years your/my favorite teams will be left out. Bummer. But that would be better than having the same four powers going at it every year.

b) Format of double headers on neutral courts is a pretty cool idea. Clearly the SEC will love playing games in places like NYC, Philly, etc. BE will enjoy some show in ATL and Memphis. (Hey, maybe I could catch and Orange game in ATL! Sweet!)

c) Of course, this means Syracuse might actually play non-tournament related game outside of NY before January! Blasphemy!! ;-)

I think the format is kinda silly. Not the doubleheaders at non-campus sites -- that's fine -- but only 4 teams. Apparently, every SEC team will participate over the 3 years -- so it will be a different 4 each year. Presumably, 12 different BE teams will play over the 3 years. I kinda hope it's not just "power" teams the first year and that they spread out some of the name teams over the three years.

Still, better than not havinig it. Now we just need a Big 12/Pac-10 challenge, right?

This thing is a made for TV event. I'd be shocked to see any more than 2 small market teams play in a given year.

L-yes Wrote:This thing is a made for TV event. I'd be shocked to see any more than 2 small market teams play in a given year.

Apart from Providence and USF (which could be a stretch) I can't think of who that'd be in the BE. After all, that's supposed to be the appeal of the league, the depth of programs entrenched in major markets, right? But if you're implying that we won't see Cuse, UConn, Louisville and Pitt all in the same year then I think you're right.

GunnerFan Wrote:a) Only four teams? I was hoping it'd be 12 v 12. This means some years your/my favorite teams will be left out. Bummer. But that would be better than having the same four powers going at it every year.

b) Format of double headers on neutral courts is a pretty cool idea. Clearly the SEC will love playing games in places like NYC, Philly, etc. BE will enjoy some show in ATL and Memphis. (Hey, maybe I could catch and Orange game in ATL! Sweet!)

c) Of course, this means Syracuse might actually play non-tournament related game outside of NY before January! Blasphemy!! ;-)

The Cuse will just play there games in New York City, coach B doesn't like leaving New York State ;-)

Coach Beilein said on his radio show that WVU "may" be going to the challenge next yr....didn't ellaborate on where or whom we were going to play or when the school will now for sure


Jackson

Jackson1011 Wrote:Coach Beilein said on his radio show that WVU "may" be going to the challenge next yr....didn't ellaborate on where or whom we were going to play or when the school will now for sure

I wouldn't be surprised if the participants are decided after this season, in order to get a better idea of how the programs will be perceived going into 2007-8.

I expect the first challenge will try to pair 2 name teams from each conference in 2 of the games (say, Florida and Kentucky against UConn and Syracuse) with one of the marquee games being at each site amd with the other 2 games being more "middle of the conference" type teams.

SideshowBob Wrote:

Jackson1011 Wrote:Coach Beilein said on his radio show that WVU "may" be going to the challenge next yr....didn't ellaborate on where or whom we were going to play or when the school will now for sure

I wouldn't be surprised if the participants are decided after this season, in order to get a better idea of how the programs will be perceived going into 2007-8.

I expect the first challenge will try to pair 2 name teams from each conference in 2 of the games (say, Florida and Kentucky against UConn and Syracuse) with one of the marquee games being at each site amd with the other 2 games being more "middle of the conference" type teams.

One other factor--look at who is hosting NCAA games later in March--thse Arenas might have an edge in getting the games.

That was a huge reason why Boeheim played Canisius in Buffalo this year. The same arena is hosting NCAA games in March. The other reasons: a game for Buffalo area Cuse fans, a homecoming game for Paul Harris and a chance for Boeheim to send a message to Univ Buffalo that the Cuse owns upstate NY.

TexanMark Wrote:... and a chance for Boeheim to send a message to Univ Buffalo that the Cuse owns upstate NY.

"No. Seriously. Here's the receipt. The payments are a b**** but I think we got it at a steal." ;-)

SideshowBob Wrote:I expect the first challenge will try to pair 2 name teams from each conference in 2 of the games (say, Florida and Kentucky against UConn and Syracuse) with one of the marquee games being at each site amd with the other 2 games being more "middle of the conference" type teams.

I bet you nailed it right there.