Despite the naysayers that were eager to declare the Big East dead after the last round of conference realignment, the reality has turned out to be quite a bit different. With four regular seasons in the books, and the 2017 NCAA tournament upon us, here are some facts that speak to the exceptional success that the league has had:

1. The defending national champion and number one seeded team in this years NCAA tournament come from the BE.

2. The BE had a higher percentage of teams make this years tournament than any other conference (70%). ACC and B12 were next at 60%. No one else was above 50%.

3. This seasons record verses the P5 conferences was 28-18 for a .608 percentage, against the ACC, widely considered to be college basketball best conference, it was 8-3 for a .727 winning percentage.

4. After the past four seasons, since the last realignment, 90% of the league has participated in the NCAA tournament, higher than any other conference.

5. The most electric conference tournament atmosphere anywhere. Sellout crowds, and always being played in the most prestigious basketball venue in the world, in the most exciting city in the world, year in and year out.

6. Should Josh Hart win POY that would mean two of the past four national POY's will have come from the BE ( Not a given yet though)

7. The best financial package of any non P5 conference, who of course, derive most of their income from football.

Obviously things won't always be this good. But for those who attempt to denigrate us and falsely steer the narrative to suit their own agendas, there's no denying the reality. The Big East is doing just fine.

It is pretty cool that the Big East is grouped with the P5 in basketball. We are treated as an equal - despite not being with ESPN, despite not having football and despite not having any large public schools.

We won. Plain and simple. Now we just get to enjoy the ride and watch our programs win in March.