NCAA Bracket Update 2011: Is Big East Overrated or Tired from Conference Play?

I can’t believe it, but I actually agree with Charles Barkley’s assessment of the Big East. Barkley, who has called the Big East names such as the Big Least and Small East, has spent the past few days on television criticizing the conference.

I didn’t think it was possible, but the Big East is developing the reputation of Ohio State’s football program. They play well in the regular season but collapse during bowl games.

In fact, the Big East’s shortcomings in this year’s tournament are eerily reminiscent of the Big Ten in the bowl games this past season. Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn State, Northwestern and Michigan State whiffed in New Year’s Day bowls.

The Big East appears strikingly similar to the Miami Heat. For Conference USA, the loss of Marquette, Louisville and Cincinnati is like Cleveland losing LeBron James and Toronto losing Chris Bosh.

The Big East gutted Conference USA and was supposed to form a super conference. After all, Marquette (2003) and Louisville (2005) had reached the Final Four while members of Conference USA.

Since the formation of the mega conference, the Big East has continued to give subpar performances in March, for the most part.

Like LeBron, the Big East gives MVP-like performances during the regular season and conference tournament but chokes in the clutch.

The Big East had 11 teams qualify for the Big Dance. Heading into Sweet 16 action, the conference has only two teams (Connecticut and Marquette) remaining.

Connecticut (28-9) received a No. 3 seed in the tournament despite finishing ninth in the league. The Big East is supposed to be the toughest conference in America. Yet the Huskies won the tournament after playing five games in five days.

Marquette (22-14) received a No. 11 seed in the Big Dance. Most, if not all, prognosticators had the Golden Eagles going out in the first weekend.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh (No. 1 seed), Notre Dame (No. 2 seed), Syracuse (No. 3 seed), Louisville (No. 4 seed), West Virginia (No. 5 seed), Georgetown (No. 6 seed), Cincinnati (No. 6 seed), St. John’s (No. 6 seed), and Villanova (No. 9 seed) bit the dust within the first weekend.

Pittsburgh (28-6) was considered a solid candidate to reach either the Elite Eight or Final Four. The Panthers bowed out in the second round after one of the most boneheaded plays in recent NCAA tournament memory.

Notre Dame (27-7), a team that probably would have clinched a No. 1 seed had it won the Big East tournament, looked overwhelmed against Florida State in the third round. The Seminoles dominated from start to victory en route to a 71-57 win.

Louisville (25-10) actually had a great draw in the tournament, but it was upset by Morehead State in the second round. Had the Cardinals beaten Morehead State, they would have played Richmond in the next round.

Syracuse (27-8) was the one team I expected to lose early. It seems the Orange have a knack for underachieving in March. They haven’t been the same since Carmelo Anthony left—eight years ago.

West Virginia (21-12) defeated Clemson in the second round but fell to Kentucky in Round 3.

Georgetown (21-11) was obliterated by Virginia Commonwealth in the second round. In fact, Georgetown has not really done much in the tournament recently.

The Hoyas gave Florida a run for their money in the 2006 Sweet 16. They reached the Final Four in 2007 but have not been the same since.

Cincinnati (26-9) blew out Missouri in Round 2 before falling to Connecticut in the third round.

St. John’s (21-12) enjoyed a surprising first year under Steve Lavin. I expected the Red Storm to have a great showing in the Big Dance, but they were clobbered by a mediocre Gonzaga team.

Villanova (21-12) fell flat on their faces in a first-round loss to George Mason. I actually thought Villanova would beat George Mason and give Ohio State a run for its money.

There are those who are adamant in defending the conference’s performance in this year’s tournament. Some say Syracuse and Marquette and Connecticut and Cincinnati had to face each other in the third round.

The Big East has no one to blame but itself for the early-round matchups. When a conference has so many teams, they are bound to face each other in earlier rounds.

Let’s look at the case of Cincinnati. As a sixth seed, its options were pretty limited.

St. John’s drew a sixth seed in the Southeast region.

Georgetown drew a sixth seed in the Southwest region.

Xavier drew a sixth seed in the East region but faced Marquette in the first round.

Should Cincinnati be seeded higher or lower to accommodate it from facing a conference foe in earlier rounds? I think not.

Defenders of the conference will also say the conference has seen better days. Both Connecticut and Villanova reached the Final Four in 2009, but neither advanced to the title game.

Personally, I think it’s foolish to have 16 teams in a conference. By the way, TCU will become No. 17 when it becomes a full-fledged member in 2012.

The 16-member conference is ridiculous for scheduling purposes.

For example, Louisville plays Connecticut twice, but Seton Hall plays Rutgers twice. That doesn't seem very fair.

The conference is too big to have divisions. At least divisions would justify which teams play twice.

It’s sad that the Big East has 16 teams for basketball but only eight for football.

I will say the conference’s teams are probably exhausted by the tough games they play throughout the course of the season. Again, I fault the conference because of the number of teams in the league.

Marquette and Connecticut have to carry the banner for the conference with a black eye.

Marquette has a date with North Carolina in the Sweet 16. Even if they lose, the Golden Eagles would have overachieved by making it this far.

I actually like Connecticut’s chances against San Diego State, and it would have at least a fighting chance against the Duke-Arizona winner.

I do feel for the Huskies because if they play Duke, they will have to battle Duke’s trademark sixth man—the referees.

The debate will linger after the conclusion of the tournament. Is the Big East overrated or not?

The Miami Heat are known for struggling when the games are tight. Isn't the Big East in the same boat?

As scary of a thought as it is, maybe Barkley is right about the Big East. Maybe it is the Small East.