The American Conference Tournament

[SOBO1]

I understand why the American conference caters to UConn, but does any else feel that it is unfair that that SMU the 1 seed has to essentially play a road game against the 6th seed to win the conference championship? UCONN is the 6th seed and got to play 5 home games. This tournament should be played at a neutral location.

Hartford isn't a destination city. Very few fans from opposing teams will travel there. Games not involving UConn drew a few hundred fans, and UCONN games - as expected - are drawing 9K UConn fans.

 

[JIMSOULS]

Agreed. So far SMU is taking care of business today. Up 20-10 with six minutes left in the first half. Not a Larry Brown fan but hope they win.

 

[Bobbie Solo]

they're moving it every season for now. Just so happens this year coincided with UConn being just good enough to be able to make a run, a run necessary to them getting in.

At the same time, can you really blame them for putting it in Hartford? There is zero culture of winning anything in their conference outside of Memphis, UConn, Temple & Cincy. Yes SMU is good now, but will disappear when Brown bails in the next few years. Might as well guarantee big #'s for at least some of your games, as opposed to none.

I would think New Orleans could be a good long term location for the tourney. Who wouldn't want to go to New Orleans (could play the games in Orleans Arena on the water) every year?

This post was edited on 3/15 4:15 PM by Bobbie Solo

 

[SOBO1]

Bobbie I agree with you. It makes sense for the conference to have it in Hartford. It just sucks for SMU because winning a road game at UConn isn't easy. The point was that the tournament should be played at a neutral location - like you said.

 

[JIMSOULS]

I'd want to go to New Orleans, though if I were there I probably wouldn't be attending basketball games. Great city.

Is it true that SMU is paying Brown's coach-in-waiting, Tim Jankovich, $750K to be an assistant? If so, wow. That's some commitment to winning for a school like SMU. Very impressive.

 

[Bobbie Solo]

well, Tulane is there, but that means the tourney is still a neutral court location basically. Tulane doesn't deserve to be in the A10, nevermind a conference with UConn, Cincy Temple & Memphis.

 

[hinson32]

Look at how well SJU has done at MSG for the BET.

 

[The SHUttle]

Opposing schools are a little more able and willing to go to a tournament in NYC than Hartford, CT.

 

[SOBO1]

Originally posted by The SHUttle:
Opposing schools are a little more able and willing to go to a tournament in NYC than Hartford, CT.

This.

People will travel to Manhattan for this tournament. Hartford...not so much. The BigEast tournament is a great excuse for a long weekend trip to Manhattan.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Hinson - St. John's fans don't support their team the way UConn ad most other fans do. You can't watch this game without seeing a blatant home court advantage. And of course the aforementioned geographical factors. I didn't know the location was rotated for this tourney but nonetheless UConn got home games despite being a 5 or 6 seed or whatever they are.

This post was edited on 3/15 5:28 PM by phi_pirates

 

[Pirate6711]

Originally posted by SOBO1:
I understand why the American conference caters to UConn, but does any else feel that it is unfair that that SMU the 1 seed has to essentially play a road game against the 6th seed to win the conference championship? UCONN is the 6th seed and got to play 5 home games. This tournament should be played at a neutral location.

Hartford isn't a destination city. Very few fans from opposing teams will travel there. Games not involving UConn drew a few hundred fans, and UCONN games - as expected - are drawing 9K UConn fans.

And the conference tournament was played on Memphis' home court last year. Were they catering to UConn then as well?

 

[SOBO1]

Originally posted by Pirate6711:

Originally posted by SOBO1:
I understand why the American conference caters to UConn, but does any else feel that it is unfair that that SMU the 1 seed has to essentially play a road game against the 6th seed to win the conference championship? UCONN is the 6th seed and got to play 5 home games. This tournament should be played at a neutral location.

Hartford isn't a destination city. Very few fans from opposing teams will travel there. Games not involving UConn drew a few hundred fans, and UCONN games - as expected - are drawing 9K UConn fans.

And the conference tournament was played on Memphis' home court last year. Were they catering to UConn then as well?

Obviously not, but that would create a clear advantage for Memphis. I just think it creates an unfair advantage if the tournament is not played at a neutral location.

 

[hinson32]

UConn used to make MSG sound like Gampell
south too. Last year's NCAA regional was a UConn home game as well.

 

[SHUSource]

The American will rotate their conference tournament, which is in Orlando next year. Yeah, Hartford makes the rotation becasue of UConn. but it looks like everyone will get their chance.

 

[Pirate6711]

Originally posted by SHUSource:
The American will rotate their conference tournament, which is in Orlando next year. Yeah, Hartford makes the rotation becasue of UConn. but it looks like everyone will get their chance.

They clearly are catering to UConn...