Big East bids farewell to tradition in last conference tournament - USA Today

[CaribouJim]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...ament/1977077/

Jamil Wilson on the front page of the USA Today printed edition today - to the right of the USA Today banner. Article in the sports section.

Some highlights:

Most will curse the football-driven realignment that threatens to diminish a sport that doubles as the heartbeat for a city. They will at the same time applaud the departing Catholic 7 -- DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova -- for managing to retain the Big East name, the Madison Square Garden venue for a postseason tournament and, most importantly, an authentic and elite basketball league.

Pitino, whose Big East days go back to 1985-87 at Providence, says the breakup is "very disappointing. It was the greatest basketball alignment in the history of college basketball. And all because a few people blew up our TV deal, and then they wind up moving themselves, everything was broken up … Football is running our country right now. It is running rampant."

[MUAlphaBangura]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...ament/1977077/

Jamil Wilson on the front page of the USA Today printed edition today - to the right of the USA Today banner. Article in the sports section.

Some highlights:

Most will curse the football-driven realignment that threatens to diminish a sport that doubles as the heartbeat for a city. They will at the same time applaud the departing Catholic 7 -- DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova -- for managing to retain the Big East name, the Madison Square Garden venue for a postseason tournament and, most importantly, an authentic and elite basketball league.

Pitino, whose Big East days go back to 1985-87 at Providence, says the breakup is "very disappointing. It was the greatest basketball alignment in the history of college basketball. And all because a few people blew up our TV deal, and then they wind up moving themselves, everything was broken up … Football is running our country right now. It is running rampant."

Pitino has actually earned a huge amount of respect from me for his efforts in keeping the league together. Not afraid to speak his mind even though it was in direct opposition of his AD. Gonna miss that rivalry.