Tidbit from ESPN

[ge1974]

From Andy Katz below. My guess is DePaul is our rival for the final weekend.

The Big East confirmed that its conference schedule will be released next week. The old Big East was always one of the last conferences to release its schedule because of so may pro arenas in the conference. That hasn't changed with Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Marquette, DePaul, Villanova and Georgetown all dealing with other tenants. The three new schools -- Butler, Creighton and Xavier -- have the most control over dates in their arenas. The conference is hoping to build rivalries and will protect one rivalry for the final weekend of the regular season. But the conference wouldn't say which one until the schedule is finalized. The teams haven't been notified yet of which rivalry was protected for the final weekend of the regular season.


http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...-offseason-hit

[MayorBeluga]

There are only a few obvious rivalries, so my guess is that the others are kind of forced together. My best guess:

1. Marquette - DePaul
2. Georgetown - Villanova (maybe G'town - SJU for tv purposes, but the 1985 NCAA title game gives Nova the edge)
3. St. John's - Seton Hall
4. Bulter - Xavier (2 newbies, relatively close geograpihically)
5. Creighton - Providence (and there's your leftovers)

If the conference expands by adding SLU and someone else (Richmond? VCU), then make it Creighton - SLU and Providence - other newbie.

[MUBasketball]

There are only a few obvious rivalries, so my guess is that the others are kind of forced together. My best guess:

1. Marquette - DePaul
2. Georgetown - Villanova (maybe G'town - SJU for tv purposes, but the 1985 NCAA title game gives Nova the edge)
3. St. John's - Seton Hall
4. Bulter - Xavier (2 newbies, relatively close geograpihically)
5. Creighton - Providence (and there's your leftovers)

What you're saying makes sense...but I wonder if they will base the rivalries on geography. Maybe something more like this:

Georgetown - Villanova
St. John's - Seton Hall
Providence - Xavier
Butler - DePaul
Marquette - Creighton

Makes a bit more sense geographically, but maybe it's really no difference between Providence/Xavier or Providence/Creighton -- not close to each other regardless. I just have a hunch Creighton will be grouped with Marquette or DePaul to make it as geographically pleasing as possible.

[GOMU1104]

I would like to be matched with Butler or Creighton.

[MUMac]

What you're saying makes sense...but I wonder if they will base the rivalries on geography. Maybe something more like this:

Georgetown - Villanova
St. John's - Seton Hall
Providence - Xavier
Butler - DePaul
Marquette - Creighton

Makes a bit more sense geographically, but maybe it's really no difference between Providence/Xavier or Providence/Creighton -- not close to each other regardless. I just have a hunch Creighton will be grouped with Marquette or DePaul to make it as geographically pleasing as possible.

I tend to think MU will be either lumped with Creighton or Butler. The kick off game with Creighton makes that a likely possibility. I could also see playing off of the two games MU/Butler had last year as another possibility. The historic choice, though, is DePaul.

[ValiantSailor]

I don't think all rivalries are geographic. In last year's BE, Georgetown - Syracuse would have been a no-brainer, passing over several closer schools. I could easily see us being paired with any of the mid-western schools or with Georgetown, and I would probably put DePaul at the bottom of that list, behind Creighton, Butler, Xavier, and Georgetown.. In fact, when the pairings are complete, DePaul - Providence might be the "leftover" game.

VS

[Goose85]

This would be my preference.

"Rivalry Week" - Middle of the season.
Have games throughout the week, then some could actually play 2 "rivalry" games in the week. Tuesday night "Rivalry Week" kicks off with MU v. Creighton / G-Town v. Vill. On Sat "Rivalry Week" concludes with G-Town v. St. John's.

Last Weekend of the Seson - Try to match up schools likely to be battling for the top spot.
This year it would be G-Town v. Creighton / MU v. St. John's / Villanova v Xavier / Providence v. Butler / Seton Hall v. DePaul.
Good chance the winner of one of those first two games listed might clinch the regular season title on that final Saturday.

[MUBasketball]

I don't think all rivalries are geographic. In last year's BE, Georgetown - Syracuse would have been a no-brainer, passing over several closer schools.

VS

Sure, but Syracuse and Georgetown I consider to be close geographically. I'm saying I think maybe the Big East would avoid trying to create Creighton & Providence as main rivals when they are the two schools farthest away from each other. But one of the eastern schools will be paired with a school quite a ways away regardless.

[MU/Panther]

I hate the fact that schedules come out in September. This needs to be done in mid-August by the latest point. It hard to sell mini-plans to people, when the dates are not out.

[MU88]

You have 5 west coast and 5 east coast schools. I think its possible Marquette could play Georgetown. Two Jesuit universities, both expected to be at the top of the conference. Plus, it would be a good game for FS1 to plug as the marque game of the event. Alternatively, Creighton or DePaul would be logical rivals for MU in this kind of matchup or they could play each other. I think X plays Butler. They have been in 2 conferences together and are relatively close geographically. All of the east coast schools are close, with SHU and SJU being the closest to each other.