(02-01-2018 01:13 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(01-31-2018 12:09 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  You answered your own question, Dayton is a better fit. They have always filled their arena win or lose, actually are Catholic and are basically the only game in town. SLU may be a typical doormat but they are the highest level of basketball in St. Louis and also have a sizeable arena, plus a larger, less saturated market than Butler.

Here I think you've at least given a concrete reason as to why Butler shouldn't be in the Big East....because they aren't a catholic university.

But I don't think its too important. It not like its 1930 where Northeast protestants were the elites in every sector of the economy. Today they are in the minority of the elite sectors of the economy. Anti-catholic bias hasn't existed in elite sectors in decades. In my estimation catholics are probably the largest representative of the elite sector since they have a strong population base in the coastal elite cities.

Nothing to do with that. I'm happy that Butler rose from underdog status to reach one of college basketball's top conferences. But the Big East may be saddled with deadweight one day. Look at DePaul. They never played for an NCAA title but were better than Butler for a longer stretch of time. They look like they belong in the Valley or Horizon these days. Or even C-USA.

And yes, someone has to be a doormat in these conferences but DePaul hasn't been very good for a full quarter century, with just two Tournament bids despite playing in a very good multi-bid conference most of that time.