Appears 2018 BTT in New York

[SelectionSunday]

At Madison Square Garden. Will be played week before Selection Sunday. Delany taking this too far. Selling soul for NYC. Big Ten will be out of sight and out of mind during week leading up to NCAA Tournament. Ridiculous.

 

[Goldy Gopher]

At Madison Square Garden. Will be played week before Selection Sunday. Delany taking this too far. Selling soul for NYC. Big Ten will be out of sight and out of mind during week leading up to NCAA Tournament. Ridiculous.

Agreed not a fan of this at all and the biggest reason is having to move the conference tournament up a week.

 

[BleedGopher]

Here is more detail, per ESPN:
The Big Ten men's basketball tournament will make a cameo appearance at Madison Square Garden in 2018, but league commissioner Jim Delany said Saturday he doubts it will be a one-time only engagement.

"I think it will be a rotation," Delany told ESPN.com. "That will probably be somebody else's decision, but I think you will see more major events in the Northeast in the next decade. Hopefully this does well, we evaluate and see what happens."

Delany admitted it wasn't his basketball coaches' first choice but the conceded the idle time before the NCAA tournament in order to grab the New York venue.

"In a perfect world, they'd rather have it a week later," Delany said. "But they also understand the advantages and are willing to do it."

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mens-co...-tournament-played-madison-square-garden-2018

Go Gophers!!

 

[station19]

So they move the tournament across the border from an eastern most conference school. Where will the 2019 tournament be, Denver or Fargo?

What a bunch of crap.

 

[WindyCityGopher]

The Big Ten and college athletics long ago sold its soul for the almighty dollar. Delaney has simply perfected the art and a 14-team conference in far-flung locales like New Jersey and Maryland, with conference tournaments in New York City, are the results. As long as the university presidents keep getting those huge checks they won't protest a bit.

 

[station19]

The Big Ten and college athletics long ago sold its soul for the almighty dollar. Delaney has simply perfected the art and a 14-team conference in far-flung locales like New Jersey and Maryland, with conference tournaments in New York City, are the results. As long as the university presidents keep getting those huge checks they won't protest a bit.

I'd rather watch my Gophers on TV than watch Rutgers and Maryland............if you know what I mean.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

The Big Ten and college athletics long ago sold its soul for the almighty dollar. Delaney has simply perfected the art and a 14-team conference in far-flung locales like New Jersey and Maryland, with conference tournaments in New York City, are the results. As long as the university presidents keep getting those huge checks they won't protest a bit.

Well said.

 

[Holy Man]

I'd rather watch my Gophers on TV than watch Rutgers and Maryland............if you know what I mean.

I'm sure Rutgers fans will jam the Garden for the event. No need for us provincial midwesterners to make the trip to fill the seats. Looks like 2018 will be a TV tournament for moi.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

Meh...the location doesn't bother me. The new money is going to come from the East Coast but benefits all the teams. I would still like to see it in Mpls once in a while, along with Chicago/Indy, but it isn't a must have.

I do not like moving it up a week just to have it in MSG....hopefully they can negotiate with another venue for the next go around. Many to choose from in NYC Metro.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Here is more detail, per ESPN:
The Big Ten men's basketball tournament will make a cameo appearance at Madison Square Garden in 2018, but league commissioner Jim Delany said Saturday he doubts it will be a one-time only engagement.

"I think it will be a rotation," Delany told ESPN.com. "That will probably be somebody else's decision, but I think you will see more major events in the Northeast in the next decade. Hopefully this does well, we evaluate and see what happens."

Delany admitted it wasn't his basketball coaches' first choice but the conceded the idle time before the NCAA tournament in order to grab the New York venue.

"In a perfect world, they'd rather have it a week later," Delany said. "But they also understand the advantages and are willing to do it."

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mens-co...-tournament-played-madison-square-garden-2018

Go Gophers!!

Is the extra money really that significant for this to be an "advantage"?

 

[Holy Man]

Is the extra money really that significant for this to be an "advantage"?

They may think there is a recruiting advantage to playing in the Apple as well. Not purely financial, but mostly financial.

 

[station19]

I'm sure Rutgers fans will jam the Garden for the event. No need for us provincial midwesterners to make the trip to fill the seats. Looks like 2018 will be a TV tournament for moi.

Referring to more teams in the conference, more Gopher games on non traditional channels or streamed.

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

Yuck, we are really moving up our entire conference schedule to accommodation playing our tournament at MSG? This is totally ridiculous and a terrible idea.

 

[Slim Tubby]

This is f$cking bull****. Total money grab, alienates founding fan bases and ****s in the faces of the long-tenured Big 10 schools that would love to have the opportunity to host this event. College athletics continue to devolve into what I despise - pro sports.

 

[WanderingGopher]

At Madison Square Garden. Will be played week before Selection Sunday. Delany taking this too far. Selling soul for NYC. Big Ten will be out of sight and out of mind during week leading up to NCAA Tournament. Ridiculous.

I think it's great, although the Big East better be the one moving their tourney date in the future. What's the ratio of B1G to (new) Big East alumni, about 20:1?

That said, if we're going to have it in DC and NY then they should also move it around when it's in the Midwest. MN should get it soon. We're hosting the Super Bowl and Final Four for crissakes.

 

[Ope3]

Vegas

If they are going to have it in NY, then why not Las Vegas?

Also for 2018, teams should look to schedule a Non-Conference game versus other conferences that played early on Selection Sunday (eg Wichita St, Gonzaga or St Mary's) if they fear a long layoff.

 

[Gopherholefan]

I don't get this. The big ten has always had the primetime spot with their championship being the last game before the selection show. Now a week earlier in '18? O well I guess...

 

[GophersInIowa]

If they are going to have it in NY, then why not Las Vegas?

Also for 2018, teams should look to schedule a Non-Conference game versus other conferences that played early on Selection Sunday (eg Wichita St, Gonzaga or St Mary's) if they fear a long layoff.

I wonder if that is possible. Can you schedule a game after the conference championship? It would make sense to get one scheduled so there isn't such a long break.

I also wonder how that will affect the conference schedule. I'm guessing it will have to move up a week as well.

 

[SelectionSunday]

I wonder if that is possible. Can you schedule a game after the conference championship?

Unless the rule has changed from a few years ago, yes, teams can schedule a game after their conference tournament. Saint Mary's did it 2-3 years ago, but the pickings are going to be slim. Probably would end up being a bottom-feeding team from a small conference or an independent (NJIT is the only one left).

 

[Dano564]

I actually like this move.

I'd be far more likely to fly out to see the tourney there than if it was in Indianapolis.
More to do. See the city. Etc.

Also, getting the national spotlight for having it at Madison Square Garden, I think this is a big win for the conference and will help bring more revenue to the Big Ten which is good for all of the schools.

Wrong weekend, but that could work in the Big Ten's favor as well.