Should the Big Ten go to two divisions for basketball also?

[station19]

With 13 opposing teams and an 18 game schedule, it means there are only 5 teams you play twice. Schedules will be totally unequal.

Furthermore, there will probably be years when we play Rutgers and Maryland twice but Iowa and Wisconsin only once.

2 Divisions.....play same division teams twice for 12 games and the opposite division teams once for 7 games = 19 games........could drop one of the cross games to remain at 18 game schedule if so desired.

BTT: Have East and West brackets.

Thoughts?

 

[MadtownGopher]

Yes.

 

[SelectionSunday]

No. Not a fan of divisions for basketball (see old SEC format), or uneven number of home/road games. Would be on board with 20 conference games (Bo has been pushing this), playing 7 teams twice and 6 teams once.

20 would be about the perfect number. Would mean a nice balance of about 2/3 conference games and 1/3 non-conference (10-11 games), at the same time guaranteeing an extra quality home (conference) game.

As in the past, schedule in 2-year cycles. That guarantees every conference foe comes to your gym at least once every 2 seasons. No sucky situations like we have now where MSU won't play here in back to back years.

 

[station19]

SS....remind me of the old SEC format.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Here's an old article, Station. Sounds like the coaches thought it hindered getting more teams from the conference into the tourney.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6616480

 

[Gopherguy0723]

Can't we just kick some teams out? How can you be a cohesive conference when you don't even have to play teams on your schedule? In the long run, a conference bound by money cannot last. The conference will either grow too large and break off like the Big East or teams will get poached because they can make more money by themselves or in another conference. If money is all that matters, schools will go where the money is. The current Big Ten will not always be where the money is.