Around the Horn mention CBI/BU

[Scouter]

Ever tried to catch a MVC score on the ESPN news scroll. If the MVC team is not ranked or playing a ranked opponent, or playing on an ESPN network, you are lucky to see the MVC score 1 out of 3 go-arounds, while scores from smaller conferences are shown more frequently.

I've never had that problem before. I see MVC scores on there all the time in a timely fashion, but that's just me. Just a tip if you weren't aware: scores between non-ranked opponents are shown in alphabetical order of visiting teams. And do you actually think ESPN would hold back MVC scores ON PURPOSE to show scores from smaller conferences??? That's the nuttiest conspiracy theory I've ever heard.

[ser_solace]

I'm with Scouter on this one. I don't think there's a conspiracy by ESPN to do poor coverage of the MVC. Our scores are there on the scrolling bar-thingy. If our teams start getting national prominence, then they show the highlights, praise the school, etc. ala Drake this season, SIU and Creighton last couple of seasons...

Right now, I don't have much respect for the CBI, and I"m not proud to say Bradley's in it. I am happy though that I get to watch another Bradley game and see Ruffin and JC play again.

[BradleyBrave]

How do you figure that?

By reading Jay Bilas' blogs about why the RPI should be eliminated and citing Drake as his example time and again. Then hearing Jay Bilas and most of the Gamenight Crew tear down all of Drake's accomplishments and even going as far as to call them a 'bubble' team up to the conference tournament. That's just this year's example. ESPN and the talking heads don't like mid-majors, especially ones from the midwest. It's been painfully obvious year after year.

Listen - I am not trying to pretend that this is the goal of the season, or the be-all, end-all of postseason tournaments. Let's face it - Anything short of the NCAA's is 2nd rate. The NIT, despite it's rich history, is a 2nd rate tournament now. It has been for years. As evidenced by the attendance at last night's games for both tourneys, no one really cares outside of die-hards like us. I think we would all agree that when whole, BU is easily a postseason team. When whole, BU was maybe an NCAA team. But because of circumstances BU never really got a chance to show that. This is their last chance to salvage something meaningful, and winning this tournament would be meaningful no matter how insignificant some might think it is. By tourney's end, I think we may see this field as being stronger than some thought.

[Toyota12]

ESPN might start talking about us more if we would just start winning some big games again
ala 06..Bradley has great tradition and all the talking heads know of us, but what do they have to talk about 06!!That year is gone and over!! I love BU bball,but it is time to get in the upper part of the MVC consistently and then they will look at us again and talk tradition
and maybe someday be referred to as the Gonzaga of the midwest or as Butler is referred as a great mid major!! I would like to be Guard U!! I think being called a great mid major
on a consistent basis would be an honor at least then they are talking about us....When they are talking about you people take notice and is what we need during the year and at tourney time!!! So lets just start winning and that will take care of evrything!!

[BradleyBrave]

ESPN might start talking about us more if we would just start winning some big games again
ala 06..Bradley has great tradition and all the talking heads know of us, but what do they have to talk about 06!!That year is gone and over!! I love BU bball,but it is time to get in the upper part of the MVC consistently and then they will look at us again and talk tradition
and maybe someday be referred to as the Gonzaga of the midwest or as Butler is referred as a great mid major!! I would like to be Guard U!! I think being called a great mid major
on a consistent basis would be an honor at least then they are talking about us....When they are talking about you people take notice and is what we need during the year and at tourney time!!! So lets just start winning and that will take care of evrything!!

Truer words have not been spoken. Winning indeed will cure all. Let's win this tournament and have the momentum carry over to next year.

[Dallas Brave]

Earlier posts keep throwing out the question of whether a conspiracy exists or not. I don't think any one has said a conspiracy exists. By defination, a conspiracy is an evil, unlawful, treacherous, or surreptitious plan formulated in secret by two or more persons.

What is happening is that the forces of capitalism have greatly influenced ESPN's coverage of a college sport. ESPN is in the business of making money. But now, rather than just covering the sport, they exert a lot of influence on what is or isn't news-worthy.

[BradleyBrave]

Earlier posts keep throwing out the question of whether a conspiracy exists or not. I don't think any one has said a conspiracy exists. By defination, a conspiracy is an evil, unlawful, treacherous, or surreptitious plan formulated in secret by two or more persons.

What is happening is that the forces of capitalism have greatly influenced ESPN's coverage of a college sport. ESPN is in the business of making money. But now, rather than just covering the sport, they exert a lot of influence on what is or isn't news-worthy.

Ding ding ding ding! Winner!

[daPAWW1]

BradleyBrave - actually it's "winner, winner Chicken Dinner"

[Scouter]

By reading Jay Bilas' blogs about why the RPI should be eliminated and citing Drake as his example time and again. Then hearing Jay Bilas and most of the Gamenight Crew tear down all of Drake's accomplishments and even going as far as to call them a 'bubble' team up to the conference tournament. That's just this year's example. ESPN and the talking heads don't like mid-majors, especially ones from the midwest. It's been painfully obvious year after year.

I also heard him say two nights ago that Drake was a great basketball team that is one of the best shooting teams in the country and will be one of the toughest teams to face in the tournament. Does that make him a flip-flopper? I'm not a huge Jay Bilas fan, but just because he cites Drake as an example about how the RPI is flawed doesn't make him a mid-major hater.

Earlier posts keep throwing out the question of whether a conspiracy exists or not. I don't think any one has said a conspiracy exists.

Actually, BradleyBrave said ESPN goes out of its way to belittle the MVC. Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me.

[beanocookschins]

Honestly..I doubt any internal discussions have gone on at ESPN regarding the Missouri Valley Conference and what to do with them. I laugh when I see people say "ESPN"--as if the entity and entire company sent out a memo to people on things like the Missouri Valley Conference.

It's a huge company with thousands of employees. The company is certainly going to look out for itself and make money--but I don't think there is a company wide conspiracy on anything. I did see the CBI scores on the bottom line last night--just like I see MVC scores on the bottom line.

There are quite a few MVC games on the ESPN family each year now.

[Scouter]

Honestly..I doubt any internal discussions have gone on at ESPN regarding the Missouri Valley Conference and what to do with them. I laugh when I see people say "ESPN"--as if the entity and entire company sent out a memo to people on things like the Missouri Valley Conference.

It's a huge company with thousands of employees. The company is certainly going to look out for itself and make money--but I don't think there is a company wide conspiracy on anything. I did see the CBI scores on the bottom line last night--just like I see MVC scores on the bottom line.

There are quite a few MVC games on the ESPN family each year now.

Now THERE is a voice of reason. Heck, the Gameday crew (including Jay Bilas ) was in Carbondale this season.

[BradleyBrave]

Actually, BradleyBrave said ESPN goes out of its way to belittle the MVC. Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me.

You can put words in my mouth all you want. After reading Jay Bilas' repeated attacks on Drake (which only stopped recently), and his network's constant belittling of the MVC, I have no doubt that they (ESPN and the BCS) don't want the mid-majors crashing their card-carrying member party. Their actions since the 2006 tournament say as much. Do I think the folks at ESPN sit in a room and come up with new ways to discredit the MVC? No. Do I think that they observe and report on college basketball objectively? No.

[Scouter]

You can put words in my mouth all you want. After reading Jay Bilas' repeated attacks on Drake (which only stopped recently), and his network's constant belittling of the MVC, I have no doubt that they (ESPN and the BCS) don't want the mid-majors crashing their card-carrying member party. Their actions since the 2006 tournament say as much. Do I think the folks at ESPN sit in a room and come up with new ways to discredit the MVC? No. Do I think that they observe and report on college basketball objectively? No.

I'm not putting words in your mouth. You actually said them.

In any case, I think we can all agree that ESPN (just like every other huge, national media member) is run by money. Do they observe and report on college basketball objectively? I think for the most part they do -- on the schools and conferences they cover 95 percent of the time. Do I blame them for not covering the MVC more? No, because most people don't really give a squat about the MVC. Most of their audience cares about the major conferences. Can I blame them for their coverage? No. It makes dollars and sense (cents).

[tornado]

Do I think that they observe and report on college basketball objectively? No.

I will give a case in point........actually a few...

Last night NC-Asheville vs. Ohio State.....
>75% of the chatter (about the teams & players) was lapping up to the talent on the Ohio State squad and lengthy, drawn out talk about how their season has been and how tough their league is, how remarkable that they bounced back from losing 3 NBA picks, etc...
Maybe at best 20-25% touched lightly on some NC-Asheville topics, although the vast majority was talk about Kenny George, but not all that complimentary...
more along the line of touching on the oddity of him being the tallest college player...kinda like talking about someone's cute, tho homely puppy.

In the end, NC-A played credibly, although were beaten by a better opponent, but the outcome was certainly not beyond doubt until the latter part of the 2nd half.
But the overall tone of the narration was to hype Ohio State for the next round or two, and to portray NC-Asheville as a "one hit wonder", and just a tune up for the next round.

The same was somewhat the case at Arizona State, and in the 2nd half, the Alabama State Hornets came back from oblivion to make the game uncomfortably close for Arizona State....8 points within the last 3 minutes, closer than Creighton was at that point and Creighton went on to win!
If anyone actually saw the game, then I challenge you to try to tell me the name of the Alabama State head coach or what he looked like, since just as the camera panned to Thad Matta 98% of the time during time outs, they also went right to ASU's Herb Sendek almost every time, and virtually NEVER to the Alabama State bench.

The design FROM THE START was clear....promote the team that's likeliest to win, right from the outset, and just don't bother even talking about the guys who are going to lose.

[Chuck885]

Ncaa

You can put words in my mouth all you want. After reading Jay Bilas' repeated attacks on Drake (which only stopped recently), and his network's constant belittling of the MVC, I have no doubt that they (ESPN and the BCS) don't want the mid-majors crashing their card-carrying member party. Their actions since the 2006 tournament say as much. Do I think the folks at ESPN sit in a room and come up with new ways to discredit the MVC? No. Do I think that they observe and report on college basketball objectively? No.

I don't thing ESPN has a lot to do with the NCAA selection. The BCS obviously wants teams from their conferences and have some influence since I'm sure a number of them sit on the selection committee. ESPN can only write about teams and I don't think that carry much weight. I do think CBS has worked behind the scenes to reduce the number of mid-majors that are selected and it's not because they can't compete. Every since 2006, when Billy Packer and Jim Nance came out and bashed the committee for selecting a large number of mid-majors, the number chosen has fallen dramatically. Recall, that a number of mid-majors, including Bradley, Wichita State and George Mason made it to the sweet 16, but from the networks perspective, this does not appeal the broader audience. Viewership would have been much higher if Kansas was playing Memphis, instead of Bradley. Although it appeals to the Bradley faithful and can be a "cinderalla story", the big names facing off is what brings in the viewership. Funny how they always talked about the cinderalla stories but then keep limiting the chance of that occuring by inviting BCS teams that are 18-13.