Seems there is a movement afoot to have all 16 Big East teams play every round of the conference tournament next year, according to this column by Jack Bogaczyk of the Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail. It seems that last year’s format, in which only the league’s bottom eight teams played in the first round, and the top four actually received a bye through the first two rounds, was not well-liked by some of the BE’s coaches, who would prefer not to have such a long break. Last season, of course, both Pitt and UConn lost in the quarterfinals despite the two-round bye.

Funny, but we had thought that two-round bye was viewed as an incentive to finish in the top four. But whatever. It looks like the league’s school presidents will vote on the matter later this summer. If indeed there are no byes, all teams will have to win four games in four days at MSG to win the tourney title. Is that a good thing? We’re not so sure, since it fails to reward a great regular season in what is a huge (and usually great) league. It also could mean that even the league’s best teams run the risk of getting worn down heading into the NCAAs. But having the top seeds in the building from the first day will no doubt draw better crowds for all for days. And don’t think for a second that that won’t be influencing the presidents’ decision once the vote is taken.

Link: What will the Big East do? [Charleston Daily Mail]