The Big Ten Tournament at MSG was 100% awesome

Submitted by SAMgO on
For all the naysayers, this turned out to be an epic venue for the BTT. One week early is obviously not ideal, but the atmosphere was electric all weekend and Michigan fans especially made a difference. It was 80/20+ in the Garden today in our favor, essentially a home game and Coach B acknowledged as much in the postgame. I would love for MSG to be a regular part of the rotation. Much better than Wells Fargo center, for sure. The semifinal session was completely sold out which I don’t believe has ever happened in the BTT, even in the Midwest.

Occam's Razor

March 4th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^

Don't understand why people hate the DC and MSG locations for the B1G Tournaments when Michigan has a clear home court advantage on the east coast. 

It's very audible on TV too. Must've been amazing in person!

Thanks Delaney!

J.

March 4th, 2018 at 7:11 PM ^

They’d have a home court advantage in Detroit too.

I don’t really care so much about MSG — although Michigan hasn’t lost there in years — but I’m really upset at the Big Ten kowtowing to the Big East and moving the tournament a week earlier. The Big Ten should have dumped the money truck at the Big East’s door and made them move.

Delany’s biggest problem is that he doesn’t really understand what the Big Ten is all about.

Michigan Arrogance

March 4th, 2018 at 7:22 PM ^

LOL he's been the commisioner since 1990. he didn't do this by executive order, Beilein on BTN literally just said Delaney asked the coaches and ADs and M was all in for NYC.

Timing isn't ideal obvs, but this was an overwhelming success attendance wise and for M with an essential home court advantage.

Rotate from Chicago/Indi/Detroit/Phil/DC/NYC. Maybe Cleveland and MSP too

J.

March 4th, 2018 at 7:31 PM ^

And I stand by my statement.  He doesn't know what the Big Ten is all about.  He's an ACC guy through-and-through, and it shows.  The Big Ten has come a long way down from Bo's "toe meets leather at 2 o'clock and TV can be there or not."

Not only did he have to compress the schedule to get into MSG, he also negotiated the TV contracts that were responsible for spreading the Big Ten schedule out to include Monday and Friday games.  Jim Delany cares more about the almighty dollar than he does the universities he's allegedly representing or the students who are responsible for making him all of the money in the first place.

And yeah, I saw what Beilein said.  I also know he's way too polite to call out Jim Delany in public.  There's a reason Delany was booed, and it's not because everybody there was so excited to have been a great follow-up to the thrilling Loyola-Chicago bid in Arch Madness.

In reply to by J.

Michigan Arrogance

March 4th, 2018 at 7:49 PM ^

lol, you make it sound like Delaney is some kind of omnipotent ruler over the poor conferent presidents and ADs.

Not only did he have to compress the schedule to get into MSG, he also negotiated the TV contracts that were responsible for spreading the Big Ten schedule out to include Monday and Friday games.  Jim Delany you mean the B10 cares more about the almighty dollar than he does the universities he's allegedly representing or the students who are responsible for making him all of the money in the first place.

 
Was playing on Monday and Fridays a problem in and of itself? why not play on a friday night? as long as you don't play the Sat-Sun following every time. The compressed sched. wasn't ideal. but that's a one time thing for getting into MSG. If the schools of the B10 didn't like 99% of DElay's decisions, he wouldn't be in year 28 of leading the conference to being the most profitable of them all.
 
Look, give him shit for shoe horning rutgets in the conference but guess what - what I just said applies to that as well. Had the presidents and ADs balked at Rutgers, they could have vetoed that deal. He's also the guy who helped this tourney get started at all 20 years ago and oh BTW negotiated with TV to place it as the last game on Sundays before the Selection Show on CBS (instead of the ACC) every other year.

J.

March 4th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^

It's not a one-time thing.  Moving the two conference games to December would have removed the need to compress the schedule after the new year -- two games is one week's worth, right?  The reason for the 5-games-in-11-days kind of thing was Jim Delany's* love of money, pure and simple.

Incidentally, I've always been against the idea of the Big Ten tournament, so I'm hardly going to give him credit for that (although, given that it exists, it's nice to win it).  I liked the older approach where the regular season meant more than just a way to earn a seed.  Of course, the 14-team Big Ten has pretty much ruined the regular season anyway (see: MSU).

* If you want to throw the ADs in with him, that's fine too; I understand that Jim Delany is mostly the scapegoat.  But the problem is, he's the rainmaker -- because he made the conference so profitable, nobody's willing to stand up to him.  And while they might all believe that anybody in his position could have done the same thing -- all he really did was see the tide of rising TV contracts and get out ahead of it -- nobody's willing to take the risk.  So I still think he deserves the lion's share of the responsibility for the changes that have happened under his watch -- and, let's face it, most of them have been bad.

SAMgO

March 5th, 2018 at 8:22 AM ^

I honestly think we’d have a bigger home court advantage in NYC than in Detroit. Detroit is split with MSU and very accessible for a large number of other fanbases. Michigan and PSU own NYC in the Big Ten. Against MSU and Purdue that’s a nice advantage for us.

The Fan in Fargo

March 4th, 2018 at 7:20 PM ^

I doubt it. This team is so well coached and conditioned that this time off will be great. Beilein will know what to do to keep them focused and ready to steam roll their way to the sweet sixteen again.

Michigan Arrogance

March 4th, 2018 at 7:37 PM ^

it seems long, but remember if the tourney were next weekend, M could play on thursday, that's a flight late tues or early Wed, and tomorrows off. that's 1-2 light practices, maybe 3 if they played Friday, coming off of 4 games in 4 days (one in OT).

it's not ideal, but they can take a couple days off, practice fundamentals, rest again on the weekend, get your opponent(s) for the weekend and prep for them next Wed/Tues and with walk thrus at the venue. This week they can stress fundamentals, rest and enjoy it.

Gulogulo37

March 4th, 2018 at 8:02 PM ^

The problem isn't the break. It's the lack of one earlier in the season. We got through fine but probably lost that Nebraska game because of the schedule. If we had a player injured and others playing extra minutes or if the team had just generally been in a funk without some time off to regroup, it could have been really ugly. I'm not saying it wasn't a success for the big ten. But playing at MSG should be pretty rare.

bluestaffah

March 4th, 2018 at 7:30 PM ^

Venue and response to the event has been incredible. The week early has allowed the BTT to compete with little basketball on TV. Which ratings do you think were better, the BTT or the Missouri Valley tournament. I'd guess BTT. Plus, I think it benefits recruiting. Michigan beats two top 10 teams on back to back days and the nation was watching, without scandal or questions surrounding the team. The constant talk of JB teams peaking at the right time and the development of the players. Freshman and Sophmores playing big, important minutes and excelling means early playing time possibilities. They show most to the world, humility, guts and skill. They put on a show for the world and the work is not yet done. JB can figure out how to deal with an extra week off. It's not like football, a month or more plus a major holiday season. It's one week to rest a bit, practice hard and work on fundamentals. Overall, I think this is a tremendous weekend for Michigan, early or not. #GoBlue. Sorry about the formatting, on my phone.

jmblue

March 4th, 2018 at 7:10 PM ^

I can see why other Big Ten fanbases don't like it, but as a Michigan fan I've definitely reconsidered my criticism...  

 

Squad16

March 4th, 2018 at 7:14 PM ^

Went to the Quarterfinals and Semis; it was AWESOME!!! Yesterday was ELECTRIC, U of M obviously dominates NYC but State showed up in hoardes too, it was hype. Today looked even better. 

 

No problem with New York City becoming part of a 5 or 6 year rotation. 

 

WE OWN EAST COAST TOURNAMENTS

DJMich23

March 4th, 2018 at 7:16 PM ^

I 100% agree. Come on now, Michigan winning the Big Ten in the fucking Garden while beating those pussies in EL, exposing Nebraska, AND winning the revenge game against Purdue? Shit is priceless.

SysMark

March 4th, 2018 at 7:14 PM ^

This is why the Big East Tournament was always so electric back in the day - before they broke up.  The time off really doesn't worry me, especially with what should be a high seed.  Just win the first game and we're fine.

Maize in Cincy

March 4th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^

I thought the crowd sounded louder yesterday.

Nobody is doubting it’s an awesome venue. If it was played next weekend 99% would be all for it every few years.

LSAClassOf2000

March 4th, 2018 at 7:19 PM ^

Michigan is one of those teams that is fortunate enough to have a large alumni base in a lot of major population centers, and I really do think that helps us. I was admittedly skeptical of taking the tournament away from its Midwest base, but not only does Michigan travel well, in several cases, Michigan is already there to greet the team. 

ish

March 4th, 2018 at 7:20 PM ^

Wish I could post my post-game photo from mobile. It's silly to have it a week early but it was a decided M crowd advantage all four games. This eastcoaster is happy.

ak47

March 4th, 2018 at 7:25 PM ^

Michigan 8-0 in east coast big ten tournaments, 18-17 in the Midwest. Should be on the east coast every year.

Fuck we should be petitioning for the football championship to be at MetLife and fedex field too

reddogrjw

March 4th, 2018 at 7:29 PM ^

Tuesday - 2 B1G play in games, 2 opening round Big East Games - 12, 230, 530 830

Wednesday - B1G  - 12, 230, 530, 830

Thursday - quarterfinals Big East - 12, 230, 530, 830

Friday  - quarter finals B1G - 12, 230, 530, 830

Saturday - semi-finals - 12. 230, 530, 830 

Sunday - noon and 2:30pm finals