Big East bemoans snubs; Pitino backs Seton Hall

Mar 19, 2024

, 10:19 AM ET The Big East said it is “very dissatisfied” over the conference’s traditionally low variety of schools chosen for the NCAA tournament, echoing prevalent sentiment around the league that several teams were snubbed.The Big East got simply 3 tournament bids– its least expensive total given that 1993– on Sunday by the NCAA choice committee, which snubbed a trio of 20-win teams in St. John’s, Seton Hall and Providence.The league released a prolonged declaration Monday night, congratulating its

three schools that were selected– UConn, Marquette and Creighton– while signing up with the chorus of criticism versus the NCAA choice committee.Editor’s Picks 2 Related”We have terrific respect for the NCAA guys’s basketball committee and the time and effort that goes into selecting and seeding

the groups for the NCAA tournament,” the Big East said as part of its declaration.”It is a really challenging job, and we have actually been advised that this year’s upsets contributed to the complexity and added to the committee’s last bracket selections. Given the high level of play in our league, we are naturally really disappointed that some worthy Big East groups were not picked to take part. “We will be working carefully with our schools in the coming months to best position the Big East next year and to make sure that we continue to be represented in March Insanity in a manner befitting our stature as one of the very best conferences in college basketball. “St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, who has actually been amongst the most outspoken critics of the lack of Big East teams, took to social media to praise Seton Hall, which completed 20-12 total

and 13-7 in league play. The Pirates became the first team in Big East history to miss the NCAA competition after completing at least five games over.500 in conference play.”I believe in getting better not bitter, “Pitino said Monday night on social networks.”I absolutely believe that six teams from the Big East belonged in the field. I know our players together with Providence are absolutely disappointed with the choices made. However not having Seton Hall at 13-7 in BE play with wins over the top groups is flat out incorrect!”I think in improving not bitter. I totally believe that six teams from the Big East belonged in the field. I know our players together with Providence are completely dissatisfied with the decisions made. However not having Seton Hall at 13-7 in BE play with wins over the leading teams …– Rick Pitino(@RealPitino)March 18, 2024 Ironically, Pitino and the Red Storm may have prevented Seton Hall from making the NCAA competition after beating the Pirates 91-72 last week in the Big East tournament quarterfinals.Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway said Sunday that he was”sad for my team”and

also questioned the lack of Big East representatives in the NCAA tournament’s 68-team field. “I still can’t believe just 3 groups got in from this conference, “he told press reporters.”That’s a pity, and it’s ill-mannered on every level. It’s ill-mannered to the Big East and I believe it’s ill-mannered to us. In any major conference in the nation, you win 13 games and you remain in. What team won 13 games in a significant conference that’s

not in right now? “The choice committee stated Sunday that Seton Hall was among the very first four groups neglected, along with Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and 28-win Indiana State.NCAA selection committee chairman Charles McClelland stated five quotes were taken during the conference competitions– and one of those was going to go to Indiana State, which fell in the final of the Missouri Valley tournament to Drake.Despite the snubs,

the Big East’s 3 choices are really high seeds: defending nationwide champ UConn is the leading total seed, while Marquette is a 2-seed and

Creighton a 3-seed.”We are extremely happy that UConn made the No. 1 general seed in this year’s NCAA guys’s basketball competition following another incredible season that included both the Big East regular season and tournament titles,

“the league stated in its statement.” Marquette, a No. 2 seed, and Creighton, a No. 3 seed, give the Big East 3 of the top 10 overall seeds in the competition, as lots of as any other league. We consider each of them legitimate competitors for a Final 4 berth and another Big East national crown on April 8th.”Details from The Associated Press was used in this report.