On the day after the Big East lost its fifth member in 18 months with Rutgers bolting for the Big Ten and with more defections likely on the horizon, the man who helped make Big East basketball the force that it is offered his view of the college landscape.
Temple’s season has been one of highs and lows, leaving them at 4-6 and still alive for a bowl game. This Sunday’s matchup with the Orange will be their season finale, if they win and there aren’t enough .500 teams, Temple could still go Bowling.
Posting a 26-10 record, two bowl appearances and their first bowl victory since 1979, Temple is a drastically different program than the team many Syracuse fans will remember getting thrown out of the Big East.
The Wildcats will be left steaming not only over seceding some of its large Philadelphia market share, but also likely ending all discussion as to whether or not ‘Nova moves up to FBS football.
Here in college basketball limbo, where Xavier has been to three straight Sweet 16s and St. Bonaventure hasn’t had a winning season since 2001-2002, is where we find two bubble contenders in what may be Thursday’s most intriguing match-up: Richmond at Temple.