Some Suggested Conference Showdowns for 2008

With the Big East-SEC Invitational underway, sadly, we have our final conference showdown of the season. That doesn't mean that several new conference showdowns aren't in the works for the 2008 season.......


Big Ten/Division II Death Match

Rundown - After nearly a decade of trying, I think it's safe to say that the Big 10 should consider abandoning the ACC showdown. Maybe try something closer to their own level....how about a showdown with some of the top Division II programs in the country? Take the Top 11 teams from Division II (which includes past Big Ten slayers Grand Valley State and Findlay) to play the Big Ten in a much more competitive shootout than the ACC/B10 version. What better way to gain back some Big 10 respectability than a showdown with those pesky Division II schools that the conference has been having problems with this year. Sounds like some prime programming for the Big Ten Network at the very least.

Winner Gets- If the DII schools win, four Division II teams get to move up to the Big 10, while four B10 schools are demoted to DII, similar to English soccer.

Big Ten wins - We can't refer to the conference as "overrated" for an entire week.



CAA/Missouri Valley Mid-Major Throwdown


Rundown - For the love of Bally, I'm shocked this hasn't happened yet. The top two mid-major conferences are always complaining that no one is willing to play them, so why not play each other to have one final showdown of mid-major supremacy?

Winner Gets - The privilege of punching Billy Packer square in the teeth.


WAC/Mountain West Wrangle

Rundown - I'm sure that there is no love lost between these two conferences, as the Mountain West was formed out of former WAC charter members in 1999 who were fleeing the over-expanding conference. Was that really necessary? Not sure, considering I usually refer to the Mountain West as the WAC anyway. There is only room for one mid-level western conference in this heart.

Winner Gets - MWC Wins - They get to take Boise State (football purposes) and Hawaii (vacation purposes) from the WAC.

WAC wins - they get to reclaim the teams that succeeded to the MWC, while instituting a Reconstruction plan for the now pillaged Mountain West.



Robert E. Lee Southern Shootout (Big South, Southland, Southern, Southeastern, Southwestern Conferences)

Rundown - Way, way too many conferences that contain the word "South". Even hoop nerds like myself can confuse the Southland with SoCon. This round-robin will finally put the confusion to rest.

Winner Gets - To be officially be known as the "Southern Conference".



MAC/MAAC Attack

Rundown - MAC? MAAC? MAACC? Like filling out your bracket isn't confusing enough come tourney time. No more will you confuse the conference from New York State with the one from the Midwest that can never seem to secure an at-large bid.

Winner Gets - To be known as the official "MAC".



Ivy/Patriot Battle of The Minds

Rundown - Students of Patriot schools like to claim that their universities are "almost like Ivy". Here is the Ivy's chance to tell them to raise their SAT scores and shut the hell up.

Winner Gets - Prized internships at PricewaterhouseCoopers.


Horizon/Summit Generic Name Shootout

Rundown - The battle of conferences that sound more like ad agencies. College basketball only has room for one completely generically named conference.

Winner Gets - To keep it's name. Loser has to drop $20 million on a company probably named "Horizon" to come up with a new name and logo.


We are open to any other proposals that you might have for next season...

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