Projo College Hoops

By KEVIN McNAMARA

How does the Big East go about pairing up 16 teams and scheduling 144 games? Who gets to play on Big Monday? How do you ever get a marquee date on CBS?

We'll answer those questions and more in a story on Sunday. Let's just say that for nearly every game in the Big East, there is a story-behind-the-story. A conference with more teams and games than anyone, plus a wide variety of home courts, makes for a very confusing process.

Here is one. The opening game of the Big East schedule has West Virginia traveling to Seton Hall on Saturday, Dec. 26. On CBS. The Big East never intended for this game to be played one day after Christmas, for obvious reasons. Getting players and coaches home for the holiday is one of the most important goals of any school.

CBS tried to pit Ohio State and West Virginia that day but the Buckeyes wouldn't bite. That game will take place on Jan. 23. So CBS had a problem. They were holding that Saturday time slot for college basketball but couldn't find any takers. "CBS asked us if there was a team that we'd like to get exposure for that would play that day and relish the opportunity," said Big East associate commissioner Tom Odjakjian, the man who handles the scheduling for the conference.

After calling around, Seton Hall shot to the top of the list. The Pirates are seen as a Big East darkhorse and when the Prudential Center was freed for the date, only one call remained. Would Bob Huggins bring his WVU team to New Jersey and travel on Christmas night?

"Bob was great about it. He welcomed the chance to play on CBS," said Odjakjian.

 Tags  Big East schedule Bob Huggins Bobby Gonzalez

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