The preference is still for Big East teams to play each other twice, though not necessarily home-and-homeGETTY IMAGES
The Big East will "explore moving up the start date of conference play and utilizing a bubble setting so its member basketball schools can play all 20 scheduled league games," according to a source cited by Dom Amore of the HARTFORD COURANT. Each of the 11 teams were "originally slated to play a home-and-home with all 10 opponents," but the delayed Nov. 25 start date for the '20-21 season will "require some creativity." The preference would "still be for Big East teams to play each other twice, though not necessarily home-and-home." If it is determined that playing at campus sites are "not practical by mid-December," the Big East "could form a pod, bringing the 11 teams to one site where each would play their first handful of conference games." Mohegan Sun "would likely be considered, if available." However, it is "not likely that teams would want to remain in a 'bubble' for more than two weeks," so "most, if not all conference games would then be played on campus sites" (HARTFORD COURANT, 9/18).
IOWA BUBBLE BEING DISCUSSED: In Des Moines, Randy Peterson reports city leaders are "talking about the possibility of inviting college basketball teams to play early-season games at Wells Fargo Arena." Officials are "expected to talk again on Friday," as the Wells Fargo Arena discussion "will go on." Drake Univ. AD Brian Hardin said that a "bubble" could include an "equal number of high-major programs and mid-major programs." Peterson notes that format could give the mid-majors an "opportunity to face the high-major opponents needed for NCAA Tournament resume purposes." The "ball is now in the court of individual conferences to figure out scheduling formats" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 9/18).
