Chris Holtmann to the Ohio Buckeyes

The really high paying high profile jobs all come with fans who are really unreasonable, you are right it's a tough job, Matta survived that for a lot of years at tOSU.

Butler fans seem to always love their coaches. But there is a trade off, love for money. I was not so sure this last coach was from the same mold, but they gave him a big contract extension and the momentum continued.

This may be an awkward coaching hire for Butler, not sure they have an assistant ready to promote which they have done on successive occasions! Going outside Butler for a coach would be something different for them.

It doesn't seem likely at first that they trade coaches with tOSU, but I wonder if like somebody suggested, they might just want to do that and he might really like coming back, or since Matta is a Butler guy with an impressive coaching tree that might produce a coach, keep it in the family.

Graves has been terrible at S Alabama. (Doesn't mean he'd be at terrible at butler. S Alabama was a terrible fit.)

We started out with what the better job or situation is.  Pay obviously is a big factor there.  B10 probably rules there!

As far as competition goes, both are top conferences, so I think you have to make the case there, that the Big East is stronger, therefore a better situation.   

If you want rebuttal about strength:

1. You used league RPI.  While I don't think that highly of RPI, most power ratings also rate the two conferences neck and neck.  So I say they are equal AT LEAST.  Big East NOT better by any significant measure.   The B10 was down a little this year, and recently, I do agree. And Villanova was head and shoulders better in power rating than any of the other teams.  THAT really impacted the average of the two conferences.   You made the claim they were BETTER, I say EQUAL.

2. My main point is that the Big 10 has AT LEAST as good or better teams top to bottom, and I think actually more good teams in the top 6 or 8 teams in the conference.  That includes Villanova.  So if you took the top 2 the Big East would be better last year, or even the top 4 or 5 maybe, the Big East last year may have been marginally better.   

3. Your comparison this year slightly overstates the case for the Big East because of Nova.   I completely agree that any comparison of leagues brings in the bottom feeders.  But look at the bottom 4 in the Big East.  The B10, even with Rutgers compares very well. 

The argument about tradition is hard to quantify of course:

1. As far as tradition, both have some storied programs.

2. You are right that the long history of the B10 makes variation in strength of the top programs something that is a reality.  IU has a long record as a top national program.   UM, MSU, tOSU, sure have a great record since 60's.  lllinois has been in doldrums, but also been at the top.  UW is more recently a power, for example.  Adding Penn State, Nebraska, Rutgers certainly hasn't helped the conference strength in basketball. 

3. You need to be careful on that argument though.  If you want to talk variation over time look at the Big East.  Schools like St Johns, Depaul, Georgetown were bottom feeders last year, once they were giants!  The Big East has added a lot of strength recently it is true.  Schools they added like X, Butler and Creighton boosted them last year, but those schools have not had the tradition, surely none are the traditional Eastern powers.  On grounds of tradition i have great respect and tradition for East coast basketball, though.

This is definitely one of those hot stove league arguments better made with beer in hand than a calculator.

Desmond Bane player/coach

Cmon man, he can do all that AND play/coach Butler.