I fully expect to beat Gtown. Xavier 14 hours later seems like the toughest obstacle. That game was specifically designed to put the 8/9 winner at a supreme disadvantage.
Actually, it was really designed to give the 1 seed, an extra two hours of rest going forward, against their semifinal opponent. That's also why the 2 seed plays the 7/10 winner at night, before the 3-6 game. If seedings hold, then the better team has the somewhat extra rest, and coaches do value that on back-to-backs.
It's not an issue in the NCAA Tournament, because the day off in between games cancels it out (at least, that's the perception, anyway).
I don't disagree that the one seed has advantages in the later rounds, but those advantages are slight compared to the second round. We're talking about one team coming off 4 full days of rest and another that gets back to their hotel at 12:30 AM and has to be back to MSG nine hours later. 14 hours from the end of one game to the start of another is very hard.
The Big East could have easily given the 8/9 winner the 7:00 or 9:30 game the second day for more rest, but they don't want the 8/9 seed ruining the #1 seed's NCAA tournament seeding.
Interestingly the #7 seed is far more protected. They get a 7:00 PM start the second day. That game could have easily been at 2:30. Why isn't it? Because the 7 seed is usually on the bubble. We got 7 teams in last year and this year Marquette is right on the bubble as the 7 seed.
In the unlikely event they beat Xavier, SJU will get 28 hours to recover before the third round.
They could change it but it has always been that way in the Quarterfinal round based on projections 1/8 at noon, 4/5 after. Night, 2/7 followed by 3/6. Same structure since the beginning of the BE. Just easier when they had 9 teams during the 80's and early 90's the only thing was the Thursday night 8/9 game getting the 1 seed at noon on Friday. Coming home from school and watching the QF's on Channel 9 was the best.
But, those teams (8/9) would play during the day, and turn around and play at the same time the following day. I, vividly recall during the late 90's and early 2000's. So, there wasn't any disadvantage.
The Big East should adopt how the ACC, Pac-12, and Big 10 does it (teams who play at 'noon will play at 'noon the following day and so forth). Or, even the Big 12. For example, the winner of our game tomorrow would play at 2:30pm in the Big 12 the following day. I could deal with that scenario versus the current alignment by the Big East for the 8/9 winner.
I understand it and I agree with it. You have to protect your top teams for the good of the league. It's just brutal when your team is in the 8/9 game and has to win the tournament to dance. That said, this is the path we could have asked for.
The conferences I mentioned above doesn't seem to so concerned about protecting their top teams. I understand the reason behind it, too. But, it's also about attempting to put a good product out on the floor, even if you're attempting to protect your top teams. Like I said, I'd even be fine with the Big 12 approach by the 7pm winner playing at 2:30pm the following day. But, I love how the ACC, Pac-12, and Big 10 does it. That's how the Big East use to do some years back.