Breaking Down the Big East Conference Online

Each week we will break down a different conference across the D-1 landscape, giving you a look into how they are connecting with fans (and recruits) across their website and social media. Along the way, we'll elevate a few things in each conference that are best-in-class: what we can learn from the schools that make up each conference.

As a reminder, we break down leagues based on how squads finished last season. Thus far we've checked out the ACC, Horizon, and Big Ten.

Thanks to West Virginia's Final Four appearance last season, we'll turn our attention to the Big East linked here and shown below.

You can stay plugged into this journey via this blog, via the Digital Hoops Blast Facebook page (linkedhere) or on Twitter -- I'm @pawlow34.

Today, we'll start with a look into the Big East Conference Official Website. What's to love about the Big East?

Championships are elevated. As you can see here, the Big East elevates championships to an incredibly high level. No matter the sport, you can come in and check videos from the title game, and go through that journey. The video player is spectacular, and the overall premium feel is exactly what you'd want for your pinnacle moment. Add in the sweet tout at the bottom of this image (elevating quotes in a way we just haven't seen), plus the fact that this now goes back 6 years and I get giddy.

How could this be better? As you'll see in the next two images, the photos and video content that launches from this experience just don't live up to the (or at least my) expectations. Click on photography and it takes you here, to the Big East photo store? I get it that the site has the opportunity to generate revenue. But putting this front and center, rather than taking us to a powerful photo gallery on Flickr or Facebook is a big miss. We can't share (or really easily browse) let alone fall in love with these images. Help.

Similar issue on the video front. We are dropped off here, at the Big East TV home page. But I was hoping to find a collection of videos from the Big East Hoops Tourney. Sigh. Missed opportunity to be great! I still believe we can get there though, as this foundation is impeccable.


Next, hit the Big East Men's Basketball home, here, and check out this infrastructure. The Big East elevates 4 things to premium level: Schedules, Statistics, Weekly Release, and Media Guide. I am a fan of this style, as they are helping funnel our attention. But what I really love is the potential behind door #3.

Clicking in, you'll see an example. For now, it's a simple PDF of news and notes from the league. And one that hasn't updated in the summer. But the potential is here, as the league found a way to put together a weekly release and elevate it so we notice.

How could this be better? I think it's time this became a Blog. Once/week it would be updated with the same information, but in a conversational style. Then the same blog could be subscribed to, shared, and favorited in ways a PDF could only dream.

Finally, the bottom of the Men's Basketball page unveils this gem: The Big East Conference Elevates student-athlete success. The image below shows this off well... The conference elevates the player and rookie of the year right off the home page. Nice - it subtly releases news owned here, by the Big East, and it does it in a way that ties the conference to success. Solid.

How could this be better? Give us two things. 1) highlights and bio on each of the winners, rather than just a photo. And 2) extend this with a Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year Watch during the season. Elevate those players who are positioning themselves in a way to have a good shot. And let fans get involved in the process!

What's up next? Big East week continues tomorrow. We will take a peak at how the Big East is leveraging social media. Then, we'll wrap the week up with 3 peaks into things I found fantastic across the 16-team Big East Conference landscape. Narrowing this to 3 things is going to be interesting.

Don't forget, you can follow along via the Digital Hoops Blast Facebook page (linked here) or on Twitter -- I'm @pawlow34.