The Big 5 in Philadelphia traditionally was a round robin in which each team played every other team. That was back when most conferences had 7 or 8 basketball teams. In recent years there have been fewer Big 5 games each season.

Now we have larger conferences playing 18-20 conference games per season. In the Bay Area, I doubt any MBB team wants to play 4 or more local non-conference opponents every season. Two seems like the right number. If the Bears play USF and/or SMC every year, that would be the way to go IMO.

I very much like the idea. Nothing but good comes from playing a Gonzaga or getting ourselves into high profile events/games (MGS/NYC, anyone?). Every game doesn't have to be that way but a couple of them would really go a long way toward changing the perception of the program and launching a renewed recruiting effort.

First, change the title of the hijacked thread to Cable Car Classic 3.0

Second: Eight teams, 3 days. Most games on campus sites.

Third: Core is 6 bay area D1 teams (Cal, LSJU, SJS, SMU, SCU, USF) plus 2 visitors. One of them should be CCSF until they are no longer relevant. The other can rotate among NorCal teams mentioned above or be just about anyone for that matter (Gonzaga, with a promise they don't play another WCC team in round 1).

Fourth 3 day tourney with winners and losers brackets. All teams get 3 games. Most games are hosted on campus.. First round could be Cal vs St Mary's, San Jose St vs Santa Clara, Stanfurd vs Visitor, USF vs CCSF.

Fifth. Get the bay area into it. Play all four games, each round, at once. Involve communities and as many local HS, AAU, CYO teams as possible. As in all of them get to attend for free if they do so as a team. Local businesses get publicity as trade for providing food, Tshirts, whatever. Schedule it so that Warriors are off that night, but have players show up at different venues to show support. So much could be done to make college basketball a community building event.

For those that may not remember, all of these things used to happen.

BeachedBear said:

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First, change the title of the hijacked thread to Cable Car Classic 3.0

Second: Eight teams, 3 days. Most games on campus sites.

Third: Core is 6 bay area D1 teams (Cal, LSJU, SJS, SMU, SCU, USF) plus 2 visitors. One of them should be CCSF until they are no longer relevant. The other can rotate among NorCal teams mentioned above or be just about anyone for that matter (Gonzaga, with a promise they don't play another WCC team in round 1).

Fourth 3 day tourney with winners and losers brackets. All teams get 3 games. Most games are hosted on campus.. First round could be Cal vs St Mary's, San Jose St vs Santa Clara, Stanfurd vs Visitor, USF vs CCSF.

Fifth. Get the bay area into it. Play all four games, each round, at once. Involve communities and as many local HS, AAU, CYO teams as possible. As in all of them get to attend for free if they do so as a team. Local businesses get publicity as trade for providing food, Tshirts, whatever. Schedule it so that Warriors are off that night, but have players show up at different venues to show support. So much could be done to make college basketball a community building event.

For those that may not remember, all of these things used to happen.

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The problem I see is all the conference games. SCU, SMC, and USF are all in a conference. Cal and Stanford are in a conference. I am not sure you get a lot of excitement for games that already happen locally twice a year.

Also, did you say CCSF? Are we even allowed to play a JUCO?

GMP said:

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BeachedBear said:

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First, change the title of the hijacked thread to Cable Car Classic 3.0

Second: Eight teams, 3 days. Most games on campus sites.

Third: Core is 6 bay area D1 teams (Cal, LSJU, SJS, SMU, SCU, USF) plus 2 visitors. One of them should be CCSF until they are no longer relevant. The other can rotate among NorCal teams mentioned above or be just about anyone for that matter (Gonzaga, with a promise they don't play another WCC team in round 1).

Fourth 3 day tourney with winners and losers brackets. All teams get 3 games. Most games are hosted on campus.. First round could be Cal vs St Mary's, San Jose St vs Santa Clara, Stanfurd vs Visitor, USF vs CCSF.

Fifth. Get the bay area into it. Play all four games, each round, at once. Involve communities and as many local HS, AAU, CYO teams as possible. As in all of them get to attend for free if they do so as a team. Local businesses get publicity as trade for providing food, Tshirts, whatever. Schedule it so that Warriors are off that night, but have players show up at different venues to show support. So much could be done to make college basketball a community building event.

For those that may not remember, all of these things used to happen.

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The problem I see is all the conference games. SCU, SMC, and USF are all in a conference. Cal and Stanford are in a conference. I am not sure you get a lot of excitement for games that already happen locally twice a year.

Also, did you say CCSF? Are we even allowed to play a JUCO?

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Yes. CCSF. A great Juco program run by a formal Cal player (who is a dynamic coach). Think of it like the Maui Classic, where Chaminade 'hosts' and gets to beat a team like Cal once in awhile.(Wed, Nov 22, 2017). If there is a non JUCO stipulation, then find a way around it (call it an exhibition game). But if that proves problematic, then invite another visiting program.

Just don't keep coming up with reasons not to something great!

But seriously, the issues you mention are probably why this fell apart in the first place. Because it used to happen annually. And it was great.

BeachedBear said:

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KoreAmBear said:

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BearSD said:

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A game against Saint Mary's at Chase Center would be nice.

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We should have that area tournament that Philly does: Cal, Furd, USF, St. Mary's, UC Davis, Santa Clara, Pacific. Maybe extend to Fresno to make it 8?

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We could call it the Cable Car Classic

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better call it Beastmode classic in oaktown

Oakbear said:

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BeachedBear said:

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KoreAmBear said:

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BearSD said:

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A game against Saint Mary's at Chase Center would be nice.

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We should have that area tournament that Philly does: Cal, Furd, USF, St. Mary's, UC Davis, Santa Clara, Pacific. Maybe extend to Fresno to make it 8?

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We could call it the Cable Car Classic

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better call it Beastmode classic in oaktown

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We have a winner!

BeachedBear said:

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First, change the title of the hijacked thread to Cable Car Classic 3.0

Second: Eight teams, 3 days. Most games on campus sites.

Third: Core is 6 bay area D1 teams (Cal, LSJU, SJS, SMU, SCU, USF) plus 2 visitors. One of them should be CCSF until they are no longer relevant. The other can rotate among NorCal teams mentioned above or be just about anyone for that matter (Gonzaga, with a promise they don't play another WCC team in round 1).

Fourth 3 day tourney with winners and losers brackets. All teams get 3 games. Most games are hosted on campus.. First round could be Cal vs St Mary's, San Jose St vs Santa Clara, Stanfurd vs Visitor, USF vs CCSF.

Fifth. Get the bay area into it. Play all four games, each round, at once. Involve communities and as many local HS, AAU, CYO teams as possible. As in all of them get to attend for free if they do so as a team. Local businesses get publicity as trade for providing food, Tshirts, whatever. Schedule it so that Warriors are off that night, but have players show up at different venues to show support. So much could be done to make college basketball a community building event.

For those that may not remember, all of these things used to happen.

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Maybe do two mini tournaments. Privates and Publics

Cal
SJSU
UC Davis
Sac State

Stanford
SMC
SCU
USF

Have a final game if the two bracket winners are not in the same conference. If they are, just declare two winners?

The whole Bay Area tourney things just seems like a massive yawn to me. Hard pass.

According to this list tracking preseason tournaments we might have missed the boat already in participating in one for next season, and are the only PAC 12 school not in one. Thanks Jim Knowlton!
https://collegehoopstoday.com/index.php/rothstein-files/list-of-early-season-tournaments-for-the-2023-24-season/