If we're talking about current FBS schools that in this hypothetical scenario want to join the Big East, I'd trust Duke & Wake Forest a lot more than Syracuse/Pitt/Boston College
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All duly noted . But , we all know the BE caved quicker than a Circus folding tent and let UCONN back in a few years ago .
All about $$$$ , little else .
They may have tried but uconn didn’t leave the BE. The BE left them
FWIW an Oklahoma St fan site is claiming Colorado and UConn will be the most likely to join. Here's a quote from a staff member in the comments:
No Gonzaga. No Memphis because those aren't happening. Arizona State not willing to go. Utah also staying put. Arizona on the fence but our sources insist Colorado and UConn are most likely.
pokesreport.com
If true (still take with a grain of salt like all other rumors), this would likely happen in a few weeks depending on the Pac 12 TV negotiations.
The good news is: 1. UConn + a bunch of schools in the middle of nowhere would NOT be a threat to the Big East Tournament at MSG. Would be better UConn going there than the ACC-lite when Clemson/FSU/UNC/etc. leave. 2. Gonzaga not being a target would mean the Big East can and should immediately extend an invite. Offset the bad news, keep the round robin 11 teams, etc. Big East will be fine, and we'll represent NYC well while UConn will lose their identity by playing a bunch of schools nobody here cares about.
No Gonzaga. No Memphis because those aren't happening. Arizona State not willing to go. Utah also staying put. Arizona on the fence but our sources insist Colorado and UConn are most likely.
What Every College Sports Fan Wants for the 4th of July - More Realignment
July 1 looked like this summer's crescendo for college conference realignment, but don't close the book just yet.
If true (still take with a grain of salt like all other rumors), this would likely happen in a few weeks depending on the Pac 12 TV negotiations.
The good news is: 1. UConn + a bunch of schools in the middle of nowhere would NOT be a threat to the Big East Tournament at MSG. Would be better UConn going there than the ACC-lite when Clemson/FSU/UNC/etc. leave. 2. Gonzaga not being a target would mean the Big East can and should immediately extend an invite. Offset the bad news, keep the round robin 11 teams, etc. Big East will be fine, and we'll represent NYC well while UConn will lose their identity by playing a bunch of schools nobody here cares about.
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Give me Gonzaga (if the Big 12 rumors are true and Colorado/UConn are selected) and Wake Forest if they get left out of conference realignment. The rest I'm iffy on, we can get them anytime because they aren't that valuable or desired by any Power conference. Have them prove something in the Tournament first like Gonzaga consistently does, a fluke run from 10-15 years ago isn't enough.
And as things progress, chance you can keep the RR with 22 game conference schedule. Teams seemingly want more and more conference games. I’m reaching maybe, but damn I love the round robin.
Agreed. Larger conferences and more conference games is definitely the trend, but we don't want to add just to add. If we add a bunch of A10 teams then we'll become the A10+. That should only be done as a last resort if absolutely necessary, such as every other Power conference expanding to 20+ teams or something.
Personally if I were Val I'd call up Gonzaga right now and have them be team #12 starting in 2024-25. Don't overthink this, they're a really, really good team and a similar university (private with no football). We'd lose the RR but could keep the 22 game conference schedule, and with UConn always a threat to leave we would simply revert back to 11 team RR like we have now rather than 10 / 20 game conference schedule. In conference realignment you have to be proactive, otherwise you'll get left behind.
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I’m with you but the problem is the other sports with the travel involved unless you are talking basketball only. Not insurmountable, but nonetheless, an issue for all parties.
If something makes no cents to you--FOLLOW THE DOLLARS and
that will explain it.
What do you think the GOLDEN RULE refers to.
It's a shame the basketball-only schools out west are so mediocre, otherwise Gonzaga would've been in the Big East years ago. Saint Mary's has fewer students than anyone in the Big East (3,900) and a tiny arena (3,500... these number scream mid-major). San Fran hasn't been a great (or even decent) program since the 70's. I'm not sure if the Big East would offer a travel partner, but personally I think Gonzaga would be worth it.
That said, even if a travel partner isn't offered I still think Gonzaga would come by themselves because the $8-10 million they'd be paid for the next TV contract would be far, far higher than what they're currently receiving. Plus more Tournament credits, better attendance, far better competition, Big East Tournament, better TV exposure, etc. They'd jump at the opportunity because they wouldn't want to be left behind after Few leaves.
That said, even if a travel partner isn't offered I still think Gonzaga would come by themselves because the $8-10 million they'd be paid for the next TV contract would be far, far higher than what they're currently receiving. Plus more Tournament credits, better attendance, far better competition, Big East Tournament, better TV exposure, etc. They'd jump at the opportunity because they wouldn't want to be left behind after Few leaves.
Hey, don't sleep on the Dons! They've had a really nice stretch the last six years or so, including a tourney bid. I didn't realize they gave themselves the death penalty in the 80s, that is good context as to how that program took quite the tailspin. But maybe they're committed to a SMU-like comeback. They would honestly fit the Big East perfectly: Jesuit, good academics, adds another big market, basketball-only and rich basketball history.
L J S A
Well-known member
For what it's worth, that tiny arena is super loud. And while not super convenient for their fans, I wonder if they could play big games in Oracle. It's just sitting there basketball-free since the Warriors left.
USF could theoretically do the same when the Warriors don't have a game.
I guess it mostly comes down to whether you want Dayton, St. Louis, Davidson, et al. or want to go far west.
Or wait until major programs are homeless in next round of expansion.
If the Big East wanted Gonzaga, St. Mary's, and USF, you could move Xavier to the eastern division and have two seven-team divisions.
I suspect Pac-12 isn't prepared to totally die though and will try to stay relevant in basketball at the very least.
Interesting, I didn't realize that about the death penalty. Still though, they've been REALLY bad for 40 years now. 2 bids in 40 years. Haven't won a Tournament game since the 70s. Compare that to any of the recent Big East additions. Butler was coming off of back to back National Championship appearances. Xavier made the Tournament nearly every year since the early 80s (they've made it 28 times since 1983 while San Fran made it twice). Creighton didn't have as strong a history but made the Tournament more often than not, had the best player in the country, and were amongst the best in attendance nationally. UConn is the best college basketball program of the 21st century (tough to admit but it's true).
I'm with you that I'd still invite them if it were the only way to get Gonzaga to join, but their resume frankly is embarrassing by Big East standards. Not even close to ours during the down decades of both programs, which is saying a lot.
One thing to keep in mind with hoping the leftover ACC schools come here is that there is the possibility of the ACC-PAC 12 merging. This would honestly make a ton of sense since those schools have a similar academic profile to each other compared to the Big 12 schools. Hell, maybe they can ultimately poach a few schools from the Big 12.
If Davidson can prove itself post-McKillop, that is a school I’d be interested in
If Davidson can prove itself post-McKillop, that is a school I’d be interested in
With the anticipated departure of Yukon, the Big East should investigate adding 4 schools to create a west coast discussion.
A west coast division would not only provide an additional inventory of games to be televised but would allow broadcast of 3 games each weekday night at 5:45 pm, 8 pm and 10:15 pm. In all time zones.
The divisions could look something like this:
East division
StJ
Providence
Seton Hall
Villanova
DePaul
Xavier
Georgetown
West division
Gonzaga
StMary’s
San Francisco
UNLV or USanDiego, Dayton or some other school
Marquette
Butler
Creighton
(Yes, I know that DePaul is further west than Butler)
A west coast division would not only provide an additional inventory of games to be televised but would allow broadcast of 3 games each weekday night at 5:45 pm, 8 pm and 10:15 pm. In all time zones.
The divisions could look something like this:
East division
StJ
Providence
Seton Hall
Villanova
DePaul
Xavier
Georgetown
West division
Gonzaga
StMary’s
San Francisco
UNLV or USanDiego, Dayton or some other school
Marquette
Butler
Creighton
(Yes, I know that DePaul is further west than Butler)
There's a couple issues with the western schools:
1. Gonzaga isn't actually close to any of those schools. The distance from Gonzaga to Saint Mary's for instance is 866 miles. Gonzaga to San Fran is 878 miles. Gonzaga to UNLV is 1,044 miles. Would these actually qualify as a travel partners? These distances would be similar to St. John's to GEORGIA.
2. All of these schools outside of Gonzaga and possibly SDSU (football school currently negotiating with the Pac/Big 12) have major issues even without factoring in the distance.
Try for Gonzaga but only allow for one partner max. Otherwise, I'd rather just wait to see if a school like Wake Forest or Boston College becomes available (especially with their locations). Forget Davidson, I've lived in Charlotte and Raleigh and they aren't even relevant in their own state. Below 2K students, which is less than half of the smallest Big East school. I'm pretty confident at least one of the ACC schools will drop football or deemphasize it after the ACC dissolves.
Here is a list of schools that have been discussed that would raise the profile of the Big East.
1. Gonzaga
2. There is no 2 being discussed
If it's not broke don't worry about how to fix it. The conference is thriving, unless someone other than UCONN (who always had a foot outside the door) wants to leave there is no action item here.
1. Gonzaga
2. There is no 2 being discussed
If it's not broke don't worry about how to fix it. The conference is thriving, unless someone other than UCONN (who always had a foot outside the door) wants to leave there is no action item here.
MarkRedman
Well-known member
The only proposed school in that list that moves the needle for me is Gonzaga
I would prefer to wait and see what happens to the ACC
Their TV contract runs through something like 2036 and pays peanuts compared to the Big Ten
A bunch of those schools are seeking to leave and are looking for possible loopholes to do so
I'd be much more interested in Notre Dame and some of those schools before the ones listed here
Of course, it would raise issues with football which may or may not be able to be worked out
Just a thought.......
PS: Can't wait to see Yukon leave. Hope we're not stupid enough to take them back in the future when they come calling again!!
I am pretty confident none of the ACC schools are going to de-promote their football to D1-AA or go independent. I think it's a hopeless endeavor to hope for that.
Once the ACC schools we think are going to leave (UNC, UVA, VA Tech, NC State, Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame), I am 99% confident the departments leftover would much rather team up with: UC-Berkeley, Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Washington State, Colorado, Stanford, Oregon and Washington (assuming those three are still around for now) then get rid of football altogether and join private schools with almost no research. Duke will value being in a major conference for academic affiliation/research partnering/tv publicity. The only school that would make half-sense is Wake Forest, but I'm sure they'll follow Duke where ever they go, and they're actually a half-decent program anyway. Boston College/Pitt/Syracuse are proud of their football tradition, they aren't scrapping it.
And if you're Cincy, Kansas, Iowa State, Baylor, wouldn't you rather be in that conference vs. the Big 12? I can see ESPN trying to salvage their ACC network investment by going for this.
Editing to add this tweet, a great follow about college realignment in general. I did not see the tweet before writing but he's spoken about it before:
Once the ACC schools we think are going to leave (UNC, UVA, VA Tech, NC State, Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame), I am 99% confident the departments leftover would much rather team up with: UC-Berkeley, Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Washington State, Colorado, Stanford, Oregon and Washington (assuming those three are still around for now) then get rid of football altogether and join private schools with almost no research. Duke will value being in a major conference for academic affiliation/research partnering/tv publicity. The only school that would make half-sense is Wake Forest, but I'm sure they'll follow Duke where ever they go, and they're actually a half-decent program anyway. Boston College/Pitt/Syracuse are proud of their football tradition, they aren't scrapping it.
And if you're Cincy, Kansas, Iowa State, Baylor, wouldn't you rather be in that conference vs. the Big 12? I can see ESPN trying to salvage their ACC network investment by going for this.
Editing to add this tweet, a great follow about college realignment in general. I did not see the tweet before writing but he's spoken about it before: