Around the Big East

[dk423]

As we all know football drives these decisions, but this still could work by creating more value for basketball.

Yeah, it'd be like 30 teams, but right now it's really hard to compete for national attention at 11 teams when the other conferences have 20+. Big 10 and SEC this year could earm 3-4X as many bids as we do. So, from the Big East's perspective, you'd much rather grow by expanding with proven Power schools than A10 schools.

How could this create more value for the ACC? First you'd have renewed regional rivalries. To maximize the TV and ticket value have St. John's, UConn, Georgetown, and Villanova play old BE schools like Syracuse, Louisville, and Pittsburgh 2X per year, and 1X or 0X per year against southern/western teams like SMU or Wake Forest. Also, the best BE teams against the elite southern basketball schools such as Duke and UNC would also be must see TV. Then of course you'd have the massive MSG Tournament, which arguably would be the biggest in all of college basketball. Much better than any arena the ACC currently hosts theirs at.

I don't think it'll happen, but I do hope both the Big East and ACC consider this. It'd absolutely be a way for the ACC to remain elite in college basketball at least, while not needing to dilute their football with crappy programs (besides UConn). Like it or not college athletics have changed and anyone not in the Big Ten or SEC needs to start banding together in order to compete at the highest level.

I'd be shocked if it happens and I'm not sure how much more a valuation of a basketball deal would be, where splitting revenue 25+ ways make sense. But there is no natural place for expansion for the Big East or ACC, and this can also stymie a potential Big 12 expansion -- even if some of the big brands in the ACC leave.

Personally, I'd love to see an Eastern division of UCONN/Boston College/Syracuse/Providence/St. John's/Seton Hall/Villanova/Georgetown. It's almost as if they're natural rivals or something.

 

[RedStormNC]

I like it today especially as still geographically sensible, but concern is some of the existing ACC schools will likely go into one of the big 3 football conferences. Still would be stronger basketball than BE currently but might not be what we think over time.

Part of me likes idea of basketball only schools in the Big 3 conf but know the rev sharing would be small and raise questions.

Interesting how history repeats itself.

 

[paultzman]

 

[paultzman]

Btw it astounds me why Tarris Reed does not get more minutes for UConn considering how anemic Samson’s rebounding is. Perhaps Hurley feels Samson is better defensively or practices harder, but imo Reed who does average 20 minutes playing time deserves additional time at Samson’s expense.