Aceinthehole

The Big East Catholics still need UConn, Cincy, Temple, Memphis, and Houston for hoops. They aren't splitting up just yet.

Sure the hoops schools have to put up with a few all sports members they rather not have - Tulane, UCF, and USF. But the FB-only schools (Boise, SDSU, Navy, ECU) have no effect on BE hoops.

UConn is stuck waiting until the next round. They have no shot at the BigTen , and will only get the call to the ACC if they need 16 or to replace a departing memeber.

umainealum

I'm not sure about that...Butler, Dayton & Xavier would jump at the chance to be with DePaul & Marquette along with the rest of those Big East schools. In a New York Minute...

Then you have a league of:

Providence
St. John's
Seton Hall
Villanova
Georgetown

Marquette
DePaul
Xavier
Dayton
Butler

That's a pretty damn good league with wide TV appeal in several major media markets.

__________________
UMaine - the epitome of mediocrity

Proud supporter of an AMERICA EAST team that made a coaching change...

Aceinthehole

Sure, that's a good back-up plan. But the fact is the large public universities with National hoops prorgrams - UConn, Temple, Cincy, and Memphis - are still a whole better basketball schools to have than smaller privates Butler, Dayton, and Xavier. 'Nova, G-town, PC, etc. want to stay in a league with the those basketball schools because it is in their own best interest to do so. It keeps the Big Eats a "major" player in hoops.

Of course those three A-10 programs would jump at the chance to join the BE hoops programs, but they need the offer first. The BE hoops schools likely hold on to the bitter end, or until they lose 2 of the 4 "major hoop" programs. The Catholics will allow the BE to add as many FB-only schools as needed to keep UConn, et al on board with the Big East.

ccd494

I agree. But if UConn and Cincinnati go...

mainejeff

They really are........they've done nothing (except win hockey games and championships) since they joined the ACC. But they do bring a HUGE market so they are there to stay. I actually think that BC would be a better fit for the Big Ten.......I don't think that the Big Ten thinks so though. I've never felt like bC was truly an ACC school.......but I can see them being a Big Ten school.

BingGrad

How soon after we get to the four 16 team super-conferences do we get the first case of a conference approaching one of their long-term members and asking (paying) them to leave?

mainejeff

You might not be far off............but I think that UConn IS next in line for the ACC. Louisville to the ACC before UConn tells me that the ACC is making a pre-emptive strike to keep Lousiville from joining the Big 12. The ACC knows that UConn WILL be available at any time........the Husky athletic program really has NO options at this point. I think that the Big 12 now goes after Florida State and Clemson........in fact, I think that it is a DONE DEAL. Again.......the key is TEXAS. If Texas decides it wants to be the kingpin and spurn both the PAC-12 and Big Ten.........then the future of the Big 12 is a go. That means expansion will hit breakneck speed and FSU and Clemson will be the first adds.

After that........UConn and South Florida will be added to the ACC.

Then programs to keep an eye on will be:

Virginia Tech (SEC?)
NC State (SEC?)
Virginia (Big Ten?)
UNC (Big Ten?)
Georgia Tech (Big Ten/Big 12?)
Miami (Big 12?)
Cincinnati (Big 12?)
Memphis (Big 12?)

After that.........ACC might take drastic measures to add some remaining Big East basketball powers.

lbvterp

Supposedly the ACC preferred Louisville over UCONN because they have a stronger football program. No doubt ACC football needs help.

lbvterp

And UCONN will join the ACC when FSU and Clemson bolt.

lbvterp

Not since Defillipo (sp?) left. The new AD Bates could care less. UCONN will be in soon enough.

UVM Hoop Cat

UConn may very well get into the ACC soon, but the blocking of UConn by BC came from much higher up than Defillippo. He certainly didn't wield that type of pull- as evidence by where he's at today.

Don't mess with those Triple Eagles.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

UVM Hoop Cat

I don't follow college football, but Louisville has a good football program? Relative to what? They may very well have a decent football team, but I couldn't tell you a single moment of Louisville football.

I'd find it hard to believe ACC would pass up the extremely valuable northeast market that UConn would offer the ACC to add....the Louisville market (?).....simply because it's football program was better than UConns....had to be something else.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

UVM Hoop Cat

Question for those that say Big Ten would never invite UConn- why? Is there a BC/UConn situation that exists within Big Ten schools that would keep UConn out?

Big Ten just invited Maryland and Rutgers- why wouldn't they want to UConn? You get the northeast TV market, you get the basketball program, and they now offer D1 A football.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

BUmbles

Honestly surprised with Louisville. Not that it's a bad choice but to me, UConn just seemed like the most obvious one but I guess the whole "BC wants New England to itself" may be true. Gotta feel for UConn a bit haha.

Aceinthehole

The UConn Market is the "Hartford & New Haven DMA" the Fairfield County portion of the New York DMA doesn't carry much weight as UConn fans suggest.

IMO the big reason UConn was passed up for the ACC this go around (although they remain the next best addition right now) is this simple fact:

UConn sold 1,500 tickets to the Fiesta Bowl apperance
Louisville sold 15k to their Organge Bowl apperance

Look at home attendance numbers for both schools in hoops and football as well. I think L'ville does better.

I think it came down to the perception that UConn just doesn't have the football "culture" or support that L'ville has, period.