anXUfan

I'd much prefer that it's the A10 doing the poaching.

BmoreX

Most truthful post in this whole thread.

What ESPN wants, ESPN gets.

owlfan2272

The NCAA credits are the big deal and what would happen is it goes to the teams who earned them instead of a split. 3 of the programs earned 0 so they forfeit a couple million a year. The only 2 teams that actually benefit in credits is Marquette and Villanova. So in 4 of the 7 catholic schools they lose credit money on it. If they had been able to vote to close the league then the credits would have been easier to deal with so Temple's vote is a pretty important one. Factor that in with the likelihood that a football/basketball combo even if it sucks will likely be at or better money than a very good basketball only and financially it is not in their best interest. Now will the money be such a big deal that it warrants not going to a better basketball only league? Won't know until the TV contract.

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DukesDan

ESPN is likely unhappy their Big East Basketball goliath is gone and will be looking to place their fortune and power behind a new basketball conference to make money from December to March when college football is mostly over. They are the ones who will make the real cash. A bigger conference is likely better in their mind because if offers a larger pool games to decide to air. If some teams aren't doing well they just don't air them as much. If the good basketball only schools are spread across multiple conferences it will cost them more to air them. Not sure that makes sense but maybe there is some truth to it.

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owlfan2272

Some have said that the Big East rejected ESPN's offer and since ESPN has been hell bent on destroying the Big East to favor themselves. Hard to pick between what's real or a conspiracy theory. Catholic schools leaving a conference who doesn't want a deal with ESPN and forming a new league or joining the A-10 both of which would probably sign a deal with ESPN is obviously a good thing for them. If ESPN really wants this to happen though they are going to have to overspend and give the new A-10 or the new basketball league more money than the market should yield in order to convince them to leave. If they do that then it will be clear that ESPN is more than just a sports news network.

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ace93

Given that it means about 2 less conference games, those teams would mostly just replace the patsies from their current OOC schedules. Fordham, for instance, has recently been on Villanova, Georgetown and St. John's schedules. (somewhat tongue in cheek comment)

I do hear what you are saying though.

Deleo77

I think a Catholic Division could still exist within this new mega-conference, but just for men's and women's basketball. This way teams in the same markets like Villanova/St. Joe's won't play each other on a regular basis when it comes to basketball. But they will still play each other in all other sports. This way the B.E. schools can have their cake and eat it too, because they can save on travel costs and not have to fly non-generating sports around the country. For basketball only the divisions would be:

Atlantic Division
1. Butler
2. VCU
3. Richmond
4. GW
5. Duquesne
6. St. Joes
7. LaSalle
8. Fordham
9. Bonnies
10. UMass
11. URI

Catholic Division
12. Dayton
13. X
14. SLU
15. Marquette
16. DePaul
17. Georgetown
18. Providence
19. Seton Hall
20. St. John’s
21. Villanova
22. Creighton

Each team would play 12 regular season games within their division and 4 games against teams in the other division. The top 6 teams from each division make the conference tournament. If UMass leaves, replace them with Mason. For non-basketball sports where bus trips are cheaper than plane rides, just create separate regional divisions of some kind, so teams can save money and stay closer to home.

DukesDan

ESPN would essentially be investing in the product if they over paid for the first TV deal. They could say the next deal could only go up a certain percent or not at all etc.

Umm you have several catholic teams in the atlantic division so that doens't work out right.

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Duquesne Dukes: 2012 A10 tournament qualifier!!

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#15 Cooper #11 Green #10 Nixon #12 Ricketts #24 Somerset

owlfan2272

ESPN really is the key behind the scenes to all of this. If they are doing what some have suggested they are doing then maybe they will stop at nothing until this new league is formed. I guess I just hope that they aren't.

__________________
Temple Owls have won a lot.

DukesDan

How did the Mayans know about conference realignment?!

__________________
Duquesne Dukes: 2012 A10 tournament qualifier!!

2012-2013 Locks of the Day TBA
2011-2012 Locks of the Day NIT participant 29-26-0...... .527
2010-2011 Locks of the Day Regular Season Champion 31-20-4 ..... .600

#15 Cooper #11 Green #10 Nixon #12 Ricketts #24 Somerset

jpschmack

#1 - Dissolving the league would be a nuclear option that won't happen. They'd be walking away from every asset they have aside from their individual names. No Big East name, no MSG contract. They need to amicably settle and split.

#2 - Andy Katz ‏@ESPNAndyKatz
Last on this: Multiple bids would come from a 10-12 league that includes Gtown, MQ, 'Nova, StJ and possible top A-10 schools.

"Multiple" as if we're the freaking MVC or CAA. The A-10 averages THREE NOW. God, I hate ESPN. I swear if the Big East Seven split, added only St. Bona and followed my scheduling model, I could get THAT eight-team league four bids a season.

#3 - Making any kind of statements team-by-team RPI arguments when it comes to conference realignment is stupid. The number one factor in RPI is "how did your conference do?"

#4 - A 21-team A-10 isn't happening.

A 21-team A10 has only two more markets than a new 12 or 14-team conference would have. Those two markets are Olean, NY and Amherst, MA. Not enough to warrant seven more shares when splitting the revenue.

The Big East Seven have no reason to include Fordham, Saint Joseph's, LaSalle, George Washington, Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure (my alma mater and the A10 champs). The value of UMass, Duquesnse, Richmond/VCU and even Dayton is up for debate.

#5 - If ESPN gets involved, lots of us are more screwed than now.

anXUfan

I think it will take either or both of Connecticut or Cincinnati leaving before July 1st to really cause action by the Big East Catholics. That would give them a 2/3 majority.

owlfan2272

Agree with all of your points JP

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Temple Owls have won a lot.

letsgogdub

Which league would Xavier rather be in, A21 or BE12 ?

DukesDan

Pittsburgh would be an added market.

__________________
Duquesne Dukes: 2012 A10 tournament qualifier!!

2012-2013 Locks of the Day TBA
2011-2012 Locks of the Day NIT participant 29-26-0...... .527
2010-2011 Locks of the Day Regular Season Champion 31-20-4 ..... .600

#15 Cooper #11 Green #10 Nixon #12 Ricketts #24 Somerset