Why Not 14?

[GoldenWarrior11]

I've been on the record for years now, but it is inevitable that both Dayton and Saint Louis get invited and join the Big East. Athletics aside, they are institutional peers to a majority of our schools. They are within our footprint, have a Catholic affiliation and have strong academics. Athletic-wise, both bring respective strengths to the conference. Dayton has one of the best fan bases in the country, and regularly challenge for tournament berths. The renovations to their arena is a huge plus too. SLU brings an incredibly strong media and recruiting market, along with a rising basketball program under Travis Ford. Had Rick Majerus not sadly passed away, I think they are in already.

Getting both in advance of the next contract, either next offseason or in a few years, brings extra competitive conference games, more content to Fox, and allows us to have more tournament games at MSG.

At the minimum, looking at how Butler, Creighton and Xavier have utilized and leveraged the Big East brand, they could add depth to the middle of the league.

[GoldenWarrior11]

I've noticed that fans of the 5 original BE schools are much more comfortable with expansion than the 5 western schools are. This is because expansion equals divisional play, and the end of the round robin. The 5 OG schools are comfortable being in a division that contains old familiar faces, and is basically the original BE, minus a few football schools. The western division however, would become the MCC reborn, which has to be a nightmare scenario for those schools. With the exception of CU, all of those schools, including potential additions Dayton, and St. Louis, were once conference mates in the MCC.

Conferences do not go to divisions in basketball. That's a football thing.

[NJRedman]

I've noticed that fans of the 5 original BE schools are much more comfortable with expansion than the 5 western schools are. This is because expansion equals divisional play, and the end of the round robin. The 5 OG schools are comfortable being in a division that contains old familiar faces, and is basically the original BE, minus a few football schools. The western division however, would become the MCC reborn, which has to be a nightmare scenario for those schools. With the exception of CU, all of those schools, including potential additions Dayton, and St. Louis, were once conference mates in the MCC.

There is no divisional play. No one but the OVC uses divisions and they wont be used here. Though I would be up for making sure the schools closer together play H&H every year.

[DudeAnon]

I am totally cool with the proposed 14. As much as the double round-robin is "fair" I actually think it can get boring. UConn, VCU, Dayton and SLU would bring some variety and different styles of play. Possibly preparing the conference better for March. Only SLU would I see as a possible danger add. They have never been that good.

[NJRedman]

The round robin is great but the other power conferences are going to 20 conference games and I expect almost all other conferences to move in that direction over the next few years. Now our agreement with the XII is a great fix but thats a short term solution. We shouldn't rely on a conference as unstable as the XII for our future scheduling. The day is coming when we expand and if we are to do so I feel it's better to do it sooner than later but I will go on record as wanting to add UConn once the AAC deal comes up dreadfully short compared to what those fans think they are going to get. So I think a 14 team conference with 7 teams in each region is the way to go for long term success.

And 14 still leaves us open to add BC and ND once they get tired of the ACC. hahahaha

[Piratefan]

There is no reason to go beyond 11 teams. This allows 20 game and true home and home. Uconn is the number one choice. If not Uconn then Dayton. Period.

[NJRedman]

There is no reason to go beyond 11 teams. This allows 20 game and true home and home. Uconn is the number one choice. If not Uconn then Dayton. Period.

Oh well if you say period then...shut it down boys!

Oh wait I guess there are reasons which I already pointed out like increased inventory to sell, investing in top mid-major programs which would add depth to the conference and increase our value over time. The old version of this conference was reactionary and had it's head in the sand while more forward thinking leagues pillaged us and tried to kill us off. Be the aggressor not the victim.

[Omaha1]

How many universities need to approve a team for admittance into the big east? My memory is that it’s 70% or maybe 75%. Which means seven or eight university presidents would need to approve a schools admission. Does anyone really think VCU would get that support? I don’t. SLU is the one school that I think has the best chance.

[billyjack]

To me, i say add Gonzaga as soon as possible as our 11th. I supported adding Gonzaga immediately following their 2017 Finals.

[NJRedman]

To me, i say add Gonzaga as soon as possible as our 11th. I supported adding Gonzaga immediately following their 2017 Finals.

And when Few retires and we have a team in Spokane that isn't that good what then?