Xavier AD says expanding to 12 schools within 5 years

[falcon]

As an alum of SJU and a long-time follower of the old Big East, let me first say that I welcome this new conference and new members. If and when we expand to twelve, I hope SLU is added to a western division and either Richmond or Dayton becomes the sixth eastern school. Keep it private schools, with a non-football emphasis. As to the recent leadership at St. John's, the recently "retired" Fr. Harrington was an arrogant incompetent who will not be missed. Hopefully, the next president will be someone who will take his place as a constructive and humble leader for the school and the conference.

[DudeAnon]

I don't want to be a cynic, but "institutional fit" should be left out of the conversation altogether. If a school has a good basketball program and are willing to join, they are in. Simple.

[marquette]

I don't want to be a cynic, but "institutional fit" should be left out of the conversation altogether. If a school has a good basketball program and are willing to join, they are in. Simple.

The reason fans keep talking about it is because, while to us it seems trivial, the presidents have been at odds with presidents from large state universities for years, constantly butting heads. I don't think VCU would be a problem, but they may be unwilling to take a chance (catholic schools are generally conservative by nature).

[Bill Marsh]

I don't want to be a cynic, but "institutional fit" should be left out of the conversation altogether. If a school has a good basketball program and are willing to join, they are in. Simple.

The reason fans keep talking about it is because, while to us it seems trivial, the presidents have been at odds with presidents from large state universities for years, constantly butting heads. I don't think VCU would be a problem, but they may be unwilling to take a chance (catholic schools are generally conservative by nature).

Take a chance on what?

It was never an issue all those years with UConn in the conference. And didn't become an issue until they added football. Obviously that's not going to happen again. As long as the Catholic schools retain their super majority, it won't be contentious and there's nothing to worry about.

The choice seems clear to me:

1. Retain the regional footprint by adding St. Louis and VCU.
2. Remain exclusively private but think outside the box and add Gonzaga and BYU.

[TheHall]

I don't want to be a cynic, but "institutional fit" should be left out of the conversation altogether. If a school has a good basketball program and are willing to join, they are in. Simple.

The reason fans keep talking about it is because, while to us it seems trivial, the presidents have been at odds with presidents from large state universities for years, constantly butting heads. I don't think VCU would be a problem, but they may be unwilling to take a chance (catholic schools are generally conservative by nature).

Take a chance on what?

It was never an issue all those years with UConn in the conference. And didn't become an issue until they added football. Obviously that's not going to happen again. As long as the Catholic schools retain their super majority, it won't be contentious and there's nothing to worry about.

The choice seems clear to me:

1. Retain the regional footprint by adding St. Louis and VCU.
2. Remain exclusively private but think outside the box and add Gonzaga and BYU.

I fully agree about "institutional fit". I think it was part of the original script to help justify the split at he time from the "new" AAC schools. But that's over and it's all about pure expansion now. The same expansion that doesn't care about geography, tradition, student-athletes, fans, or institutional fit. I would only add that if you believe this how can you not consider an AAC school as outside the box candidates for #11 and/or #12. Even if they are long shots, doesn't the BE have to watch and look for an opportunity, given the shortage of "no-brainer" choices remaining.

[Bill Marsh]

The reason fans keep talking about it is because, while to us it seems trivial, the presidents have been at odds with presidents from large state universities for years, constantly butting heads. I don't think VCU would be a problem, but they may be unwilling to take a chance (catholic schools are generally conservative by nature).

Take a chance on what?

It was never an issue all those years with UConn in the conference. And didn't become an issue until they added football. Obviously that's not going to happen again. As long as the Catholic schools retain their super majority, it won't be contentious and there's nothing to worry about.

The choice seems clear to me:

1. Retain the regional footprint by adding St. Louis and VCU.
2. Remain exclusively private but think outside the box and add Gonzaga and BYU.

I fully agree about "institutional fit". I think it was part of the original script to help justify the split at he time from the "new" AAC schools. But that's over and it's all about pure expansion now. The same expansion that doesn't care about geography, tradition, student-athletes, fans, or institutional fit. I would only add that if you believe this how can you not consider an AAC school as outside the box candidates for #11 and/or #12. Even if they are long shots, doesn't the BE have to watch and look for an opportunity, given the shortage of "no-brainer" choices remaining.

Nothing is changing with the AAC schools any time soon. Anyone of them is a flight risk and that will not change any time soon. Temple and Cincinnati are total non-starters because they are in cities which already have a Big East team. Memphis is a non-starter because it's academics are awful and it has a history of scandal with 2 Final Fours having been vacated for violations. UConn is the only one that would be considered but they are not giving up on football any time soon. There is no one else from the AAC worth talking about.

The real no brainer choice here is Gonzaga and BYU. An announcement that they were being added would be reported in the media as a blockbuster.

[TheHall]

I fully agree about "institutional fit". I think it was part of the original script to help justify the split at he time from the "new" AAC schools. But that's over and it's all about pure expansion now. The same expansion that doesn't care about geography, tradition, student-athletes, fans, or institutional fit. I would only add that if you believe this how can you not consider an AAC school as outside the box candidates for #11 and/or #12. Even if they are long shots, doesn't the BE have to watch and look for an opportunity, given the shortage of "no-brainer" choices remaining.

Nothing is changing with the AAC schools any time soon. Anyone of them is a flight risk and that will not change any time soon. Temple and Cincinnati are total non-starters because they are in cities which already have a Big East team. Memphis is a non-starter because it's academics are awful and it has a history of scandal with 2 Final Fours having been vacated for violations. UConn is the only one that would be considered but they are not giving up on football any time soon. There is no one else from the AAC worth talking about.

The real no brainer choice here is Gonzaga and BYU. An announcement that they were being added would be reported in the media as a blockbuster.

Even though this would be bigger than anything currently on the table IMO, a blockbuster...not sure about that & I'm a diehard cbb fan. What I find curious is how many BE fans seem to think so many scenarios are "non-starters", when everything about how we got to this point would have been considered far fetched 5 years ago. Who would have thought when Uconn beat Butler for the ship that they would (u know the story)....Three years ago who would have thought X would be the lone BE school in Ohio? Creighton as #10? Butler from the Horizon to the A10 to the BE in 3 years, and what about charter members of the BE & ACC leaving for more $$. Mizzou, Utah, Cuse, Nebraska, ND, RU all breaking up historic rivalries. The list goes on.

I'm not falling for the "it can't happen" line anymore. If it's even remotely possible I want Ackerman & Fox trying to make it happen period...Even though it was a long shot the B1G kept pounding on ND to make a decision until they finally jumped in w/the ACC. This is BIG TIME college sports and mid-major status is a small but real threat that the BE can't aside because it may require tremendous effort to make happen.

[Bill Marsh]

I fully agree about "institutional fit". I think it was part of the original script to help justify the split at he time from the "new" AAC schools. But that's over and it's all about pure expansion now. The same expansion that doesn't care about geography, tradition, student-athletes, fans, or institutional fit. I would only add that if you believe this how can you not consider an AAC school as outside the box candidates for #11 and/or #12. Even if they are long shots, doesn't the BE have to watch and look for an opportunity, given the shortage of "no-brainer" choices remaining.

Nothing is changing with the AAC schools any time soon. Anyone of them is a flight risk and that will not change any time soon. Temple and Cincinnati are total non-starters because they are in cities which already have a Big East team. Memphis is a non-starter because it's academics are awful and it has a history of scandal with 2 Final Fours having been vacated for violations. UConn is the only one that would be considered but they are not giving up on football any time soon. There is no one else from the AAC worth talking about.

The real no brainer choice here is Gonzaga and BYU. An announcement that they were being added would be reported in the media as a blockbuster.

Even though this would be bigger than anything currently on the table IMO, a blockbuster...not sure about that & I'm a diehard cbb fan. What I find curious is how many BE fans seem to think so many scenarios are "non-starters", when everything about how we got to this point would have been considered far fetched 5 years ago. Who would have thought when Uconn beat Butler for the ship that they would (u know the story)....Three years ago who would have thought X would be the lone BE school in Ohio? Creighton as #10? Butler from the Horizon to the A10 to the BE in 3 years, and what about charter members of the BE & ACC leaving for more $$. Mizzou, Utah, Cuse, Nebraska, ND, RU all breaking up historic rivalries. The list goes on.

I'm not falling for the "it can't happen" line anymore. If it's even remotely possible I want Ackerman & Fox trying to make it happen period...Even though it was a long shot the B1G kept pounding on ND to make a decision until they finally jumped in w/the ACC. This is BIG TIME college sports and mid-major status is a small but real threat that the BE can't aside because it may require tremendous effort to make happen.

I agree that anything I possible in this environment. I think we're on the same page with that idea, which is why I'm proposing Gonzaga + BYU which I think is both unlikely and a stretch.

With regard to the AAC teams, do you really think there is any possibility that the BE will bring a 2nd team into either Cincinnati or Philly? While I agree that anything's possible,I think that's so remote as to be hardly worth mentioning. And Memphis? I'm not big on institutional fit, but that program of cheaters is so different academically from what the BE is all about that I can't see any scenario in which they go there. I can't see any way that Ackerman should pound away on these 3 programs.

UConn is a public Ivy, commands its market, is within the footprint, and has a prior history with the BE. I can see them. But living in CT, I can't see any scenario in which their is any interest on UConn's part unless the football program completely falls apart and that would take many years to reach such a low point.

OTOH, Gonzaga is a perfect fit in every way except geography and upgrades basketball. BYU has good enough basketball, has great attendance, and boosts TV rating. they are a decent fit. Most important is that they help make a Gonzaga move work. That's why I would focus there and would hope that Ackerman would pound on her own presidents to help them see that if there is a mandate to move to 12. Personally I think that 10 is fine and would prefer to see them stay there.

[Jet915]

I agree with Bill here, Gonzaga and BYU would be a big splash and further cement our "major" status. One or both of them will make the NCAA almost yearly and both have very good basketball. Both have national presence. Both are private. Biggest issue is travel of course and whether the eastern presidents can be convinced to travel west.

[TheHall]

While I do agree I would be very happy to see the Zags in the BE but BYU feels only ok...they are who they are which is OK kinda like ND was but I don't see much potential for growth. The BE has done a good job replacing the mid-level of the former conference, it's the upper echelon that may need a boost in a few years. IMO Richmond, Dayton, SLU, VCU & the Zags would have higher ceilings with BE/Fox support to maybe get to that level. Hopefully a few teams in the current BE will take that next step and 11 & 12 won't be SO crucial.

Anyway it will play out one way or the other, but I wouldn't assume that 2 teams in the same market is a deal-breaker given that all teams aren't in the league for the same reason. Memphis is in the AAC for bball, UCF for fb, Cincy for both...the BE may need a well established team for bball regardless of other concerns not just a team that will make the tourny routinely but never challenges for FF4's or ships...& it may be worth it for all parties in the future.