Imagine the Big East, Coast to Coast NYTimes Article

[adoraz]

If we had 2 of Dayton, Gonzaga, or VCU the last 3 years we would've been averaging 7 teams a year in the tournament. That alone is enough reason to expand. Syracuse is a perfect example- they got to the Final Four and were the last team in for the ACC. Having a bunch of teams helps. I'm not saying we should expand to 15, because there aren't enough good candidates to do that anyways, but if we could start sending 7-8 teams a year that'd really cement our place as one of the best conferences.

Nova is doing fantastic in the tournament, but next year may not go as well with some teams likely taking a big step back (Seton Hall if Whitehead leaves, Butler, Providence). It's possible that Nova and Xavier will be the only sure bets to make the tournament heading into the season. It would be great to have depth by adding teams that make the tournament every year.

You don't know that because Gonzaga, Dayton, and VCU would have had completely different schedules there is no way to predict what would have happened relative to the tournament. IMHO, sending 5-3 teams with 2-3 doing well (doing well equates to Sweet 16 or better) is what the 10 team BigEast can and should do. The true round robin is worth far more than diluting the league.

Gonzaga has made the tournament something like 16 years in a row now and has the #12 recruiting class next year. VCU and Dayton would transition just as easily as Xavier and Butler did. Of course nothing can ever be predicted but Gonzaga and VCU are pretty safe bets to make the tournament more often then not.

[gosports1]

I always chuckle when I see St. Mary's thrown into a discussion of expansion candidates. In addition to the fact that they are on the wrong sided The Bay and at a distance from any bridge,they don't draw flies. Judge for yourself. Here's their average home attendance this year, a season in which they've had a good team:

2612

To the extent that it reflects interest in this program, they are not a Big East caliber program. Heck, they'd have trouble attracting attention from the A10. Like most of the WCAC, they're more like the MAAC. Any interest in Iona or Manhattan?

it is amazing. I had a "discussion" on the other board about expansion candidate BU. Yes, that BU as in Boston University. First he claimed they would be good for the BE that somehow morphed into BU being a fit for the B1G!
he was actually calling me dense for not seeing that BU is a great choice. he was serious too it wasn't an april fools joke

As someone who loves in Boston I find this legit insulting. No one can be that clueless right?

I don't know if you read any of the thread. He said BU is in a large eastern city (boston isn't that large IM0) they have an enrollment of 30,000 and are in AAU. Perfect match for B1G they just need chance to develop in a better conference
The fact that BU averages less than 1000 per game (depending upon what source) didn't matter. That is because they were screwed when they were in the YANKEE CONFERENCE! and apparently every conference since then. the affiliation is holding them back. it has nothing to do with the lack of investment and interest in the program by students, alumni and the local residents.
it was both sad and comical

[Bill Marsh]

If we had 2 of Dayton, Gonzaga, or VCU the last 3 years we would've been averaging 7 teams a year in the tournament. That alone is enough reason to expand. Syracuse is a perfect example- they got to the Final Four and were the last team in for the ACC. Having a bunch of teams helps. I'm not saying we should expand to 15, because there aren't enough good candidates to do that anyways, but if we could start sending 7-8 teams a year that'd really cement our place as one of the best conferences.

Nova is doing fantastic in the tournament, but next year may not go as well with some teams likely taking a big step back (Seton Hall if Whitehead leaves, Butler, Providence). It's possible that Nova and Xavier will be the only sure bets to make the tournament heading into the season. It would be great to have depth by adding teams that make the tournament every year.

You don't know that because Gonzaga, Dayton, and VCU would have had completely different schedules there is no way to predict what would have happened relative to the tournament. IMHO, sending 5-3 teams with 2-3 doing well (doing well equates to Sweet 16 or better) is what the 10 team BigEast can and should do. The true round robin is worth far more than diluting the league.

Gonzaga has made the tournament something like 16 years in a row now and has the #12 recruiting class next year. VCU and Dayton would transition just as easily as Xavier and Butler did. Of course nothing can ever be predicted but Gonzaga and VCU are pretty safe bets to make the tournament more often then not.

Gonzaga has actually made it to the tournament 18 years in a row, a remarkable level of consistency regardless of the level of competition. If there are any doubts about them, based on the fact that they play in a mid major conference, they have won their first round game in 15 of those 18 years, legitimizing their selection. Add 7 Sweet 16's and a couple of Elite 8's and this is a program obviously capable of competing on a high level. With the est recruiting class in school history coming in, their best days appear to be in front of them.