Is Homogeneity Of Membership Good Or Bad?

[FriarJ]

I think you can see what the Big Ten thinks of the challenge by the terms they have put in place. Going to see the top teams in the 8 years only 4 times almost certainly. 6 teams guaranteed off each year instead of just 4.

The problem with you saying that Fox might push the Big Ten into the challenge is Fox does NOT own the Big Ten exclusively. ESPN in there as well. By the time the Fox/ESPN deals are over- the current Gavitt games deal is over.

The problem with your statement is that Fox owns the content they want, ESPN gets what's left.

[Hoya Hoya Hoya]

I think you can see what the Big Ten thinks of the challenge by the terms they have put in place. Going to see the top teams in the 8 years only 4 times almost certainly. 6 teams guaranteed off each year instead of just 4.

The problem with you saying that Fox might push the Big Ten into the challenge is Fox does NOT own the Big Ten exclusively. ESPN in there as well. By the time the Fox/ESPN deals are over- the current Gavitt games deal is over.

The problem with your statement is that Fox owns the content they want, ESPN gets what's left.

stop trying to insert logic into this argument

[stever20]

I think you can see what the Big Ten thinks of the challenge by the terms they have put in place. Going to see the top teams in the 8 years only 4 times almost certainly. 6 teams guaranteed off each year instead of just 4.

The problem with you saying that Fox might push the Big Ten into the challenge is Fox does NOT own the Big Ten exclusively. ESPN in there as well. By the time the Fox/ESPN deals are over- the current Gavitt games deal is over.

The problem with your statement is that Fox owns the content they want, ESPN gets what's left.

No that is not the case. It's split from everything we've heard pretty much 50/50. Fox may get 1st choice but ESPN gets 2nd. I know in football Fox gets 1st choice of which weekend they get 1st choice of games, but then ESPN gets 2nd choice of which weekend they get 1st choice of games. It's probably very close to that for basketball as well.

[sciencejay]

I think we can all agree on the following:

1.) The Big East does not need to expand.

2.) The Big East can expand if they want for the right (slum dunk candidate) like UCONN, ND or Kansas.

3.) VCU and UD fans really want the Big East to expand and invite them in.

4.) There is no value in adding VCU, UD, SLU, GW, Rhode Island, George Mason, WSU, St. Bonaventure, etc. from the A10.

5.) UD and VCU trolls will continue to create threads about expansion in order to talk up their two programs.

6.) Stever20 is a fan or a team trapped in the AAC and posts here to only stir the pot.

#s 1, 2, 4 and 6 are NOT things that everyone agrees upon. And are #s 3 and 5 really different points?

#1 - I think there is a very real argument on this site about whether the BEast needs to expand or not.
#2 - Since UConn, ND and KU all have FBS-level football programs, I think they should not be on the list of potential candidates, and at best, they are NOT slam dunks. We've seen what happened to the OBE, and since the football dollars and basketball-only dollars are so discrepant, I personally wouldn't believe any school that came to the Big East with promises of commitment to us to be true to that commitment in the long term and not to use football to get into one of the FBS conferences. The money differences are too huge. And you have the egos of university presidents and ADs--who would want to 'drop' their football down to FCS? An AD at an FCS school makes a fraction of an AD at an FBS school.
#4 - I would support VCU and WSU additions immediately. No, they are not private schools, but they are hoops-first/only schools with basketball success over the past 10 years. I don't agree that we should only look at expansion candidates who are guaranteed to be great forever (one of the arguments against Gonzaga). If they are in the midst of a good run (6-10 years), then moving to a better conference with better exposure and increased revenue from our TV contract would only improve their opportunity to recruit top talent and remain competitive. The institutional fit argument has merits, but when push comes to shove, it's about increasing the value of our 'brand'. I think those two schools (and Gonzaga) would help do that.
#6- While Stever has a hard time letting things go, he brings real numbers to discussions when many are just espousing what they "think" is the case. The numbers often indicate something else. I have certainly had my issues with him (as have some posters had issues with me, I'm sure), but that's the way it is on boards like this.

[_lh]

#1 - There might be arguments on whether the BE should expand but there is no rational argument that the BE NEEDS to expand. We are fine with 10. That might change down the road but there is currently NO NEED to expand. Sorry.
#2 - Yes, UCONN, ND and Kansas are slam dunk additions. The only way two of the three even consider the BE is if their football option is taken from them and they have to play as an independent or dump football. The chances or any of the three are very remote but those three are the only three that would make sense for the BE to expand for tomorrow, if they could.
#4 - VCU and WSU are no need adds. Sure adding them would bring more content but no one would really care about them being added. It helps those two programs way more than it helps the BE. If they made sense, they would already be in the BE.
#6- Stever20 is a troll. He wants to disparage the BE and only wants to talk about the negatives of the league. I suggest he leaves and joins the B10 board so he can talk about all the negatives of the B10 with OSU and Michigan fans.

[BEwannabe]

UD and VCU fans don't start threads about realignment and in fact make few posts on the subject except when engaged in back and forth dialog. It's really interesting to read the back and forth between the Big East fans about the subject.

[_lh]

UD and VCU fans don't start threads about realignment and in fact make few posts on the subject except when engaged in back and forth dialog. It's really interesting to read the back and forth between the Big East fans about the subject.

They most certainly do. Now some might not admit to actually being UD or VCU fans but it is obvious they are VCU and UD trolls. All, trolls and good posters from those schools should spend their free time on the A10 board.

[FriarJ]

I find it interesting that for the most part the belief we need to expand and some of the ridiculous names that are thrown about are fans of the 3 newer schools. Guys this is not the MVC anymore. This is the BIg East emphasis on Big, meaning Bigtime. Think about what schoole truly deserves to play in a Conference tournament in MSG when thinking of a school. We have proved this is working great. The league should and will I believe be VERY selective when thinking of expanding if they do at all. This is now an exclusive club, enjoy it.

[_lh]

I find it interesting that for the most part the belief we need to expand and some of the ridiculous names that are thrown about are fans of the 3 newer schools. Guys this is not the MVC anymore. This is the BIg East emphasis on Big, meaning Bigtime. Think about what schoole truly deserves to play in a Conference tournament in MSG when thinking of a school. We have proved this is working great. The league should and will I believe be VERY selective when thinking of expanding if they do at all. This is now an exclusive club, enjoy it.

I don't think most, if any XU fans want to expand, except for someone like UCONN. I don't think Butler fans do either. Maybe there are some Creighton fans that do because they are a western outlier. Xavier has wanted to be in the BE since 1979. They worked hard and hoped for an invite in 2005. It finally came and XU fans for the most part don't want golden tickets that XU worked so hard for to be handed out to the likes of VCU, UD, SLU or WSU.

The posters throwing out those ridiculous names are most likely trolls from the schools they are suggesting be added.

[BEwannabe]

UD and VCU fans don't start threads about realignment and in fact make few posts on the subject except when engaged in back and forth dialog. It's really interesting to read the back and forth between the Big East fans about the subject.

They most certainly do. Now some might not admit to actually being UD or VCU fans but it is obvious they are VCU and UD trolls. All, trolls and good posters from those schools should spend their free time on the A10 board.

OK, keep an eye out for those black helicopters.