This could be the end of the Big East

[TallyBull]

they should have gone along time ago

big east was dying years ago

I agree. Holding on to greatness, when you're clearly past your prime, is kind of pathetic (e.g. Madonna, Cher, etc.). I'd almost rather set out a new course for the Big East. Full-membership. A core of mostly urban, geographically appropriate schools. Over time it could develop into something better. What I do know is that we're now well past the point of arguing that the Big East deserves a seat at the "Big Boy" table, whether that be in basketball, football, or both.

EMBRACE THE SUCK.

[Economics_Nerd82]

http://espn.go.com/c...ols-sources-say

Big East fate vexes Catholic schools

The seven Big East Catholic, non-FBS schools met with Big East commissioner Mike Aresco on Sunday to express their concerns for the direction of the conference, multiple Big East sources confirmed to ESPN.com on Monday.

Sources said the New York meeting was the first among the seven schools (Marquette, DePaul, St. John's, Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall and Villanova) and ultimately could lead to them splitting from the Big East's football members.

Sources said the seven schools discussed a number of options but most importantly wanted to have "lots of dialogue to better understand the best course of action for the future." Another source said no decision was made on what future action to take.

"It's too early to say on that," said a source.

At issue is whether the Big East basketball-only schools have the power to dissolve the league, and retain all the assets and brand name. A source with knowledge of the situation said that until July 1, the seven have the majority votes and the necessary three-fourths to have controlling power. There are only three remaining football members -- Connecticut, Cincinnati and South Florida.

But a number of sources couldn't confirm whether Temple, which is a football-only member this season, has a controlling vote. One Big East source said Temple has a vote on football issues but wasn't sure whether the Owls could use that vote for membership. If the Owls could, Temple likely would be the fourth vote preventing any dissolving of the league.

The seven schools are concerned about the additions of full members Memphis, Temple, Tulane, Central Florida, SMU and Houston, and football-only member East Carolina over the next two years to replace departing Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, Rutgers and Notre Dame.

"The basketball schools are not thrilled with Tulane and what they will do to the league's RPI," said a league source from a football-playing member. "They were not all that excited with that addition."

The source added that "the basketball schools would have fallen off the ledge if we would have added East Carolina as a full member and what that would have done to the basketball league."

At Sunday's meeting, which was earlier reported by Ajerseyguy.com, the seven basketball-only schools wanted to secure the best possible television deal. Aresco was there to soothe any concerns about the prospects of a new deal.

Last week, CBSSports.com reported the Big East's media rights deal is expected to bring between $60 million and $80 million, which would actually provide the basketball schools less revenue than the current deal. Based on those figures, the basketball schools would earn only $1.06 million (based on the $60 million estimate) or $1.41 million (based on the $80 million estimate). They currently annually receive $1.5 million from the league's media rights deal.

The problem for the Catholic seven would be that if they were to venture off without taking the assets and brand name, they would forfeit all the NCAA tournament revenue from the conference and would be left without any start-up to form a new conference. Then, of course, the seven schools would have to attempt to lure Atlantic-10 members Xavier, Dayton, Saint Louis, Butler and possibly Creighton, the latter out of the Missouri Valley, to form a city league that would stretch from St. Louis to Chicago to Milwaukee to Indianapolis to Cincinnati to Dayton to Providence to New York-New Jersey to Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.

Of course, the A-10 could try to poach the departing schools before it would suffer a grab by this possible new conglomerate.

Sources said the schools are banking on luring more lucrative television dollars with these media markets rather than continuing to see the league watered down.

A basketball split, which has been rumored for years, would send shockwaves throughout the rest of the potential Big East members, especially football-only members such as Boise State and San Diego State, which are scheduled to leave the Mountain West for an expected, but now uncertain, bigger media rights payday in the Big East. Boise State and San Diego State will have to put their non-football sports in the Big West.

Syracuse and Pitt are leaving the Big East for the ACC in 2013. Notre Dame is attempting to get out of the conference early as well but might have to wait until 2014. Louisville is expected to join the ACC in 2014 and Rutgers to join the Big Ten in 2014.

Cincinnati and Connecticut publicly attempted to get into the ACC but Louisville was chosen over those two schools last month.

"The league was not happy the way Cincinnati and UConn reacted to the news they were not selected by the ACC," a Big East source said.

The seven Catholic schools have sat idle the past year, assuming the defections wouldn't crush the league, but that was before the most recent departures of Louisville and Rutgers.

"I still think it will take a lot for them to split away," a league source said.

Meanwhile, a source with knowledge of the Big East's deal with Madison Square Garden told ESPN.com that MSG is "covered" and can get out of the contract if the league continues to change its membership.

Edited December 11, 2012 by Economics_Nerd82

[Hem]

Wouldn't you think that the B1G, Big12, ACC would scoop up some of these schools without fear of paying a buyout if the conference does in fact dissolve? Maybe schools like Tulane, ECU, Temple would worry about going backwards....but I just don't see USF, Cincy, UConn, Boise heading that way. Someone will come in and scoop these schools free of charge.

[TallyBull]

""The league was not happy the way Cincinnati and UConn reacted to the news they were not selected by the ACC," a Big East source said."

That's why USF's current approach - do what you can to get into another conference, but without publicizing it - seems to be the most mature and prudent way to go about it. Pounding our fists and demanding we get into the ACC doesn't make it any more likely the ACC will extend an invitation to us - and THAT'S what we need to make a move. An invite. I have no doubt that USF would accept one, if offered.

Edited December 11, 2012 by TallyBull

[Economics_Nerd82]

Mike Jensen â€@jensenoffcampus

Temple AD Bill Bradshaw told me contract with Big East states that Temple became full voting member on July 1, 2012.

[Hem]

Mike Jensen â€@jensenoffcampus

Temple AD Bill Bradshaw told me contract with Big East states that Temple became full voting member on July 1, 2012.

That should halt everything right there then. They'd be the 4th blocking member.

[TallyBull]

Mike Jensen â€@jensenoffcampus

Temple AD Bill Bradshaw told me contract with Big East states that Temple became full voting member on July 1, 2012.

Never thought I'd be thankful Temple rejoined the conference. Here's to you, Temple!

[Economics_Nerd82]

Old Big East RPI

2 Syracuse

8 Louisville

15 Georgetown

18 Cincinnati

25 Notre Dame

27 Marquette

34 Connecticut

36 Pittsburgh

63 Seton Hall

83 South Florida

97 St. John's

102 Providence

133 Rutgers

142 Villanova

156 DePaul

New Big East RPI

15 Georgetown

18 Cincinnati

27 Marquette

31 Temple

34 Connecticut

37 Memphis

63 Seton Hall

69 UCF

83 South Florida

97 St. John's

102 Providence

112 SMU

142 Villanova

144 Houston

156 DePaul

175 Tulane

The average RPI drops 24% (using current RPI numbers). I'm not sure how significant that is in the grand scheme of things, but, it doesn't help for sure.

The median RPI rank drops from 36 to 83.

Edited December 11, 2012 by Economics_Nerd82

[jvwvu]

Believe it or not but MHver3 stating ESPN offering $2.5 per school for just hoops league.

[Economics_Nerd82]

Andy Katz â€@ESPNAndyKatz

Television money is the key. Would they get a better deal on their own or with new BE schools? No set timetable. But 7 are now engaged.

Andy Katz â€@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.