Re: Why expand?
Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 10:43 am
Xudash wrote:Bill Marsh wrote:After this discussion, I wonder if we can agree on the following:
1. The Big East should not add teams just for the sake of adding
2. The only schools who should be added are basketball programs who are consistent winners with a proven track record.
3. If it takes 5 years to find such programs, then the league should take 5 years.
4. Programs like that are hard to find.
1. Agree. In fact, the Big East should carefully monitor the round robin dynamic, assuming they allow themselves enough time for that (probably at least 3 full seasons). If there aren't other compelling financial reasons to grow the conference and the rivalries really do start to pop and sizzle, leave it alone.
2. Agree. I agree, simply for no other reason than I can only identify UCONN, Temple and Memphis as current football/strong hoops programs that could bring value to the Big East. UCONN isn't going to step away from all they've invested in football, even if they have to continue to sit and rot in the AAC, looking for some way out to a bigger party. Temple's problem is its redundant (to Nova) location. Memphis just scares me due to a lack of institutional fit.
3. Absolutely agree.
4. Agree. St. Louis is closest to meeting the target, especially given their private/Jesuit status.
Given a solid ~3 seasons to evaluate both the league and the team, I wouldn't see harm in inviting St. Louis (obviously assuming they stay strong) and just St. Louis. A couple years of single-digit NCAA seeds/high A10 finishes, combined with strong Academics (and their new market) could make them a good choice. Would a 20 game round robin season be doable? The regular season is roughly 10 weeks long anyway, so every team gets one weekend 'off' from conference play...which would be great to schedule their OOC 'grudge match' game (GTown/Syr, St. J/UConn, Nova/Temple, X/Cincy, etc).
In a decade, when the TV contract is up again, maybe a 12th could be considered (who knows...maybe Dayton finally starts cashing those checks their fans write)...I know it may be a bit of a stretch, but maybe Davidson really grows in the A10 and becomes a good pickup and way to move the conference footprint south and stick it to the ACC.