CrawfishBucket wrote:I think this is a relevant question if the conference ever looks to expand again.
Is the NBE waiting for a program to 'stand out' before the push to move off 10? Or is 10 a fixed number?
I've gone on record saying the Big East should grow when its at its strongest (which is probably now). If you're ever going to grow, its better to do it with top talent then schools that have potential. For that reason, I thought Wichita State and Gonzaga were no-brainers. Those are legit basketball brands.
Wichita has a rockstar coach and fits perfectly next to Creighton. That was a huge missed opportunity. As a result of not taking the initiative to extend the gap between the NBE and the rest, that gap has narrowed a bit now. I see the opportunity to grab Few and Gonzaga in a similar light.
With Archie Miller, Dayton had the makings of a long term Big East producer. However, instead of taking the 'gimme', the conference allowed that grape to wither on the vine and Dayton doesn't look as attractive anymore.
So, that inspires the ultimate question. Is the Big East content to remain a small conference? If not, what precipitates growth? For instance, if St. Louis all of a sudden got hot, would the conference take advantage of their momentum and bring them in so it becomes the NBE's momentum?
I genuinely feel there have been a lot of missed opportunities to create separation and climb even higher in the lexicon of college basketball. A window was there to make the Big East 'bullet proof'. Where quality collects, there is always strength in numbers.
Archie Miller is the prototype NBE coach. I think he would have stayed at Dayton if they had gotten the ticket.
It's funny what a big difference that weeks can make. Suddenly, with Dayton and VCU losing their coaches, the landscape has changed. Of the available teams, only Mark Few and Gonzaga is primed to take that step up.
If the Big East is going to negotiate risk and growth in the future, it really needs to be willing to get while the getting is good. It's the difference in being the hunter versus being the hunted.
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