Big East Conference Expansion Ideas and Discussion

[tsmithohio1234]

Dayton would be the perfect fit. Largest private and largest Catholic university in Ohio by a wide margin. Founded in 1850, national research university, 12000 fans per game,
long time connections with the East Coast (just ask SJU, GEO, SHU) over 100 year connections with MU, DePaul and XU. Granted mediocre performance on the court, but could be easily solved by better recruiting in the BE. This has always been their problem. XU solved this by using the Malcom X angle to attracted urban athletes. Butler and Creighton have only had recent success (last 10 years) Market size is not a problem when you look at the national fan base Dayton brings and the shear population density of Ohio.

[BillikensWin]

Dayton would be the perfect fit. Largest private and largest Catholic university in Ohio by a wide margin. Founded in 1850, national research university, 12000 fans per game,
long time connections with the East Coast (just ask SJU, GEO, SHU) over 100 year connections with MU, DePaul and XU. Granted mediocre performance on the court, but could be easily solved by better recruiting in the BE. This has always been their problem. XU solved this by using the Malcom X angle to attracted urban athletes. Butler and Creighton have only had recent success (last 10 years) Market size is not a problem when you look at the national fan base Dayton brings and the shear population density of Ohio.

No further comment.

[DanofXav76]

Dayton would be the perfect fit. Largest private and largest Catholic university in Ohio by a wide margin. Founded in 1850, national research university, 12000 fans per game,
long time connections with the East Coast (just ask SJU, GEO, SHU) over 100 year connections with MU, DePaul and XU. Granted mediocre performance on the court, but could be easily solved by better recruiting in the BE. This has always been their problem. XU solved this by using the Malcom X angle to attracted urban athletes. Butler and Creighton have only had recent success (last 10 years) Market size is not a problem when you look at the national fan base Dayton brings and the shear population density of Ohio.

Huh??

[GumbyDamnit!]

Dayton would be the perfect fit. Largest private and largest Catholic university in Ohio by a wide margin. Founded in 1850, national research university, 12000 fans per game,
long time connections with the East Coast (just ask SJU, GEO, SHU) over 100 year connections with MU, DePaul and XU. Granted mediocre performance on the court, but could be easily solved by better recruiting in the BE. This has always been their problem. XU solved this by using the Malcom X angle to attracted urban athletes. Butler and Creighton have only had recent success (last 10 years) Market size is not a problem when you look at the national fan base Dayton brings and the shear population density of Ohio.

No thanks. We have the team that we want in Ohio already.

[marquette]

If Dayton was a perfect fit, they would have been in already. Problem is there are no perfect fits anymore, although SLU is extremely close. Dayton only gets in if they make some noise in the tourney the next 2-5 years. Even then it depends on how badly the Eastern schools want that balance.

Dayton has many great qualities. The attendance is great, and would up our conference average slightly. UD Arena looks good on tv. The rivalry with Xavier is cool, if a bit one-sided in recent years. The travelling fanbase and large alumni fanbase are great, and would certainly be good to have. The program has resources to expend on basketball. I'm just not sure those are enough by themselves.

To your point about elevating the program if you get in...that was not the standard for any other school. You seem to have as much or more resources than Butler, Creighton, Xavier, VCU and SLU yet have not performed to the same standards. You have a lot of fans, but that is really all that can be said for Dayton at this point. Institutional fit is strong, but Richmond ain't far off.

Dayton has not put themselves in a position where their value is indisputable, obvious, incapable of being ignored. Xavier did that. Butler did that. Creighton did that. SLU is doing that. It may still happen, but Dayton really needs to demonstrate something other than their ability to get people to the arena.

Good luck with the rest of the season. You guys still have a shot at the tourney, and now is the best time to start making your case.

[marquette]

XU solved this by using the Malcom X angle to attracted urban athletes.

I have no idea what this means.

[RDinNY]

XU solved this by using the Malcom X angle to attracted urban athletes.

I have no idea what this means.

No one does, except the poster...maybe.

[SecureDaBall]

XU solved this by using the Malcom X angle to attracted urban athletes.

I have no idea what this means.

No one does, except the poster...maybe.

By any means necessary?

[DeltaV]

To your point about elevating the program if you get in...that was not the standard for any other school. You seem to have as much or more resources than Butler, Creighton, Xavier, VCU and SLU yet have not performed to the same standards.

This. The Big East isn't a charity for well-meaning basketball programs.

You want in? Perform. Put up or shut up. That is all that matters.

[MU+VCU]

Interesting discussion you guys have going on here. I hope to join in over the next few weeks.

I've been a Marquette fan my entire life but now attend VCU. My grandfather is in the MU sports HOF and knew Al quite well. Hopefully I'll be able to bridge the gap between the fan-bases