Big East Conference Expansion Ideas and Discussion

[RomainSato10]

Team 1: Currently 16-8, with a 1-1 record v Top 25, and a 3-4 record v Top 50
Team 2: Currently 16-7, with a 1-3 record v Top 25, and a 3-5 record v Top 50

Which one is superior, or are they about the same. Which one is X and which one is D?

Just sayin'......

Well, neither is Butler.

And what do partial season results have to do with a strategic decision?

So now we DON'T like stats, right? Just following your lead.

I'm just pointing out that there is no reason to bash Dayton. Xavier seems to think they are a far superior school. Same zip code in my book.

Except they're not. They've won 1 NCAA game in 20 years. X has something like 18 wins in that same time period. X has a superior program and any dayton fan with a brain would acknowledge that even though they don't like X at all. It's fairly simple.

[Bill Marsh]

There isn't a single GREAT fit for the Big East that is out there. Not a single team out there that is a MUST-add. I want a team that has a track record of success and won't drag the Big East down closer to mid-majordom in terms of national perception.

Saint Louis is the best available option, and I clearly prefer them to the other options, but I don't know if we need to add them right now.

Dayton has 1 tournament win in the last 20 years and hasn't ever really been nationally relevant in my lifetime. We already filled our Ohio quota with Xavier. I really don't know what they would add, other than inventory. It's a nice program. Not a Big East program. I can't remember the last time I turned a Dayton game on because I wanted to watch Dayton.

I agree with Hibbs. The criteria should be: What team has a recent and sustained track record of success? Geography, academics and general 'fit' need to be considered, but the primary criteria is how good is your team now, and how good do we think your team will be in 5 years, 10 years and 15 years.

If those ate the criteria, isn't VCU the obvious choice? 8 tournament wins within the past decade. Great young coach whose wife teaches at the university, so he's not going anywhere. Great facilities and fan base. What am I missing?

PUBLIC school. Whether that's a good reason or not is up to debate but I'm pretty sure that is the reason.

Now you're adding a new criterion. Macknova didn't mention public school.

But if public school is a nonstarter! Then we're back to Dayton.

[BillikensWin]

Team 1: Currently 16-8, with a 1-1 record v Top 25, and a 3-4 record v Top 50
Team 2: Currently 16-7, with a 1-3 record v Top 25, and a 3-5 record v Top 50

Which one is superior, or are they about the same. Which one is X and which one is D?

Just sayin'......

Well, neither is Butler.

And what do partial season results have to do with a strategic decision?

So now we DON'T like stats, right? Just following your lead.

I'm just pointing out that there is no reason to bash Dayton. Xavier seems to think they are a far superior school. Same zip code in my book.

22-2, 9-0 in conference, 9-0 on the road. There's my numbers contribution to the night.

[Jet915]

Congrats to the Billikens, definitely winning the close games. Still think you guys are slightly overrated though, best wins are St. Joe's and Richmond. Still gotta win the games though which you guys are doing.

[HoosierPal]

Except they're not. They've won 1 NCAA game in 20 years. X has something like 18 wins in that same time period. X has a superior program and any dayton fan with a brain would acknowledge that even though they don't like X at all. It's fairly simple.

OK, I'm a fan of both Dayton and Xavier, except I'm beginning to think Xavier fans are more obnoxious.

X has played 44 NCAA tourney games and won 47% of them
Dayton has played 30 NCAA tourney games and won 46% of them

Granted a 50% bump for X, but same winning % for both. Same zip code if you ask me.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Except they're not. They've won 1 NCAA game in 20 years. X has something like 18 wins in that same time period. X has a superior program and any dayton fan with a brain would acknowledge that even though they don't like X at all. It's fairly simple.

OK, I'm a fan of both Dayton and Xavier, except I'm beginning to think Xavier fans are more obnoxious.

X has played 44 NCAA tourney games and won 47% of them
Dayton has played 30 NCAA tourney games and won 46% of them

Granted a 50% bump for X, but same winning % for both. Same zip code if you ask me.

Dayton comparing its March success to XU is laughable.

[xsteve1]

Except they're not. They've won 1 NCAA game in 20 years. X has something like 18 wins in that same time period. X has a superior program and any dayton fan with a brain would acknowledge that even though they don't like X at all. It's fairly simple.

OK, I'm a fan of both Dayton and Xavier, except I'm beginning to think Xavier fans are more obnoxious.

X has played 44 NCAA tourney games and won 47% of them
Dayton has played 30 NCAA tourney games and won 46% of them

Granted a 50% bump for X, but same winning % for both. Same zip code if you ask me.

In today's landscape it's what have you done for me lately and Dayton has done nothing lately.

[bmorex]

Dayton comparing its March success to XU is laughable.

Came on here to post the same thing.

[Xudash]

So, let me get this straight. You object to Dayton because they're only 50 miles down the road from Xavier, but you propose Richmond, which is only 100 miles from Georgetown???

I guess that extra 50 miles sakes all the difference in the world, right?

As much as Dayton makes no sense to you, Richmond makes equally little sense to me for a long list of reasons.

Like you, I am happy with the current configuration and I feel no need to expand. The only reason we're even talking about this is that reports from the very beginning when the C7 announced it was splitting indicated there was an interest in going to 12, this was reignited when the Xavier AD said late last summer that the move to 12 would come some time within the next 5 years. So, it's sources within the conference that are fueling this, not internet posters.

I agree that there is no obvious choice. To me, St Louis isn't even an obvious choice. The only school that is a perfect fit on every criterion is Gonzaga, but they're too far away. So, if expansion is going to happen, it's going to be with someone who is less than a perfect fit, which is exactly the same thing that happened when the conference was originally formed way back in 1979.

Bill, you asked for my opinion Re another school and I gave Richmond as my answer - eastern balance, excellent school, it has demonstrated that it can win in the Tournament recently, and it just renovated its facilities nicely. Is Richmond a perfect fit for what the Big East wants to accomplish? Perhaps not. Does it have the potential to build in brand value over time? I think so. Would it make sense to pull the trigger on them now, given all the circumstances? Probably not. Otherwise, if you don't think another 50 miles and the opportunity for entering an entirely different state are no big deal, that's your opinion.

Finally, allow me to correct a misinterpretation with respect to Greg Christopher's comments of last year about expansion. When he made his comments about expansion, he made it clear that he was parroting comments that were already floating out in the media. Not once did he state a definitive position on where expansion may or may not head with respect to the Big East Conference. In no way would any AD of any Big East school go on public record at that time and make a definitive statement about expansion. Otherwise, the "interest" in "going to 12" may have been as much about the structure of the Fox media agreement (i.e. same amount of money per school whether the Big East was at 10 or 12) as anything else.

[Xudash]

With all due respect, if you think that UConn is going to join the Big East and dump it's football program in the MAC, which would be the only conference option, or go independent, then you have no clue about UCOnn. I'm sure you're smart about lots of other stuff but not about this one.

The State of Connecticut did not dump $100 million into building a football stadium + additional tens of millions into di proving on campus practice and football training facilities only to walk away from the plan 15 years later because of a few set backs. They are committed to making this thing work and they will see it through.

There is zero chance that UConn will ever rejoin the Big East. Never. That ship has sailed.

I live near UConn and I know of what I speak.

Perhaps you didn't comprehend what I typed as part of my response that you responded to with the above: .... There are people here who believe, realistically or otherwise, that events over time could lead UCONN to place the interests of its basketball program over those of its football program. UCONN is only one example of a thought process that emphasizes a more open minded and patient view towards having better options reveal themselves. UD simply does not presently offer a compelling case for its inclusion in the Big East.

I did not state that I think UCONN is going to join the Big East. I am aware of what the CT taxpayers have invested in that program. I also can appreciate that the influential alumni of that school do not want to go backwards. The overall point, whether it could ever involve UCONN, ND, or any other football-centric school at some point, is to sit tight at 10, develop our brand, and see what time brings with respect to providing more obvious expansion candidates or not, assuming expansion is warranted and sought at some point.