Big East Conference Expansion Ideas and Discussion

[Xudash]

Exactly. That should change within the next few months. They went from a beleaguered president on the way out to an interim. They're about to bring in a new leader with a vision for the university for the next decade. At St. John's that vision has to include basketball.

I think we are significantly overestimating the priority/importance of basketball with a university president (let alone a new one). I seriously doubt that a candidates views or knowledge of basketball will be any more than a passing, off hand thought in the interview process.

If that's true with the St. John's BoT, which I doubt, then St. Johns shouldn't be in the Big East. So, I'm assuming the St. John's BoT "gets it" and they understand the strategic importance of a successful athletic program to a university that is otherwise not an Ivy, in a BCS conference, or uniquely well positioned as a well-healed liberal arts school.

If the candidate comes in with that disposition, I suspect the Town Car limo is sent away with him being shown the door with a polite "thank you for coming" and $50 in cash for a Yellow Cab.

[Bill Marsh]

Exactly. That should change within the next few months. They went from a beleaguered president on the way out to an interim. They're about to bring in a new leader with a vision for the university for the next decade. At St. John's that vision has to include basketball.

I think we are significantly overestimating the priority/importance of basketball with a university president (let alone a new one). I seriously doubt that a candidates views or knowledge of basketball will be any more than a passing, off hand thought in the interview process.

Really? It might be the most visible thing about the university, their biggest PR tool, but no one cares?

Regardless of how it's dealt with in the interviews, once the new president is named, he will in fact take a position on whom the Big East should add. He will do so because it's his job and his opinion will matter to the decision making process of the league..

[notkirkcameron]

Exactly. That should change within the next few months. They went from a beleaguered president on the way out to an interim. They're about to bring in a new leader with a vision for the university for the next decade. At St. John's that vision has to include basketball.

I think we are significantly overestimating the priority/importance of basketball with a university president (let alone a new one). I seriously doubt that a candidates views or knowledge of basketball will be any more than a passing, off hand thought in the interview process.

On the contrary, we talk in this thread so much about "institutional fit." That doesn't just mean "Hey let's get all the Catholic schools (and Butler!) and get them in a room together." These university Presidents are people who are potentially going to be working with each other for the long term, through some possibly tectonic shifts in the college athletics landscape (conference realignment, Football "Super Division", more compensation for student-athletes, etc.) Everything I've seen suggests the Big East is going to be slow and deliberate with their decisions, so waiting for St. John's to name a new President is not necessarily unrelated to realignment. Expansion has to be something everybody's comfortable with.

[HoosierPal]

Anyone want to throw in Mercer now? I think they are Baptist, but what the heck, they beat Duke. Flavor of the week club, here come the Bears.

[HoosierPal]

Exactly. That should change within the next few months. They went from a beleaguered president on the way out to an interim. They're about to bring in a new leader with a vision for the university for the next decade. At St. John's that vision has to include basketball.

I think we are significantly overestimating the priority/importance of basketball with a university president (let alone a new one). I seriously doubt that a candidates views or knowledge of basketball will be any more than a passing, off hand thought in the interview process.

Really? It might be the most visible thing about the university, their biggest PR tool, but no one cares?

Regardless of how it's dealt with in the interviews, once the new president is named, he will in fact take a position on whom the Big East should add. He will do so because it's his job and his opinion will matter to the decision making process of the league..

University Presidents should view basketball as a mechanism to enhance the value of their respective University. You have to assume that they are actually fans also but really they have no choice. Basketball can bring in huge amounts of funds to the university. After Butler's Final Four runs, the amount of alumni donations went crazy. Applications from new students hit all time highs. The vehicle was basketball and the success of the team. That is how the Presidents view athletics, how can it increase the value of my university. That is why the Presidents are interested in expanding, IF it can increase their university's exposure and value. What new markets can they penetrate with expansion? It has everything to do with a President increasing the worth of his University. The core basketball agenda is secondary.

[Gopher+RamFan]

VCU is the only Division 1 program to post 26 win seasons, in each of the last 8 years.

[DudeAnon]

VCU is the only Division 1 program to post 26 win seasons, in each of the last 8 years.

Impressive, but every school can cherry pick stats that make them look good. A la "Did you know X is only school to go undefeated against East Coast schools during a full moon?"

[Gopher+RamFan]

VCU is the only Division 1 program to post 26 win seasons, in each of the last 8 years.

Impressive, but every school can cherry pick stats that make them look good. A la "Did you know X is only school to go undefeated against East Coast schools during a full moon?"

It's not like we're looking at Selection Sunday statistics about bubble team A vs. B and cherry picking these stats.

I think any program that posts 25+ wins a season for a few years in a row is impressive. Just pointing out a relevant program fact spanning 8 years and two coaches - in the Expansion thread.

[DudeAnon]

This thread is, what, over 130 pages now? I have seen countless stats that would make every possible candidate seem like a perfect fit. From basketball, media, etc. I like VCU, but like I said, "Did you know Depaul has 46 NCAA tourney appearances to VCU's 24?"

[Gopher+RamFan]

This thread is, what, over 130 pages now? I have seen countless stats that would make every possible candidate seem like a perfect fit. From basketball, media, etc. I like VCU, but like I said, "Did you know Depaul has 46 NCAA tourney appearances to VCU's 24?"

I think most folks weigh the last 4-5 years as a stronger barometer to inclusion to statistic from 40 years ago (when VCU first started playing basketball).

To make sure it's not a fluke, I generally include VCU program stats from the last 10 years. If you don't want to read anything from the applicant schools, simple as skipping this thread.