Will B12 additions free UCONN to join Big East?

[robinreed]

I really do not give a damn about the B12 expansion. I only brought up the rumors because I felt that it might give us a chance to grab UCONN. Several posters are in effect saying that we should never add this school because UCONN has football and could never be a satisfied member of the Big East.

If the best basketball program in the nation is not good enough for the Big East, if we are unable to accept the risk real or imagined then it seems probable to this XU grad that we as a conference have hit our peak. We joined because the school and the fans felt it was a significant step up from the A10. Of course that was correct. Can we not take a much lesser risk by adding the best basketball program in the nation. Let's say a worst case situation comes up and UCONN leaves 5 or 10 years after joining. We will have become an indispensable and unequaled basketball conference in that time and the loss of one team while regrettable will not lessen our position in a significant way. Bringing in one exceptional program may open the way for others. What does saying no to the highest quality available say about us. UCONN will have only one vote and will not be able to force their way on the conference should "their way" not align perfectly with ours.

Was Notre Dame not a good and valued member of the old Big East? Did they not have football? Of course that analogy is not exact as ND could play as an independent in all sports and do perfectly fine. Still turning your back or quality, turning your back of the best seldom leads to anything good.

[SJU87]

Do you think the Ct. Attorney general lawsuit is scaring conferences away from UCONN ?

[ohiohsbball]

The rumors have the schools coming from the AAC. Supposedly UCF, USF, Cincinnati and ECU will be added to the B12

Man, do I ever have a hard time seeing Texas and Oklahoma voting for that.

So do I. No offense to those mentioned schools, but I have a feeling if they go to the Big 12, then Oklahoma and Texas may reconsider that invite from the PAC12 from a few years ago.

[ohiohsbball]

I see absolutely no way UCONN comes to the BE. They are not dropping from big time football especially a game in a BCS bowl in that not too distant past. I think that ship has sailed.

I said when all of this started that I firmlly believe eventually we are looking at a 4X16 conference. The only question is what conference will eventually collapse from the current P5. Once that happens, I really have an interest in what happens to the A10 and BE and other basketball only conferences. I don't see any realignment in the next year or so, but anyone that think that all of this conference shuffling is over with needs to take the blindfolds off.

[GoldenWarrior11]

If the best basketball program in the nation is not good enough for the Big East, if we are unable to accept the risk real or imagined then it seems probable to this XU grad that we as a conference have hit our peak. We joined because the school and the fans felt it was a significant step up from the A10. Of course that was correct. Can we not take a much lesser risk by adding the best basketball program in the nation. Let's say a worst case situation comes up and UCONN leaves 5 or 10 years after joining. We will have become an indispensable and unequaled basketball conference in that time and the loss of one team while regrettable will not lessen our position in a significant way. Bringing in one exceptional program may open the way for others. What does saying no to the highest quality available say about us. UCONN will have only one vote and will not be able to force their way on the conference should "their way" not align perfectly with ours.

The question isn't whether the best basketball program in the nation is good enough for the Big East. The question is why the Big East would go down the same path that led to the destruction of a previous conference (non-football against football schools). The conference is now centered on universities that prioritize basketball. UCONN, despite its many accolades and championships in basketball, is putting all of its eggs in the football basket. They are spending money on two head coaches at the moment. They are putting money in for renovating their stadium. They are allocating most of their resources to football. They need a good football program to get a seat at the big boy table, not basketball.

They need to be in a conference that would help them elevate football. The MAC isn't that. Neither is the Sun Belt. I would even argue that the AAC isn't that either, but it's the best spot they have at the moment.

[gosports1]

I dont think anyone from the c7 hates UConn. great program but until they move their football to the colonial or patriot then they can stay in the American. once They downgrade FB then without a doubt bring them on board. I think if these B12 moves actually ever happen, then its even more likely that UConn goes to the ACC when ND finally joins as full member.

[Xudash]

It's a hell of a dice roll isn't it?

The University of Connecticut, along with the University of Cincinnati and a few other schools are DOA if the 4 x 16 model comes about.

Otherwise, they are banking on the notion that five power conferences survive and that a few remaining slots will be available to them.

So, let's think about that for a moment. Let's ponder the idea of the existing power five conferences wanting to share money with a few more schools. Especially where those few more schools probably are not accretive enough when it comes to the additional revenue involved.

[SJHooper]

You have to think of the corner UConn has backed itself into though…all their eggs are in football's basket. Please tell me what happens in this scenario: UConn waits in AAC, UConn is notified all the realignment is finished by the P5. Cincy, UCF, and ECU are gone and all that remains in the AAC in terms of hoop powers are UConn, Memphis, Temple. What does UConn do then? They know they can't get a P5 invite and the AAC had the last teams raided leaving them only a few good schools left in hoops. Does UConn bite the bullet and sink into irrelevancy the next 15 years in the AAC killing their hoops programs? Or do they finally say screw it and join the Big East?

It all comes down to this: if the P5 does not take UConn, they either 1) will likely severely damage if not kill their basketball program by staying in the AAC permanently…may take a while but it will happen 2) beg to join the Big East and end the football experiment by either downgrading or becoming independent.

[Xudash]

You have to think of the corner UConn has backed itself into though…all their eggs are in football's basket. Please tell me what happens in this scenario: UConn waits in AAC, UConn is notified all the realignment is finished by the P5. Cincy, UCF, and ECU are gone and all that remains in the AAC in terms of hoop powers are UConn, Memphis, Temple. What does UConn do then? They know they can't get a P5 invite and the AAC had the last teams raided leaving them only a few good schools left in hoops. Does UConn bite the bullet and sink into irrelevancy the next 15 years in the AAC killing their hoops programs? Or do they finally say screw it and join the Big East?

It all comes down to this: if the P5 does not take UConn, they either 1) will likely severely damage if not kill their basketball program by staying in the AAC permanently…may take a while but it will happen 2) beg to join the Big East and end the football experiment by either downgrading or becoming independent.

As I've noted already, IF the 4 x 16 model comes about, UCONN will not have to worry about losing UC and the FL directional schools, etc. There will be no room in the 64 room "inn" if the P5 collapse down into four conferences. In fact, as has also been noted, one of the existing P5 - BC?, Wake? - would get the boot, assuming the P5 force ND into one of those 4 conferences.

Your scenario only happens if the P5 find some reason to remain at 5 BUT expand. That will have to be driven by economics, which is to say that it will have to be driven by a situation where the additions are accretive to the existing P5 deals. I don't see any of these AAC teams being able to move the needle in that regard.

So, we probably are where we're going to be for a while: the P5 as they exist today, and the Big East remaining at 10. Frankly, I don't believe realignment is over, but, especially from here moving forward, it just seems that any next move will not be conference driven, but playoff format driven. That suggests an eventual move towards/to the 4 x 16 thing, assuming they can work it out geographically. Otherwise, it would seem that movement caused under an umbrella that would still involve five conferences would come from Texas wanting change for some reason (good luck with that, probably) or Jim Delany wanting to take the B1G into the South.

[Bluejay]

I see a lot of talk about the 4 x 16 model, but I don't see the current playoff format (or any playoff format for that matter) driving that model. Let me explain why----

What the SEC (and to a lesser extent, the Big 12 and Pac 12) have realized is that Big 10 football sucks. The SEC is looking at the current playoff model and licking their chops at the possibility of getting two teams in yearly. If the 4 x 16 model comes about, it will probably involve each conference getting one guaranteed bid. Why would the SEC want that? From their perspective, at best it costs them one bid a year. I think they feel pretty confident (and rightfully so) that the second place SEC team will be better than the best Big 10 team (and maybe the best ACC team) more often than not. Further, after decades of being brainwashed that they need the Big 10/Rose Bowl to maintain relevance, the Pac 12 has finally discovered that it doesnt really need the Big 10 at all. I think the PAC 12 and BIG 12 also see sceanrios where their second place team might be able to edge out a Big 10 team for a playoff bid every once in awhile. Why would those conferences want to guarantee a bid to the Big 10 who they think is inferior and largely loathe because of the riches brought to the Big 10 because of the BTN?

I think that 4 x 16 is largely dead at this point. The Big 12 is satisfied with where they are and the conference that most needs to improve their football product (B1G) cant find another school available that would do that. The only way 4 x 16 happens is ifthere is an expansion of the football playoff --- and even then I dont see it being that likely.