Expansion: UAB to reunite with Marquette and DePaul in NBE?

[murphy]

VCU was not a lower level CAA team before Shaka. Anthony Davis took them to 2 NCAA tournaments in 3 years(including the year they beat Duke). Jeff Capel also took them to the NCAA tournament. Bottom line, VCU not being in has NOTHING to do with basketball. If Richmond had VCU's resume right now, they would be in the Big East- no doubt about it. It's entirely litmus test.

Anthony Grant (now HC at Alabama) preceded Shaka, both of them UD men...Anthony played for the Flyers, Anthony played for the Flyers when Nova beat the Flyers (in Dayton), Nova then went on to win the National Championship. Shaka is a graduate of Kenyon and was a member of Oliver Purnell's staff.

Agree with you 100% about SLU - I'll bet Crews resigns before the season is over so SLU can start over. Crews was done as head coach in hoops and found his way back to first chair by way of Rick's death.

yep March 15, 1985 1st round NCAA, UD led at half, Nova won 51 -49 on last second shot

[Professor_Bulldog]

I'm for non-football publics being considered for membership in the NBE whenever it is decided that we would benefit from expansion. Assuming they continue their fine performances on the hardwood, the two most obvious schools for such membership would be VCU and Wichita State U. Next in line would be SLU. I really dislike the idea of inviting programs that would not add totally new markets to the Conference (VCU --- Richmond; Villanova --- St. Joe's; Xavier --- UD; etc.). And I believe the main criteria for adding new members should be proven basketball excellence over the recent past (6-10) years based on NCAA Tourney invites, high ranking in current Conference, and frequent poll rankings; no FBS football aspirations; good facilities and fan base; and "cleanliness" of the program. I see no reason to eliminate public institutions simply because they are public if they measure up well in the other criteria.

Yeshiva University would give us another avenue in NY if St. Johns struggles.

[muskienick]

I'm for non-football publics being considered for membership in the NBE whenever it is decided that we would benefit from expansion. Assuming they continue their fine performances on the hardwood, the two most obvious schools for such membership would be VCU and Wichita State U. Next in line would be SLU. I really dislike the idea of inviting programs that would not add totally new markets to the Conference (VCU --- Richmond; Villanova --- St. Joe's; Xavier --- UD; etc.). And I believe the main criteria for adding new members should be proven basketball excellence over the recent past (6-10) years based on NCAA Tourney invites, high ranking in current Conference, and frequent poll rankings; no FBS football aspirations; good facilities and fan base; and "cleanliness" of the program. I see no reason to eliminate public institutions simply because they are public if they measure up well in the other criteria.

Yeshiva University would give us another avenue in NY if St. Johns struggles.

And "Straighten up and fly right" was a favorite admonishment from my St. Xavier High School algebra teacher.

[BillikensWin]

Very quick on SLU:

The recruits that came in this year are all higher rated players (for those who buy the ratings) than the senior class that just graduated. The A-10 POY last year was a 2 star recruit coming in. I'm not a big Crews fan either, but he has brought in some interesting players this year. Other than one high-major transfer, the freshmen right now are the best players on SLU's roster.

The way the Big East is winning right now, I don't think there's much of a reason to look at the expansion picture. 10 teams are doing pretty darn well right now.

[handdownmandown]

I like Dayton fans. When they post you can almost feel their faces pressed up against the Big East's shop window.

[butlerguy03]

I like Dayton fans. When they post you can almost feel their faces pressed up against the Big East's shop window.

I think someone needs to create a fancy looking blog and cite "sources" knowing the Big East will add two private schools not named Dayton. See what happens. The Flyers fans might spontaneously self-combust.

[Sactowndog]

The problem is that UD does not want to be associated with FOX (Rupert Murdoch et al) - As a Mariast University they cannot associate with the likes of Fox.
(see Nuns on the bus)

This dude is plain bat shit crazy. Reminds me so much of the Wichita State fans who used to spout off all the time. part of me wouldn't mind having UD in the Big East because it would give me a team to root against every night.

Creighton fans to me take the cake as the most pompous fan base. For that reason alone I would love to invite Wichita State and watch the annual pissing war. Rivalries where the two schools genuinely hate each other is good for the league. Not to mention Wichita State plays good basketball and resides in a basketball crazy state that likely will someday have a Big 10 member. (Kansas)

[gtmoBlue]

If, big if...the above rumor of Cincy/Memphis to the Big 12 holds true, expect the UConn administration to seek re-entry into the BE. If left holding the AAC bag, they will be agreeable to the BE conference's terms.

In a 12 team Big East...i can see Val Ackermann making the pitch to Coach K and Duke. Small size, private, basketball céntric... Duke has a large alum base and following in NY, Coach K loves the Garden, the limelight, and could potentially dominate the conference. Duke has too much competition in the ACC/NBEsouth. The return of UConn and the addition of Duke would solidify the BE's standing as a/the top basketball conference. Duke is a longshot, but well worth making a salespitch to, they might just accept the offer.

[Hall2012]

If, big if...the above rumor of Cincy/Memphis to the Big 12 holds true, expect the UConn administration to seek re-entry into the BE. If left holding the AAC bag, they will be agreeable to the BE conference's terms.

In a 12 team Big East...i can see Val Ackermann making the pitch to Coach K and Duke. Small size, private, basketball céntric... Duke has a large alum base and following in NY, Coach K loves the Garden, the limelight, and could potentially dominate the conference. Duke has too much competition in the ACC/NBEsouth. The return of UConn and the addition of Duke would solidify the BE's standing as a/the top basketball conference. Duke is a longshot, but well worth making a salespitch to, they might just accept the offer.

ha...I wish, but absolutely no shot on Duke. Why would they give up the annual home game with UNC? Why would they give up some mix of home games with Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia, Louisville, etc. Sure, the ACC runs several cupcakes a year through Cameron, but it's worth the tradeoff for all the big name opponents. They already at least 1 and usually multiple games a year in the NYC area between their series with St. John's and all the tournament's/random neutral court games hosted at MSG and other area arenas, so they don't need the Big East for that. Also, Duke's football program is on the rise. They've spent parts of the past 2 years ranked in the top 25 and seem to be steadily improving. Why would they give up their power conference football status for at best a lateral move in basketball?

[Edrick]

UConn is the only public school in the country that would be the "first" public Big East school. If this happened, you'd have to think it was only a matter of time until UConn rethought the football program. If UConn drops football, then I think they are invited. And in doing so, the advantage of purely private goes away, which then leads to the VCU invite.

UConn is how VCU ever gets in this conference.