The Ball talks Big East basketball

[EMT]

If Cincinnati and/or Memphis leave the American, UCONN will not try and wait out their process of getting a competitive football program against ECU, Tulsa, Tulane, USF, UCF, Temple, SMU and Houston. They will not be able to keep treading water. The Big East would be their only life raft to survive.

We can afford to wait. Let's be patient.

I live near UConn andI can tell you that this is absolutely not true.

1. CT invested almost $100 million in the new UConn stadium + "in kind" contributions. They are not simply walking away from football.

2. The commitment is about much more than football. CT is intent on building a top tier public research university. Football is only one part of the formula to get there. They have also made major investments in research, especially in a human genome project. They will pursue this until it is accomplished and that will mean getting into a P5 conference. It's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when".

Where do you think UCONN ends up?

What happens to UCONN when the P5 becomes the P4 with 16 teams in each conference?

[TheBall]

That's the thing with uconn, met. They want in a football 5 conference, but they actually have to be invited first. They think they belong in, but is there a conference out there that actually wants them? I do think the acc will eventually come calling for them, but that's not a given. (I could not see them in the big ten or big twelve)

Say the acc does not come calling when the divorce money reaches its peak in five years. What is uconn going to do? Will they stay in conference of Americans? Can't imagine they like that idea, especially if Memphis and cincy go to the big twelve.

I, not holding my breath in uconn, as I do think they end up in the acc, but no need to rule the, out as of yet.

My percentages of where uconn will be by 2019:
Acc: 70%
Big east: 10%
Conference of Americans: 10%
Big ten: 5%
Other 5%

[GumbyDamnit!]

That's the thing with uconn, met. They want in a football 5 conference, but they actually have to be invited first. They think they belong in, but is there a conference out there that actually wants them? I do think the acc will eventually come calling for them, but that's not a given. (I could not see them in the big ten or big twelve)

Say the acc does not come calling when the divorce money reaches its peak in five years. What is uconn going to do? Will they stay in conference of Americans? Can't imagine they like that idea, especially if Memphis and cincy go to the big twelve.

I, not holding my breath in uconn, as I do think they end up in the acc, but no need to rule the, out as of yet.

My percentages of where uconn will be by 2019:
Acc: 70%
Big east: 10%
Conference of Americans: 10%
Big ten: 5%
Other 5%

If FB does indeed drive the bus as it relates to expansion, what exactly does UCONN give the ACC? Their FB program is terrible and they don't bring much of a market. I think the ACC would look at programs like Cincy or even Memphis before adding UCONN? Can you imagine the AD's of FSU, Miami and VT sitting in that meeting and hearing the big news of adding...(drumroll)...UCONN.

If anything that would hurt the ACC as it would be sending a message to its FB schools that it has little forward vision. It would be akin to us adding someone like Dayton. Why? UCONN = ideal add as a hoops program but a complete stretch for a P5 FB conference looking to improve upon its FB offering.

[milksteak]

That's the thing with uconn, met. They want in a football 5 conference, but they actually have to be invited first. They think they belong in, but is there a conference out there that actually wants them? I do think the acc will eventually come calling for them, but that's not a given. (I could not see them in the big ten or big twelve)

Say the acc does not come calling when the divorce money reaches its peak in five years. What is uconn going to do? Will they stay in conference of Americans? Can't imagine they like that idea, especially if Memphis and cincy go to the big twelve.

I, not holding my breath in uconn, as I do think they end up in the acc, but no need to rule the, out as of yet.

My percentages of where uconn will be by 2019:
Acc: 70%
Big east: 10%
Conference of Americans: 10%
Big ten: 5%
Other 5%

My guess:
ACC: 60% - Geographically makes sense. Adds to Northeast market.
Big Ten: 30% - It would be a strategic move by the Big Ten to further cement its presence on the East Coast.
AAC: 10% - Money will dry up by 2019.
Big East: <1%. It's not happening as long as they are FBS. Period. End of discussion. It's. Not. Happening.

It's all about college football anymore folks. If they drop to FCS, they'll probably join the Big East. Only way it happens.

[NJRedman]

I imagine you'd take Notre Dame and BYU is the same as Notre Dame with regard to football. They're committed to independence. They've turned down a couple of opportunities to play in football conferences. Instead, they're playing with Catholic schools in the West Coast Conference.

If you think they have a wandering eye and are waiting around for an invitation to a P5 conference, then you haven't been paying attention to what's been going on with them.

You can't honestly tell me that you believe that they'd turn down the Big 12 if they came offering, can you? If they had the chance to put all of their sports into a major conference, why wouldn't they? Particularly when they could tap into a major recruiting pipeline of Texas.

It's highly likely that they've already turned down the Big XII more than once.at least the people who cover. This stuff seem to think so.

Yeah, you're really really wrong on this one. BYU did NOT turn down the Big XII multiple times. They are on the outside of the F5 making way less money. Why would they turn down the Big XII? You have no proof that they were even offered let alone turned them down.

[Bill Marsh]

You can't honestly tell me that you believe that they'd turn down the Big 12 if they came offering, can you? If they had the chance to put all of their sports into a major conference, why wouldn't they? Particularly when they could tap into a major recruiting pipeline of Texas.

It's highly likely that they've already turned down the Big XII more than once.at least the people who cover. This stuff seem to think so.

I've looked all afternoon for anything that confirms that they were offered a spot in the Big 12 and I couldn't find anything credible either way. I guess I'll keep my opinion on this and let you keep yours if you so desire.

Chip Brown of Orangeblood.com had a series of reports back in 2011 when TCU was added that there was an offer on the table to BYU but they turned it down. Since then, West Virginia has been added and tHe Big XII has toyed at various ties with the idea of going from 10-12. It's likely that they again touched base with BYU again as each of these decisions was contemplated. Supporting this has been repeated speculation that both BYU's Sunday sports prohibition as well as their interest in their own network have been stumbling blocks to the two sides getting together. No need for such speculation if there weren't at least exploratory talks on the matter.

Okay with me that we hold different opinions on this. Behind-the-scenes expansion decisions are not exactly the kind of thing about which schools issue press releases. So, there's no way to know really. There's been enough smoke around this to convince me that talks went pretty deep. But I'm a gullible sort of guy.

[Bill Marsh]

If Cincinnati and/or Memphis leave the American, UCONN will not try and wait out their process of getting a competitive football program against ECU, Tulsa, Tulane, USF, UCF, Temple, SMU and Houston. They will not be able to keep treading water. The Big East would be their only life raft to survive.

We can afford to wait. Let's be patient.

I live near UConn andI can tell you that this is absolutely not true.

1. CT invested almost $100 million in the new UConn stadium + "in kind" contributions. They are not simply walking away from football.

2. The commitment is about much more than football. CT is intent on building a top tier public research university. Football is only one part of the formula to get there. They have also made major investments in research, especially in a human genome project. They will pursue this until it is accomplished and that will mean getting into a P5 conference. It's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when".

Where do you think UCONN ends up?

What happens to UCONN when the P5 becomes the P4 with 16 teams in each conference?

IMO, UConn will eventually be in either the Big Ten or the ACC.

I think that the P4/16 is a fantasy.

[Bill Marsh]

That's the thing with uconn, met. They want in a football 5 conference, but they actually have to be invited first. They think they belong in, but is there a conference out there that actually wants them? I do think the acc will eventually come calling for them, but that's not a given. (I could not see them in the big ten or big twelve)

Say the acc does not come calling when the divorce money reaches its peak in five years. What is uconn going to do? Will they stay in conference of Americans? Can't imagine they like that idea, especially if Memphis and cincy go to the big twelve.

I, not holding my breath in uconn, as I do think they end up in the acc, but no need to rule the, out as of yet.

My percentages of where uconn will be by 2019:
Acc: 70%
Big east: 10%
Conference of Americans: 10%
Big ten: 5%
Other 5%

If FB does indeed drive the bus as it relates to expansion, what exactly does UCONN give the ACC? Their FB program is terrible and they don't bring much of a market. I think the ACC would look at programs like Cincy or even Memphis before adding UCONN? Can you imagine the AD's of FSU, Miami and VT sitting in that meeting and hearing the big news of adding...(drumroll)...UCONN.

If anything that would hurt the ACC as it would be sending a message to its FB schools that it has little forward vision. It would be akin to us adding someone like Dayton. Why? UCONN = ideal add as a hoops program but a complete stretch for a P5 FB conference looking to improve upon its FB offering.

UConn will wait this one out even if it means sitting in the American for 20 years. Louisville provides them with all the inspiration they need. They will continue to build their football program until it gets to the level at which it ia acceptable to one of the P5 conferences. Obviously football is the key, so it's unlikely that they'll get invited any time soon. But once they build up football, they will be a very strong candidate.

They simply are not going to drop football just because revenue dips in 5 years. They are in this for the long haul.

[Bill Marsh]

You can't honestly tell me that you believe that they'd turn down the Big 12 if they came offering, can you? If they had the chance to put all of their sports into a major conference, why wouldn't they? Particularly when they could tap into a major recruiting pipeline of Texas.

It's highly likely that they've already turned down the Big XII more than once.at least the people who cover. This stuff seem to think so.

Yeah, you're really really wrong on this one. BYU did NOT turn down the Big XII multiple times. They are on the outside of the F5 making way less money. Why would they turn down the Big XII? You have no proof that they were even offered let alone turned them down.

You're right. I have no proof.

[NJRedman]

It's highly likely that they've already turned down the Big XII more than once.at least the people who cover. This stuff seem to think so.

I've looked all afternoon for anything that confirms that they were offered a spot in the Big 12 and I couldn't find anything credible either way. I guess I'll keep my opinion on this and let you keep yours if you so desire.

Chip Brown of Orangeblood.com had a series of reports back in 2011 when TCU was added that there was an offer on the table to BYU but they turned it down. Since then, West Virginia has been added and tHe Big XII has toyed at various ties with the idea of going from 10-12. It's likely that they again touched base with BYU again as each of these decisions was contemplated. Supporting this has been repeated speculation that both BYU's Sunday sports prohibition as well as their interest in their own network have been stumbling blocks to the two sides getting together. No need for such speculation if there weren't at least exploratory talks on the matter.

Okay with me that we hold different opinions on this. Behind-the-scenes expansion decisions are not exactly the kind of thing about which schools issue press releases. So, there's no way to know really. There's been enough smoke around this to convince me that talks went pretty deep. But I'm a gullible sort of guy.

How would a BYU network be a stumbling block? The Big XII doesn't have a network, yet Texas has their own. I'm sure there was talk about a possible invite, but one never came and certainly a decline never came. Schools only get invited if the conference knows it will be accepted and rarely does a second invite go out if the conference gets turned down once, the only instance I know of when that happened was with Utah St and the MWC. BYU's rivals Utah got an invite to the big boy table. They want to also want to be included so badly that they were seriously considering joining the Big East in its FB dying days. Also right now they don't get a full cut of the playoff money that everyone else gets and to the F5 they count as a G5 school when it comes to scheduling.

None of this matters because the presidents of the BE will NEVER invite a FBS FB school ever again so it's a moot point.