Why The Big East Won't Expand - - Round Robin

[MUPanther]

One of the things I like about Fox this year is that they're putting more Big East games on the regular Fox network stations, not just on their cable sports channels. Did they have any games on their regular network channels last year? This is giving conference games a lot more exposure to a general audience, something that ESPN can't do. Hopefully, some of those viewers will migrate over to FS1. I also like the fact that I'm seeing more games on FS2 this year instead do showing up on CBSSN.

There was two Big East games on FOX last year. About 15 Big East and Pac-12 on FOX this season.

Why don't you like CBSN, it another network with another staff work and taking Big East basketball. FS2 is a joke right now, as it's only in 30 million home. TWC doesn't even offer the channel in HD.

[stever20]

One of the things I like about Fox this year is that they're putting more Big East games on the regular Fox network stations, not just on their cable sports channels. Did they have any games on their regular network channels last year? This is giving conference games a lot more exposure to a general audience, something that ESPN can't do. Hopefully, some of those viewers will migrate over to FS1. I also like the fact that I'm seeing more games on FS2 this year instead do showing up on CBSSN.

There was two Big East games on FOX last year. About 15 Big East and Pac-12 on FOX this season.

Why don't you like CBSN, it another network with another staff work and taking Big East basketball. FS2 is a joke right now, as it's only in 30 million home. TWC doesn't even offer the channel in HD.

I think the number of BE games on CBSSN is almost exactly the same as last year. If anything, the quality of games has been higher(see last night's PC/Georgetown game as an example).

[BEwannabe]

Both CBS and NBC sports chanels are better productions than FS1 and it's not even close. I can only imagine the snickers in the Bristol over FS1 productions.

[78 friar]

Just to get back to the original thought in the thread. Obviously, Gonzaga would be the ultimate get for the conference and arrangements can be made to minimize travel difficulties for basketball. The real problem as I recall is that you have to participate in 10 sports to be part of a conference, and this is where the real difficulties lie. With the potential of all big east schools being put into a position where they may soon be paying out 40 to 60 thousand a year in player stipends, I don't think they're going to be happy flying the women's volleyball or men's tennis team out to the west coast on an annual basis

[gosports1]

Every potential candidate has its flaws. If we went to 11 i still think the best overall fit/choice/selection is SLU

[gmoser1210]

Every potential candidate has its flaws. If we went to 11 i still think the best overall fit/choice/selection is SLU

If that's the case, let's pray we don't go to 11. I don't want to split the TV and tournament revenue with a team that hasn't shown an ability have sustained success or make it to at least the second weekend of the tournament.

[stever20]

Every potential candidate has its flaws. If we went to 11 i still think the best overall fit/choice/selection is SLU

no way. Have you looked at SLU this year? RPI 222. Everything they did was because of Majerus and he's gone. Sorry- not interested whatsoever.

[MUPanther]

Both CBS and NBC sports chanels are better productions than FS1 and it's not even close. I can only imagine the snickers in the Bristol over FS1 productions.

Are you joking. FS1 is the best! ESPN crews are super low on the poll and there is zero player features. As for NBCSN, there new graphics are very bad.

[Edrick]

SLU isn't a good basketball program and really hasn't been for a 1/2 century outside of a handful of anomalies. There's no reason to even discuss programs like that. 10 will always be better than such circumstances.

UConn IS the Big East expansion discussion. It is 10 until they decide their football fate. Nothing is happening before UConn is settled. There is no catalyst for anything for a great while now, its just not pertinent discussion.

[Bill Marsh]

Just to get back to the original thought in the thread. Obviously, Gonzaga would be the ultimate get for the conference and arrangements can be made to minimize travel difficulties for basketball. The real problem as I recall is that you have to participate in 10 sports to be part of a conference, and this is where the real difficulties lie. With the potential of all big east schools being put into a position where they may soon be paying out 40 to 60 thousand a year in player stipends, I don't think they're going to be happy flying the women's volleyball or men's tennis team out to the west coast on an annual basis

This is the objection we always hear. It's not basketball that's the problem; it's all the other sports. So, let's examine that problem.

1. The Big East sponsors 22 men's & women's sports, but on.y 10 of them compete in a regular schedule of competition. The rest compete in a championship event. So, there's no need to fly the men's tennis team to the West Coast because they don't compete in a regular schedule of conference competition.

2. Of the 10 teams which do sponsor a regular schedule of competition, only 2 schools partita the in all 10 sports. Two members participate in as few as 6. So, now we're down to only 5 other teams that need to be flown to the West Coast.

3. Not all sports play home-&-home schedules. LAX and Field Hockey, for example, play other teams only once a year. Obviously the Big .east would want to work out an arrangement with Gonzaga for them to participate in as few sports requiring annual trips as possible.

4. All schools participate in both men's and women's hoops and soccer. Once again, with attention to the schedule, men and women's schedules can be coordinated so that they are playing on the same West Coast trips. This would allow them to travel together, saving on travel costs.

5. It's not like the trips to Gonzaga represent new costs. These games would replace existing games on the schedule. While flight costs would increase, hotels, meals, etc are costs that already exist as does some percent of the airline cost.

6. The same scheduling approach that I suggested for men's basketball should be used for other teams, I.e. Whenever possible, pair trips with Creighton, meaning that only the return trip from Spokane represents a new cost.

I'm sure there are other solutions which haven't occurred to me to reduce the cost impact. Point is that it's nowhere near what has been claimed.