Welcome to The Holy Land of Hoops

I have a hard time believing that the league still hasn't decided who they are inviting, but that is exactly what this sounds like.

The next bit of business will be to expand from the 7 Catholic Big East schools forming the core group of the new league, with Butler and Xavier regarded as locks to join in 2013. The 10 team still looks like Creighton, although Dayton is getting some support.

The overall plan will be to eventually expand to 12 teams. Dayton would be in that mix, but so would Saint Louis and Georgetown is making a strong push for Richmond.

http://ajerseyguy.com/

Dayton may have more history, but if they're trying to generate excitement for a new league, here is what the average casual basketball fan will think:

Creighton: "Oh yeah, that good little team that pulled a few upsets...they're interesting to watch, maybe I'll tune in"

Dayton: "Who?"

That 10th team should be an NCAA qualifier in the past year, if we have the choice. Will Dayton make the NIT?

If you don't know who Dayton is you haven't followed college hoops in the past decade. UK fans know who Dayton is. Seriously i don't know why we bash teams some times... that and if the tenth team should be an NCAA qualifier this year does that mean SLU is in? Does that mean the 9th team should be a NCAA qualifier as well? Does that mean X is out? I don't think so.


I also agree with admin... i think it will be 12 anyways so arguing who is 9, 10 and 11 is pretty silly. If Jersey Guy is right at this point it will be by more luck then anything else. Read his posts he is just bitter BEFBS - he has 0 contacts with the c7

BillEsq wrote:If you don't know who Dayton is you haven't followed college hoops in the past decade.

Thats kinda my point though: if we need to attract attention, we need to get it from people who don't follow the sport in the way most of us do. Xavier has made themselves enough of a name, even though they're off this year. Creighton has ~5 year name recognition; St. Louis may be better but are new enough that they aren't as well known. I actually have a decent feel on how 'casual' fans might feel about different teams: I just got out of a 4 year relationship in which the GF never wanted to watch basketball. In past years, I was aware of Creighton much more than St. Louis or Dayton (even with 3 A10 teams in Philly). Not trying to hate, just thinking what is going to draw eyes...although the competitive instinct in me would like to push the conference south and compete in ACC country since they took Syracuse and Pitt from us.

Then again, if TV eyes matters the most, maybe the extra 2 million to pull all 4 teams instead of just 2 from the A10 is worth it (or even 5, if the thought that Creighton is too far west carries and we get St. Louis, Dayton, and Richmond). As you mentioned in the ACC Garden thread, more games makes our corporate (Fox, MSG) overlords happier, and the conference more stable, from day 1.

Ppl know who Dayton is. The Dayton Xavier game is one of the highest rated games on ESPN. And that rivalry will help out new conference. But I say just go to 12

The schools are decided. Just beccause the 7 Presidents have not authorized the announcement does not mean the decisions have not been made.

IMO since there is no leagur organization at this point there are very few opportunities for leaks. Presidents do not typically talk to reporters such as jerseyguy.

Initially the criteria money wise/Fox wise may not be national attention but rather local cable subscribers. If Fox gets monthy monies from the cable subscribers in the 12 markets that is a large chunk of $$. As with the "old" BE once fans get to know the other 11 teams they will most likely watch BE games even if their team is not on that night.

MSG and NCAA games will bring more national recognition - if the games and teams are competitive and put on a good show--as happened with the original BE formula.

It will be a 10 team league.

Creighton will end up joining Xavier and Butler.

I doubt further expansion occurs in the foreseeable future. The schools prefer 10 and that group of 10 is stronger than that watered down group of 12.

If at some point someone with the requisite pedigree emerges, things can be reassessed.

augkash wrote:Ppl know who Dayton is. The Dayton Xavier game is one of the highest rated games on ESPN. And that rivalry will help out new conference. But I say just go to 12

I've heard that before, but have never seen the numbers. Anyone know the numbers, and the ratings for other rivalry games on ESPN?

12 is the number, 10 for 2013 and 12 for 2014. AD's would like 10 to have an 18 game conference schedule and 12 OOC. Fox wants 12 for programming reason. Fox is paying the money that makes the league viable so IMO they will win out. Fox is reported to be willing to up the $500M to $600M to keep the individual school annual amount at $4.1M with 12 teams.

Butler, X and Creighton in 2013, StL and Dayton in 2014.

Its a negotiation between FFox and Big East and between the 7 current Big East schools regarding who is added.

http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=5803

Sounds like it'll end up with Richmond rounding things out if we ever expand.