For those who think the Big East is acting from a position of strength (some have suggested this), I ask this: Notice the schools that the Big East are inviting in terms of where they are coming from?
Notice how when the Pac-10 expanded they raided the Big 12 (Colorado) and the Big 10 raided the Big 12 (Nebraska), the Big East (Rutgers) and the ACC (Maryland). The SEC expanded by raiding the Big 12 (Missouri and Texas A & M). The ACC raided the Big East (BC, Syracuse, Pitt, Miami, Notre Dame and Va Tech). The Big 12 raided the Big East for West Virginia.
The Big East raids small conferences. Why? Because no one worth anything wants to come to a conference hanging on by a thread.