Big East Expansion

First post, try not to kill me.

Okay, I love the Big East and it's potential. I think that at some point from 2020-2029, the Big East will be one of the deepest and more talented conferences in the country. But I also think they will have the least amount of exposure relative to talent. We have 10 teams and we should be sending half our conference to the tournament. Villanova, Seton Hall, Providence, Xavier, and Creighton. Over these next few years, all of these schools will continue to build better and better programs while Marquette, Butler, and St. John's will also build and build and build. DePaul has potential as well. We should be sending anywhere from 6-8 teams each year with a down year being 5.

But if we keep our current roster of teams at 10, we'll never send more than and we'll probably end up sending 4 on average. There will be the top 3 schools (say Villanova, Xavier, and Georgetown [just throwing out 3 schools]) and then schools like Seton Hall, St. John's, Marquette, Butler, Providence, Creighton, and even DePaul will all kill each other. Maybe one school is lucky enough to win 70% of those matchups but I can't see it being much more than a lot of splits. So for Team A that's already 6 losses on top of probably at least 3-6 more. I think we'll end up seeing a lot of tourney worthy rosters be given an NIT spot because there is just too much depth. There's no easy game, there's no cupcake to get back on track when you're struggling or keep the momentum going when you're hot. I think we need to expand. Here is my briefly researched list of 6 teams (pick 5) I would like to see added. It's basically making the Big East into a Power Conference mix of the Big East, MAAC, and A-10.

1: Iona.
2: Monmouth
3: Saint Louis
4. Dayton
5. Temple
6: Fordham

I know there's not a whole lot of bang here. But I think all of these schools with the exception of Fordham are all capable of having solid programs that could contend for the tourney at a similar rate to what they are now and some schools like Saint Louis and Dayton and Temple could do more with a boost in TV money , conference power, and exposure. A lot of these schools have small gyms. I think Fordham could strike a deal with Barclays to play a few games there much like Seton Hall and SJU do with their bigger arenas. I think Saint Louis and Dayton have adequately sized gyms, I think Temple, Iona, and Monmouth could use some extra TV Money to renovate their gyms for a bigger capacity.

I'm curious to see any other suggestions for maybe some bigger mid-major schools that could be a bit more intriguing or if you disagree with me entirely.

I think we'll probably stand pat for the next 5 or so years as you mentioned, unless there's another large scale conference shake up. If we do expand after that point, I would like to tap markets that are otherwise not used in the Big East, so no temple or Iona etc.

If we do expand, I would like to see VCU, a Boston school, Dayton or St. Louis and then a school in Florida or somewhere else south of Virginia. I'm not sure how committed the BE is to private schools, so that will be something to keep in mind as well.

Iona, Monmouth and Fordham are all lightyears away from being a program worthy of joining the Big East.

First post, try not to kill me.

Okay, I love the Big East and it's potential. I think that at some point from 2020-2029, the Big East will be one of the deepest and more talented conferences in the country. But I also think they will have the least amount of exposure relative to talent. We have 10 teams and we should be sending half our conference to the tournament. Villanova, Seton Hall, Providence, Xavier, and Creighton. Over these next few years, all of these schools will continue to build better and better programs while Marquette, Butler, and St. John's will also build and build and build. DePaul has potential as well. We should be sending anywhere from 6-8 teams each year with a down year being 5.

But if we keep our current roster of teams at 10, we'll never send more than and we'll probably end up sending 4 on average. There will be the top 3 schools (say Villanova, Xavier, and Georgetown [just throwing out 3 schools]) and then schools like Seton Hall, St. John's, Marquette, Butler, Providence, Creighton, and even DePaul will all kill each other. Maybe one school is lucky enough to win 70% of those matchups but I can't see it being much more than a lot of splits. So for Team A that's already 6 losses on top of probably at least 3-6 more. I think we'll end up seeing a lot of tourney worthy rosters be given an NIT spot because there is just too much depth. There's no easy game, there's no cupcake to get back on track when you're struggling or keep the momentum going when you're hot. I think we need to expand. Here is my briefly researched list of 6 teams (pick 5) I would like to see added. It's basically making the Big East into a Power Conference mix of the Big East, MAAC, and A-10.

1: Iona.
2: Monmouth
3: Saint Louis
4. Dayton
5. Temple
6: Fordham

I know there's not a whole lot of bang here. But I think all of these schools with the exception of Fordham are all capable of having solid programs that could contend for the tourney at a similar rate to what they are now and some schools like Saint Louis and Dayton and Temple could do more with a boost in TV money , conference power, and exposure. A lot of these schools have small gyms. I think Fordham could strike a deal with Barclays to play a few games there much like Seton Hall and SJU do with their bigger arenas. I think Saint Louis and Dayton have adequately sized gyms, I think Temple, Iona, and Monmouth could use some extra TV Money to renovate their gyms for a bigger capacity.

I'm curious to see any other suggestions for maybe some bigger mid-major schools that could be a bit more intriguing or if you disagree with me entirely.

Caught a St Louis game on TV a few night ago. Not sure if it was their on-campus arena, or (more likely) a public arena, but the place was packed and jumpin'. My guess was about 15k in attendance. Agree with other poster that BE should stand pat for a while, but I think St. Louis and Dayton would be prime addition targets. "Nova would reject a Temple or even St. Joe's (read: Philly) addition

Dayton and Temple would be strong additions. The rest are not operating at a high major level, or haven't for more than one season. It would take a divine act to put Fordham in the NIT, and that would account for their best season since the early 90s.

I would like to see the BE keep proximity in mind when they consider expansion. If you can't drive to a road game there needs to be a damn good reason to include them. I'd prefer Temple over Dayton on proximity alone. Temple would fit right in.

 

Temple has a D1 football team so there's 0% chance they join the BE unless they drop their football program which they won't do.  Can see the BE reaching out to St. Joe's though if they truly are looking to expand but as JayJay said, Nova would probably reject that. Dayton and VCU would also be solid as well.

No.

Iona, Monmouth and Fordham are all lightyears away from being a program worthy of joining the Big East.

So is St John's and DePaul

I think I remember something that Xavier would have to sign off on Dayton much like Nova would have to sign off on St Joes. Seton Hall would have to sign off on Monmouth and St Johns would also with Iona or Fordham, just from a geography standpoint. Not happening.

If we can have Creighton and DePaul, we can have St Louis, at least from a geography and basketball history point of view. VCU would be a nice addition too.

Why would the BE want St Louis? They had a couple good years but are now one of the worst teams in their conference. They aren't really a historically good program with much to offer. Not sure why they would be in the mix

You right, St Louis isn't that exciting. They were good when Majerus was there. Don't know if there really all that many candidates out there for an expansion. Any candidate would have to bring a population center that can be sold to Fox Sports.

Leave well-enough alone.  I like the home and home aspect of our conference. And I like that the schools have much in common, as well.  I would vote for no expansion in the near future. 

SJU will be very good in a couple of years and the resulting media exposure will help build prestige for the conference.  When you get the NYC media excited about SJU, as they were in 1985, publicity for our program (and the conference) will explode.

Big 12 is also a 10 team league and is looking at 7 teams in the tourney this year. Have a good non conference schedule and win those games and the league will be fine. I wouldn't go higher then 12 teams and I wouldn't do it anytime soon.

I'd wait until the next phase of realignment and try to pick off somebody like Wake Forest.  Private school, East coast, hoops focused, talks at trustee level to evaluate future of football, etc.  We might actually look relatively attractive to Wake if Duke and UNC leave for the Big 10.

UConn

I see us going to 12 with Dayton and VCU as strong possibilities as additions. 

"Light years away". Horrific season no doubt, but the ballers are coming next year (and beyond) and we won 20 three of the past five years against very good comp.  Our program is still light years better than Fordham, Monmouth or Iona.

Quote from: Johnnies91 on February 29, 2016, 03:41:23 PM

Iona, Monmouth and Fordham are all lightyears away from being a program worthy of joining the Big East.

So is St John's and DePaul

Why would the BE want St Louis? They had a couple good years but are now one of the worst teams in their conference. They aren't really a historically good program with much to offer. Not sure why they would be in the mix

This sounds familiar

Dayton would be good. Personally although its unrealistic would have loved to see Notre Dame join us for basketball only but they have that darn ACC contract.  Notre Dame St. John's was a good rivalry and is certainly missed.

Also a West Coast Big East would be interesting with adding St. Mary's and Gonzaga.  If we get enough teams could have 2 subdivisions as we already have a Midwest presence that could play both coasts.