or logic (for pitt) to leave BE'.

trying to get link

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4752834


Some very nice comments by Dixon. But ultimately I suspect that $$$ would talk if Pitt got an invite.

Good read but unfortunately these decisions will be made by the financial people at a university and the B10 is coming with a bag of money.


BB coaches never liked the idea of leaving the BE. Boeheim was against the move to ACC for Syracuse and was very vocal about that.

Plus the academics at Pitt, or any school, would get wet over inclusion to the CIC.

(12-17-2009 09:39 PM)frogman Wrote:  BB coaches never liked the idea of leaving the BE. Boeheim was against the move to ACC for Syracuse and was very vocal about that.

exactly right, and i'd say Boeheim is far more influential at Syracuse and the decision making process than Dixon.

Which is to say that neither of their opinions really matters when it comes to that kinda $$.

Both coach's words have an effect on influencial alumni. But in the end, the side with all the money will win out...

What's really a shame in this system that other leagues could give 2 $hits about how their actions impact other conferences and their member institutions. College sports is incredibly cut-throat, as we saw from the ACC raid. I believe it was only the Duke or UNC AD that expressed concern over how the ACC raid would impact Big East schools.

Both coach's are saying how they feel about Big East basketball. All of us know that the real money comes from football. At the end of the day Dixon and Boeheim know this.

so...is the BE as we know it doomed? That sucks we were just getting to the point of dominance ;-)

(12-17-2009 10:10 PM)wvucrazed Wrote:  What's really a shame in this system that other leagues could give 2 $hits about how their actions impact other conferences and their member institutions. College sports is incredibly cut-throat, as we saw from the ACC raid. I believe it was only the Duke or UNC AD that expressed concern over how the ACC raid would impact Big East schools.

Whats worse is so far the Big East really hasn't made a statement or shown any attempt to be proactive or even reactive at this point. Granted its early in the process. The Big East had years to prepare for this.

I hope the BE has a few aces up the sleeve....if not I think we are efed

(12-17-2009 10:12 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  so...is the BE as we know it doomed? That sucks we were just getting to the point of dominance ;-)

Too early to tell. As long as WVU, Cincy, and Loiusville are in this league its still a viable league.

Looks like we may be forming the Metro again....hahahahah

Doesnt' anybody give a s%#@ about Eastern Football????? Dammit!

Us fans do. But the answer to your question is no. Eastern football died when Penn St joined the Big 10 and Boston College headed to the ACC.

But relax alittle. The Big 10 may take a Big XII team.

Yeah the good news is that the worst realistic scenario is that we lose one program. We can survive and thrive without any current BE member, although yes it would obviously be a hit.

It will become that much more important for Louisville to right their ship in football and for UCONN to continue to make strides under Edsall.

WVU needs to get back into the Top 10 - hopefully Stewart is able to get us there but I'm not a firm believer that he can maintain WVU at the high level obtained by DickRod. Time will tell...

Dixons Comments

http://stats.pennlive.com/cbk/story.asp?...a&tm=&src=

Quote:Pitt's Dixon opposes move to Big Ten

By ALAN ROBINSON,
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) Leaving the Big East for the Big Ten would be a big mistake for Pittsburgh, according to men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon.

Dixon calls the Big East "the best conference in college basketball history" and said it wouldn't benefit Pitt or any other conference member to switch leagues.

Big Ten officials plan to spend the next year to 18 months exploring whether to add a 12th member. Pitt has been mentioned as a likely candidate because it offers a large TV market, excellent academics and a prime location. The Panthers could renew their lapsed rivalry with Penn State and form a new one with nearby Ohio State.

Dixon needs to hear a lot more reasons than those.

"I can't see how any team would improve where they're at by movement," Dixon said Thursday. "Every situation, you have to look at why you're doing it to improve yourselves. And I can't see how moving from the best conference in college basketball history would be a good thing for anybody."

While Pitt football might have more to gain than the basketball team by joining the Big Ten, Dixon doesn't believe the move would significantly benefit coach Dave Wannstedt's program, either.

"We've got (football) bowl tie-ins greater than any other conference, as far as percentages, so what would we have to change for?" Dixon said. "This thing just keeps getting better."

Dixon mentioned no schools by name. However, abandoning longtime Big East rivalries with Syracuse, Georgetown and Connecticut and replacing them with Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota and Wisconsin - distant schools with no ties or significant attraction to Pitt - could erode interest in Panthers basketball.

Pitt built a new, on-campus basketball arena seven years ago largely because of the demand for Big East tickets. About 3,000 are on a waiting list for season tickets at the 12,508-seat Petersen Events Center.

To Dixon, the Big East became the envy of other basketball conferences when Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette, DePaul and South Florida joined in 2005. Fifteen of the Big East's 16 basketball-playing schools have made at least one Final Four appearance.

"We don't have to change, because things are heading in the right direction," Dixon said. "Other conferences might have to change to gain momentum, but our momentum has been consistent since the expansion itself. So, it's exciting to hear about it and talk about it, but at the end of the day who's really going to improve their position from our conference? Nobody."

Dixon's comments Thursday were the first by any Pitt coach or administrator since the Big Ten signaled its plans on Tuesday. Pitt chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg has been a strong Big East proponent, leading the expansion drive that kept the conference together after Boston College and Miami left for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2005.

Notre Dame, a Big East member in most sports except football, turned down the Big Ten in 1999.

Dixon also doesn't believe the NCAA basketball tournament will expand from 65 to 96 teams, a move that would create an extra weekend of play and allow far more mid-major schools to participate.

"I just don't see it changing," Dixon said. "I think it probably needs to be changed, but I don't think it can be."

Pitt has played in the last eight NCAA tournaments, the longest current streak of any Big East team.

"I think our numbers indicate how tough it is to make the NCAA tournament when we have by far the longest streak in the best conference in the country," Dixon said. "It just goes to show how tough it's become, especially in our conference, but I just don't know how they're going to change those things around."

Dixon seems to be way outspoken. For all we know Pitt may not be an option at this point, even if my hunch is telling me its Pitt.

(12-17-2009 11:10 PM)animus Wrote:  Dixon seems to be way outspoken. For all we know Pitt may not be an option at this point, even if my hunch is telling me its Pitt.

It is very possible B11 take a B12 school and the B12 can replace that school with UTAH. B11 really does not gain much by adding Pitt since one of the main reason is get more money for the B10 network. PSU got PA covered. If they do take someone from the BE, it will be RU or Cuse. Losing Cuse would hurt the BE because Cuse like UCONN pretty represented the BE for years in basketball. Losing RU, it will lose the potential of NJ/NYC market but it won't hurt the BE that much. RU has not done much to hold up the BE honor in anything. If you ask any average fan in CA where does RU play, many would get it right. If you ask them where CUSE or UCONN play, there is no doubt they would the BE. Those things take years to establish. At end of the day, I believe B11 will try for ND one final time and settle for Mizzou.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09352/1021919-142.stm