UConn built its 40K seat stadium in the early part of this past decade and they did it for less than $100 million. With interest rates at record lows VU's new stadium wouldn't cost too much more than that even after factoring in other cost hikes. If they want to do this right they can. It is expensive to be sure but it is doable. As it is I still fear that they are going to get in with their current putrid plan.

(04-12-2011 11:51 AM)swagsurfer11 Wrote:  They just need to accept the future.
BE East:
G'town
Providence
Villanova
St. John's
Seton Hall
Notre Dame

West:
Xavier
Dayton
Marquette
St. Louis
Creighton
Depaul

What's so bad about that league? It's definitely not A-10.

I don't think a split is likely at all. However let's assume for a second that it does go down. When projecting a split, why does everyone always want to expand as well? If there is a schism - which I sincerely doubt - I am almost positive that the basketball schools would stick with an eight team league rather than going to a 12 team configuration. What doers adding Creighton or Dayton add to one's basketball league? Not much.

At most the basketball only Big East would add just one additional school for scheduling purposes and it would likely look like this:

Depaul
Georgetown
Marquette
Notre Dame
Providence
Seton Hall
St. John's
Villanova
+
Xavier OR St. Louis (not both) - for their market

I'm not sure that going to 12 teams in football is a smart idea financially but I am positive that in basketball it is a terrible idea.

(04-12-2011 12:00 PM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  I'm not sure that going to 12 teams in football is a smart idea financially but I am positive that in basketball it is a terrible idea.

12 teams is too many for a basketball-focused, no-football league. But 10 is a good number because it gives you 18 conference games, good strength of schedule (in a good league), and four fewer non-con games that you might have to "buy" to get someone to play at your place.

(04-12-2011 10:48 AM)TampaKnight Wrote:  Marquette, Villanova, St. John's, Providence, DePaul, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Georgetown are the basketball schools without football teams in the Big East.
Rutgers, Cincy, USF, WVU, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, UConn, TCU, are the football programs that have/will have football as well as basketball.
Bolded teams made it to the NCAA tournament. Those basketball schools are a great asset. Without them, Big East is more balanced in basketball without Providence, DePaul, and Seton Hall to water them down. I would say they contend to keep their strength in basketball intact, perhaps stronger, if they reduce their basketball member size.

Drop TCU and add ND to the Football side of the ledger and then you see how weak the basketball schools look (Marquette's in Wisc. and Depaul is in Chicago). Basically you have state schools (football and basketball) and catholic schools (basketball). Nova's sense of entitlement (repeating other posters here) may have begun a crack that will be very difficult to mend and may lead to an inevitable split.

I doubt that we'll split but it is nice to see the revenue generators standing up for themselves for a change.

(04-12-2011 10:17 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  Sorry to troll on this subject, however, who are the BE basketball schools? Looking at the BE standings this year, the top places (and 7 of the first 9) in the hoops league are occupied by football schools. Why does the BE need the basketball schools?

7 of the top 9? rutgers and usf finished in the top 9?