Hmmm....fancy that! The BE will stay at 10 teams and beef up the nonconference scheduling. This is what I posted about the B12 some time ago.

From Providence Journal, June 7, 2014
"The Big East has tabled any expansion talk and clearly won't be growing beyond 10 members anytime soon. The reasons are simple: 10 is the perfect basketball scheduling number, the 10-member Big 12 has shown that that number of schools can work splendidly in hoops, and TV partner FOX isn't demanding any change in inventory."

"What Providence College's Driscoll says the league is planning on doing some juicing up FOX's offerings in the nonconference portion of the season. The recently announced Gavitt Tipoff series with the Big Ten is a great start, and sources said FOX was working to broker a similar partnership between the PAC 12 and Big East."

"Instead of expanding, we want to emphasize playing more high profile games that will help us with TV and get more teams into the NCAA tournament," Driscoll said."

If that is indeed true, guess that means the Atlantic 10 can sleep a little easier? Won't be losing Saint Louis or Dayton anytime soon.

I thought that sounded familiar ~ that was originally posted when it was news, on or soon after June 7. Go down far enough there is a discussion thread about it.

So for this echo ... just insert what I said the last time.

that's dumb move
beefing up OOC sch never works, schools are looking for wins & home games
taking bite out of A-10, devour your competation
St Lious & Dayton would help with SOS & travel costs
if 10 is so brilliant, why is so few conf there

This isn't a Big East decision... this is a FOX decision... Fox has probably said off the record to the Big East, your ratings do not justify the money you're presently receiving, and we won't increase your media contract value if you add additional members.

Thus to each other and off the record, I'm sure the Big East presidents said, "we we aren't taking a pay cut to add new members; how do we improve the quality of our programming to impress FOX... pause ... let's schedule better OOC with other brand name Fox partners."

If anyone thinks that decisions on alliances and expansion are not the say of television partners - you are kidding yourself!

How much flexibility does Fox have in moving Big 10 games to Fox Sports 1? It seems like it shouldn't be an issue with Fox owning 49% of BTN, but I don't think Fox took advantage of it last year. If say, Xavier and Ohio State sign a home-and-home agreement, Fox in theory should have some flexibility in what network shows both games.

(06-22-2014 07:31 AM)IceJus10 Wrote:  This isn't a Big East decision... this is a FOX decision... Fox has probably said off the record to the Big East, your ratings do not justify the money you're presently receiving, and we won't increase your media contract value if you add additional members.

Thus to each other and off the record, I'm sure the Big East presidents said, "we we aren't taking a pay cut to add new members; how do we improve the quality of our programming to impress FOX... pause ... let's schedule better OOC with other brand name Fox partners."

Bingo. This wasn't by choice.

i think it was by choice. IMO the only candidate that is acceptable to all of the BE is StLouisU. Its number 12 that continues to cause debate.
The appeal of 10 members and the round robin is greater than the appeal of just adding an 11th team in SLU...at least for now

VCU, gonzaga, saint louis, dayton, wichita state.......

are there any other quality BB schools other than those 5 that are:
1. not a member of the big east
2. not in a FBS conference

BE would take paycut regardless, fewer home games
winning pct goes down, less donation, smaller crowds
smaller BB tourn, more travel exp
less NCAA bids
wouldn't 2 div races, 2 more markets N 6 more conf games jack up ratings
now you have more options to improve OOC sch

Big East never had plans beyond 10. This isn't news. If they wanted 12, they would have taken 12 teams last year.

The 11th and 12th teams in the Big East are Never and Not Happening.

(06-22-2014 10:23 AM)LouPower Wrote:  Big East never had plans beyond 10. This isn't news. If they wanted 12, they would have taken 12 teams last year.

The 11th and 12th teams in the Big East are Never and Not Happening.

Yup. The round robin format against the other Catholics was one of the primary desires when they broke away. If there was a huge pot of gold available for Big East expansion, then Im sure they would consider adding schools---but that theoretical pot of gold doesnt exist right now.

What I see here is new power conference schools like Creighton and Butler once they get into the BE are circling the wagons, voting no on expansion because who would want to give up their permanent recruiting advantage over MVC and A10 teams?

The same could be applied to Utah in the PAC and TCU in the B12. Even though both backed into a P5 conference due to initial plans not working neither would provide a vote to expand that would dilute their new found power schedule.

Rutgers I believe is an exception to the rule because they would have something to gain with a Virginia, UNC, Duke, GT expansion. They would never leave the B1G because of its prestige but would prefer less Midwest schools on the docket.

My guess though the B1G tries to digest the Nebraska, Maryland, Rutgers expansion for a few years first. The ACC GOR is up in 2026 meaning the B1G can sit and wait a decade on it if it wants.

Weren't Creighton and Butler just playing in the Big East already this past season? I believe so. I still think St.Louis and Dayton along with WSU and VCU should be in the Big East but thats just My opinion.

If the Big East has another bad season then they may rethink expansion.

(06-22-2014 09:06 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  

(06-22-2014 07:31 AM)IceJus10 Wrote:  This isn't a Big East decision... this is a FOX decision... Fox has probably said off the record to the Big East, your ratings do not justify the money you're presently receiving, and we won't increase your media contract value if you add additional members.

Thus to each other and off the record, I'm sure the Big East presidents said, "we we aren't taking a pay cut to add new members; how do we improve the quality of our programming to impress FOX... pause ... let's schedule better OOC with other brand name Fox partners."

Bingo. This wasn't by choice.

Actually, Fox was going to give them the same share if they added two additional members. No individual payout dilution. What I think the Big East wanted was some additional money incentives to get that twelve. If they have to expand, they want to be paid more for it (travel, ollies, hubris...I don't know, pick one), not paid the same. Apparently, there isn't even enough consensus for just one more, which someone like St. Louis or Dayton could have filled without added travel stress.

OOC material is a good idea, but you have to win some of those games, too.

I've heard Richmond rolled around a few times, and that certain schools (like Georgetown) want them. The conference had a chance to start that absorption process when it was short a lacrosse member for the AQ...it went out to the Rockies and plucked Denver instead. While I don't blame the Big East for picking up a program like that, Richmond was still right there. And rather than expand to surpass the minimum for AQ, they stand pat. So, where does that leave Richmond?

(06-24-2014 08:42 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(06-22-2014 09:06 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  

(06-22-2014 07:31 AM)IceJus10 Wrote:  This isn't a Big East decision... this is a FOX decision... Fox has probably said off the record to the Big East, your ratings do not justify the money you're presently receiving, and we won't increase your media contract value if you add additional members.

Thus to each other and off the record, I'm sure the Big East presidents said, "we we aren't taking a pay cut to add new members; how do we improve the quality of our programming to impress FOX... pause ... let's schedule better OOC with other brand name Fox partners."

Bingo. This wasn't by choice.

Actually, Fox was going to give them the same share if they added two additional members. No individual payout dilution. What I think the Big East wanted was some additional money incentives to get that twelve. If they have to expand, they want to be paid more for it (travel, ollies, hubris...I don't know, pick one), not paid the same. Apparently, there isn't even enough consensus for just one more, which someone like St. Louis or Dayton could have filled without added travel stress.

OOC material is a good idea, but you have to win some of those games, too.

I've heard Richmond rolled around a few times, and that certain schools (like Georgetown) want them. The conference had a chance to start that absorption process when it was short a lacrosse member for the AQ...it went out to the Rockies and plucked Denver instead. While I don't blame the Big East for picking up a program like that, Richmond was still right there. And rather than expand to surpass the minimum for AQ, they stand pat. So, where does that leave Richmond?

I haven't heard the part you said about wanting to be paid more...? Not saying you're wrong, but it's been discussed on the other site (HLoH) continously, and that's never come up.

I think it's simply the combination of (1) positives with the round robin, (2) not having an obvious home run candidate for #12 (VCU public, Gonzaga too far, etc) and waiting for one school to really stand out, and (3) #3 or #4 rated conference, with recruiting and attendance being great.

(06-24-2014 09:24 AM)billyjack Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 08:42 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Actually, Fox was going to give them the same share if they added two additional members. No individual payout dilution. What I think the Big East wanted was some additional money incentives to get that twelve. If they have to expand, they want to be paid more for it (travel, ollies, hubris...I don't know, pick one), not paid the same. Apparently, there isn't even enough consensus for just one more, which someone like St. Louis or Dayton could have filled without added travel stress.

OOC material is a good idea, but you have to win some of those games, too.

I've heard Richmond rolled around a few times, and that certain schools (like Georgetown) want them. The conference had a chance to start that absorption process when it was short a lacrosse member for the AQ...it went out to the Rockies and plucked Denver instead. While I don't blame the Big East for picking up a program like that, Richmond was still right there. And rather than expand to surpass the minimum for AQ, they stand pat. So, where does that leave Richmond?

I haven't heard the part you said about wanting to be paid more...? Not saying you're wrong, but it's been discussed on the other site (HLoH) continously, and that's never come up.

I think it's simply the combination of (1) positives with the round robin, (2) not having an obvious home run candidate for #12 (VCU public, Gonzaga too far, etc) and waiting for one school to really stand out, and (3) #3 or #4 rated conference, with recruiting and attendance being great.

I'm unclear what the expansionary measures expected. Like, did the Big East have to take two to get the money, or would it have been prorated for just one? Because I can understand standing pat at ten when you can't find two schools you want unanimously. If they can't even agree on one, though?

(06-22-2014 10:23 AM)LouPower Wrote:  Big East never had plans beyond 10. This isn't news. If they wanted 12, they would have taken 12 teams last year.

The 11th and 12th teams in the Big East are Never and Not Happening.

I disagree in the sense that it isn't imminent. I think they will eventually move to 12, but that's years away.

(06-24-2014 08:42 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(06-22-2014 09:06 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  

(06-22-2014 07:31 AM)IceJus10 Wrote:  This isn't a Big East decision... this is a FOX decision... Fox has probably said off the record to the Big East, your ratings do not justify the money you're presently receiving, and we won't increase your media contract value if you add additional members.

Thus to each other and off the record, I'm sure the Big East presidents said, "we we aren't taking a pay cut to add new members; how do we improve the quality of our programming to impress FOX... pause ... let's schedule better OOC with other brand name Fox partners."

Bingo. This wasn't by choice.

Actually, Fox was going to give them the same share if they added two additional members. No individual payout dilution.

I agree that was on the table originally. With the terrible ratings last year, I personally believe that has been taken off the table.