CSNbbs

1. No more schizophrenia of competing sports interests. The Big East is back now to what it's created for: promoting basketball and Olympic sports

2. Schools having similar interests in one league means that there are more chances of academic cooperation, which is a way college athletics separates itself from the pro counterparts

3. Having good teams, including a national champion and likely #1, means that questions about the ability to compete on the national stage are now well in the background

4. Maintaining the tournament site was a necessary but still brilliant move. It gives hope for non-P5 leagues that they can find their own niche outside of football

5. Finally, sending a message that not everything is about football. I happen to love watching CFB over the pros but what's so wrong with people with other sports interests having their own shining moments to look forward to (no pun intended)?

Yes, the old days aren't coming back but the way the Big East has recovered from the break-up is a sight to see. It's much tighter than in the past, which is a plus to me. I also think you're correct in sticking to ten teams for the time being. For the first time in a long time, there's no threat of teams moving out. So you're in a position of relative stability. That's something of a luxury in this day and age.

The football schools were coming and going so fast I no longer remember who was actually in the conference when the C7 finally decided to leave.

Xavier, Butler and Creighton were great additions to the new conference.

I love the Big East for the simple fact it is a "niche conference." Basketball-driven, large Midwest and Northeastern markets, with an emphasis in being private/Catholic. I enjoy the homogeny of the conference and I wish it well during with any future expansions, if any.

I don't believe the Big East should consider Connecticut or any other public institution. I would personally only consider the private schools in the Atlantic 10 and maybe Denver (current lacrosse affiliate) and possibly Detroit Mercy.

The split was the very best possible scenario after what happened with the defections. While we have had our success out-of-conference, in-conference and in the tournament, look no further at where both UConn and Cincinnati are currently - in a league with little basketball strength, empty arenas, low tournament seeds and small tournament bids. The committee does not view that conference as highly as the Big East, plain and simple.

Plus, with all the revenue we are getting from Fox, many of the schools are once again investing in their schools and programs. We will begin to separate even further in due time.