http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...ng-sources

Catholic 7 + Xavier & Butler.

Sweet conference!!!

Any maybe Creighton, Dayton, and St. Louis to follow.

Interesting a 12 school conference, all private, I think, and all Catholic, except Butler (for 'diversity' sake).

Fox Sports Networks - they are creating what we need (?) more sports networks, and will do television.

Does this sound like "Back to the future?" Are we back to the days when the Big East was founded and supported by fledgling ESPN?

Name for the remaining Big East teams: ?????????????

Being from St. Louis, I'm loving the support that SLU is getting for its basketball now, and it'll hopefully continue if/when they go to the Big East. The strange thing is that this has been their goal ever since they left the C-USA, it was thought that the A-10 would be the gateway to this conference. Only problem was that it took a lot longer than expected, so many thought them going to the Missouri Valley would've been the better option. Who knows if they'd be in this position now if they did. I don't know what the oBE will name themselves, but probably something generic like the Great East.

(03-01-2013 10:12 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  I don't know what the oBE will name themselves, but probably something generic like the Great East.

Right here, this is what they should call themselves

I wonder if UMass hadn't joined the MAC would they have been a candidate?

All of the reported 12 schools I believe are private (and certainly UMass isn't).

UMass might have been a nice add to go with St. Johns, Villa Nova, Seton Hall and G'town.

Or maybe there would be enough 'east' in the Big East????

This sounds like a great conclusion for the nonFB schools. But what about the FB schools. No way this conference (BE) survives with the hodge podge they have. Once the Maryland situation plays out, the BIG will probably add at least two more, then the remaining BE schools will scramble to get in the ACC. This will go on for at least another year or two. What I want to know is what comes next. The MAC is a lower conference that seems to be sitting by waiting to see. UMASS may be in play as may Buffalo, NIU, Toledo. Or, the MAC may be talking to WKU, MTSU, Temple or others. No reason why a bigger MAC couldn't succeed. I hope there is some big thinking going on and not one resigned to losing members, taking on the crumbs that are left, etc..

(03-01-2013 10:45 AM)bigredmachine Wrote:  This sounds like a great conclusion for the nonFB schools. But what about the FB schools. No way this conference (BE) survives with the hodge podge they have. Once the Maryland situation plays out, the BIG will probably add at least two more, then the remaining BE schools will scramble to get in the ACC.

Maybe, but it doesn't take much to assemble a sensible EC league:

Cincy, UConn, Temple, USF, UCF + Navy, ECU, UMass, Army, Buff, Akron, OIHO

(03-01-2013 10:41 AM)emu steve Wrote:  I wonder if UMass hadn't joined the MAC would they have been a candidate?

All of the reported 12 schools I believe are private (and certainly UMass isn't).

UMass might have been a nice add to go with St. Johns, Villa Nova, Seton Hall and G'town.

Or maybe there would be enough 'east' in the Big East????

No UMass would in no way have been a candidate for the C7 keague

They should call themselves USA Conference (USAC).

(03-01-2013 11:11 AM)Falcon1407 Wrote:  They should call themselves USA Conference (USAC).

Maybe they can become the Metro Conference.

(03-01-2013 11:16 AM)bn9 Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 11:11 AM)Falcon1407 Wrote:  They should call themselves USA Conference (USAC).

Maybe they can become the Metro Conference.

Its much better than starting with a brand new name and half of the remaining teams were involved with it at one time.

Conference Mid America!

A combination of former CUSA/MAC schools which they all are...

(03-01-2013 11:00 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 10:45 AM)bigredmachine Wrote:  This sounds like a great conclusion for the nonFB schools. But what about the FB schools. No way this conference (BE) survives with the hodge podge they have. Once the Maryland situation plays out, the BIG will probably add at least two more, then the remaining BE schools will scramble to get in the ACC.

Maybe, but it doesn't take much to assemble a sensible EC league:

Cincy, UConn, Temple, USF, UCF + Navy, ECU, UMass, Army, Buff, Akron, OIHO

Cinci might not like that much Ohio although its really a decent geographic spread.

Still no reason for the MAC to act... Nobody out there will substancially improve the conference

(03-01-2013 10:45 AM)bigredmachine Wrote:  This sounds like a great conclusion for the nonFB schools. But what about the FB schools. No way this conference (BE) survives with the hodge podge they have. Once the Maryland situation plays out, the BIG will probably add at least two more, then the remaining BE schools will scramble to get in the ACC. This will go on for at least another year or two. What I want to know is what comes next. The MAC is a lower conference that seems to be sitting by waiting to see. UMASS may be in play as may Buffalo, NIU, Toledo. Or, the MAC may be talking to WKU, MTSU, Temple or others. No reason why a bigger MAC couldn't succeed. I hope there is some big thinking going on and not one resigned to losing members, taking on the crumbs that are left, etc..

+1, the MAC could really be in a position to grab a few schools (Temple, Marshal, Army)

(03-01-2013 11:32 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 11:00 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 10:45 AM)bigredmachine Wrote:  This sounds like a great conclusion for the nonFB schools. But what about the FB schools. No way this conference (BE) survives with the hodge podge they have. Once the Maryland situation plays out, the BIG will probably add at least two more, then the remaining BE schools will scramble to get in the ACC.

Maybe, but it doesn't take much to assemble a sensible EC league:

Cincy, UConn, Temple, USF, UCF + Navy, ECU, UMass, Army, Buff, Akron, OIHO

Cinci might not like that much Ohio although its really a decent geographic spread.

I think it benefits Cincy, w/ rivals near urban centers that should generate media coverage, yet they aren't overly local like Miami(OH) and XU.

(03-01-2013 10:45 AM)bigredmachine Wrote:  No reason why a bigger MAC couldn't succeed.

Yes, there is.

Quote: I hope there is some big thinking going on and not one resigned to losing members, taking on the crumbs that are left, etc..

A leaner MAC may not be a bad thing.

(03-01-2013 12:00 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 10:45 AM)bigredmachine Wrote:  No reason why a bigger MAC couldn't succeed.

Yes, there is.

Quote: I hope there is some big thinking going on and not one resigned to losing members, taking on the crumbs that are left, etc..

A leaner MAC may not be a bad thing.

Too many calories in a Big MAC?

(03-01-2013 12:00 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 10:45 AM)bigredmachine Wrote:  No reason why a bigger MAC couldn't succeed.

Quote:

A leaner MAC may not be a bad thing.

Are you suggesting we drop a program or two? That to me would be the best expansion strategy. Addition by subtraction is what the MAC has needed for years.

(03-01-2013 12:17 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 12:00 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 10:45 AM)bigredmachine Wrote:  No reason why a bigger MAC couldn't succeed.

Quote:

A leaner MAC may not be a bad thing.

Are you suggesting we drop a program or two?

No. I am saying if the MAC split it might not be a bad thing.

As for dropping programs, the higher ed bubble may take care of that:

Akron joined in 1992, and the conferences has looked similar for 20 years. Buff, NIU and Marshall were significant, but not major changes.

20 years from now, I predict that won't be the case.

(03-01-2013 12:34 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 12:17 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 12:00 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 10:45 AM)bigredmachine Wrote:  No reason why a bigger MAC couldn't succeed.

Quote:

A leaner MAC may not be a bad thing.

Are you suggesting we drop a program or two?

No. I am saying if the MAC split it might not be a bad thing.

As for dropping programs, the higher ed bubble may take care of that:

Akron joined in 1992, and the conferences has looked similar for 20 years. Buff, NIU and Marshall were significant, but not major changes.

20 years from now, I predict that won't be the case.

Care to make any prediction, ie what schools will feel impact of the higher ed bubble you reference? I have had similar thoughts but don't know enough about each of the individual programs to make a full on guess.