(02-21-2020 09:53 AM)schmolik Wrote:  

(02-21-2020 09:03 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(02-20-2020 11:06 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(02-20-2020 03:37 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  In this regard, UConn is very much a peer institution, despite not being a Private school, to the Big East. If you have had historical success in basketball, continue to make the investments and commit resources to it, and have fans/alumni that can fill your arena up and travel well (especially to the BET), you can be considered an expansion candidate for the BE.

Location and legacy go far with UConn and this version of the Big East. I just don't know who else would fit the criteria that UConn does for the Big East. I mean, if it seems like I'm ragging on SLU, UMass would be getting it worse. I think the "prestige" component, academically, would be held against both VCU and Wichita State.

Quote:But, and to your point, there might be a decent number of BE fans that don't put much stock in the Catholic element related to future expansion.

I think it matters some, though. From what's been out there, we're still talking about UD and SLU...they were the runners-up for Creighton's spot. We know the BE was looking for a type.

Good point. And I believe both Dayton and SLU eventually will be offered BE invites. I hope they are.

That would mean a conference of 13. I highly doubt they will stop at 13. Maybe they go to 14 but who's 14? 12 seems more likely if they go to 12 at all. Right now they can stay double round robin in men's and women's basketball. I don't know if they will do a 22 game conference season. Are you sure we can't kick Creighton out? Too damn far west. Should have never been added in the first place.

I didn't mean to suggest the BE would want 13 instead of 14. I want it to eventually have 14, with SLU and Dayton clearly my top two. For No. 14, I continue to like Duquesne, but don't see that happening. I also like UMass. Frank the Tank notes Davidson as an option in this thread. I would be so-so on that one but could come around perhaps. And don't rule out Richmond or VCU. There will be options for the BE.