I can remember when the autonomy schools and ESPN created the P5 label several years back. We were told that these schools were in their group because of (among other things) 1) budget 2) history/tradition 3) attendance 4) TV viewership/brand strength.

I am a Cincinnati alum and fan. There aren't that many schools in the P5+Big East that have UC beat in all 4 of those categories. We are the 14h winningest program all-time, have spent the 10th most weeks in the AP Top 25 since the poll was created, have 2 national titles, 32 NCAAT appearances (13th most ever), 31 All-Americans (8 Consensus 1st Teamers), etc. We were the first program to play in three consecutive national title games, and the first to reach 5 consecutive final fours.

Also as a Cincinnati fan I take exception if you believe Xavier, as a member of the Big East, is a "bigger" program than UC. Most of the country could not tell you what city Xavier is located in. When the schools are playing at the same time XU games get moved down the radio dial for the UC broadcast.