(05-20-2014 08:25 AM)BE4evah Wrote:  Scott Gray has been covering Connecticut sports for 30 years.

Well, this morning he just dropped a bombshell. And it includes a timeframe.

Uconn to the Big Ten.
WITHIN 30 days.

This was made on UConn's flagship radio station, WTIC 1080 at around 6:00 am this morning.


http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/personality/scott-gray/

Don't shoot the messenger.

...and let the silly-summer-expansion-rumor-mill season begin.

Anybody willing to create a "bet" thread on this like we did with "The Dude"'s 'ACC Exodus' rumors last year?

(05-20-2014 10:57 AM)orangefan Wrote:  I'll believe it when I seeit. However, if true, I agree with those who commented that it may be tied to the proposed revisions to NCAA rules regarding conference championships. In addition, I wonder whether it could be related to discussions with cable carriers about the price paid to the BTN for carriage in the NYC area.

If it's part of the CCG rules, then it wouldn't be 30 days, as that proposal won't even be heard until August 7 at the earliest.

(05-20-2014 10:41 AM)stever20 Wrote:  kind of curious what % chance that folks think this is true...

my guess is like a 10% chance. I just don't see it.

2-3%

(05-20-2014 10:41 AM)stever20 Wrote:  kind of curious what % chance that folks think this is true...

my guess is like a 10% chance. I just don't see it.

I'll take 5% mainly because B1G has historically been pretty good at keeping announcements under wraps.

Nobody at University of Buffalo had better be on the phone unless they have call waiting!

(05-20-2014 08:41 AM)templefootballfan Wrote:  Would not surprise me
when does Kansas talk

Kansas and UConn would really strengthen Big basketball.

(05-20-2014 10:57 AM)orangefan Wrote:  I'll believe it when I see it. However, if true, I agree with those who commented that it may be tied to the proposed revisions to NCAA rules regarding conference championships. In addition, I wonder whether it could be related to discussions with cable carriers about the price paid to the BTN for carriage in the NYC area.

The CCG proposal probably isn't enacted until August but if B1G, ACC, Big XII and Sun Belt are all on board it likely passes, that's 3/5ths of the power conferences and 1/5th of the G5 that would have a clear vested interest in support. I fully expect SEC to support the change because it gives them future flexibility both in scheduling and expansion. Pac-12 has to cross the Rockies and the Great Plains to do any expanding in the near future but they don't really have a compelling reason to oppose.

Until B1G signs their top tier rights they are a wild-card.

While I tabbed this as a 5% thing, I can see some reasons it makes a lot of sense.

Ties up the last loose end in the Northeast and better enables B1G to take on the ACC there.

I remain of the opinion that basketball is far more valuable to a conference network than it is to ESPN/Fox because you need live content to make a channel a destination. Basketball does that well. It is not inconceivable that B1G could adopt a four, six, or even seven day scheduling strategy in basketball instead of the typical 2 day strategy.

As we've seen with the recent MLS deal, digital rights are gaining serious value and digital rights favor quantity.

It isn't implausible that B1G may look to retain all or most their digital in this upcoming contract and offer an "out-of-market" package with a significant subscriber fee to consumers not served by a provider that bundles BTN2Go

The folks at the Uconn board are trying to get more information, but from the looks of it Scott Gray doesn't have a twitter account?? While that is pretty unusual, he is one of the old school media guys, so not too surprising.

There are different posters who definitely heard Scott Gray say it. The WTIC website has not been updated yet and doesn't have today's show available to rebroadcast.

http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/audio-on...y-dunaway/

FWIW, I don't think we have to wait 30 days to see if this has any basis off truth. If the report has its roots in sources as opposed to simple guessing/hoping for things to happen, other news outlets will be reporting it also (and I am not talking about our WV blogging friends). If nobody else corroborates this, then, IMO, this can be dismissed, as I doubt that this local reporter has some kind of scoop or source that the rest of the press, especially those that cover the BiG for a living, doesn't have.

(05-20-2014 11:41 AM)Eagle78 Wrote:  FWIW, I don't think we have to wait 30 days to see if this has any basis off truth. If the report has its roots in sources as opposed to simple guessing/hoping for things to happen, other news outlets will be reporting it also (and I am not talking about our WV blogging friends). If nobody else corroborates this, then, IMO, this can be dismissed, as I doubt that this local reporter has some kind of scoop or source that the rest of the press, especially those that cover the BiG for a living, doesn't have.

Agree. The only thing Gray may have that the B1G reporters don't is sources within the UCONN admin. I know he has gotten info from them in the past.

BYU would keep the Big 12 at 10 teams, if the Big is really adding Connecticut, because you can bet your bippy that Kansas will be added also.

(05-20-2014 12:04 PM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  BYU would keep the Big 12 at 10 teams, if the Big is really adding Connecticut, because you can bet your bippy that Kansas will be added also.

Both UConn and Kansas make sense. And if that happens, the Big12 (now 9) will be inviting 1 - 3 more schools. My guess: UC, UCF and USF.

Bombs Away here. Kansas and UConn to the B1G. WVU and Cincinnati to the ACC. Texas, Oklahoma to the SEC. Oklahoma St, Kansas St, Texas Tech, Iowa St , all to the PAC . Everyone at 16 in the new P4 + ND. Not likely but it could happen . Unfortunately for Baylor and TCU the PAC is Anti Religion based schools ala BYU. Maybe They wind up in the MWC or AAC. It's that slow period. LOL

(05-20-2014 11:46 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(05-20-2014 11:41 AM)Eagle78 Wrote:  FWIW, I don't think we have to wait 30 days to see if this has any basis off truth. If the report has its roots in sources as opposed to simple guessing/hoping for things to happen, other news outlets will be reporting it also (and I am not talking about our WV blogging friends). If nobody else corroborates this, then, IMO, this can be dismissed, as I doubt that this local reporter has some kind of scoop or source that the rest of the press, especially those that cover the BiG for a living, doesn't have.

Agree. The only thing Gray may have that the B1G reporters don't is sources within the UCONN admin. I know he has gotten info from them in the past.

Makes sense. That said, if this were actually happening and it is so confidential that none of the press that covers the BiG has it, then, IMO, it is highly improbable that Uconn admins would be leaking this information to a local reporter.

(05-20-2014 12:17 PM)CardFan1 Wrote:  Bombs Away here. Kansas and UConn to the B1G. WVU and Cincinnati to the ACC. Texas, Oklahoma to the SEC. Oklahoma St, Kansas St, Texas Tech, Iowa St , all to the PAC . Everyone at 16 in the new P4 + ND. Not likely but it could happen . Unfortunately for Baylor and TCU the PAC is Anti Religion based schools ala BYU. Maybe They wind up in the MWC or AAC. It's that slow period. LOL

WVU is never going to the ACC....never.

(05-20-2014 12:04 PM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  BYU would keep the Big 12 at 10 teams, if the Big is really adding Connecticut, because you can bet your bippy that Kansas will be added also.

Kansas signed the Big 12 GoR. They're only going if the B1G is willing do without Kansas's media rights for 10? more years.

(05-20-2014 12:15 PM)mac6115cd Wrote:  

(05-20-2014 12:04 PM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  BYU would keep the Big 12 at 10 teams, if the Big is really adding Connecticut, because you can bet your bippy that Kansas will be added also.

Both UConn and Kansas make sense. And if that happens, the Big12 (now 9) will be inviting 1 - 3 more schools. My guess: UC, UCF and USF.

Agree but it will be two of these three ECU, USF or UCF. After all this is about giving WVA some near by buddies. My guess:

Cincinnati
East Carolina
Central Florida

(05-20-2014 12:04 PM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  ... if the Big is really adding Connecticut, because you can bet your bippy that Kansas will be added also.

Not if Missouri still has the number to the B10 offices.

(05-20-2014 12:20 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  

(05-20-2014 12:04 PM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  BYU would keep the Big 12 at 10 teams, if the Big is really adding Connecticut, because you can bet your bippy that Kansas will be added also.

Kansas signed the Big 12 GoR. They're only going if the B1G is willing do without Kansas's media rights for 10? more years.

It is all going to depend on how Maryland Vs ACC is settled.

(05-20-2014 12:19 PM)Tigeer Wrote:  

(05-20-2014 12:17 PM)CardFan1 Wrote:  Bombs Away here. Kansas and UConn to the B1G. WVU and Cincinnati to the ACC. Texas, Oklahoma to the SEC. Oklahoma St, Kansas St, Texas Tech, Iowa St , all to the PAC . Everyone at 16 in the new P4 + ND. Not likely but it could happen . Unfortunately for Baylor and TCU the PAC is Anti Religion based schools ala BYU. Maybe They wind up in the MWC or AAC. It's that slow period. LOL

WVU is never going to the ACC....never.

And everyone said that about Us