bryanw1995
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RE: Big East Expansion
(12-21-2022 03:59 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote: Gonzaga is in its own tier for Big East expansion candidacy, much like UConn was several years ago. If they want in, they will get in, no matter how many members of the Big East there are at present. Geography is a challenge, but it is a challenge that rests mainly with Gonzaga. For any individual school, it is a guaranteed road trip for both men's and women's basketball, along with a limited number of other Olympic sports annually. For Gonzaga, it is a high cost (both in finance and time) for all of its sports. However, with whatever offered payout by the Big East/FOX (especially if/when higher, if Gonzaga comes), it remains a significantly higher annual payout for Gonzaga than they have ever received before (not to mention joining a power hoops league for the first time ever). Granted, it all becomes moot if Gonzaga gets an invite it likes from either the PAC or Big 12, as both are both more geographically friendly and still a power hoops conference.
The other tier (which is everyone else) is (IMO) as follows:
1) Saint Louis. New major media market and recruiting territory. Big East-level facilities. An athletic department that is driven by men's basketball, and has shown a strong (recent) history of committing resources to be a top-level A10 program (hiring Majerus and Ford, new athletic support facilities). As a Jesuit school, they have BE peers with Creighton, Marquette, Xavier and Georgetown, the last of whom I believe leads the expansion committee. They don't have the March Madness success that was sought in 2012 (Butler/Xavier), but Creighton did not have much, if any, March success either, and they have grown into one of the top BE programs since being added as well (this season aside). SLU would be one of the largest BE schools in conference (12k enrollment) and is just outside the top-100 in academics for USNWR rankings. It also has over $1 billion in endowments, which only DePaul, Georgetown and Villanova can say.
2) Dayton. One of the most passionate and dedicated fan bases in the country. Average over 13k fans per home game. 19 NCAAT bids, with a (likely) S16 or better in 2020. While they do not offer a new media market or territory (Xavier), they also have strong Big East-level facilities that the school has invested in over the years. Dayton is also a Catholic school (Marianist), with an 11k enrollment and $770 million endownment. Academically, they are inside the top-130 in USNWR for rankings, which on-par with a number of BE schools. Dayton has a rivalry trophy with Xavier (Blackburn/McCafferty Trophy), which Dayton actually leads. I do believe Dayton gets hurt by being in close proximity to Xavier (as does Loyola Chicago, since DePaul is already in Chicago). However, they are not in the same city/town, and their strong fan attendance and commitment to high-level basketball should be valued (especially if they could get the resources of a BE-level program).
Next tier (long-shots):
1. VCU. It was rumored that they were once blocked by Georgetown in 2012. If they were blocked with Shaka Smart level success, I cannot see how they would be accepted without it. They are a public school (UConn is an exception, not a new acceptance of public institutions), and Richmond lacks the same urban qualities of many of the other BE locations.
2. UMass. Same as VCU. If UConn wasn't in the Big East, they wouldn't even be getting mentioned. Perhaps if Frank Martin gets them to tournament-level consistency in the coming years, perceptions change. Outside of Calipari years, the program has just never reached sustained success (where it was capable of making the tournament).
3. Davidson. Would be the smallest BE school by enrollment by over 3,000 students. It would also play in the smallest arena/gym in the Big East. Academics would wholeheartedly be accept as one of the top Liberal Arts programs in the country. Will be interesting to see what McKillop's son can do in the coming years ahead. Maybe they could rent the Spectrum Center for bigger BE games. It's proximity to Charlotte would be a plus.
4. Duquesne. Similar (but behind) to Davidson in that it simply lacks BE-level facilities. Pittsburgh excelled in the Big East as a market/area. Perhaps they could rent PPG Paints Arena. Duquesne is way behind any level of success that any of the other programs listed above.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc.../39259057/
That article seemed to imply that they make $9.1m per year, though that might have been just for that one year. Regardless, Gonzaga is already getting the lion's share of their NCAAT Units, and it's not certain that joining the BE or even the big 12 or Pac will pay them more on a short term basis. Long term? I'd take the stability of a solid Conference over needing to win 3-4 NCAAT games a year to break even from a Revenues standpoint. It will be interesting to see what they end up doing. My gut tells me they'll join the Pac and they're just waiting for the new deal to be signed, but it's possible they join the big 12 instead. Staying in the WCC or joining the BE are both possibilities, though less likely.
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