Creighton athletic director Bruce Rasmussen, known to Wichita State from the Bluejays' days in the Missouri Valley Conference, said he's pushing for Big East expansion from 10 to 12 teams and that WSU and Gonzaga would be good fits.
Rasmussen was careful to say that his opinion in these matters might not carry much weight, but that the Big East presidents and athletic directors have agreed to discuss the possibility of expansion at the conference's annual meetings in May.
"As a part of the strategic planning exercise the Big East Conference is currently undertaking, the topic of expansion is an agenda item," Rasmussen said in a text message. "While I do not sense a great appetite currently by Big East presidents for expansion, I personally would be an advocate for adding Gonzaga and Wichita State."
http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article68305147.html
Please no, my stance remains the same. Unless UCONN drops football, the big east should stay at 10.
Sounds like it's really just the Creighton guy pushing for it. Don't know how much traction it has with the rest of the conference.
Jeez, the Big East just can't leave a good thing alone. These rumors pop up on a fairly regular basis. Where there's smoke.....
Don't get it. There's only a couple of clear slam dunks (Notre Dame, UConn if they dropped football). Gonzaga is intriguing, but not realistic. Too far away. WSU???? Huh?
Nothing wrong with discussing it. It's better for the schools to talk things through, weigh the options/pros/cons, reach consensus and have a clear plan (one way or the other) rather than be uninformed or unprepared.
They should always have it as a point of discussion. Doesn't mean they should or would do it.
Quote from: source? on March 25, 2016, 05:36:29 PM
Sounds like it's really just the Creighton guy pushing for it. Don't know how much traction it has with the rest of the conference.
They agreed to talk about expansion. Creighton guy is pushing for those two schools. Who knows what the other 9 member think. first they have to agree to expand then they can argue over who. I think, if you go with Gonzaga than you need another western school.
Quote from: Groin_pull on March 25, 2016, 05:44:28 PM
Jeez, the Big East just can't leave a good thing alone. These rumors pop up on a fairly regular basis. Where there's smoke.....
Don't get it. There's only a couple of clear slam dunks (Notre Dame, UConn if they dropped football). Gonzaga is intriguing, but not realistic. Too far away. WSU???? Huh?
I think the Big East tournament would be better with 12 teams. Adding Gonzaga and Wichita St would raise the conference profile. All you are giving up is the round robin.
Quote from: bilsu on March 25, 2016, 05:48:36 PM
I think the Big East tournament would be better with 12 teams. Adding Gonzaga and Wichita St would raise the conference profile. All you are giving up is the round robin.
Personal opinion but I think VCU gives you more than Wichita. Similar recent success, better facilities, bigger school (31,000 vs 14,500), better academics, bigger endowment, shorter distance to MSG, basically better in every way.
Quote from: bilsu on March 25, 2016, 05:48:36 PM
I think the Big East tournament would be better with 12 teams. Adding Gonzaga and Wichita St would raise the conference profile. All you are giving up is the round robin.
Well, Gonzaga is going to need a Western partner. That gets you to 13. But then you need to have an even number of teams. So now you have to find one that gets you to 14.
Again, I like Gonzaga, but just not very realistic. Are they hoops only? Can't imagine our Olympic sports teams trucking out to Spokane and vice versa. Personally, WSU doesn't nothing for me. A mediocre school parked in the middle of dust bowl Kansas. Dayton? Saint Louis? No and no.
I like the current arrangement. Like-minded schools in, or close to, urban centers.
Add more schools like those mentioned above and you're getting dangerously close to C-USA 2.0
The Big East doesn't have to add teams to remain one of the top 5 basketball conferences. Even bringing in two quality programs wouldn't necessarily be an improvement in terms of the on-court product.
From the perspective of Creighton's AD, you can see where it makes sense. They're the westernmost school in the conference and could benefit from potential new rivalries. But the right fit isn't just about public vs. private; it's also about focus on basketball. With Wichita State's president recently posting photos of a WSU football helmet and band uniform, I'd say their focus on basketball is seriously in question.
First and foremost, would expansion benefit the Big East financially? That's the real issue. The deal with Fox is a good one and the primary revenue generator for the conference. Expansion would have to add to the bottom line for both Fox and the current members. I don't know enough to say whether or not that's a realistic prospect.
Maybe da dude mean Washington State University, hey?
This Creighton guy talks a lot.
Not happening.
https://twitter.com/tsnmike/status/713512995134025729
Quote from: source? on March 25, 2016, 05:52:33 PM
Personal opinion but I think VCU gives you more than Wichita. Similar recent success, better facilities, bigger school (31,000 vs 14,500), better academics, bigger endowment, shorter distance to MSG, basically better in every way.
Wichita State is backed by the Koch brothers, a big advantage over VCU, assuming that they pony up for top facilities and such.
Quote from: Crean to Ann Arbor on March 25, 2016, 07:16:11 PM
Wichita State is backed by the Koch brothers, a big advantage over VCU, assuming that they pony up for top facilities and such.
They still have to answer the media market question. If KC, OK City, and Tulsa (a stretch) markets weren't already 100% focused on other basketball programs they may have a shot. Great coverage and performance for 2-3 games a year isn't going to cut it.
**note: from a strict basketball program perspective I love what they've been able to build and sustain in Wichita and I hope they continue.
Reading the article, it just seems like wishful thinking on the part of Creighton to get more western teams. Doubt this has any traction.
Not going to happen, nor should it.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 25, 2016, 08:14:27 PM
Not going to happen, nor should it.
My guess would be a 9-1 vote against. And then a reminder note to Creighton that they can be sent back to the MVC in th blink of an Ignatius eye.
Quote from: jsglow on March 25, 2016, 09:13:44 PM
My guess would be a 9-1 vote against. And then a reminder note to Creighton that they can be sent back to the MVC in th blink of an Ignatius eye.
well done and agree.
The absurdity of Wichita State makes it a double agree.
Would take vcu over Wichita every day of the week and five times on Sunday.
That being said, BEast doesn't need to expand for another five or six years. Lot can change between now and then
Guys, Fox has no desire to do this...none. I know what the contract says, but when this contract is over there could be a rude awakening....I don't want to add dead weight when that contract comes up. Quantity isn't quality necessarily. Yes, broadcasters are looking for inventory, but they also need ratings.
Even if the others entertained the idea (quite unlikely), Creighton would be about last in line to get to select the new members.
Quote from: brewcity77 on March 25, 2016, 08:04:29 PM
Reading the article, it just seems like wishful thinking on the part of Creighton to get more western teams. Doubt this has any traction.
He should be happy Creighton is in the Big East in the first place. Or, more notably, thank Doug McD. When you're the last guy invited to dinner, you shouldn't be trying to call the shots...
Quote from: jsglow on March 25, 2016, 09:13:44 PM
My guess would be a 9-1 vote against. And then a reminder note to Creighton that they can be sent back to the MVC in the blink of an Ignatius eye.
Couldn't possibly agree more. Sounds like Creighton is feeling a bit more comfortable than they ought to.
I don't see why you'd consider these mediocre schools when there is grambling st and alcorn st waiting for a call. they bring much much more to the table then what's it called gunzagger?
Quote from: Johnny B on March 25, 2016, 10:24:10 PM
I don't see why you'd consider these mediocre schools when there is grambling st and alcorn st waiting for a call. they bring much much more to the table then what's it called gunzagger?
Because those are buy teams, not conference teams bound by membership and all that goes with it (revenue splits, etc).
Quote from: MUFlutieEffect on March 25, 2016, 09:50:00 PM
Couldn't possibly agree more. Sounds like Creighton is feeling a bit more comfortable than they ought to.
They're full members of equal standing. They can say what they want.
The Big East is a well focused conference. We have a double round robin format which is helping develop rivalries. We are presently averaging half our teams into the tournament. There is no economic benefit to adding teams that disrupt the good thing we have.
The Creighton AD has no understanding of the above. He is thinking like a former coach not a business oriented AD or President of a University.
Big East of course needs to collegiality discuss these matters. Which will of course go nowhere.
From the basketball standpoint of Marquette we absolutely don't want any more members of the conference considering our lack of recent success, especially two good programs such as these.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 25, 2016, 10:36:24 PM
Because those are buy teams, not conference teams bound by membership and all that goes with it (revenue splits, etc).
I thought I made the sarcasm pretty clear. I guess not clear enough..
I would love to see Gonzaga in our conference.
They just need to move the University to Detroit, St. Louis or Atlanta. Really any top 25 TV market East of the Mississippi
This needs to to be addressed and then graciously put bed, "thanks but we are good for now". I think the BEast entertains the idea of expansion but it really has to make sense. I would like to see Goanza in but just too many hurdles. While we are on the topic of expansion why don't we get a quality program in the Chicago area? To what extent can the league exert a little pressure for JLP to get off her ass and make a real hire, make DePaul irrelevant again. That would be a step up right? Anything in the by laws saying essentially you cannot suck in perpetuity?
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 25, 2016, 09:24:04 PM
Guys, Fox has no desire to do this...none. I know what the contract says, but when this contract is over there could be a rude awakening....I don't want to add dead weight when that contract comes up. Quantity isn't quality necessarily. Yes, broadcasters are looking for inventory, but they also need ratings.
I don't disagree, but how do you explain all those monster cable deals for local baseball rights? The ratings must be anemic, so how do they justify the millions...and in some cases...billions spent on those deals?
It should be discussed. Lot's of things get discussed. Then they are laid aside because, after discussing them, nobody actually wants to do them.
Quote from: forgetful on March 25, 2016, 11:47:03 PM
I would love to see Gonzaga in our conference.
They just need to move the University to Detroit, St. Louis or Atlanta. Really any top 25 TV market East of the Mississippi
I vote for Atlanta!
I don't know what other non-revenue sports the Zags and WSU compete in but I thought that was the issue all along when the conference re-org was in progress and the topic of inviting 'Zaga was first discussed. The travel expenses for schools like Seton Hall and St. Johns to send Women's BBall, Lacrosse, Soccer, etc. teams to Washington would be a problem, not to mention the additional time spent away from campus traveling which put's more pressure on true student athletes they don't really need.
Quote from: Groin_pull on March 26, 2016, 05:40:00 AM
I don't disagree, but how do you explain all those monster cable deals for local baseball rights? The ratings must be anemic, so how do they justify the millions...and in some cases...billions spent on those deals?
Local is the key in your question. The Big East deal is a national deal, on a national channel, which means people in Los Angeles who don't give a rip about the Big East help foot the bill. Local deals are easier to justify, but even then those are not a slam dunk. The Dodgers still can't be seen in Los Angeles by more than half the citizens because Directv, AT&T U-Verse, Verizon, Charter, etc because the cost is too high. Time Warner Sports, has lost $100 million per year on the deal because they paid too much to the Dodgers, and now they can't resell it to other distributors at a level to recoup their money.
Quote from: ChitownSpaceForRent on March 25, 2016, 05:35:15 PM
Please no, my stance remains the same. Unless UCONN drops football, the big east should stay at 10.
I agree completely that if UConn would join, we go to 12 teams. My preference would be to stay east with a second team, though I don't believe Georgetown would allow by first choice, VCU, which I believe has gone more than 8 years without an empty seat. If we could convince Georgetown that letting the non-revenue teams do the quick Georgetown to VCU run to get in two games, that would be awesome, and then use UConn to really tie down as much of the New York that would be great. I am glad MU is no longer the western most school, but not sure on Wichita State. If it were an hour or so from Creighton I'd be fine with coupling, but that's a whole additional flight for all our teams.
Fwiw he's the only Creighton person that is advocating for wichita state. No Creighton fan wants them. Terrible fit for the conference.
Quote from: CreightonWarrior on March 26, 2016, 08:37:08 PM
Fwiw he's the only Creighton person that is advocating for wichita state. No Creighton fan wants them. Terrible fit for the conference.
This. Theory is he is just catering to a Wichita reporter (throwing him a bone) or he's off his rocker. Either way, it ain't happening. Wichita State is a community college (95% acceptance rate) and really does not fit the profile of a Big East team. No way the President's would approve them.
Quote from: Jet915 on March 26, 2016, 10:22:51 PM
This. Theory is he is just catering to a Wichita reporter (throwing him a bone) or he's off his rocker. Either way, it ain't happening. Wichita State is a community college (95% acceptance rate) and really does not fit the profile of a Big East team. No way the President's would approve them.
No kidding. Wichita State makes DePaul look like an Ivy.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 25, 2016, 09:24:04 PM
Guys, Fox has no desire to do this...none. I know what the contract says, but when this contract is over there could be a rude awakening....I don't want to add dead weight when that contract comes up. Quantity isn't quality necessarily. Yes, broadcasters are looking for inventory, but they also need ratings.
Listening to that game last night there was no love for Nova. How dare they spoil that ACC/BIG12 final four.