SEC Deadline for Mizzou???

[Aughnanure]

Jesus F***ing Christ, just end this already.

http://j.mp/qfYHly

[brewcity77]

I still wonder if Mizzou even has a SEC offer. I really believe if they did, their bags would have already been packed and they'd have left so quick the rest of the Big 12 would have to check to see if they left the stove on.

[avid1010]

Every day you hear more and more about expansion, be it now or down the road, and I really hope there is a plan to get a basketball only conference.  Has anyone read any serious/detailed analysis of what that would look like financially for a conference?  It seems like the A-10 does alright without footballl, and I would think something could put together that would be like the A-10 on steriods.  I think you save face with recruits and alum/fans, as you offer a conference where they aren't second to football, and you remove yourself from the drama that looks like will continue for years being driven by football.  Would obviously be huge to keep the BEAST name, but at this point...

I found myself watching WV play LSU last weekend thinking if they win and have a big season, it just means they'll be out the door to a super-conference faster...

[NersEllenson]

Every day you hear more and more about expansion, be it now or down the road, and I really hope there is a plan to get a basketball only conference.  Has anyone read any serious/detailed analysis of what that would look like financially for a conference?  It seems like the A-10 does alright without footballl, and I would think something could put together that would be like the A-10 on steriods.  I think you save face with recruits and alum/fans, as you offer a conference where they aren't second to football, and you remove yourself from the drama that looks like will continue for years being driven by football.  Would obviously be huge to keep the BEAST name, but at this point...

I found myself watching WV play LSU last weekend thinking if they win and have a big season, it just means they'll be out the door to a super-conference faster...

+1000 - Well said.  The instability in all of this is the worst part.  It seems it is only a matter of time before all the Big East football programs are swallowed up by the ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12.  Why delay what seems to be the inevitable?

[brewcity77]

+1000 - Well said.  The instability in all of this is the worst part.  It seems it is only a matter of time before all the Big East football programs are swallowed up by the ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12.  Why delay what seems to be the inevitable?

My first guess is naming rights. The Big East has always been recognized as a basketball superpower. That will have value going forward. If basketball splits, they'll probably have to ditch the name. Adding Butler, Xavier, and 2-6 other upper-level basketball schools would be good regardless, but it'd be better under the Big East name.

What next comes to mind is stability. I think both Villanova and Notre Dame, classed now as basketball only, are weighing the benefits of joining the ACC or another BCS conference. Granted, that is only a viable thought for one of those two, but it doesn't stop either from hedging their bets. If we go basketball only, there's value in maintaining as many of the current crop as possible, and for now that means waiting.

[slingkong]

Yeah but when was the last time the A-10 had more than a randomly televised game?  We need to be on TV in large markets to get key recruits.  So we need to find a way to stay on TV - hopefully that is because we remain in some version of the Big East that still has some value to the networks (including the one that's actually driving all this crap).

[GGGG]

The A-10 has no value because it has no schools of note.  A bball only BE would still have significant bball schools in significant markets.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

The A-10 has no value because it has no schools of note.  A bball only BE would still have significant bball schools in significant markets.

Xavier > Seton Hall

Pretty much every day.

[GGGG]

Lol...OK...the best A10 team is better than the worst BE team. 

[Cooby Snacks]

Lol...OK...the best A10 team is better than the worst BE team. 

Xavier's been to the Sweet 16 four times and the Elite 8 twice since 2004. Safe to say they've been better than us a lot of the time as well.

[PE8983]

The last couple of games between MU and XU wouldn't indicate that.

[bilsu]

The last couple of games between MU and XU wouldn't indicate that.

MU beat them in NCAA tournament last year. However, the year before when we beat them in November they got to sweet 16. Their team got better during the year and we did not improve as much. People who rag on Xavier just do not realize how good they have been the past few years. Since MU has been in the Big East, MU has not won the Big East championship and I doubt that they would have won one in the A-10 either.

[bamamarquettefan]

Xavier is solid, and if we are talking basketball-only then that assumes Cincinnati is gone and we want to keep a presence in the city.  I was thrilled we played so well against them the last two years, but I don't believe us having a good matchup with them means we have been a lot better team.

When Xavier won the A-10 in 2009, the 4th place team Dayton hammered us on a neutral court and beat West Virginia pretty easily in the NCAA, but I don't believe that means Dayton was a lot better than us any more than I believe we were a lot better than Xavier the last two years despite clearly outplaying them.

[avid1010]

Yeah but when was the last time the A-10 had more than a randomly televised game?  We need to be on TV in large markets to get key recruits.  So we need to find a way to stay on TV - hopefully that is because we remain in some version of the Big East that still has some value to the networks (including the one that's actually driving all this crap).

That's why I said we'd need to be the A-10 on steroids, and if we can poach a couple of top notch basketball only teams from other conferences I believe we are much better off than playing in a conference that is dictated by poor football.  Take the top 10, 12, 14 basketball only schools and put them in a conference and in time I think we could build one of the top bball conferences in the nation.  Take schools like UCF, ECU, etc. and we loose in basketball and football.  Not sure if there is a possible path to shift the BEAST to a basketball only conference, but if that could be done, I think it would play out well for MU in the long run.  Otherwise I'm guessing for the next 2 - 10 years the BEAST will be nothing but a minor league try-out for BCS football super-conferences. 

[GGGG]

Xavier's been to the Sweet 16 four times and the Elite 8 twice since 2004. Safe to say they've been better than us a lot of the time as well.

I'm talking about from a television / market share POV...not a quality of basketball POV.

[We R Final Four]

I'm talking about from a television / market share POV...not a quality of basketball POV.

Good one--I thought that is what you meant.

[muhs03]

Over the last 5 seasons, Dayton is 5-3 against BE teams, including wins over: #11 UL, #6 Pitt, #15 MU and unranked teams UL and SHU.

I'd argue that UD would finish above DePaul, Providence, S. Florida, TCU and maybe SJU. Now, if they were actually in the BE, it would help them with recruiting and I think they could be a solid middle of the pack team. 

[brewcity77]

I'm talking about from a television / market share POV...not a quality of basketball POV.

Xavier has value if we lose Cincinnati. It's not New York or Boston, but Cincy is still the #34 TV market in the country. St. Louis also has some value, they are in the #21 market in the country. The rest are somewhat backups. Temple would provide cover if we lost Villanova (and their mighty football program), UMass would solidify a hold in Boston (though Providence has a presence there too), Richmond I guess gives access to the state of Virginia...kind of...and Dayton...well, not much TV value, but a decent program.

No real heavy hitter markets in the A-10, but they do provide a lot of nice supplementary markets. Strictly from households, both Xavier and St. Louis are more valuable than Marquette is with Milwaukee.

[Aughnanure]

Xavier has value if we lose Cincinnati. It's not New York or Boston, but Cincy is still the #34 TV market in the country. St. Louis also has some value, they are in the #21 market in the country. The rest are somewhat backups. Temple would provide cover if we lost Villanova (and their mighty football program), UMass would solidify a hold in Boston (though Providence has a presence there too), Richmond I guess gives access to the state of Virginia...kind of...and Dayton...well, not much TV value, but a decent program.

No real heavy hitter markets in the A-10, but they do provide a lot of nice supplementary markets. Strictly from households, both Xavier and St. Louis are more valuable than Marquette is with Milwaukee.

What is your opinion of adding Dayton with Xavier then? I think there's something to be said for creating an interest in a market with multiple teams. I think Philly is more valuable if you add Temple, St. Joe's. St, but in general I tend to agree with you -  the teams have to be worth it to double up.   

Also, do you really think Temple and Umass would be interested with their football teams? I would love it, but Im not sure it possible. I would love to think we could convince Memphis, Umass, Temple, (UNLV?) etc., to help strengthen the basketball.

[brewcity77]

I'm fine with Xavier/Dayton as a package. Dayton might not be a huge market, but SHU adds nothing at all and they're still here. As far as UMass and Temple, their football isn't leagued with their basketball right now anyway. I think if we go basketball-only, it's fine if their are a few football schools. I'd be fine with UMass and UConn having basketball here and football in the MAC, as long as football doesn't dominate the league. Still, I'd only hope to see that in a 16-team league, and with no more than 4 football schools.

[avid1010]

Not sure I see a need for 16 teams or any football teams.  The BEAST was the top revenue earner for NCAA basketball, but dropped to fourth when you looked at it on a per team payout.  I think that's why you see the SEC turning away certain teams.  If you look at the ACC, the acceptance of Cuse could play out that way as Cuse runs a football program in the red.  We'll see if this ignites their football program, but history shows that's not typically the case.  My guess is Cuse now has to spend more on football to be less competitive.  I'm guessing that's why the ACC isn't interested in UCONN right now either.  They wanted to take the fewest teams they could, and yet have it be enough to sink the BEAST.  Here's to hoping Dixon leaves, Boehiem retires, and Pitt/Cuse football/basketball brings up the bottom of the ACC on a yearly basis while taking an equal share of the revenue.  If the BEAST made Cuse/Pitt play another 2.5 years in the BEAST, I could see a scenario where those two coaches never even coach in the ACC.

[Aughnanure]

I'm fine with Xavier/Dayton as a package. Dayton might not be a huge market, but SHU adds nothing at all and they're still here. As far as UMass and Temple, their football isn't leagued with their basketball right now anyway. I think if we go basketball-only, it's fine if their are a few football schools. I'd be fine with UMass and UConn having basketball here and football in the MAC, as long as football doesn't dominate the league. Still, I'd only hope to see that in a 16-team league, and with no more than 4 football schools.

UMass and UConn in this hypothetical conference would be a dream scenario. Here's hoping they get left out of the ACC, because if they are they don't have a better option than to stay with the bball-onlies.