New Rick Pitino Comments on Big East Expansion

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

From Andy Katz's blog: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/42509/3-point-shot-pitino-on-big-east-expansion

1. Louisville coach Rick Pitino said he will never schedule a non-conference game against new Big East football-only members San Diego State and Boise State. Big East commissioner John Marinatto said last month that the two schools would get four games against Big East basketball members. UConn is reportedly interested in possibly doing a home-and-home series with SDSU. "We would never schedule San Diego State or Boise State,'' Pitino said. "We'll play someone that makes sense geographically like Indiana.''

2. Pitino also said he's confident that the Big East isn't done and will add basketball schools. He has long pushed for Memphis and Temple to be part of any expansion plans. Both were passed over in the initial wave in favor of SDSU-Boise State in football and Houston, SMU and Central Florida in all sports. "There are going to be quite a few additions,'' Pitino said. "I don't know who they are. But I know they will add basketball schools.''

[GGGG]

The farthest Louisville will have traveled for a non-conference game this season is Indianapolis.  The BE tournament in NYC is their furthest road trip before the NCAAs.

[bilsu]

Maybe that is why they often flame out early in NCAA's.