BE Hoops Schools to split off, announcement today

[JTBMU7]

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/big_east_basketball_only_schools_c2PMii2vTg8twF80US3G6H

[brewcity77]

Urgh...I really hope we don't leave UConn and Cincy completely out of the fold. I know they would rather be in the ACC, but if we can keep their tourney shares here and the clout they bring for even a couple years it's worth having them in with the knowledge that the worst case scenario is they eventually leave and get us to that 10-12 team ideal (though I like 12-14 better).

[PJDunn]

We have very little in common with UConn and Cincy.  Pull the rip cord!!!!!

[The Process]

Urgh...I really hope we don't leave UConn and Cincy completely out of the fold. I know they would rather be in the ACC, but if we can keep their tourney shares here and the clout they bring for even a couple years it's worth having them in with the knowledge that the worst case scenario is they eventually leave and get us to that 10-12 team ideal (though I like 12-14 better).

I think they're less trustworthy than Rikrok in Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me."

Leave them butt naked on the bathroom floor.

[JD]

Urgh...I really hope we don't leave UConn and Cincy completely out of the fold. I know they would rather be in the ACC, but if we can keep their tourney shares here and the clout they bring for even a couple years it's worth having them in with the knowledge that the worst case scenario is they eventually leave and get us to that 10-12 team ideal (though I like 12-14 better).

What's the obsession with them?  Is it the automatic bid?  Marquette used it once, in 1997 i believe.  I don't see the point in keeping them.  They're dirty whores who would suck a golf ball through a garden hose to get into the ACC.  F*** them.

[ATWizJr]

Urgh...I really hope we don't leave UConn and Cincy completely out of the fold. I know they would rather be in the ACC, but if we can keep their tourney shares here and the clout they bring for even a couple years it's worth having them in with the knowledge that the worst case scenario is they eventually leave and get us to that 10-12 team ideal (though I like 12-14 better).

We don't need their tourney shares.  A new BE comprised of the 7 Catholic schools would be armed with $50-60 million in withdrawal fees from WV, TCU, Pitt, Syr, ND, Rutgers, 'Ville, and NCAA tournament units in the $24 million dollar range.  Plenty enough seed money to start a new BE.  They could probably count on a TV deal worth $1.5 million per school also.  Cut the cord.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I think they're less trustworthy than Rikrok in Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me."

Leave them butt naked on the bathroom floor.

+1.  "Never mess with the Jesuit Retirement Fund, MF'ers!"

[brewcity77]

It's not just the shares or the future funds they'll have to send our way if they eventually get into the ACC, it's turning down quality basketball programs. Both UConn and Cincy are high-quality teams that may never find a place in the new BCS (or whatever they're going to call it). Same goes for Temple and Memphis.

Our basketball league will be pretty good. But once you get past us and Georgetown, where's the name brand value? Maybe Gonzaga? Villanova? Butler? All four of those have as much or more value than anyone currently here, like it or not. UConn won a title 2 years ago. Memphis was in a title game a few years before that. Temple and Cincy both have Sweet 16 potential every year.

For the time being, UConn and Cincy will be bigger draws at the BC than Seton Hall, Providence, or DePaul, all of whom are guaranteed a spot at the table. Let them stay for now, give us exit fees if they leave, and improve the quality of our conference for as long as they stay while only replacing them if necessary with basketball-only schools.

[The Process]

It's not just the shares or the future funds they'll have to send our way if they eventually get into the ACC, it's turning down quality basketball programs. Both UConn and Cincy are high-quality teams that may never find a place in the new BCS (or whatever they're going to call it). Same goes for Temple and Memphis.

Our basketball league will be pretty good. But once you get past us and Georgetown, where's the name brand value? Maybe Gonzaga? Villanova? Butler? All four of those have as much or more value than anyone currently here, like it or not. UConn won a title 2 years ago. Memphis was in a title game a few years before that. Temple and Cincy both have Sweet 16 potential every year.

For the time being, UConn and Cincy will be bigger draws at the BC than Seton Hall, Providence, or DePaul, all of whom are guaranteed a spot at the table. Let them stay for now, give us exit fees if they leave, and improve the quality of our conference for as long as they stay while only replacing them if necessary with basketball-only schools.

At the price of instability from Day One of BEAST2.0? Pass. Isn't the goal here in large part getting away from the Masochists' Carousel that's driven by the Football Arms Race?

[MerrittsMustache]

Urgh...I really hope we don't leave UConn and Cincy completely out of the fold. I know they would rather be in the ACC, but if we can keep their tourney shares here and the clout they bring for even a couple years it's worth having them in with the knowledge that the worst case scenario is they eventually leave and get us to that 10-12 team ideal (though I like 12-14 better).

Keeping UConn/Cincy would be like sticking with your girlfriend even though she's constantly flirting with other guys and checking her Match.com profile.

[MU82]

It's not just the shares or the future funds they'll have to send our way if they eventually get into the ACC, it's turning down quality basketball programs. Both UConn and Cincy are high-quality teams that may never find a place in the new BCS (or whatever they're going to call it). Same goes for Temple and Memphis.

Our basketball league will be pretty good. But once you get past us and Georgetown, where's the name brand value? Maybe Gonzaga? Villanova? Butler? All four of those have as much or more value than anyone currently here, like it or not. UConn won a title 2 years ago. Memphis was in a title game a few years before that. Temple and Cincy both have Sweet 16 potential every year.

For the time being, UConn and Cincy will be bigger draws at the BC than Seton Hall, Providence, or DePaul, all of whom are guaranteed a spot at the table. Let them stay for now, give us exit fees if they leave, and improve the quality of our conference for as long as they stay while only replacing them if necessary with basketball-only schools.

Villanova is definitely a name brand. Butler, Gonzaga and Xavier are name-brand hoops programs, too.

DePaul and St. John's are in down cycles, but one could make an argument that they also are name brands; they certainly bring value if their programs get revived.

I mean, how "name brand" was Marquette post-Hank and pre-Crean?

[ronald dragon]

I'd like to see them keep Cincy and UConn. I've always taken pride in the fact that Marquette competed so well in such a powerful conference and bring those two along would defiantly make the conference stronger.

[The Process]

I'd like to see them keep Cincy and UConn. I've always taken pride in the fact that Marquette competed so well in such a powerful conference and bring those two along would defiantly make the conference stronger.

... Until the ACC replies to their Match.com profile and love lifts them up where they belong...

[KC_Warrior]

Adam Zagoria reporting Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Xavier, Butler among schools the Catholic 7 will target for new conference.

[Lennys Tap]

Keeping UConn/Cincy would be like sticking with your girlfriend even though she's constantly flirting with other guys and checking her Match.com profile.

I agree. Uconn and Cincy are ACTIVELY looking to dump us. Maybe when there were 6 (add Cuse, Pitt, UWV and Louisville) it made sense to wait and see and collect the exit fees. If we have a viable plan for future success/stability let's go for it and leave them in the lurch before they do it to us.

[JD]

Adam Zagoria reporting Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Xavier, Butler among schools the Catholic 7 will target for new conference.

I am praying this is true!