Calhoun thinks Big East as we know it is doomed...

[Hoopaloop]

Read somewhere today that Boeheim is pushing for all 17 teams in NYC at the BET

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

I guess I don't understand any basis for the mutual attraction of the BE basketball schools and Xavier, Butler or Dayton.

I think MU fans often make the assumption that there would be an attraction to move into a better conference because MU has always jumped to greener pastures when given the chance.  We were quite successful in Conference USA....a Final Four before jumping to the Big East.  I don't think many people questioned the move.  Good programs should be able to keep it going.  I would expect Xavier and Butler to remain very strong programs in a more competitive league.  They also would get much more exposure (and $$$).

[Marquette84]

I think MU fans often make the assumption that there would be an attraction to move into a better conference because MU has always jumped to greener pastures when given the chance.  We were quite successful in Conference USA....a Final Four before jumping to the Big East.  I don't think many people questioned the move.  Good programs should be able to keep it going.  I would expect Xavier and Butler to remain very strong programs in a more competitive league.  They also would get much more exposure (and $$$).

Okay.  Lets accept your premise.  Butler and Xavier remain at their competitive level, alternating the new conference championship for the foreseeable future.  

In that case, what to ND, MU, GU and VU have to gain by aligning with Butler and Xavier?  Its one thing to finish behind Syracuse, UConn and Pitt.  Its quite another to be second fiddle to Xavier and Butler.

To me like it would be better for MU, Villanova, ND, St. Johns and Georgetown to stand on their own glory and current success--not try and ride on the backs of Xavier and Butler.

[muguru]

I said it once, I will say it one thousand times. ANY conference that people propose with current mid majors, whether that be Xavier, Dayton, Saint Louis, butler or whoever is a TERRIBLE conference for MU. And yet, when people propose their realigned conferences it always includes a couple of these teams, and it makes me sick to my stomach. If you for one second think it would be a good conference in any way shape or form for MU to be in, than I don't even know what to say. It would be the death knell for MU hoops, plain and simple.

[brewcity77]

I said it once, I will say it one thousand times. ANY conference that people propose with current mid majors, whether that be Xavier, Dayton, Saint Louis, butler or whoever is a TERRIBLE conference for MU. And yet, when people propose their realigned conferences it always includes a couple of these teams, and it makes me sick to my stomach. If you for one second think it would be a good conference in any way shape or form for MU to be in, than I don't even know what to say. It would be the death knell for MU hoops, plain and simple.

Are Xavier, Temple, or Butler that much different than Marquette was when we joined the Big East? Yes, we had a Final Four in recent memory, but not a lot more than that. The simple truth is that it's possible that the Big East will end up breaking apart. More than that, it seems likely. I would rather end up in a conference like this than simply crawling back to C-USA or hoping the A-10 can find room.

Butler
Dayton
DePaul
Georgetown
Marquette
Notre Dame
Providence
Seton Hall
St. John's
Temple
Villanova
Xavier

[RawdogDX]

This is sillly.  Bigger is better.  Conferences are growing, not shrinking to 10 teams.

[GGGG]

I said it once, I will say it one thousand times. ANY conference that people propose with current mid majors, whether that be Xavier, Dayton, Saint Louis, butler or whoever is a TERRIBLE conference for MU. And yet, when people propose their realigned conferences it always includes a couple of these teams, and it makes me sick to my stomach. If you for one second think it would be a good conference in any way shape or form for MU to be in, than I don't even know what to say. It would be the death knell for MU hoops, plain and simple.

I think everyone would rather be in the BE because it would seriously harm MU basketball to no longer be part of that equation.  That doesn't mean that people aren't going to suggest "best options otherwise."

[muguru]

Are Xavier, Temple, or Butler that much different than Marquette was when we joined the Big East? Yes, we had a Final Four in recent memory, but not a lot more than that. The simple truth is that it's possible that the Big East will end up breaking apart. More than that, it seems likely. I would rather end up in a conference like this than simply crawling back to C-USA or hoping the A-10 can find room.

Butler
Dayton
DePaul
Georgetown
Marquette
Notre Dame
Providence
Seton Hall
St. John's
Temple
Villanova
Xavier

So, basically you want MU to return to Mid major status?? This isn't a whole lot different than CUSA(When MU was in it). Losing Syracuse, Louisville, UCONN and Pitt, makes this a mediocre conference, at best. My hunch is, MU would be able to find it's place in another BCS conference, somehow, someway.

[Marquette84]

So, basically you want MU to return to Mid major status?? This isn't a whole lot different than CUSA(When MU was in it). Losing Syracuse, Louisville, UCONN and Pitt, makes this a mediocre conference, at best. My hunch is, MU would be able to find it's place in another BCS conference, somehow, someway.

Actually, this conference significantly different than CUSA.

The first big difference is that there are no fewer than 7 teams that have been in at least 4 of the last five NCAA tournaments (MU, Villanova, Georgetown, ND, Temple, Butler & Xavier).    

Next, the bottom half of CUSA was comprised of teams without a significant basketball history or winning reputation.  Tulane, WCU, USF, and USM have a grand total of 5 NCAA wins in their combined history.  Butler matched that in one season.

Compare that to this proposed conference, where the five teams not included above are either former NCAA Champions (St. Johns, DePaul) or Final Four participants (Seton Hall, Providence and Dayton).

So its wrong to say this proposed conference is just like CUSA--its not in any way shape or form similar.

There are two big drawbacks--first, going in, the two best team will be the former Mid Majors.  Xavier and Butler have a combined 6 deep NCAA runs (Sweet 16 or deeper) over the last five years.   The Big East members will have had 4 deep runs combined over the same period.  

Second, there won't be enough NCAA bids to keep all the members happy.  The 7 teams that are already perennial NCAA teams are currently spread across 3 different conferences.  Putting them in one conference will pit them against each other.  We also see the bottom teams making moves to try and move into the top division.

You can't have a "Lake Woebegone Conference" were all of the teams are above average.  Someone has to finish last.  

[BEfootballview]

As a huge BE football fan and casual bball fan, what makes so many of you think that a bball-only conference wouldn't/couldn't be good? The parity would be excellent....much better than the current BE. You would rid yourselves of USF, TCU and who knows who else. Adding the likes of Xavier, Dayton and a few others would make for an interesting league. I dont know off the top of my head, but when was the last time a bball-only won a BE regular season championship? Im guessing Nova when they had the 3-headed monster but might be wrong.
The only thing that would be really bad for a BE conference with bball-onlies is the BE tournament (I grew up in NYC and have attended the last 15 tourneys and the tourney is pretty much my only interest in bball). Even if the conference was without UConn and Syracuse, there would be a HUGE void left by them to fill. Who would fill those seats? So many of the bball-onlies are not well-represented at MSG (including MU). Nova and GU are ok but they are WAY behind some of the football schools. Then, throw out Pitt and WVU and you have a huge problem. There is no way the BE could charge the same price for those tickets if even those schools left (nevermind RU, UL and the others). Would the casual college bball fan that lives in NYC still go to the tourney? Maybe. In the same numbers as before? No way. And at the same price of admission as now? Not a chance.
On top of that, what would happen if the new football conference set up shop at the new Nets arena in Brooklyn. Both tournaments would have to take place at the same time. Two tournaments, one city. The Brooklyn tourney would be the main attraction while MSG would be the sideshow. The support (and money) will go to the old BE schools. It would be like Mets support vs. Yankees support. Not close. So, while bball fans may actually enjoy a bball-only slugfest regular season, the conference tourney would be a nightmare (if Brooklyn was to host the other conference). 
BUT....I HIGHLY doubt a split happens prior to the new contract. The fball schools arent ready to stand on their own feet yet and will need the new money to invest in their product. The NEXT contract is when it might happen....but thats a ways down the road. And there will NOT be a "no-confidence' vote on Marinatto. Not happening even if the AD's at WVU, RU and Pitt are incredibly pi$$ed off right now (especially RU's President).   

[GGGG]

As a huge BE football fan .....

I heard people like you existed but I honestly never thought I'd meet one.

[BEfootballview]

I heard people like you existed but I honestly never thought I'd meet one.

LOL! Nice. Well played, sir.

There are more of 'me' out there...you just have to live in the original BE footprint to notice. Most right now are hybernating.  Morgantown is still solidly football. Rutgers is a 'sleeping giant!' ...at least that is what their fans have been saying for decades! Go ahead, take another decade-long Ambien, Rutgers. I'll admit, Ray Rice certainly helped them. The fact that they are No.1 in the country in scheduling FCS teams, on the other hand, does not help them. You can always spot someone who 'pretends' to know BE football when they say Rutgers is turning into a real "program." No, they are not. Just because Schiano has a helicopter to visit recruits does not make them legit. They are still.....Buttgers, Rutgirls, Snookie U. Ok, Ill admit it...I dont like them much.
Pitt is a fball school. They have fans though Wannstadt drove some away in recent years. They will come back.
Cuse is a football school as well. I guess it depends on who you ask though. Anyone under 30 will say its a bball school. Anyone over 30 will say its a football school. The Carrier Dome isnt nicknamed The Loud House because of bball. Not even close. I think their Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium really helped them. Btw, that call against KState for excessive celebration in the endzone was GARBAGE! Im pretty sure that call came down from the Steinbrenner family box. They paid the BE more money to steer Syracuse to their bowl because they wanted their tradition to be a part of the first Pinstripe bowl....a bowl that the Yankees want to turn into a BCS bowl. Im not sure I want to bet against the desires of the Yankess and their money. You?
And, it really wasnt hard to be a huge BE football fan with VTech, Miami and BC. I saw some unbelievable games. Da U was rolling. Mick Vick was unstoppable. McNabb was amazing. There were A LOT of great players in the old BE. No doubt about it.

[🏀]

LOL! Nice. Well played, sir.

There are more of 'me' out there...you just have to live in the original BE footprint to notice. Most right now are hybernating.  Morgantown is still solidly football. Rutgers is a 'sleeping giant!' ...at least that is what their fans have been saying for decades! Go ahead, take another decade-long Ambien, Rutgers. I'll admit, Ray Rice certainly helped them. The fact that they are No.1 in the country in scheduling FCS teams, on the other hand, does not help them. You can always spot someone who 'pretends' to know BE football when they say Rutgers is turning into a real "program." No, they are not. Just because Schiano has a helicopter to visit recruits does not make them legit. They are still.....Buttgers, Rutgirls, Snookie U. Ok, Ill admit it...I dont like them much.
Pitt is a fball school. They have fans though Wannstadt drove some away in recent years. They will come back.
Cuse is a football school as well. I guess it depends on who you ask though. Anyone under 30 will say its a bball school. Anyone over 30 will say its a football school. The Carrier Dome isnt nicknamed The Loud House because of bball. Not even close. I think their Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium really helped them. Btw, that call against KState for excessive celebration in the endzone was GARBAGE! Im pretty sure that call came down from the Steinbrenner family box. They paid the BE more money to steer Syracuse to their bowl because they wanted their tradition to be a part of the first Pinstripe bowl....a bowl that the Yankees want to turn into a BCS bowl. Im not sure I want to bet against the desires of the Yankess and their money. You?
And, it really wasnt hard to be a huge BE football fan with VTech, Miami and BC. I saw some unbelievable games. Da U was rolling. Mick Vick was unstoppable. McNabb was amazing. There were A LOT of great players in the old BE. No doubt about it.

If this post had more crap than poor grammar, I wouldn't have finished reading it.

Syracuse a football school? The same school that had to start Greg Paulus at QB? How many BCS schools have to start a QB transfer with one year of eligiblity  that hasn't played football in four years?

Pinstripe Bowl? Good joke, won't exist in four years.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

This is just flat wrong.  First of all, I have complained about the rising cost of cable, and I have dropped my service.  But that aside, your comment wasn't intended to be about me, it was about the general public.  Even so, if you Google "declining cable subscriptions," "HTPC," "streaming television," and "over the air HD," you'll find that while I may be in the minority, the number of people like me are growing exponentially.

This is a good point. I'm 26, I have a pretty good income (most of it going toward finishing off my student loans, at the moment) and I have no cable subscription. And I even have a brand new television in my apartment. I can't imagine any scenario under which I would buy cable (etc.) in its current forms. Every single person I know who has it says the price eventually balloons to $60/mo. or more.

I'd rather watch the 2-3 shows I'm interested in on Hulu etc. And get the free channels over the air.

[ChicosBailBonds]

If this post had more crap than poor grammar, I wouldn't have finished reading it.

Syracuse a football school? The same school that had to start Greg Paulus at QB? How many BCS schools have to start a QB transfer with one year of eligiblity  that hasn't played football in four years?

Pinstripe Bowl? Good joke, won't exist in four years.

It's also the same school that produced the greatest running back in NFL history...Jim Brown.  Also the same school that produced a Super Bowl QB in Donovan McNabb.  3 time SB winner Moose Johnston of the Cowboys, Super Bowl winner Marvin Harrison of the Colts, Super Bowl winner Dwight Freeney of the Colts, etc, etc.  Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, etc, etc.  The poster is exactly correct, depending on what era you are talking about, Syracuse was definitely a football school.  All depends who you ask.  Hell, they won a national title in football for crying out loud.

I'm done with my hand wringing.

Hey Big East football guy poster...careful...ners will accuse you of being my friend or 84's step son or something else....be careful with your "pattern" of posting.   

[ChicosBailBonds]

This is just flat wrong.  First of all, I have complained about the rising cost of cable, and I have dropped my service.  But that aside, your comment wasn't intended to be about me, it was about the general public.  Even so, if you Google "declining cable subscriptions," "HTPC," "streaming television," and "over the air HD," you'll find that while I may be in the minority, the number of people like me are growing exponentially.

I see your point, and it's well taken.  However, I would point out that in the Big East, there were over 425 basketball games last year; there were less than 90 football games.  Football more popular you say?  Without a doubt, but popularity doesn't always equal viewership.  The 2010-11 bowl games drew a combined 221 million viewers in 34 bowl games (6.5 million per game).  The 2011 NCAA tournament drew an average of 10.2 million viewers per game.  In other words, if it's live-sports opportunities you want, basketball - not football - is where it's at.

Cable providers are as dead as the BCS.  The distribution model is changing.  MLB already markets its product directly to the consumer.  ESPN3 does the same thing.  Look for more content providers to cut out the middle man (the Comcasts, Time Warners, etc.) as more and more of the $1-5k televisions come with internet connectivity.  Further, in 10 years, everything will be a la carte... people won't be forced into subscribing to ESPN, BTN, etc. if they don't want to.  This is going to be a huge blow to the networks who won't be able to force 5 people to pay for their product for each person who truly wants the product.

Sorry Benny, for about 6 months there everyone was jumping around in the media saying cable \ tv subscriptions were dropping.  Now they flipped back.  TV pay model growing like it has been.  Cord Cutting is happening at a very small level.  Cord shaving, a different phenomenon, is happening to some extent but then when people realize what they can't get from Netflix, Hulu, etc (mostly sports, first run, any HBO, etc, etc,) studies are finding people coming back again.  No question the model is "changing" but it's not how you describe it.

The problem with your argument of everything being a la carte is simple....THE CONTENT PRODUCERS.  ESPN right now gets $4.00+ from about 100million television households through the current model.  Other channels get huge amounts guaranteed as well, and from those guarantees they produce content.  Let's look at ESPN again, do 100 million television homes want ESPN?  Nope.  Yet they all pay for it because every MSO has to put ESPN into their packages because of the power they have.  ESPN, HBO, etc, etc all have to decide if they want to kill the golden goose (the current model) and take a chance that people buy enough of their programming a la carte to make it work....in other words, people will be paying a lot more for each channel you choose then to get it bundled.  I don't know why this is so hard for people to understand, but apparently it is.

HBO has already made their choice recently by telling Netflix to grab a tailpipe and inhale.  A number of others are about to follow suit...look for STARZ \ Liberty to pull out in Q1 OR require Netflix to drop over a $1billion plus to keep them...that means Netflix pricing is going to go up.  Then you factor in broadband media caps which will be here in ernest in the next 2 years, suddenly all that downloading you're doing just because as expensive as taking it in via the regular pipe.

The content providers are the key.  It's going to be a wild ride.  Some providers will go on their own, attempt to sell directly.  Some will resist.  The end of the day, the cost of television subscriptions is driven by the cost of the content providers and if you think they want to take it in the shorts you're kidding yourselves.  Our programming costs have been rising 9% to 12% each year the last five years, but we only pass on price increases of about 4.5% meaning margin compression.  

At the end of the day, very few people are using Netflix on it's own or Hulu on it's own...you are a rare breed.  Even Netflix's own internal statements shed light on what is happening...they are supplemental services, not stand alone services because they cannot offer what people want, especially at those prices.

More specifically, Netflix stated that:

Since last year, online video use has more than doubled and the recession has receded somewhat. So, if online video use was driving cord cutting, the behavior would have intensified. On the other hand, if it was the recession that was driving people to drop MVPD [multichannel video programming distributor - ie. cable and satellite companies] subscriptions, cord cutting would have moderated. In fact, not only did cord cutting slow, it became cord mending with total U.S. MVPD households growing in the latest estimates. ((Netflix's Letter To Shareholders, Q1 2011, Document Available on Netflix's Website))


And more...

Simply put, the data show that Netflix is a supplemental channel to MVPD. While Netflix is likely to show huge growth again this year, we think MVPD cord cutting will be minimal to non-existent. We hear some stories from customers who have Netflix and no MVPD service, but these are generally people who rely on free broadcast TV (which is now in HD) and supplement with Netflix, rather than switching from MVPD to online. ((ref:1))

[BEfootballview]

If this post had more crap than poor grammar, I wouldn't have finished reading it.
Syracuse a football school? The same school that had to start Greg Paulus at QB? How many BCS schools have to start a QB transfer with one year of eligiblity  that hasn't played football in four years?
Pinstripe Bowl? Good joke, won't exist in four years.

6 years. I think you meant to say the Pinstripes Bowl "wont exist in six years." The Yankees have a contract with ESPN that will televise the game for 5 more years....
Also, I think you missed the part where I stated that it depends on your age as to whether you think Syracuse is a football school or not. Younger people were only exposed to the years of Greg Robinson and his 9-36 record as HC from 05-08 (or the last years of Pasqualoni in the early 2000's). Those people dont remember (or even know) that a freshman McNabb threw to Marvin Harrison (a senior). Remember 'The Missile' Quadry Ismail? Back when the Carrier Dome lived up to its name as The Loud House, people used to sell foam earplugs as you walked into the dome. Now? No. And I doubt they have ever done that for bball games.

I was at this game with some Pitt alums. Just drove up for the heck of it. Couldnt hear my friends sitting next to me for most of the game. After the last play, my ears rang for 2 days after (should have bought those earplugs, I guess). 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awGdapqFiKI

At the end of the day, there are a lot of people like you. It's up to that athletic department to change its image back to what it used to be. Im guessing its tough to do when you lose your biggest football rival, Boston College and play in a bball centric conference. Their athletic department just made an interesting hire (and he's not a bball guy): http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/ncf/columns/story?columnist=cimini_rich&id=6596721

 

[hoyasincebirth]

I seriously doubt a true split will ever happen with the football schools completely parting ways with all of the Basketball only schools. Guess what people never thought the big east would last this long. They didn't think we could have success. We proved them wrong. The fact is BE football will never be big time or solid enough to warrant breaking off. The football schools need the basketball schools. Not as much as the Basketball Schools need the football schools. But badly enough that making a true split would be stupid on their part.

A basketball only league no matter who you included in it would be bad for the current big east baskeball schools. Not in terms of on the court success necessarily or even recruiting. But in terms of money. ESPN would not pay for that league as much as they'd pay for the current big east. THe basketball only schools are mostly small private schools with small fan bases. In addition schools like Georgetown and Villanova would be devastated. They have huge athletic departments that support significantly more sports than the other Basketball schools. ND also would never want to join such a league these three teams need a conference that can support their non revenue sports.

Most likely scenario is this hodgpodge situation continues indefinitely in my opinion. It's working. Football coaches and fans may not be happy with the situation, but currently there's just not a better option for the football schools. They can't poach any established programs from major conferences anyone they add will most liely not make the league stronger nor add enough revenue to defer the cost of adding another member. Most Championship Games are not money Makers I believe the ACC's loses money and the B12 did not find their championship game worthwhile either.

but the most likely scenario after that would be for the football schools to break off, but include the top tier basketball schools to join them. This is where Marquette would really benefit from Villanova joining BE football. As it stands now assuming no nova football is most likely Georgetown, Nova, ND, and Probably St. John's for the NY market, tradition, and MSG. If Nova is already part of Football though the 4th team in would be Marquette.  That league no matter if it's 10 or 12 football schools would be even stronger than the current BE set up would solve football's media markets problem and on the whole be the perfect solution.  You lose providence, Depaul, Seton Hall which are currently at the bottom of the BE, but retain the strong basketball conference will great media markets.

[Marquette84]

I seriously doubt a true split will ever happen with the football schools completely parting ways with all of the Basketball only schools. Guess what people never thought the big east would last this long. They didn't think we could have success. We proved them wrong. The fact is BE football will never be big time or solid enough to warrant breaking off. The football schools need the basketball schools. Not as much as the Basketball Schools need the football schools. But badly enough that making a true split would be stupid on their part.

A basketball only league no matter who you included in it would be bad for the current big east baskeball schools. Not in terms of on the court success necessarily or even recruiting. But in terms of money. ESPN would not pay for that league as much as they'd pay for the current big east. THe basketball only schools are mostly small private schools with small fan bases. In addition schools like Georgetown and Villanova would be devastated. They have huge athletic departments that support significantly more sports than the other Basketball schools. ND also would never want to join such a league these three teams need a conference that can support their non revenue sports.

Most likely scenario is this hodgpodge situation continues indefinitely in my opinion. It's working. Football coaches and fans may not be happy with the situation, but currently there's just not a better option for the football schools. They can't poach any established programs from major conferences anyone they add will most liely not make the league stronger nor add enough revenue to defer the cost of adding another member. Most Championship Games are not money Makers I believe the ACC's loses money and the B12 did not find their championship game worthwhile either.

but the most likely scenario after that would be for the football schools to break off, but include the top tier basketball schools to join them. This is where Marquette would really benefit from Villanova joining BE football. As it stands now assuming no nova football is most likely Georgetown, Nova, ND, and Probably St. John's for the NY market, tradition, and MSG. If Nova is already part of Football though the 4th team in would be Marquette.  That league no matter if it's 10 or 12 football schools would be even stronger than the current BE set up would solve football's media markets problem and on the whole be the perfect solution.  You lose providence, Depaul, Seton Hall which are currently at the bottom of the BE, but retain the strong basketball conference will great media markets.

The question is really whether the reduction in revenue by losing the basketball schools is larger or smaller than the current payout to the basketball schools.

If the basketball schools bring in an extra $10 million per year on the revenue side, but their share of the cut is $12 million per year, guess what? 

The goal of the football schools is not to maximize overall league revenue. 
The goal is to maximize the payout to each football school.

The only way we'll stay part of the BE is if we are willing to accept less than our incremental value to the conference.

[Benny B]

The question is really whether the reduction in revenue by losing the basketball schools is larger or smaller than the current payout to the basketball schools.

If the basketball schools bring in an extra $10 million per year on the revenue side, but their share of the cut is $12 million per year, guess what? 

The goal of the football schools is not to maximize overall league revenue. 
The goal is to maximize the payout to each football school.

The only way we'll stay part of the BE is if we are willing to accept less than our incremental value to the conference.

If I were John Nash, I would be slapping you silly right now.  Then I'd wake up and wonder where the hell I was, and then I would probably start slapping you again.

[brewcity77]

You can't have a "Lake Woebegone Conference" were all of the teams are above average.  Someone has to finish last.

But I did put DePaul in there...

[GGGG]

but the most likely scenario after that would be for the football schools to break off, but include the top tier basketball schools to join them. This is where Marquette would really benefit from Villanova joining BE football. As it stands now assuming no nova football is most likely Georgetown, Nova, ND, and Probably St. John's for the NY market, tradition, and MSG. If Nova is already part of Football though the 4th team in would be Marquette.  That league no matter if it's 10 or 12 football schools would be even stronger than the current BE set up would solve football's media markets problem and on the whole be the perfect solution.  You lose providence, Depaul, Seton Hall which are currently at the bottom of the BE, but retain the strong basketball conference will great media markets.

I think that is exactly why MU pays their coach the way it has and has done things like add lacrosse.  They have to make it hard for the BE to drop them.

[Benny B]

I think that is exactly why MU pays their coach the way it has and has done things like add lacrosse.  They have to make it hard for the BE to drop them.

MU isn't just making it hard, but they're adapting & reacting - traits seen often amongst survivors. 

Consider the investment that MU is making with the addition of LAX.  I'll leave the math to someone who better understands accounting of university athletic departments, but we're probably talking an eight-figure investment in the first five years alone.  Further, I would say that in a best-case scenario, the revenue generated would cover only 10%, maybe 15%, of that investment.  Simply by adding LAX, MU has demonstrated its commitment to the Big East. 

In my opinion, MU wouldn't be adding LAX unless it felt pretty damn assured that A) the Big East "brand" isn't going anywhere (i.e. a football split) and B) MU isn't in any danger of being dismissed from the conference.

[bilsu]

Assuming the league splits up, what is the correct number for basketball schools? You need 12 football schools to have a playoff. For basketball I think the perfect league is 10. You would then play everytime twice in a home and home schedule for an 18 game conference season. While I would miss playing some of the football schools, the home and home schedule versus an unbalanced schedule is more attractive to me. Villanova, St. John's, Georgetown, DePaul, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette and two other teams is all you need. What would hurt MU, is Villanova upgrading football and/or Notre Dame going to Big 10. Removing either of those teams from this basketball league would be a hugh loss.

[Hards Alumni]

Assuming the league splits up, what is the correct number for basketball schools? You need 12 football schools to have a playoff. For basketball I think the perfect league is 10. You would then play everytime twice in a home and home schedule for an 18 game conference season. While I would miss playing some of the football schools, the home and home schedule versus an unbalanced schedule is more attractive to me. Villanova, St. John's, Georgetown, DePaul, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette and two other teams is all you need. What would hurt MU, is Villanova upgrading football and/or Notre Dame going to Big 10. Removing either of those teams from this basketball league would be a hugh loss.

If ND hasn't gone to the Big 10 yet, they probably won't be going for a long while.