[MJS Blog] Marquette in the Big Ten?

[brewcity77]

15 years ago, if you said MU would be in the Big Easy, people would have thought you were crazy.
10 years ago, Nebraska to the Big 10 seemed crazy.
5 years ago, if you said ND would end up in the ACC, people would've thought you were crazy.

There is a 90%+ chance of MU NOT going to the Big 10.

But, I wouldn't completely dismiss it. Schools are going to continue to look for revenue. If they think MU can add a significant amount, they will be considered. Believe that.

I disagree with the 15 years because an up-and-coming coach and a good recruiting class or two can get anyone to the Final Four, even from a mid-major. 1992 Cincinnati with 3rd year coach Bob Huggins, 1996 UMass under Calipari, and Rick Majerus' 1998 Utah were all precursors to the 2003 team that indicated this.

Nebraska wouldn't have been expected, I'll give you that.

ND to the ACC crazy? Disagree. They were courted by the Big Ten for years and the ACC had shown a propensity to steal schools from the Big East. Big difference between unexpected and crazy, though.

Here's the problem with this. We offer them nothing. We don't offer them more money through TV markets. We aren't an AAU member that offers them greater academic prestige. We don't offer a large alumni base that would increase their media profile. Name one thing we bring to the table that the Big Ten doesn't already have in spades. All I can think of is Jesuit priests, and I'm pretty sure that isn't on the Big Ten bucket lists of things to acquire before they start BTN2.

If the Big Ten wants basketball-only schools, they'll look at basketball-only schools that are closer to their profile. They'll certainly want bigger schools than us with higher regarded academics, most likely public, and definitely a new television market. I'm not sure there are any perfect fits, but I think schools like VCU and Georgetown make a lot more sense.

Okay...maybe it's not impossible, but I disagree with your 90% figure. I'd say closer to 99.9999% chance it doesn't happen.

[GOO]

If any major conference makes sense, other than the BE, it would be the Big 12.  Maybe ACC if ND joins for football and wants to bring DePaul and MU along.   
I for one, like the BE and think it if sticks together, it will give us great exposure in a lot of big markets for recruiting. I for one, would not look forward to being in the B10 or B12.

[TallTitan34]

My dream would be the Big Ten adding Marquette and Villanova to improve basketball.

Key word being DREAM.

[BallBoy]

I believe this is the direction of the larger conferences. At a certain point, adding another football program has  diminishing returns. There just aren't that many large football draws and adding another team brings in less money than what is pulled form the other teams from a revenue sharing perspective. If you add a basketball only school like MU which can bring money to the table you increase the overall revenue share for the conference as basketball is still a money maker which won't compete with football as they are different seasons.

When it comes time to revenue sharing you give the football schools a large cut of the pie. This was shown to have worked in the Big East.  The problem was that there was still room in the other conferences before it impacted revenue.  However, if you get to 4 or 5 major conferences then adding a marginal football school doesn't help. 

I don't know if the Big Ten will be the home of MU in the future but I would be surprised if in 5 yrs there is 4 conferences with a football and basketball only. 

[bilsu]

1. Who exactly would they be "protecting" the Milwaukee market from?  They already "share" it with the Big East and it doesn't bother them.

2. The Big Ten does not believe they screwed up with Notre Dame.  All or nothing has been their only option.  I can guaranty you that if they thought ND would opt out of the ACC and go to the B10 with a similar arrangement, the B10 would still not make the offer.

3. The Big Ten does not think they screwed up with Syracuse or Pitt.  Not big enough programs.


This will never, ever happen.  Ever.  Never.  Ever.  You simply do not understand the Big Ten's mindset.

I. The Big East will not matter in the post NCAA era for BCS schools. You are looking at 4 super conferences and everything else will not matter.
2. They screwed up and they know it, if they believe there will be four super conferences and the other conferences will have non-football teams.
3. They screwed up from both a football and basketball perspective by letting Pitt & Syracuse go to ACC. Without additional football teams they are stuck at 12 teams with no good options left. While Pitt and Syracuse may not be great football programs there simply are not any better alternatives left. Perhaps they screwed up more by not taking Missouri. The ACC simply is the best basketball conference with the addition of Pitt, Syracuse and Notre Dame. The Big 10 could of been the best, if they were willing to act.

[brewcity77]

I believe this is the direction of the larger conferences. At a certain point, adding another football program has  diminishing returns. There just aren't that many large football draws and adding another team brings in less money than what is pulled form the other teams from a revenue sharing perspective. If you add a basketball only school like MU which can bring money to the table you increase the overall revenue share for the conference as basketball is still a money maker which won't compete with football as they are different seasons.

But when you're talking Big Ten/SEC type money, don't all basketball-only schools have diminishing returns? And how does MU bring significant money to the table?

We don't add a new TV market. We don't add a large alumni base. We don't add academic prestige. In what possible way does Marquette add ANY value to the Big Ten?

[GGGG]

bilsu, no....you are wrong.  The Big Ten would *NOT* have taken ND under a similar arrangement.  Flat out no.  To the Big Ten, Notre Dame isn't valuable UNLESS they bring their football program with them.  Just the "Olympic  sports," plus some football games, does not bring enough value to split the pot another way.

And you are also wrong on Syracuse and Pittsburgh.  This is a conference that stuck on 11 teams for nearly two decades despite the financial advantages to growing to 12.  The reason they didn't expand is that they felt there were no obvious candidates...and Syracuse, Pitt, Missouri, Rutgers, etc. would have joined in a heartbeat.  Their patience until Nebraska got fed up with the Big 12 paid off as they got a program that fits perfectly. 

If they wanted to add Syracuse or Pitt even afterwards, they would have done so.  The ACC only announced their addition last year.  But they didn't....because they didn't bring enough value.

Right now, I believe the only schools the Big Ten would add are Notre Dame, Texas and possibly Oklahoma.  And only if those schools join as full members and agree to completely equitable splits in revenue.  It will not happen.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

If the Big Ten wants basketball-only schools, they'll look at basketball-only schools that are closer to their profile. They'll certainly want bigger schools than us with higher regarded academics, most likely public, and definitely a new television market. I'm not sure there are any perfect fits, but I think schools like VCU and Georgetown make a lot more sense.

Neither Georgetown or VCU are AAU members... how on earth would they allow such substandard academic institutions into the Big10? I'll give you that they are in a different market than MU, but what tells you that the Big10 wants to expand east?

MU gives them another school in the Chicago market, specifically a catholic one.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

But when you're talking Big Ten/SEC type money, don't all basketball-only schools have diminishing returns? And how does MU bring significant money to the table?

We don't add a new TV market. We don't add a large alumni base. We don't add academic prestige. In what possible way does Marquette add ANY value to the Big Ten?

Non-football schools have diminishing returns if you have to travel accross the country for Lacrosse, volleyball, soccer teams. Not many schools with the national visibility of MU so convenient for B10 teams.

No non-football school is going to revolutionize a conference, but MU would be a nice addition to the B10 and would absolutely pull its weight pulling in $ from NCAA tourney success.

[hairy worthen]

Neither Georgetown or VCU are AAU members... how on earth would they allow such substandard academic institutions into the Big10? I'll give you that they are in a different market than MU, but what tells you that the Big10 wants to expand east?

MU gives them another school in the Chicago market, specifically a catholic one.

wait,  Chicago market?

[GGGG]

Non-football schools have diminishing returns if you have to travel accross the country for Lacrosse, volleyball, soccer teams. Not many schools with the national visibility of MU so convenient for B10 teams.

No non-football school is going to revolutionize a conference, but MU would be a nice addition to the B10 and would absolutely pull its weight pulling in $ from NCAA tourney success.

The Big Ten has no interest in non-football members and no interest in Marquette.  None.

The Big Ten, with one exception, is made up of large, public universities with massive alumni bases who can draw large television audiences - especially for football games.  The only exception to that is Northwestern who is a member due to historical circumstances more than anything.  They have no interest in bringing in small private schools that don't play football.

[Benny B]

The Big Ten has no interest in non-football members and no interest in Marquette.  None.

The Big Ten, with one exception, is made up of large, public universities with massive alumni bases who can draw large television audiences - especially for football games.  The only exception to that is Northwestern who is a member due to historical circumstances more than anything.  They have no interest in bringing in small private schools that don't play football.

Is this opinion or fact?

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

The Big Ten has no interest in non-football members and no interest in Marquette.  None.

The Big Ten, with one exception, is made up of large, public universities with massive alumni bases who can draw large television audiences - especially for football games.  The only exception to that is Northwestern who is a member due to historical circumstances more than anything.  They have no interest in bringing in small private schools that don't play football.

Sounds like you have better information than LW. Did you at least apply for the job? We might have all been better off.

[bilsu]

On the surface I agree that the Big 10 would have no interest in MU. However, if the future path is to 4 super conferences that are going to withdraw from NCCA then MU might make sense. The super conferences presumably will each have 16 football teams and that is why I am saying the Big 10 made a mistake in not taking certain schools. Now they have lesser choices to get to 16. The super conferences withdrawing from NCAA will have an interest in taking basketball schools to further weaken the NCAA. MU makes sense to Big 10, not because of new market, but because they fall within the Big 10 foot print and therefore will not create travel problems.

[Hards Alumni]

1. Who exactly would they be "protecting" the Milwaukee market from?  They already "share" it with the Big East and it doesn't bother them.

2. The Big Ten does not believe they screwed up with Notre Dame.  All or nothing has been their only option.  I can guaranty you that if they thought ND would opt out of the ACC and go to the B10 with a similar arrangement, the B10 would still not make the offer.

3. The Big Ten does not think they screwed up with Syracuse or Pitt.  Not big enough programs.


This will never, ever happen.  Ever.  Never.  Ever.  You simply do not understand the Big Ten's mindset.

Best post in this thread!

Also, Chicago is probably just as big of a market for Marquette as Milwaukee is.

Let that sink in.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The Big Ten has no interest in non-football members and no interest in Marquette, RIGHT NOW.  None.

The Big Ten, with one exception, is made up of large, public universities with massive alumni bases who can draw large television audiences - especially for football games.  The only exception to that is Northwestern who is a member due to historical circumstances more than anything.  They have no interest in bringing in small private schools that don't play football.

Things can change. In 2000, the Big East would have laughed their ass off at the idea of adding MU.

IF the Big10 continues to evolve, MU MIGHT be an attractive option. Whoa. I'm really out on a limb there.

The previous 100 years of college athletics really means nothing right now. $ is everything.

[GGGG]

Is this opinion or fact?

It is an opinion based on the facts of how they operate.

Things can change. In 2000, the Big East would have laughed their ass off at the idea of adding MU.

IF the Big10 continues to evolve, MU MIGHT be an attractive option. Whoa. I'm really out on a limb there.

The previous 100 years of college athletics really means nothing right now. $ is everything.

Yeah, and a nuclear bomb could go off tomorrow and make all of this irrelevant.  I actually think the nuclear bomb is more likely.

Sounds like you have better information than LW. Did you at least apply for the job? We might have all been better off.

Shut up.

[brewcity77]

Neither Georgetown or VCU are AAU members... how on earth would they allow such substandard academic institutions into the Big10? I'll give you that they are in a different market than MU, but what tells you that the Big10 wants to expand east?

MU gives them another school in the Chicago market, specifically a catholic one.

I agree that they wouldn't take VCU or Georgetown. But they provide more value than we do because of larger alumni bases and new markets. But we don't bring Chicago, certainly not more than Illinois and Northwestern do.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Yeah, and a nuclear bomb could go off tomorrow and make all of this irrelevant.  I actually think the nuclear bomb is more likely.

I'll take those odds.

College sports is whacky right now. Things we never imagined even 5 years ago, are happening. Conferences have their own network. Even schools have their own network (UT). Distribution of content (television + internet) is evolving rapidly. Geography doesn't mean a thing right now.

Schools and conferences love tradition, but at this point, I think they have proven they love $ more. IMO, whacky things are going to continue to happen.

MU getting into the Big10 is EXTREMELY unlikely, but I don't know how you can simply dismiss it after seeing what has happened over the past 10 years. The situation is too fluid.

[GGGG]

Guns, completely unfair.  If I win, I won't be able to collect since we'll all be dead!

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Guns, completely unfair.  If I win, I won't be able to collect since we'll all be dead!

You can make fun of me as we burn in hell, which I assume is a place that features unending Larry vs Buzz debates, and great Tom Crean jokes (did you know he's tan?).

[hairy worthen]

Also, Chicago is probably just as big of a market for Marquette as Milwaukee is.

Let that sink in.

Do you have something to back that up, other than your arrogance

[GGGG]

You can make fun of me as we burn in hell, which I assume is a place that features unending Larry vs Buzz debates, and great Tom Crean jokes (did you know he's tan?).

So I'm dead already????

[TallTitan34]

I think Marquette actually makes up a decent sized portion of the Chicago market.  Not enough for the Big Ten to add us for that reason, but Marquette is very well represented in the Chicagoland area.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

So I'm dead already????

Anybody with more than a 1,000 posts is a little dead inside. Amiright?