Tulane to the Big East

[Abode4life]

Gotta be this one.  Big Ten is out, UW will never let it happen.  ACC is out, they will go w Gtown and STJ before MU.    Let's go hat in hand to the Big 12 and offer them them Cobeen's finest virgins.   Would make Buzz's recruiting of Texas that much easier.  

For me this is not a viable option.  If we go "hat in hand" to a football only conference, we will be taken advantage of and only given the scraps of whats left over.  If we aren't in a BCS league with at least a few other bball schools, in the long run, bball only would be better because eventually when another bigger fish comes calling or a school needs to leave, MU would be the first one kicked out.

[Goose]

Way too much unknown to make up my mind on what is going on. Trying to find a sliver lining and struggling to find one. A lesser conference is kiss of death to he program to a large degree. When I hear about Butler or Gonzaga it makes me cringe. I have no interest in having their programs for the long haul. They have done well and I respect that, but I want to play prime time. The Butler's of the world are feel good stories and good for them. I want us playing in elite games and games that matter.

Hoping for the best here. Curious if anyone has a feel if and when something happens publicly in our conferenc situation.

[Pakuni]

This article was started...I believe...based on how awful the Big East NOW has become. I don't think all of comments here are based on that fictitious super-conf you are talking about. If that happened, I think people would be satisfied/happy. What they don't like - myself included - is what we have before us.

Well, that depends. A Big East that still features the likes of Louisville, Cincy, UConn, Nova, Georgetown, Memphis, MU, wouldn't be ideal, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Certainly not bad enough to elicit responses like "May as well just make bball a club sport and be done with it."

I think the gloomiest among us are assuming that UConn, Louisville and Cincy will bolt at the earliest opportunity, and that's probably true. But at this point, that's just as fictitious as the hoops-centric conference we've been talking about around here for two years.

[Hards Alumni]

Good God people, chill out.

Marquette made the Final Four and landed great players as a member of C-USA.
As did Lousiville and Memphis.
Butler went to two Final Fours as a member of the Horizon League.
Gonzaga has been a consistent top 20 team as a member of the WCC.
Same with Xavier in the A-10.

Joining a hoops-centric league with the like of G'town, St. John's, DePaul, Nova, Temple, etc., (and maybe the best of the A-10) is far from ideal and definitely a step back, but it's not the ruination of Marquette basketball.

I'm glad you're living in a 90s state of mind.

[Pakuni]

No surprise, Cincy trying to get into the ACC:

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8683593/cincinnati-bearcats-making-strong-push-join-acc-source

[KenoshaWarrior]

Big Country Conference:

Maybe Billingsley still has some eligibility remaining.

LeDarryl Sucks
LeDarryl Sucks

[Pakuni]

I'm glad you're living in a 90s state of mind.

Your futile attempt at being clever might have worked if any of the examples I cited had come from the 90s.

[Groin_pull]

Gotta be this one.  Big Ten is out, UW will never let it happen.  ACC is out, they will go w Gtown and STJ before MU.    Let's go hat in hand to the Big 12 and offer them them Cobeen's finest virgins.   Would make Buzz's recruiting of Texas that much easier.  

If we're relying on the attractiveness of MU's coeds, we're in serious trouble.

Patriot League, here we come.

[Goose]

If Cincy has leaked their desire for ACC  maybe we need to leak our desires. If we are doing things behind the scenes it will be the best kept secret ever.

[jsglow]

Is anybody really surprised that this is happening?  Does anybody really believe that the giant BCS football state schools and their big budget conferences want us or any of our brothers.  Heck, they don't want Louisville.

Some 30 years ago the BEast came into existence for the sole purpose of dominating college basketball amongst a group of schools where football was at best an afterthough.  And some historically great teams were born.  I for one have longed for the stability of a return to that original model.  And I'll trust there are plenty of smart people at any number of private universities (including LW and Fr. P) working to make that a reality once again.

I'll wait for the announcement and be excited when it comes down.

[Lennys Tap]

So,  the 95-96 and 96-97 teams that did considerably better than 8-8 in C-USA and went to the tournament didn't really exist?
The "MU will die if Buzz leaves" thing is nonsense and has been demonstrated already. MU has lost good coaches before and gone on to continued success. Should the school remain committed to it and make good decisions, MU will continue to have success if/when Buzz leaves.
Chicken Little-ism run amok today.

Marquette in Conference USA without D Wade from 95-96 (conference's inception): 8 years, 2 NCAA appearances (first 2 years, 0 in the last 6), one win (over Monmouth College).
To the extent you consider that success, Marquette will still have it post Big East/post Buzz. but it won't be anything like we have now.

[Hards Alumni]

Your futile attempt at being clever might have worked if any of the examples I cited had come from the 90s.

My entire point is going to fall on deaf ears anyway, I don't really feel like expanding since I will be called crazy.

I realize how stupid this post sounds, so save it.

jsglow is on the right track though. 

You all think we matter to the big 5.  We don't.

[Bocephys]

Is anybody really surprised that this is happening?  Does anybody really believe that the giant BCS football state schools and their big budget conferences want us or any of our brothers.  Heck, they don't want Louisville.

Some 30 years ago the BEast came into existence for the sole purpose of dominating college basketball amongst a group of schools where football was at best an afterthough.  And some historically great teams were born.  I for one have longed for the stability of a return to that original model.  And I'll trust there are plenty of smart people at any number of private universities (including LW and Fr. P) working to make that a reality once again.

I'll wait for the announcement and be excited when it comes down.

Well said.

[Knight Commission]

Well said.

When colleges start getting sued over football-induced cuncussions the tied will turn. Basketball will rule and the Catholic Conference will shine. (wishful thinking).

[Pakuni]

My entire point is going to fall on deaf ears anyway, I don't really feel like expanding since I will be called crazy.

I realize how stupid this post sounds, so save it.

jsglow is on the right track though. 

You all think we matter to the big 5.  We don't.

Strawman alert.
Who said "we matter to the big 5?"

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

There are a bunch of babies who post here. Good lord. MU will be fine. It may have to endure a year or two in a shitty Big East, which would still be the 5th or 6th best conference in the land. Big deal.

MU has a strong enough athletics program that when all the dust settles, they will have a home in either the Big 12, Big 10 or ACC. And all the dust will settle. By 2016 or so there will be five power conferences that each have 18-20 hoops teams.  

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Is anybody really surprised that this is happening?  Does anybody really believe that the giant BCS football state schools and their big budget conferences want us or any of our brothers.  Heck, they don't want Louisville.

Some 30 years ago the BEast came into existence for the sole purpose of dominating college basketball amongst a group of schools where football was at best an afterthough.  And some historically great teams were born.  I for one have longed for the stability of a return to that original model.  And I'll trust there are plenty of smart people at any number of private universities (including LW and Fr. P) working to make that a reality once again.

I'll wait for the announcement and be excited when it comes down.

FWIW - The Mike Francesca of WFAN comment about Rutgers leaving "was now it's time for the Big East to go back to the beginning and do what it does best and be a top basketball conference."

[Aughnanure]

There are a bunch of babies who post here. Good lord. MU will be fine. It may have to endure a year or two in a crapty Big East, which would still be the 5th or 6th best conference in the land. Big deal.

MU has a strong enough athletics program that when all the dust settles, they will have a home in either the Big 12, Big 10 or ACC. And all the dust will settle. By 2016 or so there will be five power conferences that each have 18-20 hoops teams.  

I agree we'll be fine, but I don't think we'll ever see Marquette in the Big 12, B1G or ACC.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

There are a bunch of babies who post here. Good lord. MU will be fine. It may have to endure a year or two in a crapty Big East, which would still be the 5th or 6th best conference in the land. Big deal.

MU has a strong enough athletics program that when all the dust settles, they will have a home in either the Big 12, Big 10 or ACC. And all the dust will settle. By 2016 or so there will be five power conferences that each have 18-20 hoops teams.  

And to paraphrase LW from the Marquette Circles in NYC, "as long as we make sure all of our athletic programs are top notch and solid, Marquette be relevant and we'll end up in a good place."

[chapman]

There are a bunch of babies who post here. Good lord. MU will be fine. It may have to endure a year or two in a crapty Big East, which would still be the 5th or 6th best conference in the land. Big deal.

MU has a strong enough athletics program that when all the dust settles, they will have a home in either the Big 12, Big 10 or ACC. And all the dust will settle. By 2016 or so there will be five power conferences that each have 18-20 hoops teams.  

I don't know if we'll be in a major conference, but it's not impossible.  I don't know that the Big Ten will bother with that route anytime soon.  But the ACC and Big 12 will.  It might take a few years, but they will.  As far as why they "bother", for the same reason Microsoft and Pfizer buy little five person companies – if you can add something that boosts your product and gives you a competitive edge, go for it.  Only a few current and historically good hoops schools with favorable academics and who bring no baggage will be candidates.  If it doesn't happen, we'll have the next best thing, and there will be room for it.

[Hards Alumni]

Strawman alert.
Who said "we matter to the big 5?"

What strawman?  The prevailing opinions of the people who are saying we will be okay assume that we matter to the big five conferences.

I'm merely saying that we don't.

When all the pieces are in place don't think for a second that those 5 conferences won't create something as a group for themselves that we all get to watch in March.

[Pakuni]

Marquette in Conference USA without D Wade from 95-96 (conference's inception): 8 years, 2 NCAA appearances (first 2 years, 0 in the last 6), one win (over Monmouth College).
To the extent you consider that success, Marquette will still have it post Big East/post Buzz. but it won't be anything like we have now.

Moving the goal posts, I see.
You said MU never did better than 8-8 and an NIT in CUSA w/out Wade. Not true.

And, for the love of God, can we stop playing the "without Wade" game? It's stupid and make-believe. Crean did land Wade. Get over it.
Do you think Duke fans sit around saying "Without Johnny Dawkins?"

[Aughnanure]

And, for the love of God, can we stop playing the "without Wade" game? It's stupid and make-believe. Crean did land Wade. Get over it.
Do you think Duke fans sit around saying "Without Johnny Dawkins?"

This.

[MarquetteDano]

So Buzz will be gone and our team will consist of 3.8 GPA traditionals from Appleton Xavier and Loyola Academy who think Carpenter Hall is the nuts. Hiroshima, Part II.

Hey!  Take it easy on my other alma mater, Loyola!   

[Dawson Rental]

If Cincy has leaked their desire for ACC  maybe we need to leak our desires. If we are doing things behind the scenes it will be the best kept secret ever.

I'm sure that LW has the Domers telling the rest of the ACC, "Hey we've got this really cute friend up in Milwaukee."