ESPN Some info on NBC offer BE and insight into a 14 member conference, C-7 +7

[Newsdreams]

Did not see this posted before. Some details on what ESPN would have to match for BE contract and possible members of a 14 member conference (C-7+7). Noticed no mention of Gonzaga.

[We R Final Four]

Did not see this posted before. Some details on what ESPN would have to match for BE contract and possible members of a 14 member conference (C-7+7). Noticed no mention of Gonzaga.

Link?

[Newsdreams]

Sorry
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8953431/espn-week-meet-nbc-big-east-offer-sources-say

[Avenue Commons]

"The new league, yet to be formed, is expected to have 12-to-14 members. The most likely candidates to join the Catholic schools, sources have told ESPN, are Butler, Xavier, Creighton, Dayton, Saint Louis, Richmond and VCU."

I didn't crunch the numbers, but would 14 teams still break down to $3M per annum? At first blush seems like a lot of mouths to feed.

Interesting if it was VCU AND Richmond. That's be a fun inter-conference rivalry for them.

[Jet915]

Find it hard to believe they would take two teams from Richmond.  Take one of them and add Gonzaga and then you have a conference!

[77ncaachamps]

Find it hard to believe they would take two teams from Richmond.  Take one of them and add Gonzaga and then you have a huge travel expense and a geographically jumbled! conference!

fixed 

[Mr. Nielsen]

This is the first I've heard of 14 schools in the league.

Larry Williams spoke to a group of us at the BC before the DePaul game and said it will be 10 teams with the odds of going to 12 schools very good.

[jsglow]

This is the first I've heard of 14 schools in the league.

Larry Williams spoke to a group of us at the BC before the DePaul game and said it will be 10 teams with the odds of going to 12 schools very good.

Pleased to hear that panther.  Crazy to go to 14.  I'd much rather be 10, 12 max. Teams 13-14 are absolutely 'mid-major'.  No reason to dilute.

[MU82]

Let's make it 15 by adding Tulane!

[Dawson Rental]

Let's end the conference season early and have the conference tournament every year in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

[Avenue Commons]

Let's end the conference season early and have the conference tournament every year in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

Now we're talkin'!

[Pakuni]

fixed 

I still don't get this.
People don't bat an eye at the travel costs and geographical jumble of a conference spanning from New York to Omaha, but adding Gonzaga suddenly makes it unwieldy?
What Gonzaga adds in terms of credibility, competitiveness, TV options and national brand FAR FAR outweighs the travel issues.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Pleased to hear that panther.  Crazy to go to 14.  I'd much rather be 10, 12 max. Teams 13-14 are absolutely 'mid-major'.  No reason to dilute.

I just don't think this is right way to look it. The bottom 1 or 2 teams may be mid-majors (Dayton, Richmond) , but they are still quality ones. Butler, Xavier, SLU, Creighton, VCU, etc are not truly mid-majors. You put any one of those teams in the PAC12, BIG12, SEC and they are no worse than middle of the pack.

So, at first, the New Big East may APPEAR to be a mid-major to someone who doesn't follow college hoops that closely. But I think the talent of these programs will speak for itself rather quickly. This conference will annually be the 3rd or 4th best in the lands. With that said, go to 12 and leave Dayton (unlikely, I know) and Richmond out.

[boyonthedock]

I think you're burying the lede here. The c7+ are set to make MORE money than the conference that added any football team they could get their hands on for FOOTBALL TV DOLLARS. I mean, that feels pretty good right there.

[Pakuni]

I just don't think this is right way to look it. The bottom 1 or 2 teams may be mid-majors (Dayton, Richmond) , but they are still quality ones. Butler, Xavier, SLU, Creighton, VCU, etc are not truly mid-majors. You put any one of those teams in the PAC12, BIG12, SEC and they are no worse than middle of the pack.

By no stretch of the imagination does St. Louis belong with Butler, Xavier and Creighton and perhaps not even VCU.

[jsglow]

I just don't think this is right way to look it. The bottom 1 or 2 teams may be mid-majors (Dayton, Richmond) , but they are still quality ones. Butler, Xavier, SLU, Creighton, VCU, etc are not truly mid-majors. You put any one of those teams in the PAC12, BIG12, SEC and they are no worse than middle of the pack.

So, at first, the New Big East may APPEAR to be a mid-major to someone who doesn't follow college hoops that closely. But I think the talent of these programs will speak for itself rather quickly. This conference will annually be the 3rd or 4th best in the lands. With that said, go to 12 and leave Dayton (unlikely, I know) and Richmond out.

I guess I wasn't clear in my comment.  I meant TEAMS 13, 14.  I wasn't referring to the conference in general.  My goal is not to unnecessarily add to the conference at the bottom.  And while VCU and Richmond might be successful in their own right, they are certainly 'mid major'.  Of course the most ridiculous suggestion I've seen is Siena. 

[Pakuni]

I guess I wasn't clear in my comment.  I meant TEAMS 13, 14.  I wasn't referring to the conference in general.  My goal is not to unnecessarily add to the conference at the bottom.  And while VCU and Richmond might be successful in their own right, they are certainly 'mid major'.  Of course the most ridiculous suggestion I've seen is Siena. 

I'll see your Siena and raise you a Holy Cross.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=34953.msg429728#msg429728

[honkytonk]

I think you're burying the lede here. The c7+ are set to make MORE money than the conference that added any football team they could get their hands on for FOOTBALL TV DOLLARS. I mean, that feels pretty good right there.

It feels better to make more money than the MWC because they are by far and away a better athletic conference than the BE.

Of course, gameday attendance is just as important as wealthy alums that give to programs annually.

So much pushing and shoving for a couple million extra bucks. Look at Okie Lite. They take 3-4 charters for their BASKETBALL team. If they were starving, I would think they could figure something out that was a bit cheaper! I blame accounting shenanigans that make programs look like they lose money!

[Warriors10]

By no stretch of the imagination does St. Louis belong with Butler, Xavier and Creighton and perhaps not even VCU.

SLU is tied for the A10 lead with VCU...

[Pakuni]

SLU is tied for the A10 lead with VCU...

Actually, they're second, but that totally convinces me to ignore the fact they've had two tournament appearances and one tourney win since 2000.

[honkytonk]

Actually, they're second, but that totally convinces me to ignore the fact they've had two tournament appearances and one tourney win since 2000.

Bingo! We have a winner. There is nothing more short-sighted than analyzing potential conference mates based off of a year or two of results.

SHU, Prov, SJU and DeP havent done squat (even collectively) for many years but no one criticizes their inclusion into the new conference. They get a free pass because they are charter members of a dead conference. SLU has one tournament appearance in the last 10 years but because they are good this year they MUST be added. I'll admit that I am probably heavily discounting their CBI runner-up season from a few years ago! 

[Dawson Rental]

Bingo! We have a winner. There is nothing more short-sighted than analyzing potential conference mates based off of a year or two of results.

SHU, Prov, SJU and DeP havent done squat (even collectively) for many years but no one criticizes their inclusion into the new conference. They get a free pass because they are charter members of a dead conference. SLU has one tournament appearance in the last 10 years but because they are good this year they MUST be added. I'll admit that I am probably heavily discounting their CBI runner-up season from a few years ago! 

I agree, SLU is one of the better prospects we could invite to the new conference based on results from last year and this year.  To get a fresh look at their future prospects sans Majerus check out their recruiting for the 2013 and 2014 classes.  They signed ESPN's 97th rated SG for 2013, and they are listed with only two other mediocre SG's for 2014. Jim Crews is an interim head coach.  Kwamain Mitchell is a senior.  Biondi is going to have to take some time away from saving his own ass this spring to make a shrewd coaching hire, or St Louis' basketball program is going to sink into oblivion very quickly.

[vcuboy22]

Just saying VCU isnt going anywhere in the certain future
Just saying
But I like hearing that VCU wil be included into the C7.... Even if Richmond has to come also hahah

[Avenue Commons]

I'll see your Siena and raise you a Holy Cross.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=34953.msg429728#msg429728

I stand by a Holy Cross suggestion, if they committed to hoops. Boston TV market.

[Chili]

I stand by a Holy Cross suggestion, if they committed to hoops. Boston TV market.

Not going to happen. I know the president of the Holy Cross Alumni Club here in Chicago and he recently had lunch with their AD. He brought up this question and the HC AD said there is no way they can compete with MU and they are not looking to either. We have way to many resources.