Split is official

[jesmu84]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9031167/catholic-7-leaving-big-east-june-30

New Big East getting minimum $3 million per school in Fox deal

[Warriors10]

No mention of 12 teams...Dayton board gonna be in a dizzy.

[The Process]

I just screamed really loud at the gym. People are looking at me weirder than normal...

YES!!! 

Good riddance LEAST!

[MileHigh]

I imagine that Marquette will send an email out this afternoon with more details.

[GOO]

Good.  Announce it now.  Announce new schools next week after the conference tournaments are completed, is my guess.

[Babybluejeans]

I'm really excited about how everything shook out. But can anyone answer the following?

1) Does the Fox contract mean that ZERO Big East conference games will be broadcast on ESPN next year? Or will it work similar to the Big Ten/Pac-12 networks that have rights to the games but ESPN can pick them up?

It just seems--contract dollars notwithstanding--that it's a loss of exposure to go to an upstart network. Lots of folks (not to mention bars) just automatically throw on ESPN when they want college ball. Anyway, not a huge deal but a thought.

2) Somewhat related to the above, do you think the Big East will be considered a "power conference" going forward? Or an "upper" mid-major like the current A-10? Seems like the next couple years will be really critical to the conference's stature; although being from DC and hating Georgetown, I have to admit it'd be great if they won the Nat'l Championship this year so we have that juice going into next season. (I obviously only say Gtown because they seem like the only C7 team to have a shot at actually cutting down the nets...not a slight to our boys.)

Would appreciate any intel or thoughts.

[Litehouse]

Who has the obligatory Wooderson pic from the recruit commitment threads?

[Benny B]

I'm really excited about how everything shook out. But can anyone answer the following?

1) Does the Fox contract mean that ZERO Big East conference games will be broadcast on ESPN next year? Or will it work similar to the Big Ten/Pac-12 networks that have rights to the games but ESPN can pick them up?

It just seems--contract dollars notwithstanding--that it's a loss of exposure to go to an upstart network. Lots of folks (not to mention bars) just automatically throw on ESPN when they want college ball. Anyway, not a huge deal but a thought.

2) Somewhat related to the above, do you think the Big East will be considered a "power conference" going forward? Or an "upper" mid-major like the current A-10? Seems like the next couple years will be really critical to the conference's stature; although being from DC and hating Georgetown, I have to admit it'd be great if they won the Nat'l Championship this year so we have that juice going into next season. (I obviously only say Gtown because they seem like the only C7 team to have a shot at actually cutting down the nets...not a slight to our boys.)

Would appreciate any intel or thoughts.

#1: No.  ESPN can always sub-license games, just like CBS did with Pitt @ MU this year.

#2: Yes, "power conference," "major," "Big 6," or whatever you want to call it.  It has a major TV contract, it has national exposure, and in its inaugural season, it's going to have at least 5 teams (MU, GU, Nova, Butler, Creighton), maybe 6 (PC or X), that made the tournament in 2013, and possibly 7 or more (SLU?, VCU?) if they go to twelve right away.  How many "mid-major" conferences have ever had 6 bids?

[speri]

I like the idea of using the term "Big 6" when referencing football and "Big 6 plus Big East" when discussing basketball. We'll get a lot of free publicity if that catches on. Now that will depend if the league maintains the current high level of competition - which I fully expect it will.

[jesmu84]

I like the idea of using the term "Big 6" when referencing football and "Big 6 plus Big East" when discussing basketball. We'll get a lot of free publicity if that catches on. Now that will depend if the league maintains the current high level of competition - which I fully expect it will.

I'm confident in the Big East maintaining the high level of basketball success. I don't, however, expect the America12 to continue - especially once UConn, Cincy or whoever depart.

[jesmu84]

Larry Williams:

After many months of thoughtful dialogue with the presidents and athletic directors of the other six basketball schools, we are excited to start this new era of excellence in intercollegiate athletics – a move that will allow us to enhance the elite status of our athletic programs, led by men's basketball. We look forward to taking this positive step toward ensuring that all our student athletes continue to compete at the highest levels. I want to personally thank Father Pilarz for his leadership in this transition, as well as our loyal fans for their unwavering enthusiasm and support.

http://marquetteu.tumblr.com/post/44870526380/after-many-months-of-thoughtful-dialogue-with-the#_=_

oh. my. god. he mentioned other programs, the fans, the program, Father P... everyone except Buzz!!

[warriorchick]

Larry Williams:

After many months of thoughtful dialogue with the presidents and athletic directors of the other six basketball schools, we are excited to start this new era of excellence in intercollegiate athletics – a move that will allow us to enhance the elite status of our athletic programs, led by men's basketball. We look forward to taking this positive step toward ensuring that all our student athletes continue to compete at the highest levels. I want to personally thank Father Pilarz for his leadership in this transition, as well as our loyal fans for their unwavering enthusiasm and support.

http://marquetteu.tumblr.com/post/44870526380/after-many-months-of-thoughtful-dialogue-with-the#_=_

oh. my. god. he mentioned other programs, the fans, the program, Father P... everyone except Buzz!!

Have we forgotten there are other sports in the Big East besides basketball?  If Larry mentioned Buzz, he'd half to mention all the other head coaches as well. 

[MUMountin]

I like the idea of using the term "Big 6" when referencing football and "Big 6 plus Big East" when discussing basketball. We'll get a lot of free publicity if that catches on. Now that will depend if the league maintains the current high level of competition - which I fully expect it will.

Big 6 isn't even going to be the appropriate term anymore, with the changes to the football playoff system.  Really will be the "Big 5."  (SEC, Pac12, B1G, B12, ACC).  Beyond that, as it currently stands in hoops, I think we will be the best of a group of three (BE, MW, and Am12), whom all have the potential of being better than several of the Big 5 conference in any given year.  After that, the decimated A10 and MVC will probably be the next best conferences, depending on how they reload.

Of course, if ACC does get raided, and UConn and/or Cinci move there, then I think the American 12 drops to the level of A10/MVC--probably multibid conferences in most years, but rarely more than 2 or 3.  

As talked about in other threads, the biggest issue with the new BEast is that while I think we'll be as strong as most of the Big 5 in any given year, top to bottom, we will be lacking any of the Blue Bloods, which they all arguably have (UK, UCLA/UA, Indiana/Michigan/Michigan St., KU, Duke/UNC).  Right or wrong, those are the programs/brands that really drive viewership and thus facetime.  MU, G'town, Butler, Xavier, 'Nova are all great programs, but we need a few to really step up the game in order to be seen periannally as one of the top 2-3 conferences, especially as the ACC and B1G often are.  

[Niv Berkowitz]

#1: No.  ESPN can always sub-license games, just like CBS did with Pitt @ MU this year.

#2: Yes, "power conference," "major," "Big 6," or whatever you want to call it.  It has a major TV contract, it has national exposure, and in its inaugural season, it's going to have at least 5 teams (MU, GU, Nova, Butler, Creighton), maybe 6 (PC or X), that made the tournament in 2013, and possibly 7 or more (SLU?, VCU?) if they go to twelve right away.  How many "mid-major" conferences have ever had 6 bids?

#2) YES! Unlike OLN/VS/NBSSports network's affiliation w/the NHL, FOX Sports is a known entity right out of the gate. The NHL, you could argue, is just now finally getting some brand equity out of a bigger known brand in NBC, albeit NBC is now known as a terrible primetime network, has virtually no football, and has no college sports either other than one polarizing team.

For the BEast and FOX, you have right out of the gate the following:

- exposure in 90+ million homes
- a nationally known sports brand
- a market which seems to be longing for someone/anyone to go up against ESPN. So there's going to be some good-will there and an opportunity for people to "give Fox a shot".

It's a huge, huge win for MU and one that I never thought I'd see in my lifetime.

[GGGG]

As talked about in other threads, the biggest issue with the new BEast is that while I think we'll be as strong as most of the Big 5 in any given year, top to bottom, we will be lacking any of the Blue Bloods, which they all arguably have (UK, UCLA/UA, Indiana/Michigan/Michigan St., KU, Duke/UNC).  Right or wrong, those are the programs/brands that really drive viewership and thus facetime.  MU, G'town, Butler, Xavier, 'Nova are all great programs, but we need a few to really step up the game in order to be seen periannally as one of the top 2-3 conferences, especially as the ACC and B1G often are.  

Egh...  This talk is so tiresome.

I have no idea why we have to worry about whether or not this conference is "mid-major," "high-major," or whatever.  Last I checked Marquette went to the Final Four as a member of Conference USA...where we shared a conference with the likes of East Carolina and Houston.

Look, Marquette is what it is.  Its a University that spends ton of $$ on basketball, has incredible fan support, and sits within spitting distance of a talent rich pool of basketball talent.  We are in the best place possible for our program considering all that's gone on in college athletics...with a television contract that is going to pay MU more than it ever has been paid and every game will be delivered to a national cable audience.

And now we are going to fret and worry some more about what some dingleberry in Bristol labels the conference?  F*ck 'em.

[Niv Berkowitz]

As talked about in other threads, the biggest issue with the new BEast is that while I think we'll be as strong as most of the Big 5 in any given year, top to bottom, we will be lacking any of the Blue Bloods, which they all arguably have (UK, UCLA/UA, Indiana/Michigan/Michigan St., KU, Duke/UNC).  Right or wrong, those are the programs/brands that really drive viewership and thus facetime.   MU, G'town, Butler, Xavier, 'Nova are all great programs, but we need a few to really step up the game in order to be seen periannally as one of the top 2-3 conferences, especially as the ACC and B1G often are.  

Politely disagree. Georgetown, Butler, Marquette, 'nova, St. John's...all of those teams are a mix of older/newer "successful" college hoops programs.

Sure, if you want to bring up an all-emcompassing blanket of "successful" college programs, you bring all the goodwill of football goodwill into the discussion. But from a purely basketball standpoint, the new BEast has enough recognition, old/recent success, and alumni/diversification-across-the-country to immediately be viewed as a powerful hoops conference.

By keeping the name and all those traditionally-strong programs, the BEast will be too good to simply ignore or go away. And Fox Sports will make sure of that by pushing the heck out of it. That's not going to be the case w/the American 12 or whatever that conference is called. Getting to keep the BEast name and history is sooooo huge.

[Sir Lawrence]

Egh...  This talk is so tiresome.



And now we are going to fret and worry some more about what some dingleberry in Bristol labels the conference?

Or some knob-shine posting on the Badger boards.

[GGGG]

Or some knob-shine posting on the Badger boards.

Which in the end is meaningless when we continue to beat them on the court.

[bradley center bat]

I'm really excited about how everything shook out. But can anyone answer the following?

1) Does the Fox contract mean that ZERO Big East conference games will be broadcast on ESPN next year? Or will it work similar to the Big Ten/Pac-12 networks that have rights to the games but ESPN can pick them up?

BTN & Pac-12 Networks does have the right to the games. #2 tier rights  ESPN does.

Fox Sports 1 & Fox Sports 2 will be showing Big East games. BE road games can be on ESPN. Holiday tourney's can be on ESPN.

[MUMountin]

Egh...  This talk is so tiresome.

I have no idea why we have to worry about whether or not this conference is "mid-major," "high-major," or whatever.  Last I checked Marquette went to the Final Four as a member of Conference USA...where we shared a conference with the likes of East Carolina and Houston.

Look, Marquette is what it is.  Its a University that spends ton of $$ on basketball, has incredible fan support, and sits within spitting distance of a talent rich pool of basketball talent.  We are in the best place possible for our program considering all that's gone on in college athletics...with a television contract that is going to pay MU more than it ever has been paid and every game will be delivered to a national cable audience.

And now we are going to fret and worry some more about what some dingleberry in Bristol labels the conference?  F*ck 'em.

I don't disagree with you--at the end, I feel great about MU and the BE's position right now: best place possible, and I'm pretty ecstatic about it.  It might actually give MU some room to grow in the national eye, as we are already seen as one of the top programs in the new conference (as opposed to being more in the middle of the "competitive" half of the old Big East).

But, I was more trying to point out the reality of the situation--because a lack of the top "marquee" programs, combined with the football "goodwill"/brand recognition that Niv referenced, we may not get as broad of public recognition that the Big 5 will.

We will still be seen as a powerful competitive conference, and as I said, I think we'll often be stronger than several of the Big 5 conferences in a given year.  But, I also think there will be a gap between perception and reality for the broader public--partially because of how those idiots in Bristol label us.  Does it really matter in the long run?  No.  We can still be just as competitive as any team from the Big 5 conferences.

[Litehouse]

The C7 has 163 total NCAA appearances and 18 Final Fours.  If you add X, Butler and Creighton they bring an additional 51 NCAA appearances 2 Final Fours.  Assuming it's those 10 teams to start, that makes a combined 214 NCAA appearances and 20 Final Fours.  We take a back seat to noone, and anyone referring to the leage as "mid-major" will make it easy to identify who has no idea what they're talking about.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

But, I also think there will be a gap between perception and reality for the broader public--partially because of how those idiots in Bristol label us.  Does it really matter in the long run?  No.  We can still be just as competitive as any team from the Big 5 conferences.

You are probably right... but the average 'Merican is a moron, and the average 'Merican sports fan is far too interested in the NFL/college football.

Marquette could win 10 National Titles in a row, and 50% of the country would still think it's in Marquette Michigan.

I don't say all of this to be negative, but rather because MU has to do what is best for MU. What the average American Rube thinks about it doesn't matter.

Get in the best conference possible (New Big East is pretty good). continue to spend $. Profit.

[BossplayaOtto]

The C7 has 163 total NCAA appearances and 18 Final Fours.  If you add X, Butler and Creighton they bring an additional 51 NCAA appearances 2 Final Fours.  Assuming it's those 10 teams to start, that makes a combined 214 NCAA appearances and 20 Final Fours.  We take a back seat to noone, and anyone referring to the leage as "mid-major" will make it easy to identify who has no idea what they're talking about.

This is pretty impressive

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

The C7 has 163 total NCAA appearances and 18 Final Fours.  If you add X, Butler and Creighton they bring an additional 51 NCAA appearances 2 Final Fours.  Assuming it's those 10 teams to start, that makes a combined 214 NCAA appearances and 20 Final Fours.  We take a back seat to noone, and anyone referring to the leage as "mid-major" will make it easy to identify who has no idea what they're talking about.

Would be interesting to see this analysis done of all the conferences (as of their 2014 formations, or whatever).

[Litehouse]

I started looking at the other conferences and there's usually one team that dominates and skews everything. Particularly Kentucky, UCLA, Kansas, and UNC, and then there's a drop off, with the exception of Duke in the ACC.  I think we're deeper and more balanced than most conferences, and the other ones are more top heavy.