Big East/UConn in Discussions for Reunion

[GoldenWarrior11]

http://www.fanragsports.com/cbb/rothstein-uconn-big-east-recent-discussions-expansion/

UConn and the Big East have had recent discussions about the Huskies coming back to the Big East.  The Big East would take back UConn for all non-football sports (including basketball), and UConn would find a new home for football.  The Big East would also keep a round-robin format, going to 20 conference games with eleven total teams.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I'd love this.  But I think UCONN would have to agree to stay long term.  No bailing at the first chance.

Keeping the round robin and going to 20 game conference schedule would be great.  Lose 2 cupcakes, help everyone for RPI and SOS purposes.  Would be great for season ticket holders. 

[#UnleashSean]

Lookie there, what I've been saying for the past 4 years. Now we just need Notre Dame.

[wadesworld]

Please, dear God, do not let this happen.

[frozena pizza]

This roundtable article lays out the pros and cons pretty well.  I would welcome UConn assuming they can park their football somewhere permanent.  Keep the double round robin and leave it at 11 teams (Dayton is somewhat interesting but that's about the only other program).  But right now UConn needs the Big East a lot more then the BE needs UConn.

http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2017/2/10/14580088/big-east-coast-bias-expansion-roundtable-uconn-big-east

[GGGG]

This roundtable article lays out the pros and cons pretty well.  I would welcome UConn assuming they can park their football somewhere permanent.  Keep the double round robin and leave it at 11 teams (Dayton is somewhat interesting but that's about the only other program).  But right now UConn needs the Big East a lot more then the BE needs UConn.

http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2017/2/10/14580088/big-east-coast-bias-expansion-roundtable-uconn-big-east

The problem with that debate is that it is strong on sentiment (double round robin and private schools) and short on what the issue is.  Money.

If UConn brings more money to each of the conference members, you do it.

[wadesworld]

It's like being the starting point guard of the high school basketball team and dating the smokeshow, who then leaves you for the quarterback of the football team, has an ugly breakup with the quarterback, dates around with the entire rest of the football roster while you settle down with the super cute, super sweet girl, and then having the serial dating smokeshow come crying back to you after her 10th ugly breakup in a year and being like "Sweet!  I'll break up with the girl I've settled in with that is perfect for me!"

This is beyond stupid.  We just got out of this situation.  The second UCONN gets an invite to a P5 conference they are gone, no matter what the buyout $$ is.  The absolute only way this should ever even be considered is if UCONN first drops from D1 football.  If not, don't even entertain the conversation.

[DienerTime34]

Anyone question that "FanRagSports" is breaking this news and not like, a real news outlet?

[mu03eng]

Anyone question that "FanRagSports" is breaking this news and not like, a real news outlet?

#AlternativeFacts

[GGGG]

It's Jon Rothstein who used to be with CBS who broke it.

[GGGG]

This is beyond stupid.  We just got out of this situation.  The second UCONN gets an invite to a P5 conference they are gone, no matter what the buyout $$ is.  The absolute only way this should ever even be considered is if UCONN first drops from D1 football.  If not, don't even entertain the conversation.

And if that happens eight years from now, good for them.  Marquette can cash the checks in the meantime.

[Herman Cain]

It's like being the starting point guard of the high school basketball team and dating the smokeshow, who then leaves you for the quarterback of the football team, has an ugly breakup with the quarterback, dates around with the entire rest of the football roster while you settle down with the super cute, super sweet girl, and then having the serial dating smokeshow come crying back to you after her 10th ugly breakup in a year and being like "Sweet!  I'll break up with the girl I've settled in with that is perfect for me!"

This is beyond stupid.  We just got out of this situation.  The second UCONN gets an invite to a P5 conference they are gone, no matter what the buyout $$ is.  The absolute only way this should ever even be considered is if UCONN first drops from D1 football.  If not, don't even entertain the conversation.

I agree with this analysis.

[TallTitan34]

Interested if they drop football.

If not, pass.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Anyone question that "FanRagSports" is breaking this news and not like, a real news outlet?

FanRagSports has some legit sources.

Jon Rothstein for CBB.

Jon Heyman for MLB. 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

FanRagSports has some legit sources.

Jon Rothstein for CBB.

Jon Heyman for MLB.

Heyman is really good.  During baseball season, he's always on WFAN with the latest trade rumors.

[skianth16]

This is beyond stupid.  We just got out of this situation.  The second UCONN gets an invite to a P5 conference they are gone, no matter what the buyout $$ is.  The absolute only way this should ever even be considered is if UCONN first drops from D1 football.  If not, don't even entertain the conversation.

This is dumb. To just ignore any school, let alone a well-known school like UConn, simply because they have a football program will keep the Big East from growing. We're a good conference now, but we can become better. I'm sure there's a way to write language into the conference agreements that accounts for leaving the conference early. I don't think adding UConn, or even a Cincinnati, Temple or UCF would be a bad thing. I see a lot more upside than downside there.

Plus, even if UConn or any other new addition did leave, we're just back to where we are today. We're not worse off.

[🏀]

Anyone question that "FanRagSports" is breaking this news and not like, a real news outlet?

1. FanRag is a legit stable of writers.

[MU82]

I would have absolutely no problem welcoming UConn into the fold under this scenario.

If they leave 3 or 5 or 10 years down the line, it won't be like when a bunch of programs bolted at once. It will be one departure and the Big East will be plenty strong enough to handle it.

The only 12th school I'd really want would be Notre Dame for all sports except football, and that's not gonna happen. Oh ... I guess I'd take Gonzaga for basketball only, but that's not gonna happen, either.

So 11 schools, round-robin, with 20 conference games, and with UConn, one of the Big East originals joining back up ... I'll take it.

[🏀]

This roundtable article lays out the pros and cons pretty well.  I would welcome UConn assuming they can park their football somewhere permanent.  Keep the double round robin and leave it at 11 teams (Dayton is somewhat interesting but that's about the only other program).  But right now UConn needs the Big East a lot more then the BE needs UConn.

http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2017/2/10/14580088/big-east-coast-bias-expansion-roundtable-uconn-big-east

2. Fixed it for you.

[avid1010]

This is beyond stupid.  We just got out of this situation.  The second UCONN gets an invite to a P5 conference they are gone, no matter what the buyout $$ is. 

ridiculous statement to say the least.

[🏀]

3. UCONN must bring more money from Fox. I don't think this will happen in the long run. If we are at the overinflation point of the sports bubble, I think holding ground is the best bet.

[wadesworld]

ridiculous statement to say the least.

You really think if the ACC or B1G came calling and UCONN was in the BE and had a giant buyout to leave the conference they would be scared away from leaving for those conferences?

[Warrior of Law]

I don't see where UCONN can house their football program considering the money they've invested (wasted) trying to compete at the D1 level.  Unless the AAC would let them still play football there.  If they can pull it off, it would be a great addition.

[cheebs09]

You really think if the ACC or B1G came calling and UCONN was in the BE and had a giant buyout to leave the conference they would be scared away from leaving for those conferences?

I don't see why this is an issue. We go back to 10 teams and an 18 game conference schedule. We also take some money for them leaving, but I don't know that it needs to be a ridiculous amount unless UCONN is that desperate. As long as the money per school is equal or more, I think UCONN is a no brainer.

The only thing that can threaten this conference is if the P5 start plucking basketball-only schools or if our current members with football go up a level. I'm not too worried about the latter and think we'd be a team plucked in the former.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It's like being the starting point guard of the high school basketball team and dating the smokeshow, who then leaves you for the quarterback of the football team, has an ugly breakup with the quarterback, dates around with the entire rest of the football roster while you settle down with the super cute, super sweet girl, and then having the serial dating smokeshow come crying back to you after her 10th ugly breakup in a year and being like "Sweet!  I'll break up with the girl I've settled in with that is perfect for me!"

The problem with this analogy is that you're not breaking up with the super cute, super sweet girl for the smokeshow. You get to have both.

I think the more accurate comparison is the Big East is your standard average Joe. He is somehow given the chance to date Jennifer Lawrence (insert your own favorite celebrity crush). He knows there's a good chance they will break up after a few years, but what a few years those will be!

I've never gotten the fear of UConn joining and then leaving the Big East. We cash the checks for a few years and if they leave we are no worse for wear. As long as basketball only schools have the super majority there is no issue.

Also, I'm not convinced that UConn ever gets a P5 invite. I believe expansion is done for awhile and the B12 will get picked clean once their GoR is up. The B12 will either cease to exist or become the American 2.0 and get G5 money.

Real question is if fox ponies up the extra cash. If the answer is yes, you take them. If not, you don't.