Can We Finally End the Gonzaga to Big East Talk?

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

That's definitely true.  The schools that have single teams in certain conferences (e.g. Denver for lacrosse) are only allowed because their primary conference doesn't have that sport.

Gotcha

[Dawson Rental]

So much for the BS about a WAC WCC team having a virgin's chance in hell at playing for a Natty.

IOW: Who the fook needs the Big East?

More Benny B brilliance, getting a thread about Gonzaga joining the Big East started by asking if "Can we finally end the Gonzaga to Big East talk?"

[AZMarqfan]

this makes no sense.  Gonzaga's travel bill for all sports would increase dramatically.  Same for current BE schools.  I'm not sure why we're not trying to poach Wichita St and Dayton.   I'd love SLU, but they've been bad for a few years now

[Jockey]

Once Few moves or or retires, they likely will fade back to just being a good mid major. I'd add them to the BE, but they will immediately become a mid tier BE team.

Just a guess, but I think Few will be at Gonzaga longer than Wojo is at Marquette.

[MU82]

Once Few moves or or retires, they likely will fade back to just being a good mid major. I'd add them to the BE, but they will immediately become a mid tier BE team.

Pretty silly speculation.

1. Mark Few is 54. He very might coach at Gonzaga for 15-20 more years. He has absolutely no reason to leave voluntarily, and the school has absolutely no reason to want somebody else.

2. Maybe after he leaves, they actually get somebody better. Just as they got somebody better after Dan Fitzgerald left in '97 (Dan Monson) and then after Monson left in '99 (Few).

[wadesworld]

Unlike MU and Creighton, BYU and USD are nationally ranked and make deep NCAA runs regularly.

I'm not sure how being 5th (3rd a few years ago) is worse than 9th. Certainly you didn't thskebthe same MU math courses I did if you think that.

And you obviously didn't "thskebthe" same MU English courses I did.

Once again, the RPI for women's volleyball is even worse than the RPI is for men's basketball. And that's saying something.

USD has made the Sweet Sixteen once in the last decade and has not made it past the Sweet Sixteen at all. Once again maybe we were just taking different English courses at MU, but in my vocabulary that is not "making deep NCAA Tournament runs regularly." Creighton has gone to the Sweet Sixteen twice in the last 2 years, including the Elite Eight last year.

As I said, BYU carries that conference, even more so than Gonzaga carries their men's basketball conference, which once again is saying something.

Not to mention, none of that matters. Basketball is the only sport that brings in money, so if Gonzaga decided it was worth it to join the BE for men's basketball they literally wouldn't even consider how it could hurt the chances of their other sports teams succeeding in terms of NCAA Tournament chances. They wouldn't think for one second about how good or bad women's basketball, soccer (men's or women's), lacrosse, track and field, or volleyball are in the Big East. Basketball is all that would matter, just like even bad football schools like UCONN don't even consider what problems their conference affiliations might have on their outstanding men's basketball program.

[Aughnanure]

USD has made the Sweet Sixteen once in the last decade and has not made it past the Sweet Sixteen at all. Once again maybe we were just taking different English courses at MU, but in my vocabulary that is not "making deep NCAA Tournament runs regularly." Creighton has gone to the Sweet Sixteen twice in the last 2 years, including the Elite Eight last year.[/b

This certainly is not true.

[GGGG]

This certainly is not true.

They are talking about women's volleyball, where it most certainly is true.

[🏀]

This certainly is not true.

You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie

[StillAWarrior]

Could theoretically do it for basketball only.

Theoretically? I suppose so. But never in the real world.

What do you think Marquette and the rest of the Big East would say if Villanova came to them saying, "Hey, we got a sweetheart deal to play Men's BB in the ACC, but they don't want out other sports. Would you mind if we leave them in the Big East?"

I think I know what they'd say. And I'm pretty sure the WCC would say the same if Gonzaga tried to pull MBB out of the conference and leave the rest behind. Gonzaga's MBB is the single biggest asset in the WCC, and obviously GU's biggest asset. I suspect it would be awfully hard to find a conference home for their other sports if MBB was carved out of the deal.

[GGGG]

It isn't even theoretically possible.  muguru referenced this article on another board regarding Wichita State.

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/19042825/wichita-state-shockers-eyes-2017-move-american-athletic-conference

"The Shockers would make the move only if their 15 sports were added to the AAC. Under NCAA rules, a non-football playing member has to add all of its sports to the league."

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Conference realignment is all about the Benjamins. Right now the Benjamins doesn't work for Gonzaga to the big east. In the future they might. The talk will never die

[muwarrior69]

Conference realignment is all about the Benjamins. Right now the Benjamins doesn't work for Gonzaga to the big east. In the future they might. The talk will never die

The only feasible way to bring Gonzaga on board is for the WCC and Big East to merge and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[#UnleashSean]

You all do realize there's more than basketball involved in a conference move. You really think MU is going to send the tennis teams to Spokane, St. John's their baseball team to Spokane or GUntheir soccer team to Georgetown and South Orange every year?

Besides, the WCC is better than the Big East in sports like Volleyball, Baseball and Women's Soccer.

So they just add basketball? Like Denver did with LA Crosse.

[GGGG]

So they just add basketball? Like Denver did with LA Crosse.

From four posts above yours.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=54152.msg921425#msg921425

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The only feasible way to bring Gonzaga on board is for the WCC and Big East to merge and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I don't think its quite that drastic. But I agree that Gonzaga won't be joining us anytime soon. Maybe in 7 to 10 years. Not saying it will happen, just its the soonest I think it could.

The reality is, the Big East is the top basketball only conference. Gonzaga is the top basketball only program not in the Big East. Until one of those things is no longer true, the talking heads and fans will speculate on how Gonzaga could join the Big East.

[GGGG]

If Denver University had a Gonzaga like program, this would be a no-brainer and likely already done.  Unfortunately the extra bit of geographical isolation makes it that much harder. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If Denver University had a Gonzaga like program, this would be a no-brainer and likely already done.  Unfortunately the extra bit of geographical isolation makes it that much harder.

I've always thought Denver could be a future option for big east expansion. They have the money,  the academics, the metro area,  and are dominant in every sport but basketball.  If they invest heavily in basketball I could see them growing into a viable candidate. Boston University has the same profile.  This is way down the road of course.

[Coleman]

What if Gonzaga brought BYU with them?

Also, I truly don't understand the travel costs argument from a Big East perspective. That is Gonzaga's problem. If they were interested in joining, why would that be an issue for the rest of the Big East? If that ultimately meant they would say no to invite, that is one thing, but if they are willing, why do we give a rip about their travel costs? Not to mention the fact they would more than make it up with TV revenue.

[tower912]

Until a free teleportation device is invented, the logistics of Gonzaga simply don't work.   

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Until a free teleportation device is invented, the logistics of Gonzaga simply don't work.   

The high school my wife teaches in has a map hanging up outside the Guidance Office titled Colleges of the USA.  I pointed out where Gonzaga was to my kids over the weekend on the map and I got "that's in the middle nowhere!" reaction.

[wadesworld]

What if Gonzaga brought BYU with them?

Also, I truly don't understand the travel costs argument from a Big East perspective. That is Gonzaga's problem. If they were interested in joining, why would that be an issue for the rest of the Big East? If that ultimately meant they would say no to invite, that is one thing, but if they are willing, why do we give a rip about their travel costs? Not to mention the fact they would more than make it up with TV revenue.

At that point, if you're adding schools with a football program, you might as well just bring UCONN back. It'd also make more sense geographically.

[DUNKS45]

Until a free teleportation device is invented, the logistics of Gonzaga simply don't work.   

You hit that on the head my man.

[barfolomew]

Until a free teleportation device is invented, the logistics of Gonzaga simply don't work.   

Cheap flight from MKE to Omaha is currently $310.
Cheap flight from MKE to Spokane for same dates is $360.

Granted there are soft costs in total travel time, and other factors, but if the benefits outweigh the costs, it's not insurmountable. What I have a hard time seeing is where Fox would pony up enough to make it a net benefit.

[Coleman]

At that point, if you're adding schools with a football program, you might as well just bring UCONN back. It'd also make more sense geographically.

Except UCONN plays football in the same conference that they play basketball in. BYU does not. Apples and oranges.