More conference realignment talk

[brewcity77]

If UConn goes, their fans will regret it. Sure, the ADs will get paid, the checks will clear, but what program has actually landed in a better place after a money chasing realignment move? Certainly not Maryland, Nebraska, Miami, Pitt, or Syracuse. A few are maybe at break even level, like West Virginia, Texas A&M, and Rutgers (who was always irrelevant).

UConn tried to chase football money outside the Big East and it was an unmitigated disaster. It won't just work out because there's more money. It's not like BC or Missouri are thriving.

But in all honesty, watching UConn fall off while Marquette rises to be the next elite program in the Big East wouldn't disappoint me at all. We will continue to thrive with or without UConn.

[muwarrior69]

In that scenario, the sky is not falling and MU is not doomed.

I guess we will really know how all this pans out in 2032, or before, when the NCAAT TV contract is negotiated.

[The Sultan]

If UConn goes, their fans will regret it. Sure, the ADs will get paid, the checks will clear, but what program has actually landed in a better place after a money chasing realignment move? Certainly not Maryland, Nebraska, Miami, Pitt, or Syracuse. A few are maybe at break even level, like West Virginia, Texas A&M, and Rutgers (who was always irrelevant).

UConn tried to chase football money outside the Big East and it was an unmitigated disaster. It won't just work out because there's more money. It's not like BC or Missouri are thriving.

But in all honesty, watching UConn fall off while Marquette rises to be the next elite program in the Big East wouldn't disappoint me at all. We will continue to thrive with or without UConn.

You are correct about BC but Missouri has been fine in the SEC. They have made a couple SEC championship games and currently have the #11 team in the country. Basketball has been more about terrible coaching hires than anything else. Outside of missing home and homes against Kansas, I bet their fans are just fine with where they are now versus the B12.

[Scoop Snoop]

If UConn goes, their fans will regret it. Sure, the ADs will get paid, the checks will clear, but what program has actually landed in a better place after a money chasing realignment move? Certainly not Maryland, Nebraska, Miami, Pitt, or Syracuse. A few are maybe at break even level, like West Virginia, Texas A&M, and Rutgers (who was always irrelevant).

UConn tried to chase football money outside the Big East and it was an unmitigated disaster. It won't just work out because there's more money. It's not like BC or Missouri are thriving.

But in all honesty, watching UConn fall off while Marquette rises to be the next elite program in the Big East wouldn't disappoint me at all. We will continue to thrive with or without UConn.

This.

I mentioned a long time ago that VCU was once under pressure from some regional members of the state assembly to get into football but fought it off successfully. I suspect that the push to keep UCONN FB is the idea of politicians rather than internally at UCONN.

One bonus-we would not have to listen to Danny saying that UCONN owns MSG or "complimenting" teams like Marquette like a big brother might compliment a younger brother. Yes, they their earned bragging rights. I just get tired of hearing Big Brother Danny. With all that said, there's no question that UCONN's departure would hurt the BE. The doom and gloom picture painted by a couple of posters is, I think, way over the top.

[MU82]

If UConn wanted to be in the ACC, they'd already be in the ACC.  I'll leave it at that.

I might be misremembering, but wasn't UConn lobbying to join the ACC big-time when the ACC was poaching the likes of Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville and ND from the Big East?

[wadesworld]

UCONN will be joining the best basketball conference in the country, and will have the best coach in the country leading them into that conference. This isn't Kevin Ollie leading them into the 7th best basketball conference.

UCONN will be rolling in cash, and their basketball program won't take a hit as long as Hurley is their coach.

[Herman Cain]

If UConn goes, their fans will regret it. Sure, the ADs will get paid, the checks will clear, but what program has actually landed in a better place after a money chasing realignment move? Certainly not Maryland, Nebraska, Miami, Pitt, or Syracuse. A few are maybe at break even level, like West Virginia, Texas A&M, and Rutgers (who was always irrelevant).

UConn tried to chase football money outside the Big East and it was an unmitigated disaster. It won't just work out because there's more money. It's not like BC or Missouri are thriving.

But in all honesty, watching UConn fall off while Marquette rises to be the next elite program in the Big East wouldn't disappoint me at all. We will continue to thrive with or without UConn.

I agree with this analysis

[Hards Alumni]

I might be misremembering, but wasn't UConn lobbying to join the ACC big-time when the ACC was poaching the likes of Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville and ND from the Big East?

Over a decade ago, perhaps.  Obviously, things have changed quite a bit since then.

[Hards Alumni]

UCONN will be joining the best basketball conference in the country, and will have the best coach in the country leading them into that conference. This isn't Kevin Ollie leading them into the 7th best basketball conference.

UCONN will be rolling in cash, and their basketball program won't take a hit as long as Hurley is their coach.

This is how I feel as well.  I'd love for them to stay, but the Big 12 is a really good conference, and it's better to be ahead of the curve and have a spot than to hope the BEAST survives and thrives.

[Nukem2]

This is how I feel as well.  I'd love for them to stay, but the Big 12 is a really good conference, and it's better to be ahead of the curve and have a spot than to hope the BEAST survives and thrives.

Yeah, it would be hard to turn down especially if UConn gets a guaranteed slot for FB at some point.

[Shooter McGavin]

You are correct about BC but Missouri has been fine in the SEC. They have made a couple SEC championship games and currently have the #11 team in the country. Basketball has been more about terrible coaching hires than anything else. Outside of missing home and homes against Kansas, I bet their fans are just fine with where they are now versus the B12.

It's always going to be about coaching.  Even with NIL.  Wrong coach, bad outcome. 

MU and the Big East will be fine if they have access to the Big Tournament and can play for a national title.  That is the only thing that should concern a school like MU.  That goes away, the good coaches like Shaka, McDermott, Pitino, etc go away and basketball becomes irrelevant.  MU is then a shadow of its former self. 

[79Warrior]

Could end up be careful what you wish for with respect to U Conn basketball.

Going from easy top 3 in Big East every season , having steady flow of  top level talent , to battling it out in Big 12 and potentially lower seeds if performance is not the best. Also no real upgrade in talent since they are already recruiting well.

U Conn football big problem is they have a mediocre stadium far from campus and thus no real college football vibe . No appetite any where to change that.

Notwithstanding the above, U Conn is hell bent for leather to be in a P5 (P4) Conference

Waiting for ACC developments is a much better way to go . Would be a more natural fit that would up both their sports

Solid point on the stadium and distance from campus. UCLA has the same issue. While the Rose bowl is a beautiful venue, the distance from campus is a huge problem for students.

[pbiflyer]

Meanwhile, congrats to FSU for making history!

Florida State is the first team to ever solely hold 17th place in ACC History.

https://x.com/366sports/status/1827438902325735441?s=61&t=jsIZllSIAp6Fe-FmvZNVnw

[Zog from Margo]

UCONN will be joining the best basketball conference in the country, and will have the best coach in the country leading them into that conference. This isn't Kevin Ollie leading them into the 7th best basketball conference.

UCONN will be rolling in cash, and their basketball program won't take a hit as long as Hurley is their coach.

I can certainly understand why UConn would make the move if they're committed to football. It's the best football conference for which they could hope. That said, it'll be tough for their fans to hit road games.  Are there many UConn alums in Waco or Manhattan Kansas? It's not like Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, New York, etc.

[ATWizJr]

UCONN will be joining the best basketball conference in the country, and will have the best coach in the country leading them into that conference. This isn't Kevin Ollie leading them into the 7th best basketball conference.

UCONN will be rolling in cash, and their basketball program won't take a hit as long as Hurley is their coach.

but will recruits from the East want to play where their families can't see them?

[The Sultan]

but will recruits from the East want to play where their families can't see them?

B12 games are televised.

[Scoop Snoop]

I can certainly understand why UConn would make the move if they're committed to football. It's the best football conference for which they could hope. That said, it'll be tough for their fans to hit road games.  Are there many UConn alums in Waco or Manhattan Kansas? It's not like Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, New York, etc.

Spot on. I'll bet fans from the schools that are now-or will soon be- far, far away from their new opponents for road games. Even for the "watching on TV is fine" crowd. it will take a while to get used to the new opponents. The traditional rivalries are often gone. The realignment is simply a business decision.

[wadesworld]

I can certainly understand why UConn would make the move if they're committed to football. It's the best football conference for which they could hope. That said, it'll be tough for their fans to hit road games.  Are there many UConn alums in Waco or Manhattan Kansas? It's not like Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, New York, etc.

UCONN (hoops, at least) fans will travel wherever they need to. Again, assuming Hurley is leading them into the B12, it's not close to the same as Ollie leading them into the AAC.

[DoctorV]

It's always going to be about coaching.  Even with NIL.  Wrong coach, bad outcome. 

MU and the Big East will be fine if they have access to the Big Tournament and can play for a national title.  That is the only thing that should concern a school like MU.  That goes away, the good coaches like Shaka, McDermott, Pitino, etc go away and basketball becomes irrelevant.  MU is then a shadow of its former self.

Marquette will never be left behind in the dust. The basketball program means too much to too many people, and to the University as a whole.

Even in a doomsday, worst case scenario where the BE gets left behind and "without access" to the Big Tournament, which I would argue is seemingly impossible because of how important the conference is to the overall landscape of NCAAb, Marquette would be invited to and move on to a different conference rather than be left behind in the dust.

Our basketball program is elite and has a lot of passion behind it.
Now it just needs some more big, and even bigger Championships.

[The Sultan]

Marquette will never be left behind in the dust. The basketball program means too much to too many people, and to the University as a whole.

Even in a doomsday, worst case scenario where the BE gets left behind and "without access" to the Big Tournament, which I would argue is seemingly impossible because of how important the conference is to the overall landscape of NCAAb, Marquette would be invited to and move on to a different conference rather than be left behind in the dust.

Our basketball program is elite and has a lot of passion behind it.
Now it just needs some more big, and even bigger Championships.

I don't share your complete optimism, but I am way closer to your position than the "Big East is doomed position."

[GoldenWarrior11]

The elephant in the room will be what becomes of our newly agreed-upon TV contract.  One less member is an entire slate of games (and content) lost.  It also lowers the conference game count from 20 to 18.

As much as I hate to admit it, I think expansion would be required at that point.  The AAC was forced to add 6 schools when it lost 3 several years ago in order to keep the returning members' distributions the same.  And no, I still don't think Gonzaga is coming.

A $15 million exit fee and forfeited tournament credits is a pretty big pot to utilize.

[The Sultan]

The elephant in the room will be what becomes of our newly agreed-upon TV contract.  One less member is an entire slate of games (and content) lost.  It also lowers the conference game count from 20 to 18.

As much as I hate to admit it, I think expansion would be required at that point.  The AAC was forced to add 6 schools when it lost 3 several years ago in order to keep the returning members' distributions the same.  And no, I still don't think Gonzaga is coming.

A $15 million exit fee and forfeited tournament credits is a pretty big pot to utilize.

Yes, there will be 20 less conference games without adding a member. I think adding someone new, and not giving them full shares for a number of years, will probably be the route they take. Of course that's if their media partners want to make up the lesser content.

[Billy Hoyle]

I might be misremembering, but wasn't UConn lobbying to join the ACC big-time when the ACC was poaching the likes of Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville and ND from the Big East?

They were, but BC lobbied hard against them, still bitter over the lawsuit UConn led against them in 2003. Unlike legislative leaders in Texas (Baylor and the Big 12) and Virginia (Va Tech and the ACC) there was no financial blackmail to exert against BC to force support for UConn to join the ACC.

As for parallels to the AAC, there is no comparison. The Big 12 is an elite conference in hoops, the AAC was a glorified mid-major of non-flagship schools with a bad TV deal. Playing South Florida, SMU, Tulane, Memphis, and Temple was a negative, but the Big 12, those schools are high majors who draw. And as others here have correctly pointed out, they were saddled with Kevin Ollie. They'll also get a lot more money from the TV deal.

They'll also be part of the Power 4 club for when the current NCAA Tourney deal is up and the Power 4 bullies their way into a guarantee of a majority of bids and a 17-16 Minnesota or Texas Tech gets priority over a 23-10 MU or 28-5 Gonzaga.

[MU82]

Sounds like Marquette should win the national title this season, just to play it safe.

[Shooter McGavin]

Marquette will never be left behind in the dust. The basketball program means too much to too many people, and to the University as a whole.

Even in a doomsday, worst case scenario where the BE gets left behind and "without access" to the Big Tournament, which I would argue is seemingly impossible because of how important the conference is to the overall landscape of NCAAb, Marquette would be invited to and move on to a different conference rather than be left behind in the dust.

Our basketball program is elite and has a lot of passion behind it.
Now it just needs some more big, and even bigger Championships.

I want you to be right Dr. V but I don't think the elite football conferences who will dictate these decisions share your opinion.  I hope I am dead wrong.