OT: Catholic Schools Pull the Plug on Big East

[Gator Mike]

Boom goes the Big East:

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8742607/seven-catholic-schools-leaning-leaving-big-east-sources-say

The presidents of the Big East's seven Catholic, non-Football Bowl Subdivision schools are expected to decide on their future in the Big East in the coming days, and it "would be an upset" if they remained in the league, sources told ESPN.


The seven schools -- DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova -- are "close to a consensus on what they want to do next," a source said Wednesday.

[InstiGATOR1]

I think they could put together a nice league of teams that do not play basketball. If I were them, I would try to add two teams and play a true home and home basketball series.

There are lots of possibilities for them. As of now they have teams in:

1. NY: St. Johns
2. NJ: Seton Hall
3. DC: Georgetown
4. Chicago: DePaul
5. Milwaulkee: Marquette
6. Philly: Vilanova
7. NE: Providence

So there are lots of prospects including some "former" basketball powers. There could use a team or two to bridge the gap between the true eastern 5 and the midwest two. Certainly Butler and Xavier would do that nicely. Also Duquesne would fit.

[rserina]

Good move. Most of the Catholic universities are way too small and don't have the state funding necessary to send their volleyball and soccer teams halfway across the country to play games. I actually wish the NCAA had been more creative in developing football super conferences comprised of multiple all-sports conferences. That would have allowed some of the more traditional conference rivalries to remain intact within other sports, while still creating the big money draw of television deals, bowl tie-ins, and future playoff eligibility for the football.

Sadly, no one asked me.

[Gator Mike]

I think they could put together a nice league of teams that do not play basketball. If I were them, I would try to add two teams and play a true home and home basketball series.

There are lots of possibilities for them. As of now they have teams in:

1. NY: St. Johns
2. NJ: Seton Hall
3. DC: Georgetown
4. Chicago: DePaul
5. Milwaulkee: Marquette
6. Philly: Vilanova
7. NE: Providence

So there are lots of prospects including some "former" basketball powers. There could use a team or two to bridge the gap between the true eastern 5 and the midwest two. Certainly Butler and Xavier would do that nicely. Also Duquesne would fit.
Apparently, they've targeted Butler, Xavier, and Dayton. Wouldn't be surprised if they also took long looks at schools like Saint Louis and Creighton.

It really wouldn't be a bad basketball conference, assuming they they all committed to spending money on first-rate coaches and facilities.

[GatorPlanet]

My SEC arrogance is growing by the day. I laugh at all the other conferences.

[Go2gtr]

This is anachronistic in my mind. Can they recreate the past?

[InstiGATOR1]

If UND were smart, they would join this group and forget the ACC. Then they would be in a conference without football. They would not look bad for keeping football independent since the new league would not play football.

[Go2gtr]

If UND were smart, they would join this group and forget the ACC. Then they would be in a conference without football. They would not look bad for keeping football independent since the new league would not play football.
Non-football schools. I don't think ND meets the criteria.

[Msgreentea]

Norte dame is such an odd duck and certainly not likely to jump and join another conference because of football, I would think it would make sense for for both the basketball schools and Norte dame to consider it.

[scrappygator]

Pandemonium at the Palestra

[MJGator8104]

ND's attachment to the ACC, is it just for bball or for all of their men's and women's sports minus football?

[KronoGator]

ND's attachment to the ACC, is it just for bball or for all of their men's and women's sports minus football?

Sort of, part of their deal in joining is they have to play 5 ACC schools in football per year.

They must want the cupcakes.

[MJGator8104]

Sort of, part of their deal in joining is they have to play 5 ACC schools in football per year.

They must want the cupcakes.

I did know about the five game for the football team. I guess I just wanted to know if their deal with the ACC was just for bball and football (such as it is) or for their other teams as well?

[KronoGator]

It's for all sports, except football and hockey.

I do wonder if they will rethink it if more ACC teams bail out and this new conference led by the basketball schools is for all sports.

[InstiGATOR1]

Yeah, I think UND looks terrible telling a conference we will join but we are too good for you in football so forget that. If they joined this natural group of other Roman Catholic schools who do not play football, they would not be saying that to their colleagues in their league.

[tupacbiff]

Yeah, I think UND looks terrible telling a conference we will join but we are too good for you in football so forget that. If they joined this natural group of other Roman Catholic schools who do not play football, they would not be saying that to their colleagues in their league.

I think he have a warped view. It's called leverage and nd has it football.

[tegator80]

I doubt that it will happen, but I hope that they get to keep the "Big East" brand. It was a northeast basketball conference long before football started taking over.