Houston is at best the fifth school athletically in the state of Texas. To boot it is a low-quality academic institution. In fact, it will be the WORST academic institution in all of AQ land. It is a commuter school. To think that long-term these attributes will not impact Houston's ceiling is idiotic.
UCF is the same as USF. USF is still a distant fourth in the state of Florida. As an aside, guess the attendance at USF's opening men's basketball game.
UCF will likely be hit with loss of institutional control. So for the next five years, watch UCF football sink lower. As for UCF basketball, see USF.
Is it more likely that the Big East brand is exported successfully to Houston, UCF and SMU, or will their mediocrity be merely imported into the Big East? DePaul is in the third largest city in the country, surrounded by fertile recruits. How has that worked out?
By the way, USF's announced attendance was 2,700 for their opener. There were fewer than 700 actually in attendance.
This hodge podge disparate group of schools is only a quick fix band aid.
Geographically it makes no sense. The institutions make no sense (Boise,Houston,UCF,USF academically putrid, urban commuter schools - oh joy.)
The Big East is one homely pig. The bright red lipstick smeared across its thin lips hasn't changed that.