I think the conference is gonna be fine for the most part, it's just the lack of rivalries and meaningful games - not so much in terms of standings, but rather in terms of traditional rivalries you can build around. The thing that made the Big East such an easy sell in it's hay day was geographic proximity and easy to televise and promote those local rivalries. I mean there isn't a single game in this conference I really 'get up' for anymore, even when they share some sort of significance to the team's future.
To encapsulate that - I got more excited to watch UConn-Syracuse in a year where both teams are *waaaaaay* below standards and all that is on the line is avoiding abject free fall - than say, the UConn-SMU game towards the end of last year.
SO I think the enthusiasm thing is going to be a big deal. Again, part of the selling point with the Big East was not just those rivalries, but the colorful coaching personalities, etc. Those just aren't in this conference. And the draw play to get there is going to be even more difficult.
That being said, it's the best play for the meantime until the school figures out what it wants it's athletic future to be, ultimately. I think if they draw back on football, they likely won't waste much time moving to the Big East. I think if football is the double down, then waiting around's the best thing to do. I do wonder if the wild card in the conference realignment game will be - rather than a grab for more teams - be the shedding of a few and strategic additions. Like I don't understand how much or what Boston College is really bringing to the ACC at this point - and UConn - for as bad as we've been in football, are a lateral move there with a significant upgrade in literally *everything* else. The pending Big XII blow up will be interesting to watch and how that shakes out.
The third wild card is going to be that Big XII break up and what the American can do in that reshuffle. While you know Texas and Oklahoma find P5 homes; there's going to be some really wild left overs out there. I dunno if Kansas is a slam dunk for a P5 (err P4). Iowa State will be interesting to watch. Oklahoma State PROBABLY gets an invite, but then again... Baylor is kind of nuclear right now and while TCU is spending gallons everywhere, are they appealing enough so long as you get OU and Texas out of the deal? West Virginia is the other one who I think might get the benefit of the doubt... Kansas State gets left out. Texas Tech probably gets left out. So then... I mean there's a lot of ways to make things interesting, there.
So who knows. When I think there isn't any more time left to make up a decision I look up and go - 'man, doing anything now minus accepting a random invite would be nuts". So I dunno. Stay the course. At least with hoops. Keep Syracuse and Georgetown on your schedule. Try like crazy to snag Villanova and beef up the lower part of the schedule. I know people will roll their eyes, but is it really that lame to kick a Wagner/Northeastern/BU and add a UMass? Or Seton Hall? Just do something to bring your bottom up. Heck - maybe Xavier wants to roll. I feel like there's legit options. Maybe even a west coast home and home with say... a UCLA or Oregon. Spitballing, but there's ways around it. Keep what you've got on the schedule, slap one more big time match up on there, and bring up two match ups to a mid major status and I think you keep things interesting enough.
