Best Situation for UConn

[1999.2004.2011]

I know this has been discussed but here is my take on the best fit for the huskies...

With Mizzou all but announcing their move from the Big XII to the SEC, this will now leave the Big XII with 9 teams

The best move for the Big XII to emerge stronger from this is to not only expand back to 12, but take it one step further to 14 teams

When Mizzou leaves, add BYU, WVU, Louisville, Rutgers, and Connecticut

Split into two, seven team divisions somewhat based on geographical

Division 1

Connecticut
Rutgers
West Virginia
Louisville
Kansas State
Iowa State
Kansas

Division 2

Oklahoma
Texas
Texas Tech
Oklahoma State
Baylor
TCU
BYU

Conference expands into Utah with BYU (huge following in the mid-west with huge morman population) and expands into the New York/New England market with Rutgers and UConn. If the Big XII wants to expand that footprint even further, I would look to USF, Cincy, or Boise State as potential candidates into further expansion

This conference would be one of the top 4 in football with Oklahoma, Texas, Ok State, TCU, and WVU.
Could be the best basketball conference with Kansas, UConn, Baylor, and Texas all having traditionally strong programs
Baseball would also be very competitive with national programs TCU, Texas, and Oklahoma and you can even add UConn to the mix with the progress that Coach Penders has had with the program
Not only would this be a good deal for the big east schools, but it also would bring stability to a shaky Big XII. This would also establish a foothold in major television markets for Big XII athletics, but can also establish the Big XII brand in between the ACC and the B1G. Hopefully Herbst is working behind the the scenes on a deal like this with the ACC not willing to add another member at this time

 

[uconnbaseball]

That would be awesome, and I don't think it's a bad idea. With that said, Neinas has said that he doesn't plan to expand far outside the Big 12 footprint.

If the Big 12 loses Missouri, they would be wise to add Rutgers, UConn, and WVU IMO. That will probably never happen though.

 

[metsfan2323]

I know this has been discussed but here is my take on the best fit for the huskies...

With Mizzou all but announcing their move from the Big XII to the SEC, this will now leave the Big XII with 9 teams

The best move for the Big XII to emerge stronger from this is to not only expand back to 12, but take it one step further to 14 teams

When Mizzou leaves, add BYU, WVU, Louisville, Rutgers, and Connecticut

Split into two, seven team divisions somewhat based on geographical

Division 1

Connecticut
Rutgers
West Virginia
Louisville
Kansas State
Iowa State
Kansas

Division 2

Oklahoma
Texas
Texas Tech
Oklahoma State
Baylor
TCU
BYU

Conference expands into Utah with BYU (huge following in the mid-west with huge morman population) and expands into the New York/New England market with Rutgers and UConn. If the Big XII wants to expand that footprint even further, I would look to USF, Cincy, or Boise State as potential candidates into further expansion

This conference would be one of the top 4 in football with Oklahoma, Texas, Ok State, TCU, and WVU.
Could be the best basketball conference with Kansas, UConn, Baylor, and Texas all having traditionally strong programs
Baseball would also be very competitive with national programs TCU, Texas, and Oklahoma and you can even add UConn to the mix with the progress that Coach Penders has had with the program
Not only would this be a good deal for the big east schools, but it also would bring stability to a shaky Big XII. This would also establish a foothold in major television markets for Big XII athletics, but can also establish the Big XII brand in between the ACC and the B1G. Hopefully Herbst is working behind the the scenes on a deal like this with the ACC not willing to add another member at this time

Totally agree, this would give the Big 12 the greatest potential reach of all of the conferences and they could make a realistic claim to being the best conference in the country. They have to at least explore this.

One problem that needs to be fixed is the football leagues aren't balanced talent wise, the Texas/Oklahoma division is much better than the UCONN division.

If the Big 12 went this route Syracuse and Pitt would be begging to get into the big 10, heck they might ask the Big 12 to make them 15 and 16 in this league.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I know this has been discussed but here is my take on the best fit for the huskies...

With Mizzou all but announcing their move from the Big XII to the SEC, this will now leave the Big XII with 9 teams

The best move for the Big XII to emerge stronger from this is to not only expand back to 12, but take it one step further to 14 teams

When Mizzou leaves, add BYU, WVU, Louisville, Rutgers, and Connecticut

Split into two, seven team divisions somewhat based on geographical

Division 1

Connecticut
Rutgers
West Virginia
Louisville
Kansas State
Iowa State
Kansas

Division 2

Oklahoma
Texas
Texas Tech
Oklahoma State
Baylor
TCU
BYU

Conference expands into Utah with BYU (huge following in the mid-west with huge morman population) and expands into the New York/New England market with Rutgers and UConn. If the Big XII wants to expand that footprint even further, I would look to USF, Cincy, or Boise State as potential candidates into further expansion

This conference would be one of the top 4 in football with Oklahoma, Texas, Ok State, TCU, and WVU.
Could be the best basketball conference with Kansas, UConn, Baylor, and Texas all having traditionally strong programs
Baseball would also be very competitive with national programs TCU, Texas, and Oklahoma and you can even add UConn to the mix with the progress that Coach Penders has had with the program
Not only would this be a good deal for the big east schools, but it also would bring stability to a shaky Big XII. This would also establish a foothold in major television markets for Big XII athletics, but can also establish the Big XII brand in between the ACC and the B1G. Hopefully Herbst is working behind the the scenes on a deal like this with the ACC not willing to add another member at this time

Do people hold their breath for ten minutes and then exhale in to paper bags before they post here? Baylor a "traditionally strong" basketball program? Are you fuccckkiinngg stupid?

Out of the 14 teams you have listed for the potential league, only Iowa St and Rutgers have less basketball tradition than Baylor. KSU and TT are at least equal.

The overarching point of having Texas or Oklahoma playing in Ct or NJ every year has some merit. But that's true of the Big 10 or SEC too. Truth be told only the ACC lacks a football program that would get casual sports fans in the NYC excited. New Yorkers don't give a rats assss about FSU or Clemson. Maybe enough VT fans will make the drive north, but otherwise NYC won't blink an eye for any of the Carolina teams, Virginia, GT, BCU or Pitt.

 

[gars44]

this would be a nice outcome. does anyone in the big 12 want it?

 

[noeynox]

If neinas says he doesn't want to expand that far east, expect him to expand that far east. When it comes to conference expansion, the only commissioner that plays nice and is honest in his intentions is Marinatto. The rest are as cunning as they come.

 

[rgw]

I think this is best case for uconn. unfortunately it will never happen. B12 will not go for this.

also what about Cin and SF? why not 16 teams?

 

[ctchamps]

Do people hold their breath for ten minutes and then exhale in to paper bags before they post here? Baylor a "traditionally strong" basketball program? Are you fuccckkiinngg stupid?

Out of the 14 teams you have listed for the potential league, only Iowa St and Rutgers have less basketball tradition than Baylor. KSU and TT are at least equal.

The overarching point of having Texas or Oklahoma playing in Ct or NJ every year has some merit. But that's true of the Big 10 or SEC too. Truth be told only the ACC lacks a football program that would get casual sports fans in the NYC excited. New Yorkers don't give a rats assss about FSU or Clemson. Maybe enough VT fans will make the drive north, but otherwise NYC won't blink an eye for any of the Carolina teams, Virginia, GT, BCU or Pitt.

But Baylor has a legitimate chance to win men's and women's bb championships this season. The women's team are favorites to do that and the men's team is probably the only team that has a superior front court to UNC.

 

[Danzz]

Totally agree, this would give the Big 12 the greatest potential reach of all of the conferences and they could make a realistic claim to being the best conference in the country. They have to at least explore this.

One problem that needs to be fixed is the football leagues aren't balanced talent wise, the Texas/Oklahoma division is much better than the UCONN division.

If the Big 12 went this route Syracuse and Pitt would be begging to get into the big 10, heck they might ask the Big 12 to make them 15 and 16 in this league.

"One problem that needs to be fixed is the football leagues aren't balanced talent wise, the Texas/Oklahoma division is much better than the UCONN division."
This is a dream seen through flag blue glasses. The football division makes absolutely no sense but that won't stop absurd speculating because right now we are kind of screwed football wise. Do they really think that Texas and Oklahoma will agree to battle it out in a strong division to play the weak sister winner of the other division for a conference championship?
The only thing that we know for sure is that the BE will be intact next season. There is no rush or incentive for any conference to invite a BE team because they know that all the football schools are chomping at the bit to leave.The BE doesn't have a remaining football school that wouldn't jump at the first invitation to any of the major BCS conferences.
Ironicly, the idea that nobody may want to add a BE team could end up salvaging the conference.

 

[Fe]

Utah is not the midwest, it is the "west." The midwest by definition is Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

I know this has been discussed but here is my take on the best fit for the huskies...

With Mizzou all but announcing their move from the Big XII to the SEC, this will now leave the Big XII with 9 teams

The best move for the Big XII to emerge stronger from this is to not only expand back to 12, but take it one step further to 14 teams

When Mizzou leaves, add BYU, WVU, Louisville, Rutgers, and Connecticut

Split into two, seven team divisions somewhat based on geographical

Division 1

Connecticut
Rutgers
West Virginia
Louisville
Kansas State
Iowa State
Kansas

Division 2

Oklahoma
Texas
Texas Tech
Oklahoma State
Baylor
TCU
BYU

Conference expands into Utah with BYU (huge following in the mid-west with huge morman population) and expands into the New York/New England market with Rutgers and UConn. If the Big XII wants to expand that footprint even further, I would look to USF, Cincy, or Boise State as potential candidates into further expansion

This conference would be one of the top 4 in football with Oklahoma, Texas, Ok State, TCU, and WVU.
Could be the best basketball conference with Kansas, UConn, Baylor, and Texas all having traditionally strong programs
Baseball would also be very competitive with national programs TCU, Texas, and Oklahoma and you can even add UConn to the mix with the progress that Coach Penders has had with the program
Not only would this be a good deal for the big east schools, but it also would bring stability to a shaky Big XII. This would also establish a foothold in major television markets for Big XII athletics, but can also establish the Big XII brand in between the ACC and the B1G. Hopefully Herbst is working behind the the scenes on a deal like this with the ACC not willing to add another member at this time