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As St. John's proved, "the end justifies the means".
Memphis to the Big East??? Really??,
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Is the goal to be in the best conference possible or is it to be the best program possible? They are different things.
I'm not dead-set against adding Memphis because it brings a lot to the table from a history/fanbase/recruiting perspective and because it would re-balance the eastern/western pods and bring us back to an even number of teams. The academics aren't ideal, but if we're being honest with ourselves, it probably matters less now than ever. If Stanford & Cal can agree to share a conference with Louisville, we can (and have) share one with Memphis. The Georgetowns and Villanovas of the world won't like it, but on the scale of things that make them queasy about college sports in the year 2025, they've swallowed way worse.
But you use the term nostalgia like you're not one year removed from coasting to back to back titles in the current Big East. You might not get excited to play Seton Hall or DePaul, but you can't build a dominant program and expect every game to feel like the Super Bowl. UConn clearly benefits from being in a conference with this collection of schools, and given its history of conference instability, it should be very judicious about who it adds.
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There’s already been talk about this on the conference realignment board. For anyone in favor of adding Memphis you must not have been paying attention the last decade or so. Almost every team the Old Big East/AAC brings in jumps UConn for a power conference invitation. Houston, UCF, SMU, Cincy (although they were at least in the mid-2000s Big East). Why throw Memphis a lifeline here? Just to make the Big East slightly, and I mean ever so slightly, better at basketball?
It would be good for our independent footbal program if we schedule Memphis for football regularly.
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Memphis would be going to the PAC12 for football in this scenario. They would be no more likely to schedule us in football then versus now. Unless UConn joined the PAC12 for football, obviously. Which everyone seems to hate that idea - I don’t get why but they do.
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There's no tracks anymore, the current environment of college sports made sure of that. I say bring in Memphis, they're immediately in the top half of the conference for BB.
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I disagree that the BE would consider Memphis because they have a good basketball program. Look at the University as a whole and Memphis has nothing in common with the BE. For one, they would be an outlier and an obvious candidate to bolt the first chance they get. Same goes for UConn, but we bring them a perfect geographical blueprint, an elite basketball program, a respected historical partner, and an outstanding University. Memphis doesn’t come close to offering any of that. It would be an act of desperation for the BE to bring in Memphis. I don’t think UConn would be pushing for Memphis either. Memphis doesn’t help us or the BE.
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I think Memphis coming to the Big East is fine. It's hardly the main issue with college basketball conference changes.
We are a top tier program and we are in an inferior conference. It's even more laughable on the Women's side.
If you look what the SEC did, they consolidated power and got 14 teams into the dance. Most of their teams travel on a smaller budget since they are SE USA predominately. And the "East Coast" is made up of two conference in the Big East and the ACC covering a lot of geography instead of being a Carolinas to Connecticut group of UConn, Duke, UNC, NC State, Syracuse, St. John's, Pittsburgh, BC, Virginia, and Wake Forest. That's a solid ten teams, East cost travel, and then grow smartly with other rising east coast teams.
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This is 100% correct
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Everyone on this board should be adamantly opposed to the BE adding Memphis. If they join the BE for Olympic sports and the PAC for football-only then they will automatically be better positioned for a big12 invitation. Succeeding in basketball in the BE and football in the PAC is exactly what the big12 presidents want to see. Not sure why we didn’t do the same when we had the opportunity. Might wind up kicking ourselves for it.
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Wait.. what football conference did we get an invite from??
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We didn’t, maybe because UConn dismissed the possibility outright. We did not claim we weren’t interested in the big 12 last summer after being passed over. At least that’s how it was spun. based on the football board they wanted no part in the pac.
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I think it’s obvious that Memphis sees PAC for football-only as the way to better position themselves for a P4 invite. And they’re probably right.
Memphis is clearly desperately angling for a P4 invite. And notice that they didn’t lobby for Olympic sports in the Big East before the new PAC, even though they could have always taken their FB independent like Uconn. It must be because they don’t think having an independent FB program helps make a case for a P4 invite.
Personally I would love Memphis to join the BE. I was a Mens basket ball season ticket holder for 10 plus years beginning in the Perno years. I moved to Franklin TN 33 years ago and I have would love the opportunity to attend games in Memphis as I did when we were in the AAC.
Memphis will only be allowed in if they bring more money for all BE members and FedEx puts up a ton of money.
I also don't think UCONN will remain in BE long term so this might be pre planning by BE
Memphis will only be allowed in if they bring more money for all BE members and FedEx puts up a ton of money.
I also don't think UCONN will remain in BE long term so this might be pre planning by BE
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If there becomes an "association" of the top 40 or so football programs in a super league...how about the creation of a basketball superleague of the top 40 or so basketball programs?
Such a one sport league could see teams like UConn, St. Johns, Duke, UNC, Gonzaga, Memphis, Louisville, Va. etc. etc play in a league....the added attraction for possible ACC defectors is that teams like Duke, UNC, Virginia would have an Exit Fee cut to the minimum if six leave for a single sport league (six might be a bridge too far, but it was a thought)
Such a one sport league could see teams like UConn, St. Johns, Duke, UNC, Gonzaga, Memphis, Louisville, Va. etc. etc play in a league....the added attraction for possible ACC defectors is that teams like Duke, UNC, Virginia would have an Exit Fee cut to the minimum if six leave for a single sport league (six might be a bridge too far, but it was a thought)
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I’d worry it would be the same teams included in the football league, and if it’s not then why ruin March madness too
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Yeah...but...I could see, if the football goes NFL like to a super league...a break-off also of basketball in an NBA type format.
And yeah, some of the schools in a BB super league would have a football program in the football superleague....In last season's Elite Eight, I see five, maybe six, who would be in the football superleague...teams in the Sweet Sixteen like Bama, Tenn., Auburn, Michigan State, Florida, Michigan....maybe Arkansas, Ole Miss, Maryland if they get carried in by being in a P2...
And yeah, some of the schools in a BB super league would have a football program in the football superleague....In last season's Elite Eight, I see five, maybe six, who would be in the football superleague...teams in the Sweet Sixteen like Bama, Tenn., Auburn, Michigan State, Florida, Michigan....maybe Arkansas, Ole Miss, Maryland if they get carried in by being in a P2...
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How would you decide many of these teams are deserving? St. John's? Over Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette and Creighton? You see the problem? As soon as you start including, you start excluding and there is no rational principle that gets you there.
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Deciding doesn't seem to be an issue in football...how is Ole Miss and Purdue in a P2 ? And Clemson not ?
Those that make the decisions do so...and seem to sleep at night.
Ultimately, those that pay for the rights to televise will have the say...and conjure the metrics necessary to justify their wants.
Those that make the decisions do so...and seem to sleep at night.
Ultimately, those that pay for the rights to televise will have the say...and conjure the metrics necessary to justify their wants.
Have you ever done a deep dive and honestly asked yourself why those schools were able to cut into the line ahead of UConn, or are you content to blame UConn's lack of conference ascendency on ESPN, Senator So-And-So, and/or Boston College?
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If you are Providence or Xavier, borderline NCAA teams you don’t want someone who could be a legit program to come in and make your path harder, which Memphis would certainly do. Much better to add another mid-tier Catholic school than a legitimate tournament team.
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Some of this at the Moment is just an artifact of history. Vanderbilt, Purdue, South Carolina, Northwestern are all there because they were there when the dance started. If you were starting today from scratch they wouldn’t be. Simple as that. Same with basketball. If you were starting a league from scratch with no limitations you wouldn’t include Seton Hall, DePaul, or Georgetown or Butler. UConn Villanova Marquette, Creighton are no brainers. Xavier, PC, St Johns are borderline.
Fishy
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