This is an understandable concern from the UConn perspective.
However, a couple of arguments one could make against inclusion of Missouri as the #18 team.
First, the B1G has passed on Missouri on multiple occasions.
Second, taking Missouri as #18 would require shifting one of Illinois or Northwestern into the B1G east since Wisconsin would prefer to be in division with Iowa and Minnesota. The B1G has indicated a willingness to split in state rivals based on the current (Illinois and Northwestern split) and future (Indiana and Purdue split) division alignments; however, if there is a way to keep in state rivals together I think that would be preferable. An additional issue with adding Missouri as #18 and into the B1G west is then you have 5 "new" B1G teams with 4 "old" B1G teams in a B1G west division. The balance obtained by the scenario I proposed for consideration, in which there are 5 "old" B1G teams and 4 "new" B1G teams in each division, would then be lost.
Third, would Missouri move from the SEC to the B1G if offered? As you understandably qualified "probably" but certainly not guaranteed. Administration, booster and fan anger toward the B1G from passing on them before could prevent a move. Access to SEC recruiting grounds and the prestige of being an SEC football team, albeit not top tier, could prevent a move. Anticipated revenue from the SEC network could prevent a move.
Of course, trying to understand how and why decisions are made by university leaders and conference commissioners is the challenge for all of us as we consider realignment. The scenario I proposed seems logical to me but could easily be shredded by anyone from other posters on this board to the very university leaders and conference commissioners who ultimately make the decision. Depending upon whose tweet you read there is no way in hell Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas will ever be in the B1G or all three are packing the moving vans for the B1G as we post.
I will say this. The statement in the article from Dennis Dodd and the series of tweets from the Dude of WV et al. come as no surprise to me. As Delany said with respect to B1G expansion being dead: "dead is a strong word". I think the interest for further expansion still exists in the B1G and imagine Delany would love to be able to accomplish this heading into negotiations for the new B1G media rights. However, a further expansion will only take place if the B1G can expand with universities it desires and believes will make it a better conference. Of course, there is a difference between what the B1G would like do and what is feasible given the current state of conference realignment and the GOR. That said, whenever I think about barriers to conference realignment such as GOR, exit fees, etc., I think back to this article.
http://sports.omaha.com/2013/04/22/realignment-expansion-not-out-of-the-question/#.Uf7ReVvD-Ul
Realignment, expansion not out of the question
Don’t slam the door on future college conference expansion and realignment just yet.
The trendy instant reaction Monday to news that members of the Atlantic Coast Conference agreed to a “grant of rights” clause for its television and media was that it would halt realignment.
By the schools “granting” media rights to the conference for 14 years, the theory is that it would be too costly for a school to change leagues because it wouldn’t have much of value to “carry” to a new league.
Several old friends in the business of college athletics I talked to Monday said they wouldn’t bet their own money on that.
These people — from conference offices and major-college athletic departments — all agreed that any number of lawyers would be delighted to challenge those deals in court.
The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 have such deals.
As one buddy with a wicked sense of humor said, “Do you really think Texas would sign up for something it couldn’t get out of?”
As a sidenote, two sources have told The World-Herald that the Big Ten has done prior “homework” on Oklahoma, Kansas and Vanderbilt among other schools who might some day be expansion targets.
The Big 12 grant-of-rights deal didn’t stop a look-see for OU and KU.
Besides a legal challenge, the potential future TV money available could still make it profitable for a school to move.
So what do you take from all this? When the most powerful people in college athletics want something, there are ways to do it, regardless of the contracts and paperwork in place.
