Delany supposedly has a list of pre-approved schools (basically AAU schools+ND) - all others need to be vetted by the school presidents.
I have heard this as well.
It is difficult for me to see how UConn, although non AAU, would not at least be "vetted" by the B1G if the conference does indeed want to expand heading into the negotiations for new media rights.
This in particular if you consider the oft talked about AAU member universities that are candidates for B1G membership and their potential obstacles combined with UConn being a flagship state public research university in a region now of great interest to the B1G and a basketball brand with a demonstrated commitment to not only "pursue championships" but win them.
1. Vanderbilt. A southern school and a founding member of the SEC dating back to 1932. To the best of my knowledge no indication of dissatisfaction with the SEC or financial concerns a la Maryland and the ACC.
2. Missouri. I'll just quote Frank the Tank on this one.
Two things:
(1) The Big Ten has passed on Missouri over and over and over and over and over again. I can't tell you how many times the Big Ten rejected Mizzou even when that school was openly hiking up its skirt to get Jim Delany's attention. Regardless of Gee's personal opinion, the league simply doesn't want them. That's not my personal choice (as I think they're serviceable in a potential 16-school Big Ten), but their actions have continuously shown that they want nothing to do with Mizzou. UConn has a better chance of getting an ACC invite at this point than Mizzou getting an invite from the Big Ten.
(2) I'm as big of a Big Ten guy as anyone, but even I'm not enough of a homer to believe that anyone is going to leave the SEC. That league is as ironclad as the Big Ten itself and ESPN will be paying that league a mint with the new SEC Network. The Big Ten will probably still make more than the SEC in terms of media revenue at the end of the day, but it's nowhere near the advantage compared to the ACC and Big 12. From a contractual perspective, the SEC may end up with a grant of rights prior to the launch of the SEC Network, anyway.
3. Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia. All voted in favor of a raise in the exit fee and signed the ACC GOR. Not the actions of schools desiring to leave the ACC.
4. Texas with the Big 12 GOR and potential political pressure in regard to Texas Tech whom the B1G would not accept.
5. Kansas with the B1g 12 GOR and potential political pressure in regard to Kansas State whom the B1G would not accept.
AAU members Rice, Tulane and UB are certainly options but it is difficult for me to see the B1G taking interest in these universities given none are football or basketball brands.
