Whether one believes Flug or not is a personal matter- but the logic is dead on and from a historical perspective. ESPN has driven CR and UCONN has been a victim of it. ESPN chose the ACC over the Big East - they low balled the TV offer to the Big East and then enticed the ACC to take Big East schools. ESPN underestimated the Big East would survive and low balled the morphed AAC.
The Big 12 is stunningly smart enough to see that it isn't the low ball dollar amount but the Big 12 network that once again, the ACC gets and they don"t. They are the low conference on the totem pole. Thanks to ESPN. The difference now is that FOX has tried to become a player against ESPN. We mocked the new Big East basketball contract and coverage, but they were first on board. Fox wants to drive expansion east and the Big 12 is their last shot.
ESPN keeps using their tools(err writers) to put out their disinformation. Knocking the candidates, expansion only 2. They realize they are now in a position to pay and they don't want to.
My question, does ESPN let UCONN get money and grow in the Big 12 and risk losing them on a basketball side? Do they let UCF get a foothold in Florida? Both are home bases?