Let's take Yormark at his word and accept the fact that the Big 12 is going to expand. What are its potential options? Oft-mentioned are the Four-Corner schools -- Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah. No doubt he's been talking to them and that he's visited their campuses. It's not clear that any of them would jump to the Big 12, but considering the current situation in the PAC, and matters of geography, one or more might. Given the choice between any one of them (three are AAU) and UConn, which would the Big 12 favor? Also mentioned are some schools in the ACC, those which might not garner an invitation to one of the P2 conferences. Even if such schools were unavailable until 2036, how likely is it that the Big 12 would choose UConn over, say, NC State, Va Tech, or even Louisville? And what about other choices, like Memphis or SMU or Tulane (AAU), all of which lie within the Big 12's admittedly broad footprint? What are the chances that the Big 12 would want UConn more than any of those?
Without going into specifics, many of the comments on the Bone Yard have been pretty dismissive of the Big 12 and its member institutions.
My question, therefore, is this: if any combination of those other schools is extended an invitation to the Big 12 to the exclusion of UConn, may we expect that UConn fans will be delighted that they were passed over for membership in a wealthier, all-sports, power conference? Or will there be recriminations, loud wailing, the rending of cloth, and claims about sour grapes?
We may not have to wait very long to find out.