How A Big East Split Could Affect The Basketball Schools

by Jordan Grove

This week the athletic directors from all of the Big East schools are meeting in Florida for their annual spring meetings. As one would expect from this conference, the big topic for discussion is expansion. Who does the conference invite as the 10^th team? Do they expand to 12?

Legendary UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun shared his opinion in an interview a few days ago. He stated that he feels that a split between the football and non-football members of the Big East is “inevitable in the next couple, 4-5 years down the road”.

That statement has carried considerable weight considering the clout Calhoun possesses. A split between Big East football and non-football schools would send a seismic wave rippling through the college ranks much like what happened when the ACC expanded from 9 to 12 teams in 2005.

Notre Dame would try and maintain football independence but in the age of superconferences that may not be a possibility. For now, it will be assumed that Notre Dame chooses to align itself with the Big Ten Conference.

The Big East schools affected would then be DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s, and Villanova, should they choose not to upgrade their football program to the FBS level.

What would a new basketball-centered conference look like with those eight schools as the foundation? Who would they invite to boost the membership up to 10 or even 12?

The new league (likely being allowed to keep the Big Est name) would more than likely be looking to establish itself as one of the preeminent college basketball conferences in the country since it has such successful programs as Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, and Villanova as a foundation.

Schools that the Big East would be looking to add would have to have a history of success, multiple NCAA tournament appearances, great facilities, preferably be a Catholic school, and be a geographical fit – upper Midwest (Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois) and Northeast.

Using those criteria, the list of possible candidates is narrowed considerably and clear candidates emerge.

St. Joseph’s – A Catholic university tucked perfectly within the confines of this new league (Philadelphia), the Hawks have experienced many years of successful basketball play. They have won the A10 six times since 1997 and possess and in-state rivalry with Villanova who they also share the city of Philadelphia with. They have been to the NCAA tournament five times since 1997. They would likely be one of the first teams invited.

Temple – Once formerly in the Big East for football only, the Owls basketball team is one of the most successful in the country ranking 6^th all time in wins. They have made the NCAA tournament 29 times and have won the Atlantic 10 nine times. Located in Philadelphia, Temple makes for a natural rival and travel partner with Villanova.

Xavier – The Musketeers have won the Atlantic 10 four times, made 22 NCAA tournament appearances, and have been to the tournament in six consecutive years and ten of the last eleven years. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio they have a natural rival with Dayton and help patch the distance between the Midwest schools and the East coast schools.

Dayton – The Flyers have some of the best facilities in the country which is evidence as to why the NCAA tournament holds the play in game in the city. They have made the NCAA tournament 14 times and won the Atlantic 10 tournament once. Located in Dayton, Ohio they are natural rivals and travel partners with Xavier.

Richmond – The Spiders make for a natural travel partner for Georgetown, a school that has pushed for their entrance into the Big East. Richmond has been known as a “giant-killer” in the NCAA tournament and have made the most of their limited tournament appearances by being the only school to win tournament games as a 12, 13, 14, and 15 seed.

Butler – The Bulldogs have been the Boise State of college basketball. They have twice been runner’s up to the national champion in consecutive years. Coach Brad Stevens is one of the hottest names out there currently and the Bulldogs have great facilities as well. They are a geographic fit and would make a natural travel partner for in-state Notre Dame. If a split were to happen Butler would more than likely receive considerable consideration.

St. Louis – The Bilikens are a geographic fit yet have had limited NCAA appearances and most of their success has been in the NIT.

Charlotte – The 49ers have had 11 NCAA appearances dating from 1977, their only Final Four year. They are on the borders of being a geographic fit.

The Atlantic10 should be put on notice now that they would be getting raided if a Big East split were to occur as almost every one of the aforementioned teams hail from that conference.

Successful programs like George Mason, Old Dominion, and Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) could also be considered as well as each have shown they can win against top competition with their deep runs into the NCAA tournament. However, those three schools are much more likely to be Atlantic10 replacements.

Xavier and Dayton would likely be the first programs offered by the Big East Conference. They would provide the conference with another great rival and would open up the conference’s market to Ohio.

The final three choices would likely come down between St. Joseph’s, Butler, Richmond, and Temple. Those four schools have each had success over the years. St. Joseph’s fits the Catholic blueprint in the league and provide a rivalry with Villanova. Butler is the new kid on the block while Temple has established itself as a premier program in one of the best non-football conferences in the country. Richmond’s “giant-killer” status works in its favor as well as the fact that Georgetown would like for them to be in.

For now St. Joseph’s, Richmond and Temple will get the nod and Butler will be left out, however, it could very well work the other way around. It could also be Richmond being left out in favor of Temple and Butler.

Those additions would leave the new Big East Conference as such:

Dayton

DePaul

Georgetown

Marquette

Providence

Richmond

Seton Hall

St. Joseph’s

St. John’s

Temple

Villanova

Xavier

The poaching of five Atlantic 10 schools would in turn cause that conference to reach out and pick the best basketball schools from conferences around the country in which Butler, George Mason, VCU and possibly Old Dominion could be extended invites to boost their membership back to 14 schools.

This would then cause the Horizon and Colonial American Association (CAA) to seek members to bolster their ranks.

Regardless of what happens, the fact remains that a split between the football and non-football members of the Big East is looming larger than ever. The increasing emphasis on football as the most prominent and profitable sport in college athletics is causing conferences to add to their arsenal.

Money is the reason why the Big Ten added Nebraska, the Pac 10 expanded to 12 by adding Colorado and Utah, and why the Big East has added TCU and are considering invited up to three more teams.

The non-football schools of the Big East would be wise to add the best available basketball schools in their geographic footprint if such a split were to occur. With such successful programs like Dayton, Richmond, St. Joseph’s, Temple, and Xavier all located nearby, it is likely that once a split occurs the new conference will act swiftly and decisively in adding heavyweights to establish itself as one of the most powerful basketball conferences in the country.