Catholic 7 to keep Big East name, add Xavier and Butler

Submitted by MaizeAndBlueWahoo on

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9000502/catholic-7-schools-keep-big-east-name-new-league-next-season-according-sources

Headline says it all.  Or most.  Creighton is also "expected" to join, and Dayton and St. Louis in the future.  That would make them the Catholic 11 Plus Butler, so it's probably for the best they get to keep the traditional Big East name.  Getting to start the league this fall might also move Notre Dame to the ACC this fall as well.

I guess that just leaves the question of what to call the southern-oriented conference that was once the Big East.  Big South is already taken.  If it were up to me, the Phoenix Conference would be pretty cool.

 

Wolverine Devotee

February 28th, 2013 at 7:36 PM ^

I'm still kind of confused. So what happens to the current and future (houston, SMU etc.) members of the current Big East? Does their name become the "Land of the Misfit Toys"?

And they should have the word Catholic in their conference name. 

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

February 28th, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^

I find that hard to believe because it's so backwards.  I mean, first off, McCallum seems like a pretty good coach (although it helps when you have a son who's got NBA potential.)  Second, they'd obviously get a lot of new resources from the new conference, which they could certainly use on coaches.  Third, this is a school that's fully funding an almost brand-new lacrosse team, so they aren't necessarily hurting.

I think the main thing is just not having the name recognition.  It doesn't help either that there's an interim AD right now.

WolvinLA2

February 28th, 2013 at 8:58 PM ^

I agree with most of that, but compare Detroit to the teams they've invited or are considering - do they have the success/facilities/cache that Butler/Xavier/Dayton/SLU/Creighton?  Probably SLU, but that's about it.  I think there are probably other A10 schools that have more appeal than Detroit as well (St. Joe's, VCU).

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

February 28th, 2013 at 9:06 PM ^

I think we're arguing basically the same thing.  I'm arguing against what sounded to me like the idea that UDM wouldn't want to be in the new Big East.  Even if they find that door shut, I really think they should angle for opportunities.  I hear the A-10 is set to lose a bunch of schools.  Even without facilities and cachet, they do have one thing to offer: a big-ass TV market.

French West Indian

March 1st, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^

...would be a possibility should the Big East do any future expansion.  Detroit, for all of its problems, is still a pretty big market for both recruiting and fan interest. 

With a little bit of strategic planning by both parties, a few years down the road it could be a great idea.

LSAClassOf2000

February 28th, 2013 at 7:53 PM ^

Not a bad lineup at all really. Including Xavier and Butler, here is what the overall standings would look like if it existed right now:

 

TEAM W L
Georgetown 22 4
Butler 22 6
Marquette 20 7
Villanova 18 11
St. John's 16 11
Xavier 16 11
Providence 15 12
Seton Hall 14 15
DePaul 11 17

The soon-to-be "old Big East" could, for football purposes, always become "The Other Mid-Major" or "Rather Big But Not Completely East"

State Street

February 28th, 2013 at 8:36 PM ^

Ha, Mike Aresco got totally fleeced in this deal.  He signs on from CBS to be the "Big East Commissioner" but now it turns out there is totally another, legitimate "Big East" out there and he now heads the Conference USA/Sun Belt/Middle Child conference.

So much for that brand.

SKIP TO MY BLUE

February 28th, 2013 at 8:45 PM ^

That is a great BBall conference and could be good in soccer and lax if they have enough teams. It would interesting to see if St. Mary's or Gonzaga join or maybe they are to far west to make it work. As for the old big east maybe they can be renamed goulash.

WolvinLA2

February 28th, 2013 at 8:49 PM ^

I doubt they add those schools.  Without FBS football, it makes poor financial sense to have that much travel for all sports.  The West Coast schools who joined the old Big East for football SDSU, Boise, etc joined for football only. 

SeattleWolverine

February 28th, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^

Perhaps they could call themselves the Apostolic 12. Would Butler be doubting Thomas? Or perhaps DePaul since I doubt that they'll ever be good again.

 

I need a spreadsheet or something to keep track of which teams are in which conferences.

hoota122

February 28th, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^

I thought U of D might have been a decent choice. There basketball program is on the rise and getting some nationally televised games. And they did make the tournament last year as well.

smwilliams

February 28th, 2013 at 9:25 PM ^

A name for the old Big East...



I Can't Believe It's Not The Big East or



The ICBINTBE Conference shortened to the BIN for short i.e. this conference belongs in the trash bin.

Yooper

February 28th, 2013 at 11:04 PM ^

bad name.  They should have rebranded themselves, for lots of reasons, including the fact that it is basically a midwest conference once they get done completing the membership.  The Big East is a damaged brand.

Spontaneous Co…

March 1st, 2013 at 8:17 AM ^

I LOVE this conference.  It may often lack elite teams but I think it is going to be a very competitive conference with a lot of quality teams.

This is just an observation, but as a lawyer, this reminds me of how the past ten years saw a couple of co-evolving trends.  Lots of mergers of firms into mega-firms and at the same time a lot of smaller boutique firms that are ultra specialized formed and are succeeding.

That new conference is a nice boutique hoops league and as long as they don't overreach or try to turn it into something else, they should do quite well. 

seniorbearcat

March 1st, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^

 

Good take from a Cincinnati fan...

"I am seriously tired of having my balls hurt from all the crotch shots we've been taking lately. Consider in the past 18 months we have:

1) Lost AQ Status

2) Had 5 all-sports conference members bail on us, including rivals Louisville and Pitt

3) Lost the basketball schools

4) Got a television contract that will actually play less than what we previously earned

5) All indications are the new b-ball conference will pay their members $1-2M more per team. 

6) Said conference will add none other than our cross town rivals who don't play fball and have a small fraction of the fan interest that we do. 

7) Now it looks like we will no longer be in a conference called the Big East and will play in Conference American (or whatever they want to call it). 



What more can they do to UC? I have already resigned to the fact they will rip the better bowls from us and leave us with the Toilet Bowl.... what else is next after that? The rate we are going they are only going to allow our football team play with 10 players on each side from here on out."

seniorbearcat

March 1st, 2013 at 12:01 PM ^

The basketball will be alright for 1 more season at least with a 4 or 5 bid conference...

Memphis 24-4

Louisville 23-5

Southern Miss 21-7

Temple 20-8

Connecticut 19-8

Cincinnati 19-9

Central Florida 19-9