Conference Expansion: Memphis to Big East

[JasonS]

It appears this is a done deal and frankly, I think it is a good thing. With the Big East losing Syracuse, WVU, and Pitt, it needed another strong basketball program and Memphis is definitely that. Memphis lacks a lot in terms of football (3-21 last two years) but they actually help UC here too. Their addition should keep UC out of the Western division and help UC with both travel and also make it so they don't have to beat out Boise to make a conference championship game every year. The West division will probably include Houston, Boise, Memphis, San Diego St, SMU, and probably Louisville. The East will be UC, UCF, USF, Rutgers, UCONN, and Navy once they join.

 

[ervins84]

This is who they shouldve added when we all went to the BE and dropped Depaul (i know i know CHImarketomg). This is a very good addition overall that actually makes sense.

Basketball's still gonna be really hard even w/o cuse/pitt/wva

 

[Bearcat04]

This is who they shouldve added when we all went to the BE and dropped Depaul (i know i know CHImarketomg). This is a very good addition overall that actually makes sense.

Basketball's still gonna be really hard even w/o cuse/pitt/wva

Especially when you consider the improvements at St. John's, Seton Hall, and Rutgers in the last few years. Even Providence has two big time recruits coming in next year. It's still going to be a great basketball conference. It just feels right playing Memphis once again.

 

[Eternal E]

Good addition, have the potential to be good in football like Cincinnati.

 

[User Name:]

Not a good addition.

This means Bye Bye to Louisville

UL to the Big 12 is pretty much a done deal now

So we lose a solid football and Bball school and gain a crappy football and solid bball school. Who knows when UConn and Rutgers will be plucked to go to the ACC.

This is quickly turning into Conference USA part deux

 

[Cpaw]

Not a good addition.

This means Bye Bye to Louisville

UL to the Big 12 is pretty much a done deal now

So we lose a solid football and Bball school and gain a crappy football and solid bball school. Who knows when UConn and Rutgers will be plucked to go to the ACC.

This is quickly turning into Conference USA part deux

I don't know if I would draw this conclusion so fast. Pitino was the one person who publicly sought this relationship. Now this does not mean they won't jump, but I don't see them leaving their long time rivals now that the BEast is getting back on stable ground.

 

[BearcatMick]

I don't know if I would draw this conclusion so fast. Pitino was the one person who publicly sought this relationship. Now this does not mean they won't jump, but I don't see them leaving their long time rivals now that the BEast is getting back on stable ground.

Unfortunately ul has been telling recruits for months that they are going to the big 12. The general consensus via twitter is that ul is already gone.

This will help uc. We can return to dominating the conference in bball. With mick at the helm, I see many conference championships in our future

 

[ralph1950]

Will they have to fire Josh Pastner as part of the deal?

They should.

 

[ralph1950]

Not a good addition.

This means Bye Bye to Louisville

UL to the Big 12 is pretty much a done deal now

So we lose a solid football and Bball school and gain a crappy football and solid bball school. Who knows when UConn and Rutgers will be plucked to go to the ACC.

This is quickly turning into Conference USA part deux

Not according to Texas AD Dodd. Texas wants to keep the Big 12 at 10 members as $150 million in TV revenue splits better 10 ways than 12 ways. Texas controls all that happens in the Big 12, what Texas wants, Texas gets.

Rick Pitino keeps stating publicly that Louisville is staying in the Big East.

 

[waterhead]

Not a good addition.

This means Bye Bye to Louisville

UL to the Big 12 is pretty much a done deal now

So we lose a solid football and Bball school and gain a crappy football and solid bball school. Who knows when UConn and Rutgers will be plucked to go to the ACC.

This is quickly turning into Conference USA part deux

I am probably way behind on this...but why does Memphis to BE mean UL to Big 12? And who (if UL does leave) does Big 12 add to make an even number?

And with what the BCS has said recently does any of it matter anymore?

 

[BearcatMick]

Not according to Texas AD Dodd. Texas wants to keep the Big 12 at 10 members as $150 million in TV revenue splits better 10 ways than 12 ways. Texas controls all that happens in the Big 12, what Texas wants, Texas gets.

Rick Pitino keeps stating publicly that Louisville is staying in the Big East.

Thats old news. Read the tweets today. Memphis is a perfect replacement for ul geographically.

UL is leaving. A lot of big time reporters are tweeting that memphis was the insurance policy if/when ul left

 

[Eternal E]

Will they have to fire Josh Pastner as part of the deal?

They should.

They could probably get a pretty good coach if they elected too. Pastner is a great recruter but his x's and o's leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[BearcatMick]

They could probably get a pretty good coach if they elected too. Pastner is a great recruter but his x's and o's leaves a lot to be desired.

Anyone can be a great recruiter at memphis with the nba team and nba arena close by along with surefire talent in the memphis area.

 

[JasonS]

Thats old news. Read the tweets today. Memphis is a perfect replacement for ul geographically.

UL is leaving. A lot of big time reporters are tweeting that memphis was the insurance policy if/when ul left

Just because it is said on twitter doesn't automatically make it so. This is some people's OPINION but no one knows for sure. If the Big 12 decides to go back to 12 schools, UL is going to have the first right of refusal. With the BCS going away after 2013, it may not really matter at this point. If anything, a 4 team playoff based solely on BCS standings (or whatever formula they decide to use) is going to make conference affiliation a moot point. The key is going to be getting into the top 4 and if you are undefeated, you can pretty much guarantee you will be included no matter what conference you are in.

I don't think it would be a good move for UL to go, personally, but I think they will if offered the opportunity. At this time Texas does not want 2 more teams until they have the opportunity to renegotiate the television deal. Also, depending on what happens with the new Big East TV deal (should be pretty big considering the TV markets now in play), the Big 12 may not be that financially lucrative by comparison for a school like Louisville. With Memphis added, that is one more geographical rival for UL and UC. I think it is 50/50 whether Louisville is still part of the conference in 2 or 3 years.

 

[JasonS]

Anyone can be a great recruiter at memphis with the nba team and nba arena close by along with surefire talent in the memphis area.

The NBA team has nothing to do with Memphis recruiting. Don't know where you are coming up with that. Memphis can recruit well because they have outstanding facilities. Pastnor needs to continue to show that he can get these kids to the NBA like Calipari was able to do but just because Memphis has a pro team doesn't mean anything to a recruit.

 

[BearcatMick]

The NBA team has nothing to do with Memphis recruiting. Don't know where you are coming up with that. Memphis can recruit well because they have outstanding facilities. Pastnor needs to continue to show that he can get these kids to the NBA like Calipari was able to do but just because Memphis has a pro team doesn't mean anything to a recruit.

The nba team had a lot to do with it because 1) scouts are almost always in town and they have easy access to memphis games 2) memphis plays at the grizzlies arena once or twice a year.

Those are great sells to potential recruits. Now that they are in the big east, I have no doubt they'll be a consistent contender

As far as the big 12 goes, uls ad and president have stated publicly on video that there is mutual interest and that they want out of the big east. Texas is NOT completely opposed to going to 12 because they think the sec and acc aren't done expanding yet.

On top of this ul football coaches are telling recruits they are going to the big 12 and wvu insiders are saying its a done deal.

Also fsu, clemson, and other schools are In talks with the big 12. Expansion will happen sooner rather than later. Uc needs to hitch their wagon if they want out of be(although I prefer staying in it so we can consistently win in fball and bball)

Acc commish swofford has stated he still wants to expand and is looking at nd, uconn and rutgers among others.

This is gonna be a cluster f the next 2 years

 

[Eternal E]

The nba team had a lot to do with it because 1) scouts are almost always in town and they have easy access to memphis games 2) memphis plays at the grizzlies arena once or twice a year.

Those are great sells to potential recruits. Now that they are in the big east, I have no doubt they'll be a consistent contender

As far as the big 12 goes, their ad and president have started publicly there is mutual interest and that they want out of the big east. Texas is NOT completely opposed to going to 12 because they think the sec and acc aren't done expanding yet.

On top of this ul football coaches are telling recruits they are going to the big 12 and wvu insiders are saying its a done deal.

Also fsu, clemson, and other schools are In talks with the big 12. Expansion will happen sooner rather than later. Uc needs to hitch their wagon if they want out of be(although I prefer staying in it so we can consistently win in fball and bball)

Acc commish swofford has stated he still wants to expand and is looking at nd, uconn and rutgers among others.

This is gonna be a cluster f the next 2 years

Memphis shares Fed Ex Forums with the Grizzlies, they play all their home games there. The famous Pyramid is no longer open (hasn't beed used since 04).

 

[User Name:]

Matt Hayes @Matt_HayesSN

Here's what Memphis to Big East tells me: Louisville to B12 is happening. Big East moves to Memphis to secure that secondary area.

 

[JasonS]

Matt Hayes @Matt_HayesSN

Here's what Memphis to Big East tells me: Louisville to B12 is happening. Big East moves to Memphis to secure that secondary area.

This is speculation. The Big 12 will not add UL without a sufficient number 12. Right now that list consists of BYU and they are not budging. The Big 12 will not go to 11 just for UL.

 

[BearcatMick]

Matt Hayes @Matt_HayesSN

Here's what Memphis to Big East tells me: Louisville to B12 is happening. Big East moves to Memphis to secure that secondary area.

Interesting. I did not see that tweet earlier.

This is speculation. The Big 12 will not add UL without a sufficient number 12. Right now that list consists of BYU and they are not budging. The Big 12 will not go to 11 just for UL.

For months before the texas am move, we heard that the sec did not want to expand. For months before the acc pitt syracuse moves, swafford said there would be no expansion. Anything these commissioners say is double talk.

Heres what we know:
1) the big 12 football schedule comes out this week and wvu is included in it
1a).this means they believe they will be in the big 12 next year so this gives hope to pitt and syracuse and anyone else interested on leaving

2)Ul and memphis serve similar geographic areas
3)ul football staff is telling recruits its a done deal and they are already in
4) wvu insiders are starting that ul is in
5) the big 12 commish met with the conference expansion committee lsu month and then denied anything was going to happen (then why meet?)
6) the ul ad and president are recorded on video of saying they want out of the be and prefer the big 12
7) acc commish has made it clear he wants to expand to 14, even 16
7a) this puts pressure on the sec and big 12 to be proactive in getting nrw teams
8) texas has stated they are not opposed to expanding and many league presidents want more for a conference championship game
9) clemson, ul and fsu have met with big 12 officials about conference affiliation in the last couple months
10) rutgers and uconn are not happy in the big east and want jn the acc
11) pitino is telling people that he prefers to stay and that they are staying(this is about football rick)

There is a lot still to shake out but ul to the big 12 will be the first domino and it will be sooner rather than later. ND and byu are the wild cards here . If one joins a conference for football, more likely byu st this point, all hell if going to break lose