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for a negotiating stance to work it has to be believable.

If you are UConn, why not just schedule your former Big East mates (C-7) if that helps you play some local games againsat traditional rivals that might also help your RPI? I would think the New Big East group will want it's members to play "local" quality opponents if available.

Same thing for Cincy...games with locals like Notre Dame, DePaul, Marquette, etc... just make sense if you can get them scheduled

MustangStealth wrote:Would UConn and Cincy really rather play San Jose St and Utah St than Tulane and ECU?

I would hope so. Both those teams finished in the top 25 this year. Getting a play-off spot for the other 5 conferences will eventually boil down to the best team with the best SOS.

Warbow wrote:

MustangStealth wrote:Would UConn and Cincy really rather play San Jose St and Utah St than Tulane and ECU?

I would hope so. Both those teams finished in the top 25 this year. Getting a play-off spot for the other 5 conferences will eventually boil down to the best team with the best SOS.

but they will have to get there next year because it may just turn out to be a one year deal

Big Issue for UCONN: do you fly east or west to get to Hawaii. I'm not too terribly worried about this

Warbow wrote:

MustangStealth wrote:Would UConn and Cincy really rather play San Jose St and Utah St than Tulane and ECU?

I would hope so. Both those teams finished in the top 25 this year. Getting a play-off spot for the other 5 conferences will eventually boil down to the best team with the best SOS.

The ACC is never going to get a team into the 4 team playoff, much less the Big East or MWC.

ponydawg wrote:Meeting today in Dallas....not looking good....
SDSU to MWC.
UConn and Cincy to try to put hoops with C7, football with MWC.
MWC to pick up a couple more BE teams from a pool of Houston, SMU, USF, UCF.

Hope we REALLY didn't tell the MWC off earlier on in the week....

http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=4719

Why the hell would Cincy and UCONN want to play MWC..??? They are much better off playing NBE schedule.

Stallion wrote:First Impression-not buying it-probably a negotiating stance to force BE to allow them to play BB with C7

Eggszackley!!

PonyKris89 wrote:

ponydawg wrote:Meeting today in Dallas....not looking good....
SDSU to MWC.
UConn and Cincy to try to put hoops with C7, football with MWC.
MWC to pick up a couple more BE teams from a pool of Houston, SMU, USF, UCF.

Hope we REALLY didn't tell the MWC off earlier on in the week....

http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=4719

Why the hell would Cincy and UCONN want to play MWC..??? They are much better off playing NBE schedule.

They don't. Stallions right- it's a negotiation tactic.

The real question is how do WE put our bball in the C7? I am OK going to MWC for football if it means we stay in the BCS-equivalent basketball conference

After reading the New Jersey bloggers post, he either has an agenda or he is imaging the scenario. No substance other than drawing attention with an absurd scenario. UConn and Cincinnati to MWC for FB makes no sense.

Further, I would not assume that SDSU will leave the BE. If the Aztecs aspire to be a national brand and distinguish themselves, the BE makes more sense than playing second fiddle to BSU in a market starved MWC. If the BE is aggressive, it can ensure San Diego stays for FB and brings their BB team to the BB too. Add UTEP and/or NM and you have strengthen BB in the west, which would help lock in SDSU and geographic linkage to the west coast.

Would would also invite Creighton and Butler for BB to reestablish the BE BB brand. Both schools would help SMU and Houston, while Butler commitments Cincinnati and Memphis, as well as UConn programs. Tulsa would fit nicely as well.

Why is this such a surprise to folks? I'd be very surprised if Uconn isn't exploring any and all possibilities to keep their BB with the C7, regardless of where their FB winds up. It would be a win/win for both the C7 and Uconn both financially and in terms of prestige, and it buys Uconn time. We have our 'wealthy alumni' that have subsidized our football program for two decades now, well Uconn' s arrogant and wealthy NYC alumni aren't going to sit back and watch their BB program lose the prestige of playing with the C7. Uconn playing BB in a conf with UCF, SMU, Tulane, ECU and the like isnt going to happen. And they could care less about football...

Maine Mustang wrote:Why is this such a surprise to folks? I'd be very surprised if Uconn isn't exploring any and all possibilities to keep their BB with the C7, regardless of where their FB winds up. It would be a win/win for both the C7 and Uconn both financially and in terms of prestige, and it buys Uconn time. We have our 'wealthy alumni' that have subsidized our football program for two decades now, well Uconn' s arrogant and wealthy NYC alumni aren't going to sit back and watch their BB program lose the prestige of playing with the C7. Uconn playing BB in a conf with UCF, SMU, Tulane, ECU and the like isnt going to happen. And they could care less about football...

I understand the need to protect and enhance BB, but playing half of their FB games in the MT and PT zones would smack of desparation for UConn and condemn it to long term medicority. It is worse idea than a Texas school going to MWC.

If the Huskies can improve BB, fine, but sacrificing FB at the BB alter would be a strange path. Besides Cincinnati would need to agree with them too.

The better response for Big East is to get SDSU for FB and BB, plus add Creighton and Butler to our need league.

ajerseyguy edited his report and added this:

According to sources at Connecticut, some UConn officials were considering a plan which would keep the Huskies with the Catholic 7-Marquette, DePaul, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Georgetown, Villanova and Providence, as well as Cincinnati.

Others, including UConn Athletic director Ward Manuel, who was at the Big East meeting in Dallas, emphatically said that the Huskies’ intention was to keep all sports together in one league.

It was probably just a UCONN Basketball source all along-wishful thinking