Memphis to Big East?

[tornado]

http://www.allkyhoops.com/2009/09/alleged-memphis-insider-says-tigers.html

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=td-newsflash091709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[houstontxbrave]

By adding 3 teams in football that gives the Big East 11 football playing members. I wonder if Boston College cant be that far behind in moving to the Big East and giving the conference 12 teams and two divisions?

Basketball is 19 teams and a complete mess. Odd number just makes it appear someone is going (Depaul) or someone has to be added, Boston College just makes complete sense for even numbers for football and basketball.

This could be very interesting.

[Da Coach]

This report is based on hearing someone who claimed to be a Memphis "insider" who called a Memphis sports-talk radio show and said-
-Memphis is "a lock" to join the Big East
-Memphis "will become a part of the Big East within six months"
-the Big East took a private vote several months ago to admit Memphis, but put their plans on hold when Calipari left for Kentucky, to "step back and re-evaluate the situation". But then they decided to keep it all secret.
-University of Central Florida and East Carolina University will also be admitted to the Big East
-this move is all about increasing the quality of Big East football, and bringing in more money.

I could believe the Big East would want Memphis because of basketball, but since when has Memphis football been anything to write home about? Memphis lost their last game 31-14 to powerhouse Middle Tennessee and they are now 0-2. Their football program does not make money, and that is what the Big East needs.
I think I will need a little more credible source than this anonymous caller to buy this story.

By the way- this rumor of Memphis to the Big east is nothing new.
Here is an article from almost a year and a half ago (May, 2008 ) with a similar rumor-

http://www.fanblogs.com/big_east/007554.php

And here is another similar rumor from way back in 2003.

http://www.fanblogs.com/big_east/003786.php

[tornado]

If BU got really successful in basketball, would BU get invited to the Big East?
Doubtful, but anything could happen....and some rumors also have DePaul exiting BE.

[thefish7]

I officially wouldn't want BU to join the Big East as it is today.

[TheAsianSensation]

Let's get one thing straight: The Big East is desperate for more football members, period. Even if Memphis is mediocre, they're another body in the conference. The basketball considerations are secondary.

Although you have to question, will the Big East splinter as a result of the football side going to 11 or 12 members?



As an aside, if ISU really, REALLY focused on their football and become a power in the FCS in the next 10 or so years, they could jump to D-1 and at least be on the map for BCS inclusion. We're talking 1 in 50,000 odds, but yeah.

And as for BU, just to answer that hypothetical, the LAST thing they'd ever do at this point is add basketball-only members.

[SFP]

Memphis would be a great addition to the Big East because it serves a market they do not have at this point. They are now going toe to toe against the SEC and ACC.

[Braves4Life]

Memphis better jump on this now while they're still a hot commodity. Odds are their basketball program will be on the downslide now that Cal is gone.

[Da Coach]

Memphis AD says if they decided to change conferences, they would prefer the SEC

Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson says the school??™s first priority would be to join the Southeastern Conference ??” not the Big East.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/09/17/memphis-ad-says-sec-is-first-choice/

[tornado]

There's actually a long, 16 page, serious thread over on the Missouri State board about how Missouri State is planning to "move up" with their powerhouse football & basketball programs, and they will be changing to the Conference USA (CUSA) and especially now that there'll be an opening in the spot vacated by Memphis when Memphis moves to the ACC!
Good luck Bears...hope it works out for you...., but I think you're no more likely to get to the NCAA in CUSA than in the MVC.

I am not kidding...here's the link...

http://www.msubearnation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3131

[TheAsianSensation]

I know this will unsettle everyone...so I probably need to ask each reader of this post to please sit down and take a deep brerath before going on.......

..but there's actually a LONG, 16 page, serious thread over on the Missouri State board about how Missouri State is planning to "move up" with their powerhouse football & basketball programs, and they will be changing to the Conference USA (CUSA) and especially now that there'll be an opening in the spot vacated by Memphis when Memphis moves to the ACC!
Good luck Bears...hope it works out for you...., but I think you're no more likely to get to the NCAA in CUSA than in the MVC.

I am not kidding...here's the link...
http://www.msubearnation.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=3131

Again, that move wouldn't be for basketball at all. That's for football. Football drives everything. That's probably a downwards move from a basketball standpoint, but the big jump in football makes it a net positive move.

We talk a lot about how basketball is affected by potential conference moves, and for good reason since BU has no football, but we need to realize a lot of these speculative moves have primary football motives behind them.

[DUBulldog]

Again, that move wouldn't be for basketball at all. That's for football. Football drives everything. That's probably a downwards move from a basketball standpoint, but the big jump in football makes it a net positive move.

Yep, it's similar to when Tulsa left the MVC; that move was a football decision.

[Indy_BB]

The likely result of this would not be just an addition of a Big East team, but a general break-up along some lines (football?) If this were to happen it could have ramifications on teams in the a10, big east, horizon, caa, and mvc