Changing NCAA Landscape: An Idea for the Big East

The college conference landscape is changing. As it stands right now, Nebraska is headed to the Big Ten and 6 schools (Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Colorado) are headed to the PAC 10 to form a 16-team superconference. Where does the Big East fall in this picture?

I believe the Big East needs to be proactive and it is time to make a move now. Rutgers showed a high APR score in the latest results and has a foothold that the Big Ten wants in the NY/NJ market. Meanwhile, over in the ACC, Maryland has a foothold on the Washington, DC market. These two markets are very valuable to the Big Ten network and it wouldn’t be shocking that these two schools get invited next.

So, now Big East football is down to 7 teams. The Big East can take a quick fix and pick up a Central Florida, but I think that the “PAC 16” and the refurbished Big 10 are so powerful that something needs to be done to counter this. As we all know, the PAC 10 and Big Ten as we knew it were the two major reasons why we have not seen a playoff system in college football. The better maneuver is to first order Notre Dame to either commit fully to the Big East in all sports or leave. This will likely cause them to leave as well. Thus, we are down to 14 teams in Big East Basketball

At this point, you need to split off the basketball-only schools. Bye bye DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s, and Villanova. Since the remaining teams in football will never be at the class of the Big Ten or Pac 10, you aim to create a 12-team conference that is more known for basketball, but now with twelve teams, you get a conference title game for the conference. Thus, as the Big East, you have to invite Kansas, Kansas State, and Baylor from the Big 12 (to get a pipeline into the Texas market specifically for football but now an up-and-coming basketball program after tragedy struck a few years ago). Next, you invite Memphis from Conference USA and you finish the conference off by asking Villanova to move up from the FCS to FBS level.

A look at the new Big East:

Baylor
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Kansas
Kansas State
Louisville
Memphis
Pittsburgh
South Florida
Syracuse
Villanova
West Virginia

A look at these twelve teams and you realize what a powerful basketball conference it is. As an added bonus, you get a Championship game in football every year (more $$$). Since the Pinstripe Bowl is going to be defunct (Big East vs. Big 12), you rotate the Big East Championship in football between Citi Field and Yankee Stadium each year.

Who's In?

ACC (5): Duke, Maryland, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State
America East (1): Vermont
Atlantic 10 (4): Temple, Xavier, Richmond, Rhode Island
Atlantic Sun(1): East Tennessee State
Big 12 (7): Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri
Big East (8): West Virginia, Syracuse, Georgetown, Villanova, Pittsburgh, Marquette, Notre Dame, Louisville
Big Sky (1): Montana
Big South (1): Winthrop
Big Ten (5): Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Minnesota
Big West (1): UC Santa Barbara
Colonial (1): Old Dominion
Conference USA (2): Houston, UTEP
Horizon (1): Butler
Ivy (1): Cornell
MAAC (1): Siena
MAC (1): Ohio
MEAC (1): Morgan State
Mountain West (4): San Diego State, New Mexico, Brigham Young, UNLV
MVC (1): Northern Iowa
Northeast (1): Robert Morris
OVC (1): Murray State
PAC-10 (2): Washington, California
Patriot (1): Lehigh
SEC (4): Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State
Southern (1): Wofford
Southland (1): Sam Houston State
Summit (1): Oakland
Sun Belt (1): North Texas
SWAC (1): Arkansas-Pine Bluff
WAC (2): New Mexico State, Utah State
West Coast (2): Saint Mary's, Gonzaga

Last 4 In:Louisville, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Florida State
First 4 Out: Florida, Wichita State, Arizona State, Virginia Tech
Next 4 Out:Mississippi, Memphis, UAB, Seton Hall
Other Bubble Teams: Dayton, South Florida, Illinois, Connecticut, VCU, Kent State, Wake Forest

Projected Big East Bracket - 3/1/2010

Tuesday
Game 1: #9 Notre Dame v. #16 DePaul
Game 2: #12 St. John's v. #13 Cincinnati
Game 3: #10 South Florida v. #15 Rutgers
Game 4: #11 Seton Hall v. #14 Providence

Wednesday
Game 5: #8 Connecticut v. Notre Dame-DePaul winner
Game 6: #5 Georgetown v. St. John's-Cincinnati winner
Game 7: #7 Marquette v. South Florida-Rutgers winner
Game 8: #6 Louisville v. Seton Hall-Providence winner

Thursday
Game 9: #1 Syracuse v. Game 5 winner
Game 10: #4 Pittsburgh v. Game 6 winner
Game 11: #2 West Virginia v. Game 7 winner
Game 12: #3 Villanova v. Game 8 winner

Friday
Game 13: Game 9 v. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 v. Game 12 winner

Saturday
Game 15: Game 13 v. Game 14 winner

PPI Rankings - March 1, 2010 (now top 65)

#1 Kansas
#2 Syracuse
#3 Duke
#4 Kentucky
#5 Kansas State
#6 Butler
#7 West Virginia
#8 New Mexico
#9 Purdue
#10 Villanova
#11 Pittsburgh
#12 Ohio State
#13 Northern Iowa
#14 Michigan State
#15 Texas
#16 Vanderbilt
#17 Temple
#18 Xavier
#19 Utah State
#20 Georgetown
#21 Wisconsin
#22 Brigham Young
#23 Maryland
#24 California
#25 Baylor
#26 Tennessee
#27 Missouri
#28 Clemson
#29 Old Dominion
#30 Gonzaga
#31 Richmond
#32 Oklahoma State
#33 Texas A&M
#34 UTEP
#35 Louisville
#36 Florida
#37 UNLV
#38 UAB
#39 Marquette
#40 Saint Mary's
#41 Siena
#42 Arizona State
#43 Florida State
#44 Mississippi State
#45 Washington
#46 Connecticut
#47 Murray State
#48 Dayton
#49 Rhode Island
#50 Georgia Tech
#51 Wichita State
#52 Mississippi
#53 Notre Dame
#54 Virginia Tech
#55 Illinois
#56 Wake Forest
#57 Cornell
#58 San Diego State
#59 Kent State
#60 Charlotte
#61 Memphis
#62 Illinois State
#63 Marshall
#64 Louisiana Tech
#65 Minnesota

Projected Big East Bracket - 2/22/10

Tuesday
Game 1: #9 St. John's v. #16 DePaul
Game 2: #12 Notre Dame v. #13 Cincinnati
Game 3: #10 South Florida v. #15 Rutgers
Game 4: #11 Seton Hall v. #14 Providence

Wednesday
Game 5: #8 Marquette v. Cincinnati-DePaul winner
Game 6: #5 Georgetown v. St. John's-Seton Hall winner
Game 7: #7 Connecticut v. Notre Dame-Rutgers winner
Game 8: #6 Louisville v. Connecticut-Providence winner

Thursday
Game 9: #1 Syracuse v. Game 5 winner
Game 10: #4 Pittsburgh v. Game 6 winner
Game 11: #2 West Virginia v. Game 7 winner
Game 12: #3 Villanova v. Game 8 winner

Friday
Game 13: Game 9 v. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 v. Game 12 winner

Saturday
Game 15: Game 13 v. Game 14 winner

PPI Rankings - February 22, 2010

#1 Kansas
#2 Syracuse
#3 Kentucky
#4 Duke
#5 Butler
#6 West Virginia
#7 Purdue
#8 Kansas State
#9 Villanova
#10 New Mexico
#11 Northern Iowa
#12 Pittsburgh
#13 Brigham Young
#14 Texas
#15 Utah State
#16 Ohio State
#17 Xavier
#18 Georgetown
#19 Michigan State
#20 Wisconsin
#21 Richmond
#22 Vanderbilt
#23 Temple
#24 Missouri
#25 Gonzaga
Others receiving votes: Tennessee, Clemson, Old Dominion, Maryland, Baylor, Oklahoma State, California, UTEP, Florida, Texas A&M, Louisville, Rhode Island, Saint Mary's, UAB, Virginia Tech

Projected Big East Bracket - 2/15/10

Here is the projection of the Big East Tournament:

Tuesday
Game 1: #9 Cincinnati v. #16 DePaul
Game 2: #12 St. John's v. #13 Seton Hall
Game 3: #10 Notre Dame v. #15 Rutgers
Game 4: #11 Connecticut v. #14 Providence

Wednesday
Game 5: #8 South Florida v. Cincinnati-DePaul winner
Game 6: #5 Pittsburgh v. St. John's-Seton Hall winner
Game 7: #7 Marquette v. Notre Dame-Rutgers winner
Game 8: #6 Louisville v. Connecticut-Providence winner

Thursday
Game 9: #1 Syracuse v. Game 5 winner
Game 10: #4 Georgetown v. Game 6 winner
Game 11: #2 Villanova v. Game 7 winner
Game 12: #3 West Virginia v. Game 8 winner

Friday
Game 13: Game 9 v. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 v. Game 12 winner

Saturday
Game 15: Game 13 v. Game 14 winner

PPI Rankings - February 15, 2010

#1 Kansas
#2 Syracuse
#3 Kentucky
#4 Duke
#5 Butler
#6 Villanova
#7 West Virginia
#8 New Mexico
#9 Purdue
#10 Kansas State
#11 Georgetown
#12 Northern Iowa
#13 Texas
#14 Wisconsin
#15 Gonzaga
#16 Ohio State
#17 Brigham Young
#18 Utah State
#19 Pittsburgh
#20 Michigan State
#21 Richmond
#22 Vanderbilt
#23 Old Dominion
#24 Xavier
#25 Temple
Others receiving votes: Clemson, California, Rhode Island, Baylor, Wake Forest, Tennessee, Siena, Missouri, Texas A&M, Saint Mary's, UNLV, UTEP, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Oklahoma State

Big East Bubble Watch: 2/13/2010

LOCKS: Syracuse, Villanova, Georgetown, WVU, Pitt

I believe the Big East will get 7 - that leaves 2 spots for the NCAAs...here are the competing teams and remaining schedules - it is integral that UConn wins games against the following bubble teams down the stretch. Any games between Big East bubble teams are asterisked.

LOUISVILLE:
2/14 @ Syracuse
2/17 vs. ND (*)
2/20 @ DePaul
2/23 vs. G'Town
2/28 @ UConn (*)
3/2 @ Marquette (*)
3/6 vs. Syracuse

SOUTH FLORIDA
2/13 @ Marquette (*)
2/16 vs. Cincy (*)
2/20 vs. SJU
2/24 @ Villanova
2/27 vs. Providence
3/2 @ DePaul
3/6 vs. UConn (*)

Marquette:
2/13 vs. USF (*)
2/18 vs. Pitt
2/21 @ Cincy (*)
2/24 @ St. John's
2/28 @ Seton Hall
3/2 vs. L'Ville (*)
3/6 vs. ND (*)

UCONN:
2/13 vs. Cincy (*)
2/15 @ Villanova
2/20 @ Rutgers
2/22 vs. WVU
2/28 vs. L'Ville (*)
3/3 @ ND (*)
3/6 @ USF (*)

Notre Dame:
2/14 vs. St. John's
2/17 @ L'Ville (*)
2/24 vs. Pitt
2/27 @ G'Town
3/3 vs. UConn (*)
3/6 @ Marquette (*)

Cincinnati:
2/13 @ UConn (*)
2/16 @ USF (*)
2/21 vs. Marquette (*)
2/24 vs. DePaul
2/27 @ WVU
3/2 vs. 'Nova
3/6 @ GTown

Looking at it briefly, L'Ville has a brutal schedule, but on the same hand, have the most opportunities to push their way in the tourney. I think if UConn wins all their "Big East bubble games" and WVU, you can put them right on the NCAA bubble. If they beat Nova on the road, obviously, that will be make a better case. Road games are crucial - specifically the last 2 against ND and USF.

Projected Big East Tourney Bracket 2/8/10

Here is the projection of the Big East Tournament:

Tuesday
Game 1: #9 Notre Dame v. #16 DePaul
Game 2: #12 Providence v. #13 Seton Hall
Game 3: #10 Connecticut v. #15 Rutgers
Game 4: #11 Cincinnati v. #14 St. John's

Wednesday
Game 5: #8 Marquette v. Notre Dame-DePaul winner
Game 6: #5 Pittsburgh v. Providence-Seton Hall winner
Game 7: #7 South Florida v. Connecticut-Rutgers winner
Game 8: #6 Louisville v. Cincinnati-St. John's winner

Thursday
Game 9: #1 Syracuse v. Game 5 winner
Game 10: #4 Georgetown v. Game 6 winner
Game 11: #2 West Virginia v. Game 7 winner
Game 12: #3 Villanova v. Game 8 winner

Friday
Game 13: Game 9 v. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 v. Game 12 winner

Saturday
Game 15: Game 13 v. Game 14 winner

PPI Rankings - February 8, 2010

#1 Syracuse
#2 Kansas
#3 West Virginia
#4 Kentucky
#5 Butler
#6 Duke
#7 Villanova
#8 Kansas State
#9 Northern Iowa
#10 New Mexico
#11 Georgetown
#12 Wisconsin
#13 Texas
#14 Purdue
#15 Brigham Young
#16 Michigan State
#17 Rhode Island
#18 Gonzaga
#19 Pittsburgh
#20 Tennessee
#21 Saint Mary's
#22 UNLV
#23 Utah State
#24 Xavier
#25 Old Dominion
Others receiving votes: Temple, Vanderbilt, Florida, Charlotte, Missouri, Richmond, Ohio State, Siena, UAB, Clemson, Wichita State, Texas A&M, California, Baylor, Wake Forest

Projected Big East Tourney Bracket - 2/1/10

Here is the projection of the Big East Tournament:

Tuesday
Game 1: #9 Marquette v. #16 DePaul
Game 2: #12 Providence v. #13 Seton Hall
Game 3: #10 Cincinnati v. #15 Rutgers
Game 4: #11 Notre Dame v. #14 St. John's

Wednesday
Game 5: #8 South Florida v. Marquette-DePaul winner
Game 6: #5 Pittsburgh v. Providence-Seton Hall winner
Game 7: #7 Connecticut v. Cincinnati-Rutgers winner
Game 8: #6 Louisville v. Notre Dame-St. John's winner

Thursday
Game 9: #1 Syracuse v. Game 5 winner
Game 10: #4 Georgetown v. Game 6 winner
Game 11: #2 Villanova v. Game 7 winner
Game 12: #3 West Virginia v. Game 8 winner

Friday
Game 13: Game 9 v. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 v. Game 12 winner

Saturday
Game 15: Game 13 v. Game 14 winner

PPI Rankings - February 1, 2010

#1 Kansas
#2 Syracuse
#3 Kentucky
#4 Villanova
#5 Butler
#6 West Virginia
#7 Duke
#8 Michigan State
#9 New Mexico
#10 Georgetown
#11 Purdue
#12 Northern Iowa
#13 Brigham Young
#14 Texas
#15 Kansas State
#16 Rhode Island
#17 Wisconsin
#18 Pittsburgh
#19 Saint Mary's
#20 Clemson
#21 Xavier
#22 Siena
#23 Vanderbilt
#24 UAB
#25 Temple
Others receiving votes: Old Dominion, Charlotte, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Wichita State, Utah State, UNLV, Gonzaga, Missouri, Ohio State, California, Georgia Tech, Baylor, Mississippi, Florida

Projected Big East Tourney Bracket - 1/25/10

Here is the projection of the Big East Tournament as of 1/18/10:

Tuesday
Game 1: #9 Cincinnati v. #16 DePaul
Game 2: #12 South Florida v. #13 Providence
Game 3: #10 Seton Hall v. #15 Rutgers
Game 4: #11 St. John's v. #14 Marquette

Wednesday
Game 5: #8 Notre Dame v. Cincinnati-DePaul winner
Game 6: #5 Pittsburgh v. South Florida-Providence winner
Game 7: #7 Louisville v. Seton Hall-Rutgers winner
Game 8: #6 Connecticut v. St. John's-Marquette winner

Thursday
Game 9: #1 Syracuse v. Game 5 winner
Game 10: #4 West Virginia v. Game 6 winner
Game 11: #2 Villanova v. Game 7 winner
Game 12: #3 Georgetown v. Game 8 winner

Friday
Game 13: Game 9 v. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 v. Game 12 winner

Saturday
Game 15: Game 13 v. Game 14 winner

PPI Rankings - January 25, 2010

#1 Kansas
#2 Syracuse
#3 Kentucky
#4 Villanova
#5 Duke
#6 Brigham Young
#7 Georgetown
#8 West Virginia
#9 Butler
#10 Texas
#11 Purdue
#12 Michigan State
#13 New Mexico
#14 Northern Iowa
#15 Wisconsin
#16 Kansas State
#17 Pittsburgh
#18 Clemson
#19 Old Dominion
#20 Gonzaga
#21 UAB
#22 Siena
#23 Temple
#24 Xavier
#25 UNLV
Others receiving votes: Tennessee, Saint Mary's, Oklahoma State, Rhode Island, Vanderbilt, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi, Utah State, Connecticut, Missouri, Charlotte, Wichita State, Wake Forest, California, Georgia Tech

Projected Big East Tourney Bracket - 1/18/10

Here is the projection of the Big East Tournament as of 1/18/10:

Tuesday
Game 1: #9 St. John's v. #16 DePaul
Game 2: #12 Marquette v. #13 South Florida
Game 3: #10 Providence v. #15 Rutgers
Game 4: #11 Cincinnati v. #14 Seton Hall

Wednesday
Game 5: #8 Notre Dame v. St. John's-DePaul winner
Game 6: #5 Georgetown v. Marquette-South Florida winner
Game 7: #7 Connecticut v. Providence-Rutgers winner
Game 8: #6 Louisville v. Cincinnati-Seton Hall winner

Thursday
Game 9: #1 Syracuse v. Game 5 winner
Game 10: #4 West Virginia v. Game 6 winner
Game 11: #2 Villanova v. Game 7 winner
Game 12: #3 Pittsburgh v. Game 8 winner

Friday
Game 13: Game 9 v. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 v. Game 12 winner

Saturday
Game 15: Game 13 v. Game 14 winner

PPI Rankings - January 18, 2010

#1 Kentucky
#2 Syracuse
#3 Kansas
#4 Texas
#5 Duke
#6 Villanova
#7 Brigham Young
#8 Pittsburgh
#9 Clemson
#10 West Virginia
#11 Northern Iowa
#12 Wisconsin
#13 New Mexico
#14 Butler
#15 Michigan State
#16 Kansas State
#17 Georgetown
#18 Purdue
#19 Louisiana Tech
#20 Gonzaga
#21 Xavier
#22 Temple
#23 Tennessee
#24 Rhode Island
#25 Vanderbilt
Others receiving votes: Old Dominion, UAB, Arizona State, Mississippi State, Saint Mary's, Wichita State, Siena, UNLV, Louisville, William & Mary, Missouri, Baylor, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Mississippi

PPI Rankings - January 11, 2010

#1 Kentucky
#2 Kansas
#3 Syracuse
#4 Purdue
#5 Texas
#6 Brigham Young
#7 Duke
#8 Butler
#9 Georgetown
#10 New Mexico
#11 Wisconsin
#12 Northern Iowa
#13 West Virginia
#14 Villanova
#15 Pittsburgh
#16 Clemson
#17 Michigan State
#18 Temple
#19 UAB
#20 Rhode Island
#21 Kansas State
#22 Louisiana Tech
#23 Louisville
#24 Oklahoma State
#25 Saint Mary's
Others receiving votes: UNLV, Tennessee, Xavier, Wichita State, Missouri State, Mississippi State, Baylor, Miami (FL), Cornell, Connecticut, William & Mary, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Missouri, Minnesota

Projected Big East Tourney Bracket - 1/11/10

Here is the projection of the Big East Tournament as of 1/11/10:

Tuesday
Game 1: #9 Cincinnati v. #16 DePaul
Game 2: #12 Marquette v. #13 South Florida
Game 3: #10 Providence v. #15 Rutgers
Game 4: #11 St. John's v. #14 Seton Hall

Wednesday
Game 5: #8 Notre Dame v. Cincinnati-DePaul winner
Game 6: #5 Pittsburgh v. Marquette-South Florida winner
Game 7: #7 Connecticut v. Providence-Rutgers winner
Game 8: #6 Louisville v. St. John's-Seton Hall winner

Thursday
Game 9: #1 Syracuse v. Game 5 winner
Game 10: #4 Villanova v. Game 6 winner
Game 11: #2 Georgetown v. Game 7 winner
Game 12: #3 West Virginia v. Game 8 winner

Friday
Game 13: Game 9 v. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 v. Game 12 winner

Saturday
Game 15: Game 13 v. Game 14 winner

PPI RANKINGS - January 4, 2010

#1 Kentucky
#2 Kansas
#3 New Mexico
#4 Purdue
#5 Syracuse
#6 Georgetown
#7 Texas
#8 Duke
#9 West Virginia
#10 Wisconsin
#11 Kansas State
#12 Brigham Young
#13 Pittsburgh
#14 Villanova
#15 Clemson
#16 Rhode Island
#17 Butler
#18 UAB
#19 Saint Mary's
#20 Missouri State
#21 Cornell
#22 Temple
#23 Michigan State
#24 Texas Tech
#25 Miami (FL)
Others receiving votes: Georgia Tech, Northern Iowa, Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma State, Connecticut, Florida State, UNLV, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, William & Mary, North Carolina, Louisville, Wichita State