We're going to 12 teams

[Bostonspider]

UR always has the option of playing their biggest games at the off campus Richmond Coliseum, like many of the Big East Schools. It seats 12,000.

By 'like many; you mean it would still be smaller than 7 arenas in the Big East? ...and how often do you use it for home games?

By like many, I meant using the off campus arena. 12,000 seats is larger than everyone's average attendance, except Creighton and Marquette. Recently there has been no reason for UR to play there, with a 9,000 seat arena on campus, and a lack of really big name opponents at home. But if UR does move to the Big East, and the seating of the new Robins Center is in the 7,500 range, then maybe a couple of bigger games downtown would be warranted, similar to Villanova's use of the Wells Fargo Center.

[Moliva]

Seriously, though, if you're going to post this every time someone 'peacocks' you're in for a long ride. This phase is over when nobody thinks expansion is coming, and even then it'll keep coming occasionally. Ignore it, you don't get to tell people what they can or cannot post just because you're sick of it or it's been beaten like a dead horse. That's why I wouldn't mind a subforum with threads dedicated to each possible team, not to discuss is all over in more detail, but to cordon it off from this main board.

Good points. Fair enough.

[BillEsq]

Why can't we just add SLU and stay at 11?

As much as that might make me happy, logistically 11 is horrific. Scheduling becomes a nightmare across the board. I could be a homer and say sure i'd love for Slu to get in regardless, and i'm sure i'd learn to love an 11 team league. However, I'll stay true to my arguments. The league will need to go to 12 teams if for nothing else for organizational and logistical reasons. Even if Slu is left out an Dayton and Richmond are added it will be better for the league than to stay at 10 or go to 11.

The leagues expansion is necessitated for reasons other than basketball . The league truly just needs 2 teams that fit geographically and complements the league in provided sports. Obviously the league would prefer stronger basketball schools hence why the Wagners of the world are not being considered. The league also appears to be going the private route.. hence the problems with VCU and others. Even if you assume that 10 teams are best for a basketball league the problem is the BE will not be just a basketball league and these 10 schools just do not complement each other enough in other sports to make a 10 team conference feasible. You either have to add a host of associate members or place all of your sports in other leagues. This is logistically and organizationally taxing on an Athletic Department and in the long run could be severely detrimental to the various schools bball programs and even in the best circumstances not ideal.

[Bluejay]

Why can't we just add SLU and stay at 11?

Fair question, but I think having an idle Saturday is a waste. Saturdays generally are the days that provide the best attendance dollars and are the days that casual fans are most focused on college basketball. I suspect that the loss of attendance revenue would be a bigger deal financially than we'd think.

[aughnanure]

Seemed to work for the Big Ten for over a decade.

[yorost]

Why can't we just add SLU and stay at 11?

Fair question, but I think having an idle Saturday is a waste. Saturdays generally are the days that provide the best attendance dollars and are the days that casual fans are most focused on college basketball. I suspect that the loss of attendance revenue would be a bigger deal financially than we'd think.

It's not as big a problem as people make it out to be. For 11 teams it represents one Saturday off per team per season in conference play.

[Westbrook36]

Why can't we just add SLU and stay at 11?

Fair question, but I think having an idle Saturday is a waste. Saturdays generally are the days that provide the best attendance dollars and are the days that casual fans are most focused on college basketball. I suspect that the loss of attendance revenue would be a bigger deal financially than we'd think.

It's not as big a problem as people make it out to be. For 11 teams it represents one Saturday off per team per season in conference play.

Which could be used to schedule a big out of conference game, i.e. teams such as Syracuse, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, UNC, Duke, etc. Even schools one or two rungs down on the totem pole would be really interesting OoC Jan. or Feb. made for TV games.

[yorost]

With the ACC going to an odd number there's at least a chance of landing a high profile OOC game any given Saturday.

[xu95]

oh no here begin the arguments all over again.

LOL if its true that the league is going to 12 i'll just say i told you so....

I for one pledge that i will not waste space re-argue for any one particular school nor will i waste time arguing that Duquesne shouldn't be considered. I think everyone here knows who I want in, and I don't care in whether they are 11 0r 12. I also would like to say that i think any of the 3-4 schools that have been mentioned as possible candidates will be solid additions and I hope other posters stay away from reposting the past stats & arguments in support of their schools and likewise avoid disparaging the other hopefuls.

I don't think too many people would argue that it was eventually going to 12. We were just arguing with your, "they already know who they are".

Two more teams will be added to the Big East, we are certain of that, but right now those two teams haven't been decided

[jayelan]

SLU seems like a no-brainer, problem is team #12.

Can't say that for sure since there does not seem to be any logic behind the choices so far. I am assuming that the final two will go to two of the following in aphabetical order: Dayton, Richmond, St. Louis and VCU. Although I read that Gonzaga did a full court press with the Presidents etc while at the final four in Atlanta.

Creighton is far removed, and what most would consider a logistics problem so Gonzaga could be a real candidate. I mean if you are going to fly to Omaha, what is it to fly on another hour to the West Coast. Biggest concern would be Olympic sports.

Don't know if 10 or 12 is the best option but what we do know is Fox wants 12 and will most likely get it.

Would like to know what the real criteria is for selecting the schools. Using mens bball only: X has been solid for for two decades but faltered this year. Butler has been solid last 5 years and holding their own. Creighton doing well and holding their own. St. Louis solid this year and promising under RM last 4 years, but has new coach. VCU has garnered national attention under Shaka Smart and holding well. Richmond has come around and looking promising. Dayton has been struggling but has two good recruiting classes and could be on their way back under Miller.

Good news for St. Louis is they too are a Jesuit School, solid mens bball last two years, large TV market (albeit is a pro market), great facility, and good Olympic programs with mens soccer top drawer.

Richmond fits the need for another east coast school to balance the league, another small private school with large endowment but smaller fan base than the other three, sure about its Olympic programs.

VCU another east coast school that would balance the league but not sure it fits the mold of the private schools since it is a state school. Certainly successful in mens bball under Shaka Smart and looks to continue so.

Dayton is a nice fit in the Midwest between X and Butler, great for Olympic programs and good rivals with X, Butler and St. Louis. Seems a natural in so many ways yet could be they are just too close to X and Butler throwing the league balance off. Checking their Olympic sports seems the womens teams are top tier in the A-10

Gonzaga while a winner on the west coast is just too far removed and would really disrupt the league balance.

To me any two of the four would be good additions, too bad they can't take all four.