BE7 fans - tell us who YOU want!

[Hoya]

I know everyone keeps saying Gonzaga is too far and all sports would be too expensive but I think its a throwaway statement.

Gonzaga could enter 1 of 2 ways.

1) Basketball only. In a 2 division, 12 team league, that means the midwest schools have 1 flight a year to Spokane (shouldn't break anyones budget) and the Eastern schools have 1 flight every two years to Spokane (def shouldn't break anyones budget). Now Gonzaga has a lot of travel to do, 6 midwest games, and 3 east coast games every year. That being said they have their own charter jet and according to sources have already reached out so they seem to be willing to do the 9 games. If they are willing and able, then adding them should be a complete no brainer.

2) All sports: Logistically this would be more difficult but assuming there is an increase in revenue for Gonzaga, this may more than offset the additional travel costs. Otherwise Gonzaga may just find new homes for their other sports programs and be a partial member of the new Big East. WHich I am totally okay with and I would question anyone who isn't.

Nathan, how about a 3 division national league in which Gonzage is joined by a St. Mary's , a USF and Creighton can be out west? 5 Midwest and 5 east teams. Play each in division 2x and rotate the others. Minimize national travel, maintain regional rivalries and create new national rivalries. A thought... Gonzaga would be such a perfect addition. It would absolutely remind me of the Big East of the early 80's.

I don't think St. Mary's or USF bring much to the table. Let's not dilute - 12 works in my opinion.

[shupirate98]

There is no way Gonzaga can join for basketball-only. Where are they going to put their other sports? The only reason there were ever football-only schools in leagues was because there were leagues that didn't play football where those schools could stash their other sports. There are no leagues which don't play basketball. No league is taking Gonzaga for every sport EXCEPT basketball. You want Gonzaga in this league for basketball you're getting their tennis team too.

[Pretzel]

East Division
VCU
Georgetown
Providence
Seton Hall
St. John's
Villanova

West Division
Xavier
Butler
Creighton
Dayton
Marquette
DePaul

[VU74]

74 Villanova alum. The real question isnt who I want but who we can have.
I want Syracuse and UConn for the rivlaries, Temple for the local connection
and Notre Dame as they are a long time rival that predates the BE.
If we are a 12 team league, the last choice is the best of the rest,
either Butler or Xavier.
Reality is that it will never happen so you move to those that add the
most value to a basketball first league.
With that as the criteria, my 5 would be Gonzaga, Xavier, Creighton,
Butler and VCU.
VCU success has been recent, I think they add geographic value plus
they aren't a small Catholic school.
I do agree with other posters that have stated that Gonzaga is a
problem for other sports. Do not see Villanova paying for their Olympic
sports to travel to Spokane. If they are willing to make a long term
commitment to BBall only, let them in.
If not, I would prefer a school that reinforces the East in BE. The
school that popped into my mind was UMass. They add New
England would become a rival for Providence.

[Jet915]

74 Villanova alum. The real question isnt who I want but who we can have.
I want Syracuse and UConn for the rivlaries, Temple for the local connection
and Notre Dame as they are a long time rival that predates the BE.
If we are a 12 team league, the last choice is the best of the rest,
either Butler or Xavier.
Reality is that it will never happen so you move to those that add the
most value to a basketball first league.
With that as the criteria, my 5 would be Gonzaga, Xavier, Creighton,
Butler and VCU.
VCU success has been recent, I think they add geographic value plus
they aren't a small Catholic school.
I do agree with other posters that have stated that Gonzaga is a
problem for other sports. Do not see Villanova paying for their Olympic
sports to travel to Spokane. If they are willing to make a long term
commitment to BBall only, let them in.
If not, I would prefer a school that reinforces the East in BE. The
school that popped into my mind was UMass. They add New
England would become a rival for Providence.

UMass has football aspirations and will likely go to the Aresco Big East after SDSU bolts.

[Vill]

1) Xavier 100%
2) Butler 90%
3) Creighton 75%
4) Gonzaga 60%
5) VCU 50%
6) Dayton 40%
7) SLU 25%
8) St. Marys / BYU 10% - if west division was added only

[RUBillsFan]

BE7 should be picking the best basketball programs if they plan on being a top basketball conference. Geography does have relevance with the Zags being to far for all sports.

NCAA Tournament History (last 10 years)
Xavier- total: 9, best: elite eight, record: 14-9
Butler- total: 6, best: runner up, record: 15-5
VCU- total: 5, best: final four, record: 7-5
Creighton- total 4, best: second round, record: 1-4
Dayton- total: 3, best: second round, record: 1-3
SLU- total: 1, best: second round, record: 1-1

As a SLU fan, I would like to point out that arbitrarily cutting it off at 10 years makes SLU look worse. SLU made the NCAAs in 1994, 1995, 1998, and 2000. Therefore, if you expand your list to 20 years it looks like this:

NCAA Tournament History (last 20 years)
Xavier- total: 15, best: elite eight, record: 17-15
Butler- total: 10, best: runner up, record: 16-5
Creighton- total 8, best: second round, record: 3-8
VCU- total: 6, best: final four, record: 7-6
SLU- total: 5, best: second round, record: 3-5
Dayton- total: 4, best: second round, record: 1-5

I would also note that VCU (CAA), Butler (Horizon), and Creighton (MVC) had easier roads (much easier in VCU and Butler's case) to the NCAA tournament than SLU who was in C-USA (Marquette, Louisville, Cincy, Memphis) and A-10 (Xavier, Temple).

[Pretzel]

As a SLU fan, I would like to point out that arbitrarily cutting it off at 10 years makes SLU look worse. SLU made the NCAAs in 1994, 1995, 1998, and 2000. Therefore, if you expand your list to 20 years it looks like this:

NCAA Tournament History (last 20 years)
Xavier- total: 15, best: elite eight, record: 17-15
Butler- total: 10, best: runner up, record: 16-5
Creighton- total 8, best: second round, record: 3-8
VCU- total: 6, best: final four, record: 7-6
SLU- total: 5, best: second round, record: 3-5
Dayton- total: 4, best: second round, record: 1-5

NCAA Tournament History 1980-2012
VCU- total: 11, best: final four, record: 11-11
SLU- total: 5, best: second round, record: 3-5

I would also note that VCU (CAA), Butler (Horizon), and Creighton (MVC) had easier roads (much easier in VCU and Butler's case) to the NCAA tournament than SLU who was in C-USA (Marquette, Louisville, Cincy, Memphis) and A-10 (Xavier, Temple).

With that logic Butler and VCU should have stayed in the Horizon and CAA for an "easier road to the NCAA tournament". Why do you think they jumped to the A10? Most would argue just the opposite, that it's harder to make in to the tournament in 1-2 bid leagues where you have to win your conference tournament to get to the dance. See Drexel 2012 http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... el-dragons

[James]

Butler, Creighton and Xavier should be no brainers. Ideally I think it would be good to start with 10 and not dilute the quality - I'd love to add Gonzaga and St. Mary's down the line even as basketball only schools. In theory they could play their 3 games out east in one week and be done with it, I don't think the travel thing would be that much of an issue.

Butler
Gonzaga
Georgetown
Villanova
Creighton
Marquette
St. John's
Xavier
Seton Hall
Providence
St. Mary's
DePaul

That's a hell of a conference!

[vu97]

I am with you on that. I would like to see X, Butler, and Creighton and then pause for a couple of years and reassess the landscape. Unfortunately, if Fox picks up the TV rights, they would most certainly was at least 12 teams to start. More inventory = more money.