Conference Expansion Poll

[MADXSTER]

At the end of the day, will Xavier be in a better position or not??

[Muskie1000]

coulda gone with the who the hell knows theory too - at the end of the day I don't think we will know until this has all played out.

[waggy]

I voted too early.

If the TX/OK group mostly goes west then it's almost a sure bet the BE gets hit, but it could maybe survive as a football conference.

The next layer are the B12 leftovers. If those teams also go west via the MWC, then the BE is likely done as a football conference.

[SixFig]

I voted for "Who the Heck Knows"

Either way Xavier will be in the premier basketball-focused conference...either the A10 (if the Big East sticks) or the blown up Big East with Villanova, Georgetown etc.

The "Blown Up" Big East scenario is better, but that is still a little down the road.

[GuyFawkes38]

I voted too early.

If the TX/OK group mostly goes west then it's almost a sure bet the BE gets hit, but it could maybe survive as a football conference.

The next layer are the B12 leftovers. If those teams also go west via the MWC, then the BE is likely done as a football conference.

yeah, I don't see how the Big East can keep their automatic BCS bid if they lose teams.

[sirthought]

I fear that even if Xavier stays in the A10, which I believe is a pretty good conference for them, that their overall situation will not be as good once this completely shakes out. The A10 has several advantages now, especially for us, but that could end with changes outside the conference.

Let's say for discussion that the A10 goes untouched. If there are four super-sized conferences, I think that will only make getting television deals and media attention even harder in the future. Forget XU's current situation on TV and the ability for recruits to see us.

Plus, the upcoming conference alignments are probably due to stick for a long time. That means if XU did want to improve it's situation it could be a very long wait.

Xavier currently enjoys a pretty enviable spot right now that produces winning teams. Yes, it's the coaches that get the majority of the work done with the players, but the marketing of the program is often what brings the players in and makes them believe XU is the place for them.

[GuyFawkes38]

I think Sirthought has a good point.

And I also worry about the selection committee. Right now mid major conferences are well represented on the committee and they make sure that conference affiliation has nothing to do with the tourney selection and seeding process. A landscape with 4 powerful mega conferences might have the power to sway the committee.

Scheduling is also a concern. Will larger conferences decrease out of conference games. That would hurt X.

[DoubleD86]

Scheduling is also a concern. Will larger conferences decrease out of conference games. That would hurt X.

I think this is a great point, Guy, and one that does not seem to be acknowledged much. With the creation of the 4 superconferences, there will be much less incentive for any of those teams to play a school like Xavier which could hurt our success. This, and the threat of seceding from the NCAA tourney, are my biggest fears on the subject.

[GuyFawkes38]

I think this is a great point, Guy, and one that does not seem to be acknowledged much. With the creation of the 4 superconferences, there will be much less incentive for any of those teams to play a school like Xavier which could hurt our success. This, and the threat of seceding from the NCAA tourney, are my biggest fears on the subject.

Definitely. Ha, I've spent a good part of the night arguing with you that a move to the Big East wouldn't help X much in terms of bball success.

But yeah, I fear how 4 mega conferences could impose their will on college basketball. And it would really help X to be in a stronger conference if that happens.

[Masterofreality]

I think this is a great point, Guy, and one that does not seem to be acknowledged much. With the creation of the 4 superconferences, there will be much less incentive for any of those teams to play a school like Xavier which could hurt our success. This, and the threat of seceding from the NCAA tourney, are my biggest fears on the subject.

The NCAA just expanded the Tournament. They need teams be they non-power conference or not, plus when the inevitable expansion of the Dance happens again, they will need more teams. Even if there are 4 "super conferences", the teams will still need out of conference games. Tournaments like Maui and Puerto Rico and the pre-season NIT aren't going away.

Folks, this is all about football. The only point that is relevant to Xavier here is whether the Big Greased A) Will lose a team or two (Rutgers, Syracuse, ND**) and more importantly B) Whether they lose an auto BCS bid because of it.

If one, two or three Big Greased teams get plucked you will see Memphis and probably Marshall and Central Florida** recruited in to keep 8 football teams plus 16 basketball teams. That football league will still suck, but the question is whether the super leagues will A) Take the chance to finally kick that crap football league out of the BCS cartel, or B) Be afraid of congresional action and keep at least one BCS bid to the Greased then also give one to the Mountain West. My vote would be B and then nothing would change for any thing basketball related east of the Mississippi River.

The "Endlessly Sickening Promotion Network is another key. As long as they think that their college basketball programming is viable with the overblown Big Greased, they'll keep them and promote the hell out of them where everyone will think that they're so superior.

Relax. Watch from the sidelines as the big boys have a carnivore feast. Nothing will change for Xavier out of this. To me, it's just an entertaining off-season sideshow.

[waggy]

Folks, this is all about football. The only point that is relevant to Xavier here is whether the Big Greased A) Will lose a team or two (Rutgers, Syracuse, ND**) and more importantly B) Whether they lose an auto BCS bid because of it.

If one, two or three Big Greased teams get plucked you will see Memphis and probably Marshall and Central Florida** recruited in to keep 8 football teams plus 16 basketball teams. That football league will still suck, but the question is whether the super leagues will A) Take the chance to finally kick that crap football league out of the BCS cartel, or B) Be afraid of congresional action and keep at least one BCS bid to the Greased then also give one to the Mountain West. My vote would be B and then nothing would change for any thing basketball related east of the Mississippi River.

The "Endlessly Sickening Promotion Network is another key. As long as they think that their college basketball programming is viable with the overblown Big Greased, they'll keep them and promote the hell out of them where everyone will think that they're so superior.

Relax. Watch from the sidelines as the big boys have a carnivore feast. Nothing will change for Xavier out of this. To me, it's just an entertaining off-season sideshow.

I read on some blog that supposedly the Catholic schools actually have written in the BE contract now that if any two teams leave the conference in the future, then the Catholic schools are splitting. The blog suggests this is definitive. Even if true, my feelings is it might change things if the schools they have to choose from are B12 leftovers, because those are some pretty nice programs.

[xujeffjeff]

I have read multiple articles and message board banter stating that there will be 4 16 mega conferences that would have their own basketball tournament as well. I feel like Xavier is going to be SOL when all of this is said and done because of their lack of football.

Say these 4 16 team conferences break away from the NCAA rules and regulations...Xavier would play Butler for the national championship and it would be meaninglesss.

I am sure you are thinking to yourself, why would anyone leave the NCAA??? $$$ Why would Ohio State not want to eliminate profit sharing of a $300M tournament where they would have to give cash to the likes of Winthrop? This new structure would give more money to the big schools that already make all of the money.

Xavier basketball as we know it would cease to exist...THE SKY IS FALLING IN MY WORLD RIGHT NOW!!!

[D-West & PO-Z]

I have read multiple articles and message board banter stating that there will be 4 16 mega conferences that would have their own basketball tournament as well. I feel like Xavier is going to be SOL when all of this is said and done because of their lack of football.

Say these 4 16 team conferences break away from the NCAA rules and regulations...Xavier would play Butler for the national championship and it would be meaninglesss.

I am sure you are thinking to yourself, why would anyone leave the NCAA??? $$$ Why would Ohio State not want to eliminate profit sharing of a $300M tournament where they would have to give cash to the likes of Winthrop? This new structure would give more money to the big schools that already make all of the money.

Xavier basketball as we know it would cease to exist...THE SKY IS FALLING IN MY WORLD RIGHT NOW!!!

I have read a few articles saying how this could be a possibility. I posted a link of one that Jay Bilas wrote. We will see.

[Masterofreality]

I have read multiple articles and message board banter stating that there will be 4 16 mega conferences that would have their own basketball tournament as well. I feel like Xavier is going to be SOL when all of this is said and done because of their lack of football.

Say these 4 16 team conferences break away from the NCAA rules and regulations...Xavier would play Butler for the national championship and it would be meaninglesss.

I am sure you are thinking to yourself, why would anyone leave the NCAA??? $$$ Why would Ohio State not want to eliminate profit sharing of a $300M tournament where they would have to give cash to the likes of Winthrop? This new structure would give more money to the big schools that already make all of the money.

Xavier basketball as we know it would cease to exist...THE SKY IS FALLING IN MY WORLD RIGHT NOW!!!

Well, that is some stretch.

The one ingredient that you leave out that drives the train all the way is the NCAA TV contract that was just re-worked. It's with the NCAA, not conferences, or "mega-conferences". Let's see where these "mega-conferences" would go to get their big tournament broadcast. The "Big Top" Network? ESPN that is protective of the decidedly non- mega conference Big East? Uh no.

Money drives the train and TV drives the money. The NCAA has the TV rights locked up. Unless all of a sudden the NCAA decides to "cease to exist" Xavier basketball will not "cease to exist".

Statements like "Xavier basketball ceasing to exist" border on trolldom from a SucKS honk. I'll take it that you are not jeff, but the hyperbole is a little much.

[GuyFawkes38]

I'm not panicking, but I'm definitely more concerned than MOR.

According to a ESPN report, the Big 10 and Big 12 conference presidents influenced the NCAA to not expand to 96. Basically the conference presidents argued that the NCAA wanted to water down the tourney without giving the added revenue to their conferences or their schools.

Of course, I'm happy that the Big10 and Big12 did that because I hated the idea of a 96 team field.

But if there are 4 mega conferences it will be even easier for them to influence the NCAA, and perhaps in a lot of bad ways.

Again, a subtle way would be to stack the Selection Committee with representatives from their conferences (that's something that Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale are already calling for).

[wkrq59]

Agree with MOR.
But do you know Chicken Little's biggest problem and ultimate demise? The frying pan.:logo:

[xujeffjeff]

I guess MOR doesn't like it that THE SKY IS FALLING IN MY WORLD RIGHT NOW!!! Apparently me saying that makes me a UC troll. I find that interesting...

[xudash]

I guess MOR doesn't like it that THE SKY IS FALLING IN MY WORLD RIGHT NOW!!! Apparently me saying that makes me a UC troll. I find that interesting...

It is FACT that the NCAA controls the hoops tournament, period, end of story.

It is at least logical that the NCAA Tournament is able to attract the CBS/TBS contract that it attracted for two fundamental reasons:


Reach; and
Drama.


Reach speaks to a broad field that involves many different types of schools. Drama speaks to the reality of the underdogs and upsets and Cinderellas that arise through the course of the event.

In other words, 64 or whatever mostly land grant schools playing one another in a bracketed tournament WILL NOT and CANNOT command the dollar value of the existing contract.

They're solving for football. They'll continue to drive their mens basketball and Olympic sports through the existing NCAA structure.

[Masterofreality]

I guess MOR doesn't like it that THE SKY IS FALLING IN MY WORLD RIGHT NOW!!! Apparently me saying that makes me a UC troll. I find that interesting...

Please read- "I'll take it that you are not jeff, but the hyperbole is a little much. "

[sirthought]

The BIG 12 may not be going away after all.

Remaining Schools in BIG 12 Close to Saving League (http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1094038)

[GuyFawkes38]

I generally agree with Dash.

But I'm just carious, the NCAA doesn't have a government sanctioned monopoly, right? Conferences can legally withdraw from the NCAA. And technically, it would be legal for schools to start new tourney's in bball and the olympic sports outside of the NCAA.

That would certainly be the "nuclear option". But it is a threat that they could use to influence the NCAA in a backdoor manner.

[Masterofreality]

Yawn.

Big 12 staying together. Utah probably to the PAC 12. ND still in South Bend in their own delusional world. Big 10 has 12 for two divisions. The cataclysmic shift has been averted.

Another tempest in a teapot. The sky remains where it was.

[X-band '01]

I wonder if the Big 12 changes their name to the Southwest Conference - it's pretty clear where the powers that be are in that conference.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Yawn.

Big 12 staying together. Utah probably to the PAC 12. ND still in South Bend in their own delusional world. Big 10 has 12 for two divisions. The cataclysmic shift has been averted.

Another tempest in a teapot. The sky remains where it was.

You mean the Little 12 or Little 10 now:confused: ?