Today ESPN’s Andy Katz reported that the Atlantic 10 has at least considered adding the seven Big East Catholic schools to its mix. (As well it should. It’s called due diligence.) This would form a 21-team super conference (well, maybe), but I’m not sure how this makes sense for anyone except for a few top teams in the A-10.
It’s crazy to think that the Big East schools would give up quite a bit of money just because their RPI might get hurt by playing Tulane. I’m not convinced that any size A-10 is going to get a television deal that will beat the current Big East one, especially considering it’s just a basketball conference. Still, it’s fun to dream. Here’s Jonathan Tannewald of Philly.com dreaming up what the divisions could look like.
Why would the A-10 want the Big East schools to join? It’d be like inviting a bunch of bullies in to take your lunch. At least at the moment the Big East schools (even the basketball only ones) spend more than their A-10 brethren. I guess the theory is that if the television money from the football schools dries up then the spending would have to come down, but considering this is college athletics my guess is that the affected schools would find a way. Also, another big source of revenue is shares from the NCAA tournament. Guess who wouldn’t be getting those?
According to KenPom here’s how those schools in the 21-team super conference would currently be ranked:
- VCU
- Georgetown
- Marquette
- Saint Joseph’s
- Saint Louis
- Butler
- La Salle
- Richmond
- Providence
- Dayton
- Seton Hall
- Xavier
- St. John’s
- Villanova
- Massachusetts (With their “FBS” football program, what are they even doing here?)
- St. Bonaventure
- DePaul
- George Washington
- Duquesne
- Rhode Island
- Fordham
The basketball schools are rumored to be worried about Tulane would affect their RPI. You know what could really screw it up? Having to play home games against the bottom of this league. It just doesn’t make senes.
In the end this is really silly. When will it ever end?
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