Get ready for a new look
These past two seasons have seen a massive relocation of schools and conferences. With the Pac-10 becoming the Pac-12 (or 13), and the Big-12 now becoming the Big-10, which is not the Big East, things are getting a bit confusing. While the previous change of schools was more dependent on football, NCAA basketball powerhouse conference the Big East is starting to make a splash for next season.
After this season, seven schools are departing from the Big East Conference to make their own conference of the same title. The teams leaving the conference are the seven Catholic school teams, which include DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova. Though seven is not enough to make a conference, the departing schools believe that Xavier and Butler will also leave their conferences to join the new basketball giant. To leave a conference with less than a year’s notice, teams are expected to owe around $2 million to their former conference homes.
What sparked the mass exodus, as well as expedited it, is the upcoming deal the teams have with Fox Sports Network. Fox Sports is expecting, in the upcoming weeks, to announce two new channels, which will devote themselves to the brand new conference. The teams will be featured on Fox Sports Channel 1 and 2, and will create a lucrative deal with the TV mogul. There is no word yet on numbers surrounding the deal, as well as how much the seven Catholic schools will have to pay to keep the Big East name.
One interesting spoil of the relocation is the future of Notre Dame. With the Big East conference disbanding, Notre Dame finds itself without a home. While the school had planned on staying in the Big East if their conference mates did as well, they are now rumored to be heading to the ACC. This would be a huge deal for the reigning BCS runner-ups. The only teams currently remaining in the conference are Cincinnati, Connecticut and South Florida.
Photo courtesy of Bloguin
