We're going to 12 teams

[yorost]

Destroying the A10 is irrelevant. The Big East holds just about every advantage we talk about over the A10, recent success, historical success, media deal, computer numbers, arena size, attendance... It just doesn't matter, the A10 was starting from behind the BE7 and now it took some tough losses. The A10 can have good teams, there will always be good teams spread across conferences, but as a conference it would take a long time for the A10 to surpass the Big East.

[DumpsterFireA10]

Destroying the A10 is irrelevant. The Big East holds just about every advantage we talk about over the A10, recent success, historical success, media deal, computer numbers, arena size, attendance... It just doesn't matter, the A10 was starting from behind the BE7 and now it took some tough losses. The A10 can have good teams, there will always be good teams spread across conferences, but as a conference it would take a long time for the A10 to surpass the Big East.

100% right. I could say more, but we know where that would go.

[jayelan]

Visiting as many boards as time allows (and when your retired sometimes you've got too much time on your hands. However I came across a conversation regarding 10 v 12 teams. I know many want to keep it at ten but as was pointed out in this conversation (don't recall which board) that Fox1 needs at least 12 teams to be competitive with ESPN which is well established. There thought that with only 10 teams there is not enough viewing audience to warrant the kind of money Fox is purporting to be offering, and thus may need 12 to stay in the black.

Fox1 will be up against some serious competition with ESPN, Big 10 network etc. Going with the assumption many here believe that it is SLU and Richmond as the next two teams leaving Dayton out lets look at a possible scenario. What we do know is that the Dayton market is made up of many college basketball fans. However if they are not in the NBE I doubt their audience will be supporting the NBE. Especially if there is not renewed rivalry between Dayton and Xavier.

Most of Daytons games are on local TV and will get the most viewers when on. Their next interest will be in the Big 10 where Ohio State will be playing. Then their interest will be with the A-10. So I do not see the Dayton market having much interest in the NBE. That is a market many are saying will be following the NBE regardless as Xavier is in that league, but I doubt Dayton fans will care one bit about Xavier and vise versa for Cincinnati fans caring about Dayton in the A10.

Personally I feel that the NBE will really need 14 teams to garner the market shares in the markets they are targeting. If Fox 1 only goes with 10 in their inaugural year they could stumble coming out the gate and possibly not recover. Most other leagues have more teams which means more market shares.

So I think there is a lot at stake not only for the next two/four teams but also for the NBE and Fox1. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

On a Xavier message board it was reported that Xavier and Dayton would not play each other in 2013-14 which is first time in like forever. That right there will tell if the Dayton market will have any interest in the NBE.

[yorost]

For the record, B1G Network is a partner with Fox Sports, not a competitor.

[jayelan]

For the record, B1G Network is a partner with Fox Sports, not a competitor.

You jest right, I am not talking about the networks competing its the markets. It don't matter as many college games are on all Fox channels, Fox1 would be in competition with its own channels to get the viewing audiance for the NBE. They are all competing for viewers regardless of affilitaion.

[yorost]

Fox is partial owner of B1G Network, that's not the same kind of competition they face from ESPN family. It's a channel they can work closely with and each can support one another.

[jayelan]

Fox is partial owner of B1G Network, that's not the same kind of competition they face from ESPN family. It's a channel they can work closely with and each can support one another.

While I agree it is still different markets for viewership. The others are established at least somewhat while Fox1 will be in new territory with the NBE. I am sure they have taken all that into consideration but it still remains to be seen just how it will play out.

[MUSeashells&Balloons]

I think if DePaul would have championed NIU's case their speaking privileges would have been revoked.

Sometimes I feel like they might have already been revoked. I hear very little from Marquette's southern rivals(yeah we are supposed to be rivals, ask most students and they will say really?). Just poking a little fun.

Obviously the NIU comment was not to be taken seriously but there are NIU people on Depauls board.

All comments without emocons will be taken seriouslly ...


The previous comment should not be taken seriouslly ...

ahh but it did have an emoticon in fact it had this one

[xu95]

I guess what I was trying to say is the Big East could give two craps about the A10. They did not under any circumstances stop at 10 even though they knew who team 11 and 12 were out of kindness to the A10.

[JohnT]

I said from day 1 here that we were going to 12. I don't think there is any doubt of that. Who #12 is remains up for debate.