Denver as a Big East member?

[HawaiiMongoose]

There is a discussion underway on the WAC message board regarding the possibility of the University of Denver receiving an all-sports invitation to the Big East. One point of view is that Denver could emerge as a serious candidate because of the size of its market and its ability to serve as a bridge to Gonzaga, provided the Pioneers continue to improve their basketball program over the next couple of years. Another viewpoint is that Denver is too far out of the Big East footprint and lacks the hoops pedigree to even be considered.

I'd be curious to know if anyone here has thoughts on the subject. Thanks.

[SLUnatic1]

I'd like to see Denver and Gonzaga join with Creighton and SLU to form a western division.

[Jet915]

Denver has the makeup of a Big East school. Private, great academics, large endowment, large metro city. Two biggest problems though, #1, it might be too far west for the eastern members and #2, Denver has NO basketball success whatsoever (no NCAA appearances EVER). Also, their arena is slightly on the small side, I think it seats 7,000 or so. Maybe if in the next 5-10 years, if they build a new arena for basketball and hockey to like 10-12K and make several NCAAs, it might force the Big East to take a look. In the end, to compete with the power 5, I would think over the next decade, we'd have to expand to 12 or even 14 schools and Gonzaga, SLU, Dayton, Richmond and maybe Denver or BYU might be in the mix.

[MUSeashells&Balloons]

Hello I wanted to chime in I grew up a few blocks away from Denver and currently live about 10 minutes away from the school. While Hockey, Lacrosse and Skiing are their best sports. Overall they are a very strong non-rev school with absolutely amazing facilities. As far as the Ritchie center the on campus arena it currently fits about 7,200 and was built within the past 15 years. It is designed to be able to expand to about 14,000 and in the off chance they outgrew that the Pepsi center(NBA) would be a very feasible location for growth and easy for students to access the same light rail line serves both the school and the arena.

As far as the school goes for academics and size, it almost exactly matches the size and academics of Marquette. Both schools are about 12,000 students though DU has more Grad students. Both schools are tied for 83rd Nationally in the US News and World Reports Rankings. The school is an urban school and is a private school was founded methodist but adopts a mostly secular attitude in the same way that Northwestern has, Both schools founded by the same person John Evans later governor of Colorado.

As far as Basketball goes it is honestly probably Denver's weakest sport. But I must say as they are about to begin their 15th season the growth they have had is unbelievable they just won the WAC regular season tittle. Just 16 years ago they were DII and 20 years ago DIII. They are now recruiting the top local talent and am really able to compete. In the past three years local fans have really come out and support the team, the school always had a lot of fans in hockey and lacrosse. The basketball team has done very well under new coach Joe Scott and the teams use of the Princeton offense. This all being said I don't know if they are ready for the Big East basketball just yet I think they could be there within 3-7 years. However all things considered Denver is a great overall add if you way the school on all aspects and forgive basketball a little bit. They offer Mens and Womens lacrosse and Mens and Womens Swimming and Diving sport that the Big East needs more teams and stability in.

[Jet915]

The other thing that Denver would probably have to do to get into a bigger conference would be to add popular sports like baseball and softball. That's probably what prevented them from getting into the MVC.

[Bluejay]

I can't see Denver joining the BE in all sports. Location notwithstanding, they offer very few sports supported by the conference (there is no BE hockey or skiing). More importantly however, I think there are several other schools that are significantly more appealing. If ten years from now, DU has shown that has competed in basketball at the highest levels for at least five or six years, they can be considered. Until then though, I'd rather pass.

[BillEsq]

Maybe in lacrosse only but little chance anywhere else.

Denver basketball occasionally competes for tier 3/4 basketball leagues. The BE would be a huge jump up, technically Duquesne is about the same level. Actually a fair comparison. since 2000 they have as many winning seasons.

Baseball/ Soft ball... Its still snowing in Denver 3/4 of the way through the season, you can forget about this school adding those teams.

Hockey - not enough BE teams play to form a league as it is.

Distance.... well it at least makes Creighton Look east.

So.. . what Denver brings to the table is a good lacrosse team and the fun and expenses of getting your non-revs to Denver on a weekly basis.
What the league gets in return... a basketball team that struggles to win against summit/wac/southland/sunbelt opponents. If the market means that much to you add Duquesne at least with being in the A-10 they have the background of playing tougher opponents, and the travel to the RPI anchor is more affordable

[cujaysfan]

selfishly - denver would be cool to add since i live in N Denver but no way no how

the hoops program has improved from awful to mediocre (joe scott is actually doing a pretty good job) - i'd expect joe to bolt the first good gig he's offered too. DU really is a school without a home - i think they'll be on their third conference next season.

but fan support for anything not called Hockey is less than zero. i'm not even sure how well a league like BE would draw - denver is a fickle sports town.

although hockey is pretty well followed and draws OK - my uncle has season tix and i go to about 4-5 games a year.

lacrosse would make sense. DU is emphasizing that and has a solid program. Hell - John Hopkins just joined the big ten for LAx only...

[bostonfriar]

Did not know much about Denver other than ice hockey until recently. Did some reading and seems like a great school.

That being said, there is no consideration for the BE to add Denver at the moment.

[marquette]

Denver is a great school that fits the mold of the Big East almost perfectly. Their academics are right in line with the other schools in the conference, and Denver is an enticing market. There are two damning issues that work against Denver at this point. First, it is extremely important for the first few years that this conference be seen as strong and consistently competing among the top 5 basketball conferences. That is our bread and butter, our revenue generator, in truth our reason for existing. In this area Denver is especially weak, though considering their NIT performance and 21-10 record last year it could be argued they are beginning to approach some of the other candidates. The second problem is distance. Denver is not particularly close to Creighton. Despite being in neighbor states they may as be a state and a half away, given their locations in Nebraska and Colorado. It is also not close by any measurement to Gonzaga, which is two states away. Even if it were a decent bridge, would the East Coast schools want to travel that far? I seriously doubt it.