Ackerman: "Expansion isn't even on our plate"

[admin]

First day on the job and first presser and she's already being asked about expansion. "Right now we love ten" she said. Which can either mean we love ten or that Right now we love ten, but tomorrow could love 12.

Also, "Right now the office is me and my iphone". Great.

[yorost]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/co ... 6567.story

“Right now we love 10,” she said. “Ten is a great number. We have no immediate plans to go beyond it. We have so much on our plate.”

It's just an ambiguous statement that goes along with everything else we've heard on the subject. They are not discussing expansion right now. Besides, do you really expect the company line to ever be, "we're going to 12 but we haven't officially set it in stone, yet?"

Currently, she said her office is “me and my iPhone.” Headquarters will be at least temporarily stationed in midtown Manhattan with the hopes of remaining in New York City.

It's straight forward, so what? Until something actually doesn't happen in the sports season we're making too much out of the conference's start.

Ackerman said she has “no qualms” about what seems like a late start to the job and she was considered a leading candidate when the search began three months ago.

Also, but maybe not in this article, she said Bebee is going to continue on for awhile.It's not like she abruptly needs to do everything.

[BillikensWin]

It's 10 until further notice.

Everyone else, back to whence you came.

[cm5yz6]

It's 10 until further notice.

Everyone else, back to whence you came.

Hasn't it always been? At least since the second before we received notice that it was no longer 7?

The NFL is also 32 until further notice.
The SEC is an athletic conference until further notice.
Oregon is still a state until further notice.

I guess we should just sit back, read press releases and box scores and never speculate about expansion targets, draft positions, prospective commissioners, NCAA tourney seeds/chances..., because until further notice we don't know the outcome.

[DumpsterFireA10]

It's 10 until further notice.

Everyone else, back to whence you came.

Hasn't it always been? At least since the second before we received notice that it was no longer 7?

The NFL is also 32 until further notice.
The SEC is an athletic conference until further notice.
Oregon is still a state until further notice.

I guess we should just sit back, read press releases and box scores and never speculate about expansion targets, draft positions, prospective commissioners, NCAA tourney seeds/chances..., because until further notice we don't know the outcome.

There aren't any expansion targets. Isn't that what the quote says?

[yorost]

No, it says they're too busy to worry about it right now, while being positive about 10.

This has been the given perception since shortly after the three additions were announced, it's just a priority right now. 12 will probably come, I will be shocked if it does not come within a few years, but there's no reason to be expecting an impending announcement.

[DumpsterFireA10]

No, it says they're too busy to worry about it right now, while being positive about 10.

This has been the given perception since shortly after the three additions were announced, it's just a priority right now. 12 will probably come, I will be shocked if it does not come within a few years, but there's no reason to be expecting an impending announcement.

You just proved my point. The Big East has a lot to do, and expansion is not one of them.

[yorost]

What was said doesn't preclude the possibility that the conference knows it will go to twelve or that it is passively vetting candidates/staying in touch.

[shupat08]

What was said doesn't preclude the possibility that the conference knows it will go to twelve or that it is passively vetting candidates/staying in touch.

I think the conference - with a ton on its plate - will spend the next year or two [b]passively vetting[b] schools to boost the conference up to 12. We already have a solid base with ten. The Catholic 7 plus Butler, Creighton, Xavier (three great schools and programs). Now they'll be looking to add the 2 best schools/programs to the League.

[admin]

From Katz:

2. New Big East commissioner Val Ackerman said the conference is set at 10. If this conference is going to be all about basketball then 10 is the magic number. The Big 12 is finding out what the Pac-12 (then the Pac-10) knew for years. Having a true round-robin makes for the most equitable conference season and ultimate champion. The new Big East doesn't need anymore of the A-10 schools to be solvent. They have enough of the market place and would not benefit much from adding more schools simply to get more teams in the tournament. There is not even guarantee that would occur. The most pressing moves Ackerman has to do in the coming weeks -- outside of visiting every school -- is to hire a staff, find rental space in New York City and finalize a difficult schedule because of the pro-arena conflicts for many of the teams. Ackerman impressed the media on Wednesday's conference call with her command of the issues and knowledge of the landscape after not being involved in college athletics recently -- aside from putting together a constructive critique of the women's college game.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... j-hairston