The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[CardiacCoug]

As far as that goes...you are not remotely likely to win it all from the B12 or any other conference. How many B12 teams have won the national championship since we went to 64 teams?

Yeah, just Kansas winning it twice.

Oklahoma A&M won a couple of NCAA Tournament championships too but that was a few years before the field was expanded to 64 - back around the time Utah won its championship.

[ERCougar]

You're right. They should go to a league that has put a team in the championship game in the last two years in the Horizon league.

The reason Butler's such a story is that it never happens.

Look at who we've played in the NCAAs...A&M, Florida, Gonzaga, Xavier. We'd have 10+ games a year that are as big or bigger--and half of those at home.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

The reason Butler's such a story is that it never happens.

Look at who we've played in the NCAAs...A&M, Florida, Gonzaga, Xavier. We'd have 10+ games a year that are as big or bigger--and half of those at home.

They wouldn't be bigger games. Oregon plays UCLA who is one of the most storied programs in the history of college basketball every year. That game doesn't mean anything compared to their win over UNLV to go to the E8 a few years ago. Or their game against Florida that followed.

In NCAA hoops a second weekend tourney game against anyone is bigger than all regular season games combined, IMO.

[Uncle Ted]

Chip Brown downplays what Neinas said today...

Despite what interim Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas said on ESPN's College GameDay Saturday about there being "resistance" to adding a school to the Big 12 from the state of Texas, TCU remains under strong consideration as school No. 10 in the Big 12, multiple sources told Orangebloods.com.

And a source close to Texas said any reports suggesting Texas is resistant to TCU joining the conference are "not true."

A source close to the situation continued to say BYU is not interested in joining the Big 12. The source put the odds at "80-20 against" BYU joining the Big 12 at this time.

Neinas suggested during a conference call with reporters on Friday that he would try to talk Texas A&M into staying in the Big 12 because that's where the Aggies' history and roots are.

But Texas A&M spokesman Jason Cook, when contacted by Orangebloods.com Saturday, said, "Our decision has been made and we are looking toward the future."

The Big 12 is still waiting for word from Missouri about its future. The Tigers have been in discussions with the SEC. (The same forces that threatened to sue the SEC over Texas A&M's departure are more than ready to sue the SEC if Mizzou becomes involved with that conference, sources say.)

It depends on whom you talk to at Mizzou about if the Tigers would stay or go. But Neinas continues to believe Mizzou will stay in the Big 12 after MU's board of curators discusses the issue.

Stay tuned.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Chip Brown downplays what Neinas said today...

I hate Chip Brown.

[Maximus]

Chip Brown downplays what Neinas said today...

if byu isnt interested in big 12 im not interested in byu. especially after waiting for a marquee game for 2012 WSU is the best we can get.

[Soccermom]

In NCAA hoops a second weekend tourney game against anyone is bigger than all regular season games combined, IMO.

I think there is a lot of truth to the quoted statement above, but I still think ER is right. Big 12 would be better for our basketball program. If you play the types of teams in the B12, your program can raise its overall level of play and (hypothetically speaking)even if BYU were in the Big 12 and was the lowest team out of that conference to get in the tournament and thus seeded low, how would that seed be any lower than how they have been seeded in the past or how they would be seeded out of the WCC? So, the odds of making it out of those early rounds in the big tourney would stay the same or go up for BYU, no?

[Viking]

I hate Chip Brown.

It's almost inexplicable.
Sad, but true.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I think there is a lot of truth to the quoted statement above, but I still think ER is right. Big 12 would be better for our basketball program. If you play the types of teams in the B12, your program can raise its overall level of play and (hypothetically speaking)even if BYU were in the Big 12 and was the lowest team out of that conference to get in the tournament and thus seeded low, how would that seed be any lower than how they have been seeded in the past or how they would be seeded out of the WCC? So, the odds of making it out of those early rounds in the big tourney would stay the same or go up for BYU, no?

Even though the NCAA denies it, I'm a firm believer in seeding being dependent on past NCAA performances. I think a bubble BYU team will get a better seed next year than they would have 5 years ago. I've been wrong a lot before, I might be again.

Gonzaga seems to be able to play a few marquee teams each season out of conf, knowing that they have a softer conf schedule. I would think BYU could do the same.

[Blueintheface]

Count me among those who would take my ball and go home if BYU self-righteously chose to stay independent. I'll believe it when I see it but no question I would wear my burnt orange when not in my work attire (maybe I can convince my McDonald's manager to let me wear my Texas stuff while working the fryer!).

[Viking]

I getting ready for the Chili Peppers, who come on in an hour, but yeah, folks, BYU is unlikely to go to the B12...nothing has changed since a few days ago.

There's damage control in trying to explain this to people who have supported the program and I can tell you that it's not working.

[LiveCoug]

Apparently BYU is about to pour a ton of money into the stadium. New video boards for sure and rumors of other major upgrades as well.

I can't see them putting all this money into the program if they aren't fully invested into it's success. Success = Big 12.

[TripletDaddy]

I getting ready for the Chili Peppers, who come on in an hour, but yeah, folks, BYU is unlikely to go to the B12...nothing has changed since a few days ago.

There's damage control in trying to explain this to people who have supported the program and I can tell you that it's not working.

Perhaps BYU is going to the PAC in lieu of Texas Tech.

[Viking]

Perhaps BYU is going to the PAC in lieu of Texas Tech.

You're just jealous.

[Coach McGuirk]

I getting ready for the Chili Peppers, who come on in an hour, but yeah, folks, BYU is unlikely to go to the B12...nothing has changed since a few days ago.

There's damage control in trying to explain this to people who have supported the program and I can tell you that it's not working.

I trust you. Your word is your bond.