The Big East Conference flatly denied a bogus Florida TV report stating that the league would issue invites to Central Florida and Memphis to join the league.
WKMG made the report early yesterday morning citing multiple college football sources. But there are no imminent plans for expansion, and adding two more programs to an already crowded basketball conference seems preposterous.
The Big East, which came out of expansion by the Big Ten and Pac-10 unscathed, still faces issues. The eight-team football league is strongly in favor of adding a ninth team for scheduling purposes and Central Florida, located in Orlando, is the best fit.
Central Florida would give the Big East the coveted Orlando TV market and provide a natural rival and a travel partner for South Florida.
But Memphis, whose basketball program rose to power under John Calipari and has a mediocre football program, is not nearly as attractive.
With 16 teams, the basketball conference still is feeling its way, having recently announced a change in its postseason tournament, eliminating the double bye for the top seeds. Expansion to 18 teams probably would necessitate a move to two divisions.
Though it is not a major issue, the football league’s desire to add a ninth team is at odds with the basketball league’s opposition to adding a 17th member.
The football coaches have considered a scheduling alliance with the three service academies — Army, Navy and Air Force, but that has failed to gain traction.
The Big East might be best served by strengthening its current alignment while monitoring the possible expansion of the SEC. The SEC was evaluating several ACC programs, such as Clemson, FSU, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.
Should SEC opt to expand and poach the ACC, the Big East might be able to lure Maryland and the coveted Baltimore-Washington, D.C., television market. Boston College, which left the Big East and now finds itself the odd duck in the ACC, also might be open to a return.