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[QUOTE="MaxwellCuse, post: 45554, member: 1240"]
I don't buy #1. The BE already has commuters schools and wants to add a couple more. Memphis' omission has more to do with its abysmal football product. The basketball schools probably would have preferred Memphis to Boise State but they had to give on this issue to try to save the BCS status, which brings them significantly more money.

The Marinatto plan is a compromise between the ND/basketball faction and the football schools. Not all of it has yet been revealed, although Marinatto hinted at the ultimate plan in yesterday's presser when he said in essence, "we may expand the basketball side." As things stand now, if UCF, Houston and SMU come in as full members the basketball side loses its voting majority, 9-8. That won't be allowed to stand. Once football has been stabilized you can count on at least one additional basketball school, probably Butler. I wouldn't rule out the league going to a 12/20 format either, with the further addition of Dayton and Duquesne (maybe Xavier if Cincinnati doesn't put up too much of a stink).

Memphis as a basketball only addition is possible down the road but I don't think the private basketball schools see a great fit with a large, public university that plays FBS football. While basketball drives the bus in the Big East, they don't want to so alienate the football schools that they split. That would cost the basketball schools too much money and Notre Dame needs Rutgers, UCONN, Louisville and other football schools for its "Olympic sports."
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