I recently got this email from a reader. I thought I'd share my response with everyone.

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Hi, I saw on your Conference Realignment Board (which is really interesting by the way) that you say GW is a long shot to join the CAA, and don't mention it getting any looks for a non-football Big East. Why not? GW has one of the bigger athletic budgets in the A-10 (and I think the four schools above it have football) a big endowment, about 20,000 students, a location in DC, and a succesful men's basketball program lately (and in the early - mid 90s too) and a very successful women's basketball program for a long time. I'm a GW alum and would be very disappointed if GW joined the CAA, but probably even more so if the Big East split and GW got left out.

Thanks,
Andrew W.
colonialhoops.blogspot.com



Andrew. To touch on your points:

Regarding the Big East:
Georgetown would never allow it, plain and simple. There would need to be some major changes at Georgetown in order for them to ever align with GW. In fact, when the idea of a Big East split first came up in 2003, Georgetown favored the addition of Richmond. Why? Because of their location as a convenient trip and worthy rival but not in the same market as Georgetown. The idea of blocking potential in-market competition is nothing new: Villanova has done everything possible to block Temple from joining the Big East for all-sports and stopped any talk regarding St. Josephs. GW does not offer a new market for the Big East, so they won't be on the immediate radar. If a split does occur, expect Xavier to top the list since they'd replace the loss of Cincinnati. Dayton is another option, but Richmond and Charlotte would get a look as they would offer exposure in traditional ACC markets. St. Louis would also get a look as they would solidify the Midwest along with Notre Dame, Depaul and Marquette. And even Holy Cross, who tunred down an initial Big East invitaton, might get a look again as they would offer another New England team, replacing the loss of Boston College.

As for GW and the CAA: I think the CAA would like to add them but it makes little sense for GW. They are in the A10 with what are primarily private schools. It would take some drastic changes to the A10 for GW to leave for the CAA.

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Thanks. Another reason for GW fans to hate Georgetown. The two schools have played each other the most out of any other teams, in or out of conference, but not since 1980-81, mainly thanks to Georgetown.

The success during the Jarvis years probably helped stop that rivalry too.

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Quinn, I agree that a no-football Big East would not be interested in GW, but I don't that it is because "Georgetown would never allow it." I'm not aware of any provision in the Big East by-laws that allows one team to prevent the admission of a prospective new member. I agree that Georgetown would certainly oppose it & that's one vote against the. Georgetown would also lobby & would create alliances with other members based on mutual interests to form a voting block that would defeat a GW candidacy. As you suggest, Villanova would be a prime partner for such an alliance. Bottom line is that Georgetown would need some help to defeat such a GW candidacy.

I think that the potential for St. Louis to join a non-football Big East is the most interesting development. The addition of a new arena & the hiring of Majerus suggest that they are making all the right moves to put themselves in position for 2010 - assuming that Majerus doesn't have a heart attack between now & then.

I realize this is two years old, but basically, the Big East basketball five (Villanova, Seton Hall, St. John's, Georgetown and Providence) have historically voted as a group in virtually all matters.

All five are against GW joining the Big East. Because if Providence opposes GW, Georgetown in turn opposes UMass, Boston U or Rhode Island.

All five are categorically against teams that threaten their market standing.

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In theory, you're correct. But the Providence/UMass analogy is actually the opposite. Providence was in favor of UMass as a candidate for the Big East basketball schools when the talk of a split occurred in 2004.

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