Anonymous Eagle - The Beginnings Of The New Big EastYour home for coverage of Wisconsin's elite college athletics.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46843/anon-fave.png2013-03-16T10:50:03-05:00http://www.anonymouseagle.com/rss/stream/35298352013-03-16T10:50:03-05:002013-03-16T10:50:03-05:00A Warm Big East Welcome To Butler & Creighton!
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<img alt="Brad Stevens: Big East coach." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/emUbSBcUB6hOGiJqGt9brK2xYtc=/0x160:2728x1979/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9855909/20130309_jla_ss9_1049.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Stevens: Big East coach. | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Breaking news late Saturday night gave an official voice to two of The Seven's long rumored new partners.</p> <p>Late last night as I was being impressed by the run that Michigan State went on to defeat Iowa in the Big Ten quarterfinals, this tweet drifted through my timeline, courtesy of a retweet from Sports Illustrated's Andy Glockner:</p>
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<p>BREAKING: Butler will withdraw from A-10 and join Big East.</p>
— David Woods (@DavidWoods007) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidWoods007/status/312751558452449280">March 16, 2013</a>
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<p>Mr. Woods is the Butler beat reporter for the Indianapolis Star, so he's a guy who knows a thing or two about a thing or two. According to <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Farticle%2F20130315%2FSPORTS0605%2F303150071%2FButler-withdraw-from-10-next-week-will-join-Big-East%3Fodyssey%3Dmod%257Cbreaking%257Ctext%257CIndyStar.com%26nclick_check%3D1&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.anonymouseagle.com%2F2013%2F3%2F16%2F4112118%2Fplease-extend-a-big-east-welcome-to-butler-and-creighton" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Woods' story</a> on the Bulldogs moving conferences for the second consecutive year, there should be an official announcement coming next week before the NCAA tournament kicks into high gear with the "second" round games on Thursday. He also notes that this will be a significant upgrade in television money for Butler, jumping from the estimated $400,000 per year in the Atlantic 10 to the more than $4 million per year that has been reported by multiple outlets for the Big East's new contract with Fox.</p>
<p>So that was exciting all on it's own. It's good to see that progress is being made on getting Marquette's conference set to go starting on July 1 of this year. As I was celebrating the Butler news, noted Nebraska native Admiral Ackbar, S.J., retweeted this one into my feed:</p>
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<p>Breaking news: Creighton plans to accept an offer to join the Big East, the OWH has learned. <a href="http://t.co/407LrGXPyP" title="http://ow.ly/j1C33">ow.ly/j1C33</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23CUBigEast">#CUBigEast</a></p>
— World-Herald Sports (@OWHsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/OWHsports/status/312767755986280448">March 16, 2013</a>
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<p>I'll admit I've never heard of the Omaha World-Herald, but 1) you have to trust the Nebraska native and 2) Hard to argue with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.omaha.com/article/20130315/BLUEJAYS/703159855">a story published on Omaha.com</a> under the banner of "Award Winning Creighton Coverage." I'd like to focus on the third paragraph of the story from Henry J. Cordes, emphasis mine:</p>
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<p>[Creighton's] entry into the newly reconfigured, basketball-centric conference will have the Bluejays annually going to battle on the court against <b>iconic programs like</b> Georgetown, <b>Marquette</b> and Villanova.</p>
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<p>I like the cut of Mr. Cordes' jib. Perhaps we should all chip in and send him an Edible Arrangements bouquet.</p>
<p>So, now we wait to hear anything from Cincinnati regarding Xavier. I'm told that Shannon Russell of the Cincinnati Enquirer is the best Musketeers beat reporter, but <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/slrussell">she hasn't tweeted anything</a> since March 14, and there's nothing of note on <a target="_blank" href="http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=SPT">the Enquirer's sports page</a>. It's possible that things are quiet from the Queen City because Xavier Athletic Director Mike Bobinski is currently occupied with his side job, chairman of the NCAA men's basketball tournament selection committee. Then again, Bobinski is leaving Xavier for Georgia Tech starting on April 1, so who knows why we've gotten news from two of the most popular rumored partners, but not the third.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/3/16/4112118/please-extend-a-big-east-welcome-to-butler-and-creightonBrewtown Andy2013-03-08T11:49:47-06:002013-03-08T11:49:47-06:00The Seven Separate From Football on July 1, 2013
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<img alt="Sly smile indeed, Ox." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MogGLp7QVuTXMRae6PyFrfwYF_o=/0x0:2808x1872/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9326595/20130305_kkt_sv7_374.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Sly smile indeed, Ox. | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Someone's outta here. I'm not entirely sure who's actually leaving.</p> <p>As announced via <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/WyXWQM">press release</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2013/3/8/4079472/big-east-catholic-7-basketball-conference">reported</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/ESPNAndyKatz/status/310076969876344833">everyone</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/310074113207185410">under</a> the <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/CBTonNBC/status/310081439003725824">sun</a>, The Seven - Marquette, Georgetown, Villanova, St. John's, Providence, Seton Hall, and DePaul - will <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/21832931/big-east-officially-announces-decision-to-split">officially separate from the football schools</a> in the Big East starting on July 1, 2013.</p>
<p>BRA-FREAKING-VO to all of the hard working individuals who kept the dream of getting the [BLEEP] away from football as soon as possible alive to reach this point.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nj.com/college-basketball/index.ssf/2013/03/big_east_catholic_7_officially_announce_separation_of_conferences.html">Football school commissioner Mike Aresco</a>:</p>
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<p>I am pleased that this agreement has been reached. With the long-term well-being of our outstanding institutions and their student-athletes of paramount importance, each group worked through a number of complex issues in an orderly, comprehensive and amicable manner marked by mutual respect. We part ways as friends and colleagues and look forward to the success of both conferences.</p>
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<p>And the joint statement from The Seven:</p>
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<p>We are grateful to Commissioner Michael Aresco for spearheading an agreement that truly represents the best path forward for each of our great institutions and the thousands of student-athletes who compete for our schools annually. It is a great credit to Mike, our colleagues, and all involved that we were able to work through a host of highly complex and time-sensitive issues in such a short period of time. We are pleased that we reached this amicable and mutually-beneficial separation by approaching each issue with a spirit of cooperation and shared respect.</p>
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<p>There's no other news from the announcement, so <a target="_blank" href="http://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/2/28/4042244/freed-the-seven-marquette-c7-to-begin-play-under-big-east-banner-next/in/3529835">all we have to go on</a> is what's been <a target="_blank" href="http://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/3/6/4071012/basketball-catholic-seven-marquette-ncaa-tournament">reported already</a>. I'm guessing that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.butler.edu/president/">James Danko</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.xavier.edu/about/Fr-Graham.cfm">Rev. Michael Graham, S.J.</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.creighton.edu/office-of-the-president">Rev. Timothy Lannon, S.J.</a>, should all stay near a phone for the rest of the day, though.</p>
<p><b>UPDATE!</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://marquetteu.tumblr.com/post/44870526380/after-many-months-of-thoughtful-dialogue-with-the#_=_">Marquette athletic director Larry Williams</a>:</p>
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<p><span class="words">After many months of thoughtful dialogue with the presidents and athletic directors of the other six basketball schools, we are excited to start this new era of excellence in intercollegiate athletics – a move that will allow us to enhance the elite status of our athletic programs, led by men’s basketball. We look forward to taking this positive step toward ensuring that all our student athletes continue to compete at the highest levels. I want to personally thank Father Pilarz for his leadership in this transition, as well as our loyal fans for their unwavering enthusiasm and support.</span></p>
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https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/3/8/4079578/whos-ready-for-big-east-2-0-the-seven-officially-separate-from-theBrewtown Andy2013-03-06T10:30:46-06:002013-03-06T10:30:46-06:00The Seven Will Keep Their NCAA Money
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<img alt="No, Jamil, the money is not falling from the sky." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UfWhYwofJQIKoMJGembEFuZ9sgI=/0x265:2803x2134/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9190573/20130304_kkt_sh5_311.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>No, Jamil, the money is not falling from the sky. | Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We've seen a flurry of news stories in the last day or so about the future of the Big East. Most of them are repeating <a href="http://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/2/28/4042244/freed-the-seven-marquette-c7-to-begin-play-under-big-east-banner-next" target="new">last week's news</a>.</p> <p>But deep into <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9019093/big-east-football-schools-keep-close-110-million-league-split-according-report">his story</a> reporting that the deal between The Seven and the football schools has been struck, ESPN's Brett McMurphy had a new piece of information:</p>
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<p>As part of the Catholic 7 schools' exit agreement with the Big East, the schools will keep all of their NCAA tournament units, sources told McMurphy.</p>
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<p>Well, that's a pretty sweet deal. To clarify, the NCAA pays out money to a conference based on each game a member school plays in the basketball tournament, and it's spread out over five years. For example, Marquette earned 15 "units" last year by playing in three games.</p>
<p>For the sake of argument, let's say that the NCAA pays out the money at the end of the NCAA tournament, so The Seven are done seeing any money from the 2008 tournament after this season. How many units will each school toss into the proverbial hat to share, before adding anything from this year's tournament?</p>
<p><b>Marquette:</b> 25 units (2 from 2009, 2 from 2010, 9 from 2011, and 12 from 2012)<br><b>Georgetown:</b> 13 units (2 from 2010, 3 from 2011, and 8 from 2012)<br><b>Villanova:</b> 12 units (5 from 2009, 4 from 2010, 3 from 2011)<br><b>St. John's:</b> 3 units from 2011</p>
<p>Huh. I wonder who led the charge to get that pushed through?</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/3/6/4071012/basketball-catholic-seven-marquette-ncaa-tournamentBrewtown Andy2013-02-28T21:30:43-06:002013-02-28T21:30:43-06:00Freed The Seven: MU, C7 To Leave Big East In July
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<p>Multiple reports indicate that Marquette and the rest of the Catholic 7 will leave the Big East (v.1.5) this summer -- and they're taking the Big East name, Xavier and Butler, and maybe Madison Square Garden with them.</p> <p>Alright, Marquette Basketball Fan: it's time to play Where Do You Want To Play Ball Next Year?</p>
<p>Behind Door No. 1: a lame-duck season in the Big East (v.1.5), alternating one-night stands with teams like Temple and Memphis and slummin' it with the likes of SMU and Houston and UCF.</p>
<p>Behind Door No. 2: <a target="_blank" href="http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=5365">A BRAND NEW CONFERENCE</a>!</p>
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<p>In exchange for leaving two years earlier than the scheduled departure date of July 2015, the Catholic 7, who will not attend the Atlanta meeting [of Big East presidents scheduled for tomorrow, would agree to take considerably less money from a reserve pool of conference money earned by the Big East from exit fees and NCAA basketball tournament shares which is reported to be in excess of 60 million dollars.</p>
<p>The financial details of this arrangement still must be worked out, but both sides appear ready to announce that the Catholic 7 group will leave in July...</p>
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<p>But that's not all! Your brand new conference (reportedly) comes complete with <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9000502/catholic-7-schools-keep-big-east-name-new-league-next-season-according-sources">your old conference's name</a>... </p>
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<p>The Big East's seven departing Catholic schools are expected to start their own league next season and will keep the Big East Conference name, sources told ESPN's Brett McMurphy, Andy Katz and Dana O'Neil.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/21787349/catholic-7-looking-at-nine-schools-might-stop-there">Musketeers and Bulldogs</a> (and maybe Bluejays if you ask nicely) ...</p>
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<p>According to multiple sources, the seven teams leaving the Big East -- Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova, Seton Hall, St. John's, DePaul and Providence -- might only add Xavier and Butler in the immediate future. There has been speculation the league would expand to 12 teams, but it now appears that it will be a nine- or 10-team league.</p>
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<p>a <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fncaab%2F2013%2F02%2F27%2Fcatholic-7-schools-anticipate-big-east-departure-soon%2F1952327%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.anonymouseagle.com%2F2013%2F2%2F28%2F4042244%2Ffreed-the-seven-marquette-c7-to-begin-play-under-big-east-banner-next" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">shiny new television contract</a>...</p>
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<p>A multi-year television offer of approximately $40 million from Fox Sports Cable is on the table for the Catholic 7 schools, adding more pressure to leave early and start the new venture.</p>
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<p>and an <a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20130228/catholic-7-news/?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp">annual trip to New York City</a>:</p>
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<p>Some clarity is also expected soon about Madison Square Garden as the home for a postseason basketball venue. It's expected that MSG will eventually link together with the Catholic Seven schools, barring any significant interest by the ACC to become an annual occupant. (That interest is unlikely because of the ACC's traditional Southern geographic ties.)</p>
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<p>Do I need to give you a few seconds to make your decision, or should we start wrapping your new conference now?</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/2/28/4042244/freed-the-seven-marquette-c7-to-begin-play-under-big-east-banner-nextRubie Q2013-02-28T09:30:05-06:002013-02-28T09:30:05-06:00The Seven Are Serious About Leaving Immediately
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<img alt="OX SMASH WAY OUT OF BIG EAST" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WvSAB8aQvMNOHBwwJwik2lRl2Io=/0x338:2826x2222/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8857321/20130225_ajw_sh5_307.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>OX SMASH WAY OUT OF BIG EAST | Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Two articles yesterday made it clear that the Catholic Big East schools are serious about their effort to start their new conference following this school year.</p> <p>Yesterday, notable Jersey Guy Mark Blaudschun posted<a target="_blank" href="http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=5347"> a story on his site</a> stating that the move for the seven Catholic schools currently in the Big East to begin their new conference this summer is gaining steam. Blaudschun got this quote from an unnamed source:</p>
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<p>"Both sides have a feeling that it is time to move on to the future," said one Big East source. "Both 2013 and 2014 are being discussed, but it’s just a matter of how much the group of schools that are leaving are willing to pay (to leave early)."</p>
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<p>It's been said repeatedly as the Big East slowly collapses: Everything is negotiable. Blaudschun closes his piece by saying that if The Seven can come to an agreement on how much they're willing to pay (or possibly just give up from the pool of Big East money), an announcement could be forthcoming "in the next several days."</p>
<p>Blaudschun's post is written completely on sources feeding him information. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-depaul-marquette-big-east-20130227,0,2929687.story?dssReturn">Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune</a> got both Marquette athletic director Larry Williams and DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto to go on the record on this topic. First Ponsetto:</p>
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<p>"I'm hoping in a couple of weeks we'll have that (separation) piece done," DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto told the Tribune. "And then once that piece gets done, the next step is to determine the (start) date, and that would be part of the negotiation of whether it's 2014, or if it's 2015 or if there's a possibility if it could be 2013."</p>
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<p>And then the always outspoken Williams:</p>
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<p>"Every school is committed to making it happen, whether that's on a super-compressed timeline or a little bit less compressed timeline," Williams said. "Even if it starts next summer, there's still a lot of work to do. If it's going to happen this summer? There are going to be some real, real long days. But I think everybody is committed to doing it.<br><br> "It could still get done. We could still build it in that time frame. It's going to put some people in pretty uncomfortable positions. Markus Roeders, our (women's) soccer coach, is going to have to go out and find a couple of other non-conference games -- well, that's going to be kind of hard to do at this late date. It's going to get really uncomfortable in that really tight timeline, but I still think we can get it done."</p>
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<p>I think it's clear from the quote from Williams that, at the very least, Marquette has already put a lot of thought into exactly what moves they're going to have to make if The Seven are able to withdraw from the Big East on July 1.</p>
<p>All we have left at this point is to wait to see when an official announcement is made.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/2/28/4039602/the-seven-are-serious-about-leaving-immediately-catholic-basketballBrewtown Andy2013-01-18T13:00:10-06:002013-01-18T13:00:10-06:00Direct Questions, Direct Answers
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<img alt="Seriously: Can't we get Larry Williams a nicer hat?" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oD_-VpllENtBGip_fnxyxWuI_Ww=/260x483:3534x2666/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6763335/155944693.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Seriously: Can't we get Larry Williams a nicer hat? | Rob Carr</figcaption>
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<p>I don't know why anyone else didn't think of this before, so let's thank Ben Greene of The Marquette Tribune for going straight to the athletic department with some questions about The Seven.</p> <p>We all remember that it was Marquette athletic director Larry Williams that <a href="http://www.anonymouseagle.com/2012/12/12/3758404/larry-williams-comments-on-conference-realignment-add-more-fuel-to" target="_blank">launched a firestorm</a> that very quickly resulted in The Seven announcing their departure from the Big East. So why hasn't anyone bothered to ask the outspoken Williams about two key questions that have come up recently about the new conference?</p>
<p>Thankfully, intrepid reporter Ben Greene <a href="http://marquettetribune.org/2013/01/15/news/marquette-to-help-found-new-conference-with-catholic-seven/" target="_blank">is on the case</a>. He point blank asked Williams about the departure date for The Seven and found out that Williams hopes to have The Seven out of the Big East following this school year.</p>
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<p>"The bottom line is, everybody wants to get off and do their own thing," Williams said. "(The remaining Big East schools) want to build their conference, and we certainly want to get about building ours."</p>
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<p>Excellent news! It should be noted that Williams also said a July 2014 departure is "reasonable," so we'll see what happens. The important thing is that at least Marquette is on board with the concept of #FreeTheSeven.</p>
<p>The other item of note in Greene's story comes when he asked Williams about the rumors kicked about by <a href="http://www.nj.com/college-basketball/index.ssf/2012/12/how_big_easts_basketball_schools_decided_to_finally_break_off_to_form_their_own_conference.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed" target="_blank">Brendan Prunty</a> and <a href="http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=4719" target="_blank">Mark Blaudschun</a> that there may be a way to include Cincinnati and Connecticut in The Seven's new conference.</p>
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<p>"I don’t think it’s a logical assumption that those schools would be a part of our group," Williams said.</p>
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<p>I see Mr. Williams is in touch with his inner Mr. Spock. Nice work stepping on that crazy idea, sir.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/1/18/3891154/marquette-golden-eagles-basketball-seven-larry-williamsBrewtown Andy2013-01-09T10:00:07-06:002013-01-09T10:00:07-06:00Thamel: Fox And The Seven Are Meeting Today
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<img alt="I don't think Jedi Mind Tricks will work here, Todd, but I appreciate the effort." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mmsIGrwYxJsPd_mMhvr3WWqhwAU=/0x177:2858x2082/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6298061/20130106_kkt_sh5_507.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>I don't think Jedi Mind Tricks will work here, Todd, but I appreciate the effort. | Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This certainly goes a long way to confirming Darren Rovell's report, doesn't it?</p> <p>As reported by<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20130109/catholic-7-tv/index.html?mobile=no" target="_blank"> Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel</a>, Fox Sports Chief Operating Officer Larry Jones and Neal Pilson and Joe Leccese, co-head of the Sports Law Group at the law firm Proskauer Rose and the official representatives of The Seven, are meeting today in New York to officially discuss a television package for the new conference that The Seven will be forming.</p>
<p>A couple of key points from Thamel's report:</p>
<ul>
<li>Without a commissioner or a set lineup of schools, an official announcement is not expected any time soon.</li>
<li>The Seven (who are starting to refer to themselves as The Basketball Seven) are looking for a 12 year contract worth approximately $3 million per school per year.</li>
<li>Discussion of VCU as a partner has increased recently.</li>
</ul>
<p>There's one last thing to highlight, and it's my favorite part:</p>
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<p>There's a chance that the league could start play for the 2013-14 season. A big part of that will be how the Basketball Seven handle their departure from the Big East. A key factor is that the Big East does not have a television contract for basketball next season. If Fox is launching a new network this fall, they would likely be eager to have the original content provided by the Basketball Seven.</p>
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<p>I'm not going to go over all of the logical reasons how everyone benefits from The Seven leaving immediately again, but it's always exciting to see every new report about The Seven include discussion of the new conference starting with the 2013-14 school year.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/1/9/3855086/thamel-fox-sports-basketball-seven-televisionBrewtown Andy2013-01-06T10:56:25-06:002013-01-06T10:56:25-06:00Rovell: Fox Offers 12 Year, $500 Million TV Deal
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<img alt="The important issue is that Fox wasn't scared off by the wrestling match yesterday." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zvL-xx9lALTcIXl9swP4P_IbRSY=/0x229:2580x1949/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6143537/20130105_jla_bl1_641.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The important issue is that Fox wasn't scared off by the wrestling match yesterday. | Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>ESPN's Darren Rovell reports that The Seven have not only begun television negotiations, but that they've got a snazzy deal on the table already.</p> <p>Let's get it <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8817624/fleeing-big-east-schools-working-lucrative-tv-deal-basketball">straight from the source</a>, then:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Sources say that Fox, whose Fox Sports 1 channel is set to launch in August, has an initial high offer on the table of more than $500 million for a 12-year deal. Fox Sports 1 will replace the network's motorsports channel Speed, already in 81 million homes. Sources say officials with Fox are scheduled to meet with those representing the interest of the "Catholic 7" in New York City on Wednesday.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>It is believed the "Catholic 7" would divide its share of the television rights evenly and split the rest among what ideally will become the other three-to-five schools that it adds to form a 10- to 12-team conference. One source said it is likely the new schools wouldn't share the same amount as the "Catholic 7," which would allow the former Big East basketball schools to earn in the $5 million range.</p>
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<p>Well then.</p>
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<p>There's a couple of problems with this report, though. First of all, I don't think The Seven are super excited about anything resembling an announcement that they're planning on giving their new conference partners less than what they're getting. If you were Xavier or Butler, would you be thrilled about the idea of getting significantly less television money than the majority of the other schools are getting for the next 12 years? It certainly seems like a significant advantage for The Seven.</p>
<p>The second noticeable problem is with the number that Rovell mentions for what the current Big East television deal is currently paying The Seven. I've seen approximately $1.5 million quoted repeatedly as the number for the current deal, while Rovell says "between $2 and $3 million." If the $1.5 million number is more accurate, I'd have to figure that The Seven would be more willing to give any new partners a more equitable share. </p>
<p>The last item of note here is that Rovell brings up the possibility of The Seven departing the Big East immediately following this season. With Fox launching their sports network in August, it's a pretty safe bet that they'd like to be able to run advertisements declaring themselves "THE home for The Seven basketball" right away. With that in mind, is it possible, or even likely, that Fox might be willing to pay the necessary exit fees to the Big East to get The Seven out immediately? When you take into account the lack of TV contract for the Big East for next year, it could be beneficial to both sides to have The Seven not participate in the 2012-13 Big East season.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2013/1/6/3842358/big-east-seven-catholic-schools-television-contractBrewtown Andy