The truth hurts.

Let's take a different view of reality on whether the "Catholic" Conference is even worth it.  I wrote a year and ahalf ago on this forum that a source told me that the Big East would fold and that a Catholic Conference would spring from the ashes like the proverbial Phoenix.  Well that turned out to be true.  But here's the catch the new Big East boys didn't bargain for.  The football schools took $100 Million of the $110 Million of funds and left the catholics with $10 million to form its league.  My source again told me Fox was a done deal for TV with the to be newly formed league.  Fox was eager to jump at the chance to get into the college hoops mix. They had nothing to lose and everthing to gain if the new Big East got anywhere near the interest of the old Big East.  So they promised the moon with one catch-the ratings better be at or near par with the other conferences that the ESPN stations, I repeat stations, carry that will be in direct competition with Fox and the Big East!  Here is where Duquesne comes into the picture.  The schools that got into the new Big East had to pony up $5 million as an entry fee and pay at least $2 million more to leave the A-10.  Now if you are a gambler the question is real easy.  Would you pay $7 million NOW to go to a conference that may get big bucks if the ratings match ESPN. Or would you take the guaranteed NBC money (which kicks into some pretty good numbers this year) and the relative "stability" of the A-10.  Wanna gamble?  That's what Duquesne's president was left with as choices.  Does he take the sure thing or tell his board he's going to risk $7 million to get possibly much, much more.  Duquesne may not have a basketball reputation but it sure as hell has more money to spend than a lot of the other Catholic schools. It has its endowments because of conservative (and probably unpopular decisions where sports are concerned) decision making.  If it really wanted to buy its way into the other conference I firmly believe it could have.  Let's be realistic.  Money talks in college hoops.  Money got the old football Big East boys more money and left peanuts to the fledgling catholics.  Money could have been used by Duquesne to beget more money if it were a riverboat gambler-and, that Duquesne is not.  P.S.  Was at Greentree tonight.  Tra'vaughn White is the real deal.  He scored 18 in first half on one of everything-quick drives, slow drices, 3-pointer and two pointers- and got another half dozen in the second half before leaving with a gash over his right eye.  We are solid at point guard.  gram

Last edited by grammudder (7/15/2013 10:25 pm)

Gotta like this:

Colter led GNC by flirting with a triple-double, racking up 30 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Tuttle added 22 points, and TraVaughan White chipped in 21.

I'm still not convinced that Derrick Colter is or can be a good shooter. I really have to see it happen on a consistent basis. I think the kid has some ball skills and can be an exciting player, but he's never going to have nights where he shoots, say, 10-19, and hits 8 of 9 FTs. With Soko, Robinson & Watkins, I hope we can get more offensive rebounds and thus second and third looks at the rim, and I hope he gets the ball to Ovie, White and perhaps even Gill more than he chooses to haul it up himself. Getting his game under control will be a big part of whether or not we can win some games this year.

pressurecooker wrote:

It's all about the market, not about the existing program. Why did the Big 10 take Maryland, an historically poor football program? For that reason alone, we merit consideration. If Duquesne were in the Catholic Big East, the basketball program would improve merely because of the association. With good recruiting and coaching, we would be mid level conference in a few years. In the A10 we will always have to contend with state schools with much better assets, so in the long run, a move to the Catholic league would be in our best interests. I have no idea if we have been or will be offered.

If it's all about the market, then why did Creighton get an invite over St. Louis? Why isn't Detroit Mercy in the league?

Brutal comments Duquesne great university beatiful campus solid prez & teachers big time market consol I just dont get it as to the perception nationwide. This program needs a PR push towards the Big East decision makers. Who would not want to live in Fox Chapel St. Clair or Wexford maybe im biased but thats the Duquesne U package compared to the shi* schools in the Big East. Seton Hall St Johns Depaul & Providence. Oh yeah Butler Non Catholic good luck without your coach!

duq81 wrote:

pressurecooker wrote:

It's all about the market, not about the existing program. Why did the Big 10 take Maryland, an historically poor football program? For that reason alone, we merit consideration. If Duquesne were in the Catholic Big East, the basketball program would improve merely because of the association. With good recruiting and coaching, we would be mid level conference in a few years. In the A10 we will always have to contend with state schools with much better assets, so in the long run, a move to the Catholic league would be in our best interests. I have no idea if we have been or will be offered.

If it's all about the market, then why did Creighton get an invite over St. Louis? Why isn't Detroit Mercy in the league?

I agree with your train of thought D81 but I think it will be about the market eventually.  Fox like any new sports channel needs events so they contract with the new BE to get programming.  When that programming doesn't live up to expectations they will force the BE to do more to get into some markets.  That's why I don't think Dayton will be a priority - not because of the BE but because of Fox - they already have the Cincinnati and Indianapolis overlap so adding Dayton doesn't do anything for their ratings (the same reason the B10 didn't need Pitt - it's network already has the Pittsburgh market).

So the question really is how important is the Pittsburgh or Detroit market to Fox?  My assumption is that they would like to have both along with possibly St. Louis.  Then the question becomes does having DU really give them a reason to have viewers in Pittsburgh watch (the same question applies to Detroit)?  And the answer is only if we are relevant in basketball and only time will tell if Ferry can get us there. 

Right now unless you love basketball there is no prime reason to watch the BE on Fox in Pittsburgh.  And if you love basketball there is a lot of competition from the other leagues and other channels so why pick Fox?  To watch another mid major with no rooting interest?  Initially habit will probably have a lot to do with following the BE in Pittsburgh but that will change over time. 

I think the BE can afford to be patient, which is why they stopped at 10 teams. They are likely not sold on SLU without Majerus, and want to see if Crews can keep them winning. They also likely want to see if one of several teams might step up. I'm sure there would be serious interest in a strong Dukes program, but they don't want the garbage we currently have to offer, and who could blame them. We've been promising a "return to glory" for 40 years now. Can you blame them for wanting to see some proof.

grammudder wrote:

Folks, I hate to be a contrarian, but what makes a majority think it is only up to the powers of the Big East that are privy to decision making on who gets in that league?  Agreeing to accept an invitation to join a conference and joining it is still a two-way street.  I go back to what I believe are the real premises as far as Duquesne is concerned.  Is it worth it to pony up about $7 million dollars NOW to get into a conference that is banking on Fox to generate its income.  Will Fox outdraw ESPN stations and NBC in the ratings war and thus be obligated to pay the new league the contingency terms I believe are part and parcel of its TV agreement with the new league?  What universities can afford to take such a gamble?  X  and Butler have had the success at the gate, in NCAA and NIT participation and presumptively are flush with the bucks or they wouldn't have joined.  What about Duquesne?  One, Duquesne has the $7 million to buy into the conference.  Two, money talks and b.s. walks.  I'd bet a dollar to a donut that if Duquesne wrote a check payable to the catholic conference today for $7 million dollars there would be an 11 team league.  That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!  To each his own.

If all of that is true, then why isn't St. Louis in the league?