To follow up Wednesday's blog, WVU was formally invited today to join the Big 12 conference.
The Big East will now be losing three strong basketball programs and one consistently strong football program in Syracuse, Pitt, and WVU. While WVU president James P. Clements is excited about the move to the Big 12, Big East Commissioner John Marinatto is not as hopeful about the future of his conference.
The Big East is anticipating UConn to join the ACC as well in the near future, but because the Big 12 has decided to stick with only 10 teams, Louisville will not be given an invitation.
The Big East has extended invitiations to Boise State, Air Force, Navy, BYU, Central Florida, Houston, and SMU. However, how is the Big East going to hold up in future years with all of their strong basketball programs leaving?
By 2012 when the 27 month notification period is over can the Big East hope to hold up their reputation as a strong conference?
I really feel bad for the John Marinatto and the Big East. I loved big east basketball with the teams that were in it before all this shuffling around. It was always so competitive (there was a NCAA high 11 Big East teams in last year's March Madness). This will provide Pitt with better opportunities I suppose pertaining to recruiting and competition. Overall though I don't like what's going on with the NCAA and all the movement of teams between conferences.
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