Around the Big Ten

[Dr. Strangelove]

Nebraska
Kansas
Missouri
Iowa
Minnesota

Notre Dame
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Purdue
Illinois

Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan St
Indiana
Rutgers/Maryland

Penn State
UNC
GA Tech
Virginia
Maryland/Rutgers

I could live with this...

[Dr. Strangelove]

A 20 team conference works out pretty well for basketball actually. Everyone has one rival which they play home-away every year (2 games). The remaining 18 opponents would be played home-away every 2 years. So you'd play everyone at least once a year but only one team twice.

[hack]

I think you have 2 divisions which are treated as conferences are today. Play 9 teams twice, and from the other conference play 5 teams once. Enough with the month of bullshit games. Man up and play quality in the NIT or another preseason tourney, and otherwise forget it.

[entropy]

Missouri, from what I've read, never had an offer. Ever. The B10 wanted a 12th team. They chose Nebraska. Missouri fans were devastated. Delaney may have used Mizzou as a stalking horse to shake free UNL, but if the B10 had offered, they would have said "YES!" in two seconds. At least based on what I've read.

I bet they would still say yes..

[WM Wolverine]

This expansion is about power and being orchestrated by the TV people with interests (stakeholders) bigger than the presidents and athletic directors in the B10. Big Ten will get bigger, there are lots of universities I'd willingly take in the B10 and the not so stable ACC has quite a few of those. It's better to be a have than a have-not, if the B10 stayed at 10 members, they'd be much like the Big XII now (or worse)...

Rutgers & Maryland? Those were Delaney tipping over dominos to see what else would tip over and secured the B10 a strong footing in the populous but not rabid football, northeast. He also handed Colorado to the Pac 12 and the Missouri & A&M to the SEC when he pushed the Nebraska domino. Were now here waiting to see what other dominoes fall? Clemson, FSU? NC/Duke, Virginia? VT, NC State?

[entropy]

I want KU. I am sure lawyers can figure things out

[WM Wolverine]

Missouri fans feel they 'belong' in the B10 not the SEC, even being bitter after feeling rejected by the B10; I think they'd jump at the offer. I feel Missouri is a natural fit in the B10 and would fit in better here than in the SEC.

[iam416]

I think Missouri would say yes.

I'm not sure how I feel about 4 divisions, semifinals and finals. That's a bold move.

The only thin I am 100% sure of is that 14 ain't the final number. I'm also 100% sure that the final number will be in place such that the league is set for 2017.

I still suspect FSU sets everything off. But if they don't the Delaney will in due course.

[Whitley]

Sure, re the academics. But if you're following the money, it doesn't lead there, right?

The research is where the REAL money is. There is a reason that the Big Ten is insisting on AAU membership and real academics.

[hack]

Honestly I really don't know enough about it to say, though my instinctive reaction would be the opposite. Post on mgoblog today would seem to back that opinion...

[Whitley]

Honestly I really don't know enough about it to say, though my instinctive reaction would be the opposite. Post on mgoblog today would seem to back that opinion...

http://medcitynews.com/2011/03/top-nih-grant-funding-by-institutions-states-for-2010/

Now that is just NIH grants combined with fed stimulus which is not the entire picture but it gives you an idea

(in the millions)

4) Michigan 565.089
19) Wisconsin 305.731 (not including the Medical college of Wis which is 108.085)
20) Minnesota 303.805
29) Northwestern 230.478
35) Iowa 198.637
40) Ohio State 180.484
53) IU-PU at Indy 143.431
75) Illinois 83.6
82) Nebraska 74.303
100) Purdue 62.869

Those joining the Big Ten

34) Maryland 201.891
80) Rutgers 77.763 (not including Med/Dent college of NJ) 74.235)

Possible recruits:

10) Duke 438.916
14) UNC 382.338
60) Miami (fla) 125.425

I think the Big Ten has absolutely no problem taking Duke along with UNC.

[hack]

That's not shared or scalable revenue though, or anything that's going to generate advertising dollars, is it?

Duke is the big mystery to me, which I've mentioned before and will never mention again for fear of upsetting Paul...

[Wild Hoss]

82) Nebraska 74.303

...and if the AAU counted NU Med as being part of the University of Nebraska, which it is, we'd still be a member. Assholes.

KU Med Center is every bit as far from their campus as ours is.

[paul daugherity]

Talent:

Yesterday, you posted the following regarding Bielema:

Finally, in a non-expansion note, Bielema was running from Wisconsin as much as he was running toward Arkansas. He was told he should look at other options cause his days at UW might be numbered.

I am curious as to why - i.e. what have you heard/read regarding this?

[iam416]

That is, literally, verbatim all I've read.