I don't care what Jim says. That is not the real Ben Franklin. I'm 99% certain.
I think MVC or A10 is most likely the next stop for St Thomas. If the Big East wants to expand, they will likely pick from SLU; Dayton; VCU or other private schools. St Thomas may end up there but I don’t think it’s directly from the Summit.
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Butler is not a Catholic school, so not all Big East members are Catholic, but they are definitely the core. I think St. Thomas has shown enough early and they have money so I could see them being in the Big East. This is where those relationships we don't see become a factor. Being similar schools they may be in several academic consortiums already outside of athletics.
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BB wants a double round robin schedule, and as a non-football conference separate divisions aren't important. BE is at 11, which is 10/10 home/away. Don't see anyone leaving nor need to expand, but if they do there's a bunch of A10 schools they'd look at first unless STM goes nuts. If the MVC keeps getting gutted they'll pull from Summit and OVC, but I still don't see STM in the BE.
Butler was always considered a good school but was mostly known locally. They made a couple Sweet 16 runs in the 2000s so they became known like a Belmont or Davidson. And they played in a cool, old fieldhouse (featured in Hoosiers). Then 2010 happened. The school has grown immensely thanks in part to the national awareness from the basketball tournament. A friend of mine was responsible for corporate sponsorships at the time, and his job got immensely easier. They have good pharmacy, business, and performing arts programs. They are in a nice, older part of the city but are land locked. They don't have much more room to build.
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