March Madness Rumors Like You Won’t Believe!
Monday, March 11, 2013
With “March Madness” underway in the sport of college basketball, I’m hearing some very interesting tidbits/rumors floating around. Here are some of them:
-With all of the conference realignment going on, there’s an interesting rumor floating around which suggests that the ACC may actually implode and that newcomers Pittsburgh and Syracuse could be among those left without a home when all is said and done.
Let me explain.
First off, the rumors of the Big Ten having an interest in schools like North Carolina and Georgia Tech have been out there for a while and apparently have some legs to them. The latest rumor has the Big Ten attempting to up its membership to 16 teams by adding UNC, Georgia Tech, Duke and Virginia.
Those same rumors have the SEC and Big Twelve also attempting to up their membership to 16 teams as well.
Who might the SEC add? While they would love to have the likes of North Carolina and Virginia, the most rumored candidates for SEC expansion consist of two of the following three schools: Florida State, NC State and Virginia Tech.
Then there’s the Big Twelve. Currently at a membership of 10 schools, they would have to add 6 to get to the magic number of 16. Who might be considered strong candidates to be a part of that group? Louisville might lead the list with virtually every other non-northern school in the ACC also being a viable target. The feeling is that the Big Ten, because of the fact that their current and projected future revenue figures dwarf all of the other conferences, would have their pick of the litter while the SEC would likely be next leaving the leftovers for the Big Twelve.
However, the consensus in many of these rumors seems to be that schools like Syracuse, Pittsburgh and even Boston College may be left on the outside looking in. And would that be such a bad thing?
If these crazy scenarios were to unfold, what’s to say that Syracuse, Pitt and BC couldn’t go back to the likes of UConn, Cincinnati, South Florida and the rest of their former Big East football brethren and ask for forgiveness?
I must say, that as a Syracuse alumnus, these rumors scare me a bit because I wonder if my Orange will ever have an adequate conference to be a part of. However, another part of me would take pleasure in seeing the ACC implode because it was their greed in the first place that started this whole game of musical chairs in intercollegiate athletics.
And wouldn’t it be nice to see John Swafford as a commissioner without a conference to run? Talk about poetic justice!
-I’m hearing that, despite their not-so-strong finish to the season, that the 19-11 Bryant Bulldogs may not be done playing games. The hot rumor has Bryant hosting at least one game in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament. That would be quite an accomplishment for a program that won just two games just a season ago. And, if Bryant fans could pack the Chace Athletic Center for such a game like they did for the team’s NEC quarterfinal round game against Mount St. Mary’s, that could be quite a night in Smithfield.
-Friar fans, I am also hearing that if they don’t make the NCAA Tournament, that PC will be hooping it up in the NIT. But that’s not all. Providence could be one of the higher seeds in the NIT field putting them in line to host at least a couple of games should they win an advance in the tournament. And, with the Dunkin’ Donuts Center off limits the week of March 25-31 because of the Frozen Four, the Friars would not be able to host a possible second round game there. So, what would their options be? Alumni Hall is too small seemingly ruling that out. They could also volunteer to go on the road but that would hurt their chances of advancing to Madison Square Garden in New York for the NIT’s Final Four. So, what would the other option be? Hold on tight URI fans, you might not like this one. PC is exploring playing a home game in the NIT at the Ryan Center.
The Ryan Center
While playing on URI’s home floor may seem strange to Friar fans, I would think that Ed Cooley would rather play there than on some other team’s home floor if it came right down to it.
Stay tuned. This could get interesting.
Comments:
donkey boy
10:06pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Rumors like you wouldn't believe...great journalism here.
But considering those last set of hot rumors - the one where you talked to a "guy" about Rutgers opening - yeah, not so much.
Scott Cordischi
11:25pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Did I say that I "talked to a guy" about the Rutgers opening? Those are your words. Why not put your name to your comments "donkey boy"? If they are presented as rumors, take them as such. I did not imply that any of this is concrete although the last two are strong possibilities.
Charles D.
11:30pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
I guess, Mr. Cordischi, this is another effort of yours to transform GoLocalProv into an electronic version of tabloid print journalism. It would be nice if you cited some solid evidence and sources to support your thoughts on the Big Ten and SEC moves because absent that, these are stories that have been bouncing around messages board and other tinhorn sites for a long time. More alarmingly, you seem to be parroting the views of other more biased people so your headline “Rumors Like You Won’t Believe” comes off as a bit disingenuous if not a shill. No one wants to see in journalism a blatant lack of original thinking or language in news stories. Your wishing ill on anyone is not becoming in a sports editor.
Also, what’s the big deal about PC using the Ryan Center if they are boxed out of the Providence facility. Why are you stirring the pot here. Are you implying that PC would never act in such a gracious way if the circumstances were reversed?
Scott Cordischi
12:20am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Charles:
I am not going to reveal or event hint at who my sources are so as not to jeopardize those sources.
As for my opinion on Swafford, I am a life-long Big East fan and hate to see what has happened to the conference and blame the ACC for its demise. Again, I get paid to give my opinion whether or not you or John Swafford like it.
Not being from here, I can see where you couldn't comprehend why some URI and PC fans might have a problem with a PC NIT game at URI. While you are correct that logic says there's nothing wrong with that, the emotion involved on both sides would fuel some interesting discussion about the merits of such a move.
And spare me the "lack of original thinking" crap! These are my thoughts and no one else's regardless of what you and your high horse believe that they are!
frank bentley
7:06am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Scott..how much can Fenton pay you to take all this CRAP from these frustrated URI phans? skip writing & let them get their info from their 6 person URI fan site!!.lol..don't waste your time..ever since you stated that "Coach of the Year" Hurley might leave..donkey, charlie, steve, & Rhody Rod have not stopped..not worth the BS
John McGrath
9:36am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
This article is legitimate for what it is, a blog by someone with enough industry contacts to be worth listening to.
Rumors identified as rumors and do not need substantiation. They are always interesting. Either you trust the reporter of rumors or you do not, that's how credibility works. In certain arenas rumors are a truly important source of inside and forward information. The sports business shows that men are great gossipers and fans of gossip, and are willing to reveal all worst of supposedly "on the quiet" information.
If someone did not blog about these rumors, then people would be snakily commenting, "How come you missed that one?"
David Kaletski
9:50am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
scott - I have to agree with donkey boy here. How are we supposed to respect your "leads" when you were WAY off on the hurley story?
jon paycheck
11:36am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
you do identify them as rumors so thats exactly what they are.
Scott Cordischi
11:52am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
David:
How are you supposed to respect my leads? Maybe you were sleeping when I broke the Cooley hire at PC, the Hurley hire at URI, Andre LaFleur to PC and other local sports stories. My sources were were spot on then.
As for this story, I think the first rumor is a bit of a long shot but am confident that the other two will take place.
And, as far as being "WAY off" in the Hurley story, that has yet to play itself out. Having said that, I didn't say in the Hurley story that it WOULD happen, I only suggested that it would be a possibility.
Wally M
1:29pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Hey Scott I like it. Does anyone really believe that there is no calculating, back stabbing, under handed, money grabbing bottom feeders that are looking to create the ultimate conference and that no team is will say no if enough $$$$$ were offered. Also, does anyone believe that Swaffored is revered by his peers!!! No freeken way he is the king of the bottom feeders. You left out Notre Dame we gotta believe there is no way their coach wants to move away from the Catholic 7. Thanks Scott!!!!
Rod Carri
2:05pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
What's the big deal?
URI has played many "home" games at the PCC over the years.
So why can't PC use the Ryan Center in the NIT?
It's for rent, and I'm sure they'd welcome the business.
Nice clean venue, which is a great place to watch a basketball game.
Why would URI fans be angry?
Not getting that one. Ed Cooley sat on the URI bench as an assistant, so it's not foreign territory to him.
Friar Fan
6:43pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
When the renovations at the Dunk weren't quite ready, PC played a pre-season game at Ryan. So it's already happened--no big deal.
Charles D.
10:36pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Thanks, Mr. Cordischi for your response to my comments, though I was bit surprised that you did not directly address some of my objections.
I never asked for specific sources, but rather evidence that your claim was not simply an echo of the general gossip and rumors of biased fans who are not accountable for what they say nor are they embarrassed to fabricate something from nothing. Your response only convinced me that you had no special insight, only a rumor engine running not on a rich octane, but fumes.
More importantly as a Sports Editor of a news website, I would think impartiality would be a value you should be embracing, instead you openly express a bias toward the Big East. Since I am not biased in such a way, I see no problem with any organization trying to improve itself. You apparently see that same effort more as a mortal sin by John Swoffard. (not Swafford as you stated)
But you really lose credibility when you make extreme and sappy comments like “ I wonder if my Orange will ever have an adequate conference to be a part of.” Ever! Really!
Finally, after reading Mr. Carri’s interesting information and Friar Fan’s comment, I am even more puzzled by your implication that URI fans would be outraged by PC using their facility for an NIT game. Again what's the big deal? Why the need to taunt them?
Scott Cordischi
11:50pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Charles:
Say what you want and believe what you want. I DO have my sources to support all three rumors. As I stated earlier, I am confident that the last two will happen (provided PC doesn't make the NCAA and is able to advance to the NIT). As for the ACC rumor, I tend to think that this will not happen but cannot rule anything out given what has already transpired over the past few years with conference realignment.
As for being "impartial," I make no apologies for growing up a Boston College fan, attending Syracuse and living in Providence and, thus, being a huge Big East fan! And I do believe that the ACC is responsible for its demise.
As far as Rod not being upset with PC playing a home game on Rhody's home floor, good for him! But there would likely be some URI fans who would not want to see that take place.
Scott Cordischi
11:51pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I meant "advance to the second round of the NIT."