December 21, 2011

2 Big East Members Have Discussed Starting a Basketball-Only League

2 Big East Members in Talks About Starting Basketball-Only LeagueWill the Refashioned Big East Conference Stay Together? 2 members exploring possibility of new league 1

Photo by Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images

Boise State U. is one of five institutions to join the Big East Conference this month. But philosophical differences between members could lead the league to splinter, sources say.

By Brad Wolverton

At least two Big East members have had conversations about leaving the conference to start a new league built around traditional basketball powers, several sources told The Chronicle.

The conversations, which are preliminary and may not lead to any departures, have happened within the past month as the league worked to stabilize itself following the announcements this year that Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and West Virginia planned to leave. This month the Big East added five new