Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball: Top 5 potential additions to join UConn in the league

By Joey Loose

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Dyshawn Pierre #21 of the Dayton Flyers defends against Treveon Graham #21 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament - Championship game at Barclays Center on March 15, 2015 in New York, New York. Virginia Commonwealth Rams defeated Dayton Flyers 71-65. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Dyshawn Pierre #21 of the Dayton Flyers defends against Treveon Graham #21 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament - Championship game at Barclays Center on March 15, 2015 in New York, New York. Virginia Commonwealth Rams defeated Dayton Flyers 71-65. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 24: Jimmer Fredette #32 of the Brigham Young Cougars reacts after being injured during their game against the Florida Gators in the Southeast regional of the 2011 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 24, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 24: Jimmer Fredette #32 of the Brigham Young Cougars reacts after being injured during their game against the Florida Gators in the Southeast regional of the 2011 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 24, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

5. BYU

Seven years ago, the Big East nearly added the Cougars as a football-only member. All these years later, they would make sense as an addition for the opposite reason. BYU has an FBS football program, but plays in the WCC; their football team is an independent. Any move that the Cougars make will not affect their football program in a negative way, making BYU a prime candidate for both the AAC and the Big East.

One thing playing against BYU’s favor is their lack of success in basketball in recent memory. It’s been eight years since Jimmer Fredette suited up for the Cougars, and the team recently replaced coach Dave Rose with former Utah Valley coach Mark Pope. Let’s not ignore the facts; Rose was a successful head coach, but the program seemed to stall in recent years, buried behind Gonzaga in the WCC.

The fact of the matter is that BYU is far off in Utah, and the geography may be a burden on a program that has struggled to field NCAA Tournament quality teams in recent years. They might be a better fit in the AAC, though the conference bump either way would have positive long-term effects for the Cougars. Once they aren’t buried behind Gonzaga, big things could result for a program with double-digit All-Americans in their history. Unfortunately, they might just wind up buried behind Villanova and Connecticut and Xavier and everyone else.

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