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Big East Basketball: 6 potential options to replace UConn if they leave for Big 12

By Joey Loose

Mar 9, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Nahiem Alleyne (4) shoots a three point shot against Providence Friars guard Devin Carter (22) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Nahiem Alleyne (4) shoots a three point shot against Providence Friars guard Devin Carter (22) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Saint Louis Billikens head coach Travis Ford John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Saint Louis Billikens head coach Travis Ford John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

Saint Louis

When you walk into the athletics buildings on Saint Louis’s campus, you aren’t going to see national championship trophies or a slew of fancy awards, but that doesn’t mean that the Billikens wouldn’t be an excellent choice for expansion. Frankly, Saint Louis might be one of the best fits for the future of the Big East, regardless of the Huskies or anyone else departing the league.

First and foremost, getting the Big East into the St. Louis market is a great byproduct of this move. The Billikens have always had a solid basketball program and have been in contention in the A-10 in recent years. They are another non-football school that wouldn’t have to worry about those logistics. Additionally, Saint Louis fits right into the Big East’s footprint and they wouldn’t have to worry about additional travel costs or anything like that.

On the downside, Saint Louis isn’t some program that regularly makes the Big Dance; they’ve only taken 10 trips in their history, including just one in the past nine years. While current coach Travis Ford has been successful, winning at least 21 games in four of the last five years, could this team actually compete against some of the stronger programs in the Big East? They’ve been conference rivals in the past with programs like Butler, Marquette, and Xavier; they can build their program into a competitive force in a newer and tougher league.

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