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

VCU

Connecticut is the only public university in the current makeup of the Big East, meaning VCU would be an intriguing replacement. VCU would become the largest school in the conference, and they’ve already shown that they can be a competitive basketball program, even if that hasn’t come in a power conference like the Big East.

The Rams have been one of the best mid-majors in the nation in the CAA and A-10 since the turn of the century, most notably making the Final Four as an 11-seed back in 2011. VCU has been in 10 of the last 12 NCAA Tournaments and would likely be competitive in the Big East, though they clearly wouldn’t be winning at the same level. Their location also works for the conference, as there aren’t any teams in Virginia and adding the Richmond market wouldn’t hurt for any league.

VCU doesn’t have a football program and they’d certainly appreciate the increased money for their athletic programs. There aren’t really any overwhelming reasons why the Rams wouldn’t be a great fit, aside of course from being a public university. UConn got back into the Big East because of their history, but would the conference consider a new public school, and one that would be competitive in the league’s flagship sport from the beginning?