With the Big East football media day to kick off on Tuesday, the issue still on everyone's mind is expansion. Sure, the conference has thus far dodged a major bullet with the Big 12 remaining intact, thus potentially delaying major realignments across the country. But the end of the Big East may still be around the corner unless something is done quickly. One of those things could be expansion for the conference itself and with media day imminent, the rumors of potential expansion are rearing their head once again.
A rep from website Kentucky Sports Radio, has gotten the sports world's attention by posting the following on the site's twitter account:
Put this in the "rumor to file away in case it happens category." Usually reliable source tells me Memphis will join the Big East on Tuesday
Most have dismissed the post as not much more than the ramblings we've heard on expansion for the past few months. I don't see this happening tomorrow for the simple fact that it's not been leaked anywhere else. But I do think Memphis is likely on the Big East's radar for schools to approach should it decide to expand.
Now, onto teams actually in the Big East.
Local teams Pitt and WVU are expected by many to figure in the discussion for conference champion. ESPN.com's Big East blogger, Brian Bennett, expects Pitt and WVU to top the conference's preseason poll.
And it appears that even the conference sees it that way, as they've featured Dion Lewis and Noel Devine on their front page for the event's site. Granted, Lewis and Devine are the Big East's two biggest stars, but all signs point to the championship coming down to one of these two teams, which combined to win 19 games a year ago.
Both teams have not only some of the best backs in the conference, but in the nation. Unfortunately for the rest of the conference, that's not all. Each team also boasts significant star power. Pitt has some of the best players in their country at their respective positions in WR Jonathan Baldwin, DE Greg Romeus, and OT Jason Pinkston. WVU counters with WR Jock Sanders, S Robert Sanders, and DT Chris Nield. Without a great defense and the loss of its two best players in QB Tony Pike and WR/KR Mardy Gilyard, reigning champ Cincinnati could be out of the picture.
Only time will tell, though.