Memphis: Good move for Big East

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Joey Johnston

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 07:31 PM

The University of Memphis will become an all-sports member of the Big East Conference beginning in 2013, according to CBSSports.com, and the move is expected to be announced Wednesday.

Memphis is a familiar foe for the University of South Florida Bulls. USF was a member of Conference USA, along with Memphis, from 1995-2005. The addition of Memphis makes plenty of sense because of geography and the built-in rivalries. The Tigers (national runners-up in 1973 and 2008) bring great value in men’s basketball. USF was 3-17 against Memphis during the C-USA era, losing 12 of the last 13 meetings.

The Memphis football program has not been great for some time, but it will be forced to keep up in the Big East. The Tigers have gone 5-31 since their last bowl appearance, a 41-14 defeat against USF in the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl in 2008.

When the West Virginia-to-the-Big 12 issue is sorted out—and Pittsburgh and Syracuse depart for the ACC in 2014 (if not sooner)—here’s how the revamped Big East lineup will look (with the expectation of winding up with 12 football-playing schools and holding a Big East Championship Game):

The Big East football league

* Boise State (football only in 2013)
* Central Florida (all sports in 2013)
* Cincinnati
* Connecticut
* Houston (all sports in 2013)
* Louisville
* Memphis (all sports in 2013)
* Navy (football only in 2015)
* Rutgers
* San Diego State (football only in 2013)
* SMU (all sports in 2013)
* USF

The Big East basketball holdovers

* DePaul
* Georgetown
* Marquette
* Notre Dame
* Providence
* St. John’s
* Seton Hall
* Villanova