Ringing the changes of college conferences

The NCAA is undergoing a major re-alignment in terms of which schools will play their sports in which conference over the next couple of years.

But when do the changes come in to effect? The answer – they already have.

July 1st, 2013, marked the date that not many college hoops fans are too thrilled about, these are all changes that have been made with college Football programs in mind.

The biggest change happening this year to college hoops programs is the introduction of a ‘brand new’ Big East conference. Despite it being named the same, using the same logo and possessing a lot of the same teams as its predecessor (which ran from 1979-2013), this is technically a brand new conference technically coming into effect on August 1st.

Due to sponsorship issues and a failure to structure lucrative TV deals, combined with rumours of a potential ‘Catholic 7’ appearing in years to come, the conference will not include Football although it will still be a multi-sport conference.

Here’s a breakdown of the major basketball conferences and the changes that are set to take place:-

BIG EAST

The Big East that underwent massive changes this year, analysts during March Madness generally summarising that the ‘new’ conference is becoming a lot weaker due to the exits of Syracuse (a decade on from their ‘Melo inspired NCAA win), Pitt and Notre Dame (with Louisville up next). College fans still have some exciting basketball to look forward to though.

The new Big East will contain the so-called ‘Catholic 7’: Marquette, Georgetown, Villanova, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Providence and DePaul but then will also add Butler (without Brad Stephens this year) and Xavier from the Atlantic 10. Although the conference is losing some famous college basketball institutions, it’s arguably becoming more competitive and inter-conference games this season will be exciting to see come November.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Probably the most intriguing of conferences next year seemingly filled with teams that are moving to or away due to no-one particularly wanting them. Cincinnati, UConn and South Florida all join from the old/new Big East. Memphis, Central Florida, Houston and SMU will be taking their programs to the AAC from Conference USA. Temple joins from the Atlantic 10. The AAC will also bring in Tulsa and Tulane in 2014.

ACC

The ACC will is not actually going to lose any schools from its conference this year however will be adding the power-houses Syracuse, Pitt and Notre Dame after their defecting from the Big East Conference. Louisville are set to switch sides like the three other former Big East teams but not till next season, giving them one last season in the conference they’ve called home for decades. The Louisville move has been dependant on Maryland (a surprise package in last year’s tournament) moving to the Big Ten.

MOUNTAIN WEST

The MWC looked like it was going to get raided. After an epic season that included a huge upset against the Kansas Jayhawks, the TCU Hornfrogs have moved to the Big 12 via the Big East, and Boise State and San Diego State both looked set to hop across to the Big East in a move that was orchestrated purely for Football reasons. Due to the termination of the old Big East however the teams are staying where they are for now.

ATLANTIC 10

The A-10 will undergo some radical changes, especially at the top of the league. Temple is off to the AAC, Butler and Xavier are Big East-bound, Charlotte is headed to Conference USA, and George Mason is joining the conference from the CAA. The A-10 will also be adding Davidson for the 2014-2015 season.

CONFERENCE USA

If you want to confuse yourself into submission go online and try to figure out what changes are actually occurring to Conference USA!

With supposedly the greatest potential draft class for over a decade however the NCAA, I’m sure, will be hoping that the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker light up college hoops to the point where the confusion of conference shifts and changes falls down on the agenda of college hoops fans this season.