:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9326391/20130116_kkt_sb4_466.0.jpg)
The Big East has announced through a press release that the seven non-Division-I football schools are officially separating from the rest of the league to form their own basketball conference. The split will become effective on July 1, 2013.
"I am pleased that this agreement has been reached," said Big East commissioner Aresco. "With the long-term well-being of our outstanding institutions and their student-athletes of paramount importance, each group worked through a number of complex issues in an orderly, comprehensive and amicable manner marked by mutual respect. We part ways as friends and colleagues and look forward to the success of both conferences."
The presidents of the schools that comprise the so-called "Catholic 7" - a group comprised of St. John's, Seton Hall, Georgetown, Villanova, Providence, Marquette and DePaul - released the following statement:
"We are grateful to Commissioner Michael Aresco for spearheading an agreement that truly represents the best path forward for each of our great institutions and the thousands of student-athletes who compete for our schools annually. It is a great credit to Mike, our colleagues, and all involved that we were able to work through a host of highly complex and time-sensitive issues in such a short period of time. We are pleased that we reached this amicable and mutually-beneficial separation by approaching each issue with a spirit of cooperation and shared respect."
I don't know if it was intended that way, but the "Michael" reads pretty contentiously. Is contentiously a word? I'm not getting a red squiggly line so let's quickly keep marching on.
Contrary to reports on Thursday that "America 12" was the favorite to become the new name of the old Big East...or the new Big East...or whatever you want to call the conference Louisville will be playing in next season, Aresco says that a new name has not been chosen, and that there are no leading candidates.
I am 100% in favor of this happening.
The leftover Big East teams should call themselves the Catholic 7 just to mess with everyone.
— Sean Keeley (@NunesMagician) March 8, 2013
I couldn't be more over all of this. I want the last Big East regular season championship tomorrow, I want the last Big East Tournament championship a week from tomorrow, and then I want a national championship on April 8. Next year, just tell us where to go and who to play.