SmashMouth

A little more than two weeks ago, Tulane president Scott Cowen heralded the Green Wave's decision to join the Big East Conference in 2014 as the biggest athletics news in his tenure.

Now it seems like many of the reasons Tulane wanted in the league might be leaving. ESPN reported this morning that DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova -- are "close to a consensus on what they want to do next" regarding leaving the league.


Tulane University President Scott Cowen and Director of Athletics Rick Dickson hold a Big East Conference banner during a press conference at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center in New Orleans Tuesday, November 27, 2012. Tulane University announced during the press conference that it will join the Big East Conference in all sports, beginning in the 2014-15 season.
Brett Duke, Times-Picayune/NOLA.com It looks as if the seven basketball-minded schools will flee the Big East.

The schools do not have football, but are the signature basketball members of the league. The conference is in the process of losing some big-name basketball schools like Syracuse and Louisville -- universities that are headed to the ACC. Syracuse will join in 2013 and Louisville in 2014.

The defections have major implications for the Green Wave, which is leaving Conference USA to go to the Big East -- something that was widely considered a step up despite the instability of the league. Here is a good story breaking down the legal and financial implications of the proposed defections.

Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson is wrapped up in board meeting this morning but might be available for an interview this afternoon, a Tulane official said. A call requesting comment from men's basketball Coach Ed Conroy was not immediately returned.

Big East Conference shifting again, clouding the league before Tulane joins it in 2014 | NOLA.com

QBREES9

Is their still a Big East ?