Conference Hokey-Pokey™: Big 12-Big East Mash-Up?

As always, I try to stay away from speculating on what will happen in the whole conference realignment mess. I have no inside sources. I have no magic ball.

What I have tried to do here is provide a look at the various scenarios that have come into view and see how they would impact Mizzou Baseball in particular. Because here at SimmonsField.com, we don't care a whit about minor sports like football or basketball.

The latest scenario has been been put into play by the surprising announcement this past weekend that the ACC has raided the Big East and grabbed Pitt and Syracuse. And no one's quite sure but what they'll go for U Conn and Rutgers or some other pair of Big East teams next.

The biggest result of this is that the Big East is now looking very vulnerable.

A secondary effect is that a vulnerable Big East provides some interesting options for potential targets for the Big 12. One of the reasons OU and OSU are looking to bail on the Big 12 is that there seemed no viable new members that would keep the Big 12 strong. That has changed.

If the Big East continues to crumble, then TCU, Louisville and Cincinnati will be much more likely to see the Big 12 as a good option. If the Big 12 gathers those lost chicks into the coop, then other targets like BYU and Houston could find the Big 12 more interesting.

The end result of which could be a Big 14 that looks pretty good as a baseball conference.

The remaining 9 original Big 12 teams comprise a very good baseball conference on their own.

We've previously talked about Louisville, Houston, TCU and BYU as schools with baseball programs ranging from mid-range to top 20 contenders.

Cincinnati is one program we haven't previously looked at.

Brian Cleary has been the head coach of the Bearcats since 1997. UC's record during that time is not spectacular. With the exception of a 39-20 record in 2008, they have struggled to reach the .500 mark in a number of seasons, and have only won 30 or more games 4 times in addition to '08. On eof those was 2011, when they finished 30-27, topping off their year by going 2-and-Q in the Big East Post-Season Tournament.

The last time UC was in the NCAA Tournament was in 1974.

In other words, UC would have to gear up considerably to avoid being a perennial cellar-dweller in our fictional Big 14.

But don't forget that Notre Dame, while still clinging to independent status in football, is currently a Big East member in all other sports. If the Big East crumbles, they'll be looking for a new place to land. The Big Ten makes more sense geographically, but the B1G has shown no interest in taking on the Fighting Irish if the football program isn't part of the deal.

All of this may be a moot point by the end of the week, if not the end of today, if OU and OSU jump to the Pac. If that happens, the Big 12 is as good as dead and it's every team for itself.