The Big Great Super Atlantic Midwestern East Conference USA

So it looks like it’s inevitable that the 7 Catholic Big East Schools will break away and form their own conference. CNN/SI is reporting that a new 12 team league will be created with those 7 and 5 additional teams from various other conferences. CNN/SI has their own list but I’d like to offer up 5 that fit the best.

1. Notre Dame – a no brainer outside of the huge dollar downside. It’s a pipe dream but the best fit otherwise.
2. Dayton – no football and regionally a logical fit. A solid mid-major over the past couple years they wouldn’t hurt RPI.
3. Xavier – A BCS team hidden in a Mid-major league. Time to step up in class.
4. George Mason – already recruits on the high end of the mid-majors. The step up in conference would help the cycle of better recruits into a better team.
5. Butler – goes from mid-major to high-major to ???? in 3 years

Other teams that have been mentioned are St. Louis, Creighton, Richmond, and VCU but I’d also like to offer up the idea of taking in LaSalle, Temple, and St. Joseph’s to try and build the big 5 connection in Philadelphia (Penn will always be in the Ivy league).

Taking Notre Dame out of the equation and sorting by most likely the new conference would be comprised of the following teams:

1. Georgetown
2. Marquette
3. St. John’s
4. Providence
5. Seton Hall
6. DePaul
7. Villanova
8. Xavier
9. Dayton
10. St. Louis
11. Butler
12. Creighton

Looking at that list brings two things to mind. First, what do you call it? The Big Atlantic Midwest? Conference USA Part 2? The Great Mideast plus DePaul? Secondly, how does that conference rank amongst the current conferences? It’s would already be in front of the Big East so were starting at 6th. They are better than the A-10 and Pac-12 easily. The SEC? The top 3 are better but is the new conference deeper? The Big 12? It’s close.

Is it possible to create a conference and instantly be the 3rd best conference in College Basketball? If that’s the case I do it, and I do it now.