Smoke your cigars and enjoy the band while you can....

[Pete]

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2010/05/to_be_big_or_not_to_be_big_ten.html


Charlie Niebergall / Associated Press

While the impact of any Big Ten expansion on the conference's football product dominates the conversation by fans, the quality of the available basketball programs -- such as the national power Kansas Jayhawks -- could be a determining factor in who is brought into the Big Ten tent.

THE BASKETBALL INFLUENCE
One perhaps underplayed factor in considering expansion candidates are the men's basketball programs. The Big Ten Network shows about 35 to 40 football games each year, compared to about 105 men's basketball games.

Live programming is the lifeblood of any network, and with most of the best football matchups taken by ABC and ESPN, the most high-profile BTN games of the year are often basketball games.

While Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers and Notre Dame were the schools mentioned by one recent radio report as the main targets of the Big Ten, don't dismiss Connecticut, Syracuse and Kansas, with their basketball success playing a part.

“TV networks buy content, and sometimes they overpay for content,” CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell said. “The Big Ten Network has some nice programming, but let's not kid ourselves. The games are the candy, and basketball is a great content provider.”

Rovell agrees that basketball hasn't been mentioned enough in the expansion discussion. In particular, it could matter in the chase for the New York market, seemingly an obvious goal in Big Ten expansion.

While Rutgers is a larger school, with 26,000 students compared to 16,000 for Connecticut and 12,600 for Syracuse, the Connecticut and Syracuse basketball teams might be the best bets to attract viewers and subscribers in the New York area.

How is this impacted by the reality that KU and KSU will NEVER be separated?   Honest question.

[ben ji]

The Mop Marches On
Janitors say no end to strike until KU and MU are in same conference again

[jtksu]

"Tailor Maid"  Maids and seamstresses unite in the fight to keep KU and MU rivalry alive, tidy, and well ironed.  "I just can't imagine that, when I finally finish making payments on my season tickets, that my alma mater may not even be in the same conference as our rivals" says Sarah Thomas, a former KU salutatorian and current employee of an exotic maid service.

[OregonSmock]

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2010/05/to_be_big_or_not_to_be_big_ten.html


Charlie Niebergall / Associated Press

While the impact of any Big Ten expansion on the conference's football product dominates the conversation by fans, the quality of the available basketball programs -- such as the national power Kansas Jayhawks -- could be a determining factor in who is brought into the Big Ten tent.

THE BASKETBALL INFLUENCE
One perhaps underplayed factor in considering expansion candidates are the men's basketball programs. The Big Ten Network shows about 35 to 40 football games each year, compared to about 105 men's basketball games.

Live programming is the lifeblood of any network, and with most of the best football matchups taken by ABC and ESPN, the most high-profile BTN games of the year are often basketball games.

While Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers and Notre Dame were the schools mentioned by one recent radio report as the main targets of the Big Ten, don't dismiss Connecticut, Syracuse and Kansas, with their basketball success playing a part.

“TV networks buy content, and sometimes they overpay for content,” CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell said. “The Big Ten Network has some nice programming, but let's not kid ourselves. The games are the candy, and basketball is a great content provider.”

Rovell agrees that basketball hasn't been mentioned enough in the expansion discussion. In particular, it could matter in the chase for the New York market, seemingly an obvious goal in Big Ten expansion.

While Rutgers is a larger school, with 26,000 students compared to 16,000 for Connecticut and 12,600 for Syracuse, the Connecticut and Syracuse basketball teams might be the best bets to attract viewers and subscribers in the New York area.

How is this impacted by the reality that KU and KSU will NEVER be separated?   Honest question.

There's no concrete evidence that KU will be required to bring little sister of the poor along with us.  I think it would actually be a good thing for K-State if they went to the WAC and got out of KU's shadow.  Establish an identity besides the other school in Kansas who never wins anything significant. 

[jtksu]

Wow, that elite eight/second round loss thing is just kiiling you, isn't it?

[OregonSmock]

Wow, that elite eight/second round loss thing is just kiiling you, isn't it?

[The42Yardstick]

To be honest, nobody outside of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, or Oklahoma can tell the difference. The two KS schools are interchangeable in the minds of anyone in Texas or on the coasts, aka where all the media coverage is. The only way Texas ppl can tell the difference is that Longhorn fans are really pissed off by their not holding up their end of the bargain in the CTR except for baseball

Average conversation with average Texan friends that I have had every day for the past month:

  - "I'm going to grad school at Kansas State"

  - "Isn't that where you went your freshman year?"

  - " "

[OregonSmock]

That's funny... I was just talking to some buddies from Colorado the other day, and they were asking me why anyone in their right mind would choose to be a K-State fan when there's a national power like KU in the same state.  It's almost like being a Clippers fan. 

[Rage Against the McKee]

national power like KU  

 

[ew2x4]

That's funny... I was just talking to some buddies from Colorado the other day, and they were asking me why anyone in their right mind would choose to be a K-State fan when there's a national power like KU in the same state.  It's almost like being a Clippers fan. 

LMAO. Oh man. This is awesome.

[jtksu]

Wow, now Ben is concocting "friends" to validate him?  This is really just sad at this point.

[jtksu]

Ben, what did your "buddies from colorado" have to say about your life encompassing obsession with all things KState and (especially) KSU message boards?  It really says alot about you as a man to allow this obsession with something so inconsequential as KSU to totally dominate your world.  Also, do they make fun of KU for losing to UNI, Bradley, Bucknell, etc or is that only funny in the other 49 states?

[deputy dawg]

If you're from Colorado, it's easier being friends with ku fans becaue your football team consistently kicks ku's a$$.  Kind of like our view towards little sis.

[ew2x4]

Guys, I actually live in CO, and people here are way too busy hiking and skiing to care which po-dunk KS school is which.

[OK_Cat]

How many documented cases are there of KSU and KU logos being used interchangibly for national events like bowl games?  I can think of 3 or 4 off of the top of my head.  We're practically the same school, except that EMAW'rs generally smell better.

[steve dave]

Man, BMW wants the Big 10 to like KU really bad 

[Joker]

"Guys, I actually live in CO, and people here are way too busy hiking and skiing to care which po-dunk KS school is which."

I can confirm this.  Really, they don't even care about collegiate sports in general.  When they're not hiking/skiing/eating Granola bars, they're watching Broncos/Rockies/Nuggets.

[Ghost of Stan Parrish]

Placement counselor to BMW:  "I've told you this before, but you really need to remove the bullet points about KU basketball championships from your resume."

[steve dave]

Placement counselor to BMW:  "I've told you this before, but you really need to remove the bullet points about KU basketball championships from your resume."

LOL

[Dugout DickStone]

Placement counselor to BMW:  "I've told you this before, but you really need to remove the bullet points about KU basketball championships from your resume."

"hater!"

 

[OregonSmock]

Personal attacks are the first sign of desperation.  Maybe someday you guys will actually have an accomplishment or two to counter with?  Until then, enjoy that one bowl in six years.

[Rage Against the McKee]

Personal attacks are the first sign of desperation.  Maybe someday you guys will actually have an accomplishment or two to counter with?  Until then, enjoy that one bowl in six years.

And what is your accomplishment? Watching KU win on tv?

[Dugout DickStone]

Personal attacks are the first sign of desperation.  Maybe someday you guys will actually have an accomplishment or two to counter with?  Until then, enjoy that one bowl in six years.

And what is your accomplishment? Watching KU win on tv?

ku kept it within a touchdown this season.  that's pretty good for the 2nd worst athletic program in the Big XII.

[mcmwcat]

Placement counselor to BMW:  "I've told you this before, but you really need to remove the bullet points about KU basketball championships from your resume."

Maybe someday you guys will actually have an accomplishment or two to counter with?

 

[JD Thundercat]

Personal attacks are the first sign of desperation.  Maybe someday you guys will actually have an accomplishment or two to counter with?  Until then, enjoy that one bowl in six years.

It's actually kinda cute. It's like when a little dog gets a bone stolen from it by a bigger dog, but the little dog just keeps trying to sneak it back because it doesn't want to give it up.