Iowa state? What does that bring the big 10? Not an elite school to my knowledge and they aren't great in any sport I can think of.
Who cares where the school is located! They are great TV markets and they expand the big 10 brand. If we are going to try and compete with the SEC this is how that's going to happen. Big 10 is now the best conference for basketball I would say.
I hope they add two more schools. Tennessee maybe? Kansas? Someone said North Carolina but I don't see that happening
Back when we had 10 teams and were deciding to add a couple, I thought the logical choices, geographically speaking, (although that idea has had no bearing on conference admissions recently, obviously) would have been Missouri for one and although it would have NEVER happened (for football anyway).....Notre Dame as the other, for basketball. They are always competitive in BB and the Joyce Center is a great atmosphere. But ND makes too much $$$$ with the NBC football contract and will never dissolve that marriage, plus, I would prefer to add teams to the BIG that participate in both football and basketball. Nebraska was a positive addition to further strengthen an already tough football conference. I really anticipated Missouri joining alongside Nebraska and then adding possibly, Kansas, as being one of the teams you mentioned, Ivo. What a BRUTAL conference in BB that would have been! Louisville has become very relevent to college football and their BB program is top tier, of course, and may have been another team who I thought may vault for the BIG, but they have now joined the ACC. There were rumors and speculations that Pitt and West Virgina may join the BIG, too, at one time. Other than the BIG, I don't think I could tell which team is in what conference! So confusing but it's all about the $$$$$! It's going to be interesting how everything plays out. I'm sure we will grow to 16 teams, too. I just wished the BIG would please, for the love of God, change the division names! Leaders and Legends just doesn't do it for me.