Big East non-football schools are discussing a possible breakaway. What the possibility could mean for George Mason.

The conference realignment news breaks are far from over. Last night, national sportswriter Mark Blaudschun, was first to break the news about the Big East Catholic schools (non-football members) meeting to discuss the possibility of breaking away on their own. The schools we are specifically talking about here are Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova, and DePaul. The schools met in New York recently to discuss their options and the future of the Big East. CBS followed up and talked about how this could affect schools like George Mason:

"One possibility, a source said, is the non-football members forming a basketball-only league and perhaps inviting other relevant basketball schools without FBS-level football programs to join them -- schools like Butler, VCU, Xavier, Saint Louis, Dayton, George Mason and Creighton."

Did the administration at George Mason see this coming and that's why they passed on A10? Who knows but it's an interesting theory. And how valuable would Mason be to this group when they already have Georgetown corning the DC area market? However, if this actually did happen it would be hard to argue that George Mason didn't come out as the big realignment winner.

With the conference they once knew pretty much gone, these non-football Big East schools are deciding on whether it's worth it to stick around or gamble on forming a knew conference and getting their own TV deal. As the CBS article says, how much TV revenue a new league like that could generate is the biggest question.  But would the extra revenue be worth it to be in what is becoming not much of a basketball conference? The new additions, like Tulane, are pure RPI killers for a conference that was once considered the best in college hoops. This will be a very interesting story line to follow and hopefully one that positively affects George Mason.

UPDATE: CBS posted a nice Q & A article about the Big East situation.

[Image via vuhoops.com]