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The new Big East

Syracuse guard Kris Joseph rises to the rim in SU's 76-71 win over Marquette in 2010. The Golden Eagles are one of five schools which joined the Big East since 2005.
Cuse.com
Syracuse guard Kris Joseph rises to the rim in SU's 76-71 win over Marquette in 2010. The Golden Eagles are one of five schools which joined the Big East since 2005.

The Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry has lost some of its luster for multiple reasons. One, both programs have failed to meet their usual expectations in the past 10 years. Two, they only meet once a year, without a conference joining them together. Conference realignment has taken its toll on classic rivalries like this, and has led to some of the most confusing non-rivalries in college sport (the Civil Conflict: Central Florida and UConn).

However, as football money forced schools to adapt, the Big East set out to find new members that suited its mission: basketball.

"It's almost like you're moving across the country," Fox Sports' John Fanta said. "But never forgetting where you came from."

Moving across the country brought five schools into the Big East in 2005: Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida. Only two of those teams have stuck around. DePaul, after making the tournament in 2004, hasn't been there since. The Blue Demons have gone through multiple coaching changes, and according to "Big East Barroom" podcast host Tyler Cassidy, haven't taken advantage of their market.

"I don't know how a team like DePaul can't figure it out in the Big East. I don't know why the Chicago hotbed hasn't been able to do something for them," Cassidy said. "But a team like Marquette, against better competition, has risen more in the Big East.

The Golden Eagles' claim to fame before joining the Big East was Dwanye Wade, and his national championship in 2003. Since sliding into the conference, Marquette has made 11 NCAA tournaments, and produced multiple pros such as Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder. However, these two additions weren't enough, as more moves forced the hand of the conference eight years later.

When Syracuse, Pitt and Boston College left for the ACC in 2013, the Big East had to find reinforcements. Fanta says they got the best ones possible.

"You have to give credit to the presidents and the administrations across the conference," Fanta said "They figured out a way to bring in three schools that were basketball-first in Creighton, Butler and Xavier who all have won."

These three new addition solidified the Big East as a college basketball staple. Creighton, led by Greg McDermott, has won 20 or more games in 22 of the last 24 seasons. Butler's magical national title game runs with Brad Stevens and Gordon Hayward will forever be the stuff of small-school lore, and Xavier has produced some of CBB's biggest coaching names, in Thad Matta, Sean Miller and Chris Mack.

UConn also flirted with leaving the Big East, going to the American conference in 2013 and winning a national championship in the next year. Cassidy, a lifelong Huskies fan, says UConn was forced out behind the scenes for having football, and the basketball success after was bittersweet.

"When they left, they won the national championship the next year. It was like a 'middle finger' to the Big East," Cassidy said. "Then you realize you're playing East Carolina, Tulane and Temple, and it's like, this isn't the same."

The Huskies rejoined their rightful home in 2020, and now along with Creighton and Marquette, are leading the charge for the Big East in college hoops. Some of the newer kids on the block are now carrying the mantle for the conference.