Seven more schools have decided to leave the Big East Conference, a move that would diminish the 33-year-old league that still includes the University of Connecticut, ESPN reports today.
DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova have jointly agreed to leave the conference as a block and their departure throws into question who would keep the Big East name, ESPN is reporting, citing sources. Four of the departing schools are Big East charter members. Two other founding schools, Boston College and Syracuse, have left or are leaving, ESPN says.
The exodus of so many schools from the conference would leave UConn as the Big East's only founding member remaining and throws into question the standing of some of its sports programs, including football, the Hartford Courant reports.
The nationally recognized women's basketball program, run by Geno Auriemma, would likely not be impacted by the Big East shakeup, the Courant reports.
