Houston Chronicle and Joseph Duarte Report Big 12 Back Talking to Gonzaga
HOUSTON, Texas – Here in Houston the arrival of the Oklahoma State Cowboys for their game with University of Houston was not the only development with regards to the Big 12. Reporter Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the conference is back interested in discussing membership with basketball blueblood and mid-level Division I program Gonzaga.
Duarte reported that the Big 12 presidents are expected to meet next week to discuss expansion. His source told him that the league is once again talking about and to Gonzaga.
The league's presidents could vote on whether to add Gonzaga, the source told Duarte and the Chronicle. It is unclear if commissioner Brett Yormark has enough support to add Gonzaga to what already is the strongest men's basketball conference in the country.
Yormark has long been infatuated with adding the Zags with their national and, located on the west coast in Spokane, even international appeal on the hardwood. On top of that, Yormark has stated his feeling that basketball television rights are vastly undervalued and believes he can make more than most anticipate by separating the negotiations on television rights, conducting the negotiations separate with heavyweight football and men’s and women’s basketball.
Any vote before June 30, 2024, would require approval from nine of the 12 schools. Texas and Oklahoma are no longer voting on league issues. Once the Pac-12 “four corner” schools in Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah will officially join the conference on July 1, 2024 and then 12 of 16 votes would be needed for approval.
This could be a skirmish between Yormark and his bosses, the Big 12 presidents. I have not asked, but my guess is Oklahoma State would have to be convinced to add yet annother hoops power program and one that is so far off the now national Big 12 footprint.