Gonzaga to the Big 12? Adam Morrison, Dan Dickau on latest conference rumors
Just when Gonzaga men's basketball fans thought conference realignment talk was over, rumors of the Bulldogs joining the Big 12 arose from the ashes on Monday.
In a report from The Messenger, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has resumed talks with Gonzaga about the school joining in all sports as soon as the 2024-25 season. Yormark pitched Gonzaga's inclusion to the league's members during meetings last week in Dallas, a move that took some aback after the commissioner publicly shut down expansion talks in mid-August following the additions of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah.
USA Today reported that Gonzaga would be willing to accept significant financial concessions to make the move possible, similar to SMU's bargain membership in the ACC. Still, the league's members would have to navigate the extra burden of scheduling and formatting the conference tournament with 17 teams.
Of course, money is at the forefront of the latest expansion talks, and while Gonzaga doesn't have football, the men's basketball program has a brand compared to that of some of the top Power 5 programs in the country. Big 12 members aren't thrilled about the idea of sharing revenue with a non-football school, but Yormark is keen on making the Big 12 the best basketball conference in the country.
Former Gonzaga All-Americans Dan Dickau and Adam Morrison unpack the latest Big 12 rumors on the latest episode of the Gonzaga Nation podcast.
Gonzaga Nation podcast produced by Thomas Gallagher.