Memphis Will Join Big East
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Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)(NEW YORK) — It looks like Rick Pitino will get his wish. Memphis will announce Wednesday that they will join the Big East in all sports starting in 2013.
Pitino has been on record saying the Big East should pursue Memphis and Temple since they will be losing Syracuse, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh.
Memphis is most valuable to the conference in men’s basketball. The program has made 23 NCAA tournament appearances and has played in two national championship games.
Memphis previously tried to enter the Big East in 2005 when Louisville, DePaul, Cincinnati, South Florida, and Marquette joined the conference, but they were denied.
Memphis will have to pay a $500,000 dollar exit fee to the Conference USA and forfeit their share of television right revenue valued at approximately $6.13 million, according to a league spokeswoman.
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