Chicago Sidelines essay: Rethinking DePaul’s move to Big East

By Sean McDonough

When DePaul University left Conference USA for the Big East in 2005-06, the move was generally understood by those who follow sports as a motive aimed to reestablish credibility to DePaul’s sports program, specifically its once-proud men’s basketball program. And since the Big East has historically been prominent in basketball, it seemed like a perfect fit.

But since its exodus from the now-evaporating Conference USA, DePaul men’s basketball has amassed a 25-97 conference record (a .205 win-percentage) in its six years in the Big East. Although DePaul has struggled mightily in with its premier sport since the move, DePaul’s move to the Big East in 2005-06 was certainly in the best interest of the athletic department as a whole, and for the university in general because of major benefits that stem from membership in a major conference, including increased media exposure and association with other member schools who excel in athletics and academics.

Currently, DePaul’s presence in the Big East isn’t entirely beneficial, and the institution and the conference are equally blameworthy.

Read the rest of the essay at Chicago Sidelines