Creighton AD advocates for Wichita State, Gonzaga to join Big East

A quick look at a map shows that neither Wichita State nor Gonzaga are anywhere near the east coast, but that wouldn't stop the Big East from adding both schools if Creighton athletic director Bruce Rasmussen has his way.

The basketball powerhouse conference currently sits at 10 members, but Rasmussen hopes to see it expand to 12 with the Shockers and Bulldogs rounding out the list.

"As a part of the strategic planning exercise the Big East Conference is currently undertaking, the topic of expansion is an agenda item," he told the Wichita Eagle via text message Friday. "While I do not sense a great appetite currently by Big East presidents for expansion, I personally would be an advocate for adding Gonzaga and Wichita State."

The name of the conference can be very misleading, with members residing in such cities as Milwaukee, Chicago, and Omaha. Wichita State certainly fits in that area of the country, but Gonzaga's location in Spokane, Wash., situates the team about as far from the east coast as possible. A road trip from the Bulldogs campus to face Providence would be 2,758 miles one way.

Twelve teams would likely push the conference to adapt East and West divisions to separate the programs. Gonzaga and Wichita State both do not operate football programs, which falls in line with the conference's mandate not to offer the sport.