Big East expansion?

This may sound far-fetched and considering it came from the New York Post it just may be, but is the Big East in a position of strength when considering future expansion to 9 or 10 teams?

According to the Post, two sources say the Big East would like to expand to nine teams if it can get ... wait for it ... an ACC team to bolt. The likely schools? Maryland or Boston College. This is a big step up from others who have been mentioned (East Carolina, Memphis, Central Florida, Army, Navy) as likely Big East expansion partners.

The Terrapins and Eagles seem a bit of a stretch for the Big East, especially when you consider the money the ACC is making these days and the academic profile that comes with being in that conference.

Look a little deeper and you can see the logic.

Maryland has always played Big East teams in non-conference tilts and Gary Williams would add another big-name coach to the best basketball conference in the country. Boston College has learned that the jump to the ACC may have been a bit shortsighted. In the down economy the Eagles have learned that traveling up and down the East Coast for soccer and softball aren't fiscally responsible. BC also has many more natural rivals in the Big East.

So is this a pipe dream or realistic in the near future?

"I think we've proven ourselves over the last three or four years," said new commissioner John Marinatto. "I think we are in a much better position."

Maybe this isn't so far-fetched.