Big 12 Reportedly Still Looking to Expand with New Gonzaga Talks

Expansion looked to be on pause for the Big 12, but it appears the conference wants to get even bigger.

Last year, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark met with Gonzaga about potentially adding the basketball powerhouse to the already hoops-heavy conference. Then, during this summer’s realignment frenzy, Yormark said he had more discussions with the West Coast Conference mainstay, as well as fellow basketball giant Connecticut.

Those talks never led to a formal offer to join the Big 12, with Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah ultimately joining the conference. At that point, Yormark said the Big 12 was done expanding “right now.”

But now, about a month ahead of the college basketball season, the Big 12 has restarted talks with Gonzaga about joining the conference as soon as next year, according to The Messenger. Yormark reportedly made his case for the school in Dallas at last week’s Big 12 meetings.

Fuel To The Fire

Adding Gonzaga would take the Big 12 to 17 basketball members, possibly reviving talks with UConn to get the conference to an even 18 hoops schools. The Huskies are currently independent in football.

UConn won last year’s men’s NCAA Tournament, while the Big 12’s Kansas and Baylor won the previous two men’s titles. 

This year, the conference added 2021 Final Four participant Houston. Arizona has been a top-2 seed in the previous two men’s NCAA tournaments.