Big Ten leader Kevin Warren discusses basketball’s role in conference realignment
Big Ten Conference commissioner Kevin Warren, who played college basketball two seasons at Penn (1981-83) and two more at Grand Canyon University (1984-86), spoke at Big Ten media days Thursday about basketball’s role, if any, in conference realignment.
His response could be of interest to KU supporters. Some have wondered if KU might someday leave the Big 12 for say, the Big Ten, in response to the decisions of Oklahoma and Texas to depart for the SEC.
Here’s the exact wording of a realignment question to the third-year Big Ten leader at the start of the combined men’s and women’s Media Days in Indianapolis:
Q: “We hear a lot of talk about football and academics. From your viewpoint, what do you see the role of basketball when it comes to potential realignment, teams moving here and there? What role does basketball play in some of those decisions?”
“Basketball plays an important role. It’s a very popular sport,” commissioner Warren said. “I just know from the overall college landscape people are passionate about basketball.
“Especially I think what you’re going to see this year, because you’ve seen it in football, we always have had passionate fans of college athletics, passionate Big Ten fans. It seems like there’s an elevated passion this year. That is one of the things I’m looking forward to, is to be able to enjoy that as we get back into our arenas (following season of Covid-19 restrictions).
“But I think from a basketball standpoint, that is a big component from kind of conference structure, realignment standpoint, is the importance of college basketball. I think people are going to see that this year. The interest from a fan standpoint. There is a lot of pent-up emotion. People are looking forward to seeing our student-athletes play and our coaches coach,” Warren added.
Realignment talk has quieted a bit at this time following the Big 12’s decision to add Cincinnati, Houston, BYU and Central Florida, as well as the Big Ten’s decision to form an alliance with the ACC and Pac-12.
Asked if he could share any thoughts on the alliance, Warren said Thursday: “I think the biggest thing is it was done and the rationale for it was to kind of steady and stabilize college athletics. I strongly believe since we announced it you’ve seen some stabilization from that.
“Although we will work together from a scheduling alliance with the Pac-12 and ACC, there’s so many other things that you’re going to start seeing us amplify — issues around social justice, around diversity, equity and inclusion, mental health and wellness, academic components.
“We want to make sure we stabilize college athletics. We work together. Yes, we build a scheduling alliance together, but we also bring to the forefront so many different things that our student-athletes are passionate about, that they want to talk about, that they deserve a platform to discuss. Now instead of us only doing it in the Big Ten Conference footprint, now we go from 14 schools to 41 schools. We go from Boston to Los Angeles to be able to talk about these issues.
“All you have to do, every single day there’s something in the press about the mental health of our student-athletes. I think we’ll be able to work together through this alliance and help our student-athletes to work together to address a lot of these issues,” Warren stated.
About movement in Big 12
SI.com’s Kevin Sweeney, in a personal Q and A with Warren, asked the question: “On realignment, the Big 12 has been a basketball power. When you see movement happening in a league that you’re competing with, what does that do for your mindset in how you position the Big Ten in basketball?”
Warren’s answer: “I think it’s critically important. When you look at all of our coaches in the Big Ten, and all of our student-athletes, we have a really strong conference. We have the best coaches. We have the best student-athletes.
“I think it’s important now, especially as conference realignment occurs, there are going to be some great opportunities for our young people to play some really good basketball. People want to come to the Big Ten. People want to play in the Big Ten. The success we had last year I think will serve as a launching pad for this year.”
‘I adore basketball’
Warren was asked about the return of college media days and college basketball games with fans after a year of restrictions involving COVID-19.
“This is my first basketball Media Days. I was a college basketball player. I love college athletics, every sport. But I adore basketball. It’s good to be back in the arena (Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of Indiana Pacers) here. It was so enjoyable to watch our student-athletes play last year.
“So I’m excited about this season. I love our coaches. I love our players. We have great teams. I just can’t wait to get the season started.”
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 2:28 PM with the headline "Big Ten leader Kevin Warren discusses basketball’s role in conference realignment."
