Notre Dame men’s basketball coach Mike Brey today said if the seven Catholic, non-FBS Big East teams break off from the conference, Notre Dame’s exit from the conference could be expedited. The school is scheduled to leave for the ACC for the ’14-15 season, but Brey said, “If this thing completely breaks, I have a feeling we will have the out to go and join the ACC next year. … My sense is with what’s going on right now it could expedite us and Louisville to the ACC next year. So stay tuned.”
Brey acknowledged that Notre Dame was a part of earlier discussions about becoming part of a new national Catholic conference before agreeing to join the ACC. He said, “One of things that was discussed, and we were part of the discussion, was more of a national Catholic conference. So don’t count Gonzaga out or maybe a St. Mary’s, and then you come back through with a St. Louis or a Xavier or a Dayton. I think that will be part of the discussions and think Gonzaga will be part of that” (“ESPNU College Basketball,” ESPN.com, 12/13).
