Big 12 stays at 16

UConn and Gonzaga won't be joining the Big 12, so where's that leave them? Plus, an exclusive interview with AJ Dybantsa and an interview Trentyn Flowers probably wishes he had back.

Author

Sean Paul
August 17, 2023

The dream of UConn and Gonzaga joining the Big 12 appears to be just that. Maybe it’s a good thing?

Let's dive in.

1. Big 12 basketball won’t add Zags, UConn

The Big 12’s been the best overall basketball conference the last few years, taking the top spot in KenPom’s rankings in all but two of the past 10 years. It’s produced two of the past three national champions and placed a team in the Final Four in five of the past seven tourneys.

It’s adding programs, too. Houston, Cincinnati, BYU and UCF join this season, while Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah arrive in 2024-25. Among the eight newcomers, two are bona fide powerhouse programs, while the rest have had an average ranking among the top 75 teams at KenPom over the last 10 years.

Then the chatter about Gonzaga and UConn potentially joining the Big 12 gained steam, and the thought of a powerhouse conference seemed possible.

Or not.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark on the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast explains, "I did have conversations with UConn and Gonzaga, and unfortunately, things didn't work out, only because the dream scenario unfolded for us, so those conversations are no longer.

"I'm a big admirer of both of those programs. They're fantastic for all the right reasons, but I'm focused on the transition of those four [new schools] right now."

Also notable? Yormark called college basketball “undervalued,” a sentiment that many are glad to hear as college basketball’s best interests rarely get mentioned during realignment conversations.

Where does that leave Gonzaga and UConn?

Well, right where there are now. And that’s not a bad thing.

Gonzaga has a complete stranglehold over the West Coast Conference, winning at least a share of the regular season title in 11 straight seasons. That’s not ending anytime soon. As for UConn, it may be missing out on significant football revenue, but the basketball benefits of playing in the Big East are substantial. They did just win a national title.

Perhaps once all eight newcomers are fully added into the Big 12 — or Yormark needs to build media interest — reports will start surfacing again. But until then, it’s just the Big 16.

2. AJ Dybantsa’s staying in class of 2026 (for now)

If there’s one player who could dislodge Cooper Flagg as the top prep player, regardless of class, AJ Dybantsa is that guy.

The 2026 wing was a marvel at Peach Jam this summer, displaying the ability to score from all three levels with plus athleticism. So what else does the 16-year-old from Brockton, Mass., think about his rise? Jeff Goodman discussed that and more with Dybantsa.

Some notable nuggets:

  • Dybantsa is headed to the West Coast to join Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif., located thousands of miles away from Brockton. But he’s keeping his East-Coast mindset: “East Coast basketball is better than West Coast. It’s more grittier and tougher over here, but more skilled over there.”

  • On the unofficial title of top player regardless of class: “Personally, I don’t care. I always told people it doesn’t matter where you’re ranked. I know if I’m number one I’m doing something right, but if I’m not I know where I stand regardless.”

  • Last week, Flagg was reclassified into the 2024 class. Will Dybantsa follow suit? “As of right now, I’m 2026 so that’s where I’m gonna stay,” He said. As for what comes after high school, Dybantsa promised his mom, “He’ll do at least one year in college.”

Does that mean Dynbantsa is leaning toward spending a season in college rather than playing in the G-League or overseas? We can hope.

3. About that Trentyn Flowers interview …

It didn’t take long for Trentyn Flowers to discuss his departure from Louisville.

The former Cardinals commit, who will now play in Australia for the Adelaide 36ers, laid out his decision, what his short stay at Louisville was like, and more on 35KYSports. He didn’t mince words.

Did Flowers leave Louisville in a rough spot considering he told the staff about 36 hours before he announced it? Not from Trentyn’s point of view.

“If this opportunity had come closer to the season, we never would have made it,” Flowers said. “But we’re three months out. Louisville still has the time to do whatever they need to do on their end. We were respectful of everyone else’s time.”

“As far as timing, we’re on God’s time,” his dad, Travis, added.

But it’s hard to deny this shakes Louisville a bit.

Flowers says he’s called coach Kenny Payne “about seven, eight calls and he still hasn’t returned one of them back,” but Payne is now scrambling to fill a roster spot. He built this roster assuming Flowers would slide into the starting lineup from day one. To hear in mid-August that you’re leaving is tough.

It’s not Flowers’ job to build the Louisville roster, but this feels a bit insulting: “We’re three months out. Louisville still has the time to do whatever they need to do on their end.”

If Flowers's decision to leave Louisville stems from uncertainty about his role, it’s understandable. Players should always feel like their best interests are being served, as long as they realize it’s part of a larger team structure. But there’s a difference between feeling comfortable and having unrealistic expectations about their role. (And understanding what to tweet.)

Flowers stated he hopes Adelaide will help develop him into the next Josh Giddey or LaMelo Ball. The only issue? Seemingly nobody projected him to play point guard in the NBA until the past few days. Giddey and Ball are two of the NBA’s best passers in the NBA; both played point guard for years. Unless you have the basketball acumen and playmaking to run an offense, the point is moot. I’m really rooting for Flowers to become a high-level point guard, who rises on draft boards, but I’m skeptical.

This is a tough break for Payne and Louisville and one that will certainly be evaluated if the season goes awry.

Much ado about Purdue

After Mike Miller’s dive into Purdue’s 2023-24 credentials, it seemed like a good time to surface their Offseason Grades video. Looks like he’s not alone in favoring Purdue. Rob Dauster and Greg Waddell are both in the Boilermakers after their offseason moves.

Links as you turn up Planet of the Bass.

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