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Big Ten and Pac-12 are breaking up.

File photo of actor Cruise and his wife, actress Holmes, arriving at 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar party in West Hollywood

Actor Tom Cruise and his wife, actress Katie Holmes, arrive at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar party in West Hollywood, California in this February 26, 2012 file photo. The couple settled their divorce on July 9, 2012 in what her lawyer called a “speedy resolution” to a case that prompted questions over the raising of their daughter and the Church of Scientology. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok/Files (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT PROFILE SOCIETY) (OSCARS-PARTIES)

REUTERS

When they first hooked up, it seemed so right. All the celebrity, all the star power, all that money... together at last. And they looked so cute together, too.

The latest TomKat divorce news? No way, man. This is College Basketball Talk. We’re mooning over the Pac-12/Big Ten split. That’s the one that’s really tearing us up.

Back in December, the two BCS leagues announced an all-sports partnership that promised to bring the thrill of power-conference football and basketball into the new mega-conference era. The primary benefit was to be a scheduling agreement that would add more big games to the early football season. The basketball wouldn’t have been bad, either, and there’s no doubt that the two leagues are amongst the national leaders in the so-called Olympic sports - swimming, track, etc. It would have been a bonanza across the board.

No longer. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the deal is now off. In the words of Pac-12 commish Larry Scott:

“After extensive deliberation and consultation with member institutions, television partners and others, the Pac-12 and Big Ten have decided not to pursue the previously announced plans for enhanced scheduling collaboration across all sports at this time.”

“While we continue to value our close relationship, particularly our partnership in the Rose Bowl, the Pac-12 came to the conclusion that it’s in our best interests to maintain our nine-game conference schedule and maximum flexibility in out-of-conference scheduling. Thus, the Pac-12 decided not to lock into the proposed mandatory 12-game schedule in football.”

Purdue’s handshake agreement to face Colorado in 2016 and 2017 remains intact, Tom Schott, associate athletic director for communication, said Friday.


Yeah, it’s all about football and TV and cash, as usual. But hoop-heads would have enjoyed some hot November/December action as well, from the sound of things. Too bad. Guess it’s back to guarantee games and Turkey Day tourneys. Not so bad, but ah, what could have been.

Eric Angevine is the editor of Storming the Floor. He tweets @stfhoops.