Perhaps even more important is the deadweight that will be dropped with the move. RPI killers like Alabama-Birmingham, Charlotte, Texas Christian, Southern Mississippi, Tulane, Houston and East Carolina.

As far as the women are concerned, joining ranks with the Huskies is a dream. Connecticut is, bar none, the best women’s college basketball program in the country.

“First of all, UConn and Notre Dame have won national championships,” sophomore point guard Carolyn Kieger said. “Nobody in Conference USA has accomplished that. It will really help our recruiting. People would say to me that C-USA was not as strong as conferences like the Big Ten, but now that’s not going to be the case.

“Obviously, UConn is the best and to be able to play the best is awesome. In order to be the best and to get where you want to be, you have to play the best. We have not had that opportunity before. Growing up watching them and now being able to play there is great. I’m ecstatic.”

It won’t just be the basketball teams benefiting from this move, however. Coupled with last year’s Final Four appearance, exposure in major eastern markets such as New York, Pittsburgh, Hartford and Washington, D.C., will do wonders for Marquette’s name recognition and wallet.

The Midwestern Trinity of DePaul, Notre Dame and Marquette also make this writer salivate. Having the Irish as a conference opponent will free up a home-and-away so the Golden Eagles can add another top-notch opponent to their schedule from the SEC, Big XII or Pac-10. With the team’s strength of schedule getting such a tremendous upgrade, the door is opened for a possible match up with crosstown Wisconsin-Milwaukee.