There are already plans to handle a possible over-abundance of applications to the university due to the conference switch.

"We plan to be much more selective in our admissions process in the coming years," Blust said. "And we do not plan to lower academic standards for student athletes coming in either. We like the philosophy of the Big East in that they have strong academic standards as well as quality athletics."

The move to the Big East should increase the enrollment from a number of places where the media exposure normally would not have been. In 2005, the 16 teams fielded in the Big East will represent roughly 25 percent of the television sets watched in America, as well as over 27 percent of the population of America, said Mike Tranghese, commissioner of the Big East conference at a press conference Tuesday.

Marquette believes it will see a long-term financial benefit from the move to the Big East Conference.

"Obviously a move to the Big East will create a larger revenue base for the university," Tracy said. "It will allow alums who are already connected with the university the opportunity to become even more involved. Plus we look for it to raise the interest of alums whom may not be so involved right now. We saw a huge resurgence in alum participation due to the recent success of our athletic department, especially the men's basketball team. We feel this will be the same type of thing.

"A move to the Big East will certainly afford us more television exposure as well. But it is more of a long-term thing; we are not moving to the Big East Conference until 2005."

There are no ideas for specific fundraising events at the moment, due to the large window of opportunity to plan for them, according to Tracy.

"When the time comes we will start looking at those things," Tracy said. "Until then we will continue to raise money as we have in the past."

The move has created a buzz throughout the Athletic Department.

"This is an exciting opportunity for our university and will allow our fans in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and across the nation to see and support not only Marquette basketball, but all of our sports," said Athletic Director Bill Cords in a Nov. 4 press release.

"We see this as a truly exciting opportunity for our student athletes, coaches and fans," said University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild at a press conference Tuesday. "It is just a great moment for Marquette University. The possibilities that this opens up for our university are great."