The pressure on Big East commissioner Mike Aresco reached blazing proportions when it was revealed the conference’s basketball-first schools met Monday in New York City to discuss their options going forward.

Veteran college sports reporter Mark Blaudschun wrote on his blog, ajerseyguy.com, that the seven current Big East members that do not sponsor FBS football met to discuss “breaking off on their own.”

That particular action is highly unlikely, as it would force all of them—DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova—to pay exit fees and separate from the Big East brand, the league’s long-term contract to hold the championship tournament at Madison Square Garden and all the money due them from other schools’ exit fees and previous NCAA Tournament earnings.

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