Wright believes in the idea that being in the Big East will help the incoming programs grow.
"This is something I think we are going to see," Wright said. "All of us, coaches included, have benefited from being in the northeast media and being part of basketball in the northeast, we've all benefited. Everybody that has come into this league has benefitted in basketball and everybody that comes in will benefit."
Georgetown coach John Thompson III said change is inevitable and that when the founders of the conference sat down 34 years ago, they knew that crossroads like this would come sooner or later. Then it would be time to reload and move on. Thompson thinks the conference will take a hit with Syracuse leaving, but the rest of the losses aren't a big deal to him.
"Everyone else leaving in regards to the team's coming in, it's just different," Thompson III said at media day. "… I don't think it will be better or worse. It will just be different."
So what does this all mean for Marquette?
When the Golden Eagles joined the Big East in 2005, its basketball conference was at its strongest. Marquette benefited, and its program took off. Now the school is in a tough spot, simply because it doesn't play football.
"I think a lot of those decisions are football-derived, and I understand that," Williams said at media day. "But I hope that there is some stability relative to things have calmed down, not just in our league but throughout all of the leagues. I think that's probably what's best for college athletics."
What Williams means is he hopes the Big East doesn't lose any more teams. Right now Marquette is still in a good place.
With Connecticut, Villanova, Georgetown and Louisville at the top of the conference and tradition-rich schools like Providence, St. John's and Seton Hall around as well, the Big East is going to be just fine.
Williams' biggest fear is watching the Big 12 snatch Louisville. Or the ACC grabbing Connecticut. That's why he hopes things have settled down.
For its part, Marquette is stuck. With no football program, it isn't going to the Big Ten. But that shouldn't matter. For now, the Golden Eagles are just fine. Big East basketball won't be at the level it was when Marquette first joined up, but the conference will survive nicely if it doesn't take any more hits.
There is opportunity for the programs such as Marquette's that are waiting for their chance to take the next step. And who knows, maybe the Golden Eagles will become next powerhouse Big East team. We'll have to wait and see.
Like Williams said, the future is just too hard to predict.
Follow Andrew Gruman on Twitter
