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Big 12 expansion: Future additions still being discussed

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•09/10/21
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(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Boise State and Memphis are being discussed by the Big 12 as possible additions in the second round of expansion, according to CBS Sports.

From the sound of Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, the conference may not be done adding teams just yet.

“I wouldn’t suggest this is the last move we make. We’ll look for situations of opportunity when they present themselves,” Bowlsby said at a Friday press conference via Zoom.

Boise State, if it joins, would be a travel partner with BYU in the Big 12. Memphis would add another quality basketball program to a league that currently has: Cincinnati, Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Texas Tech.

Boise State football

In 2006, Boise State had one of its best seasons in the program’s history and first made waves on the national stage. The Broncos finished 13-0 after stunning Oklahoma 43-42 in overtime of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

The game was remembered as one of the most thrilling finishes in college football history. Boise State needed a hook-and-ladder play to send the game into overtime.

Then in overtime, Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky famously handed the ball off to running back Ian Johnson in a Statue of Liberty play to win the game.

It was a heart-stopping college football finish for the ages.

Memphis Basketball

Memphis basketball just signed two of the highest profile basketball recruits in the school’s history: Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates. The two uber-talented prospects are expected to help the Tigers make a NCAA tournament run this year, and possibly beyond that.

Bates was the Tigers’ sixth commitment of their 2021 recruiting class, following Josh Minot, Sam Ayomide, John Camden, Johnathan Lawson, and Jalen Duren.

The 6-foot-9 small forward chose the Tigers over the NBA G-League, Oregon, and Michigan State, where he was originally committed.

Many recruiting analysts have said Bates is the best high school basketball prospect since LeBron James. He was even drawing comparisons to Kevin Durant by age 16.

As for Duren, he looked like one of the most dominant big man prospects the game has seen in quite some time. He’s drawn comparisons to Bam Adebayo and Chris Webber.

According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Duren turned down a $2 million offer from the Australian NBL.