UConn a part of Big 12 expansion talk

The Big 12 is about to talk about UConn again. But this time, it won’t be a secret.

Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reported Monday that the league’s expansion negotations will be high on the agenda at the Big 12’s meetings this week in West Virginia.

Dellenger was the first to report that UConn was brought up as a possible expansion target at league meetings in March by Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.

Gonzaga is reportedly another school on Yormark’s list, even though the school, a longtime basketball powerhouse, does not play football. UConn defeated Gonzaga in the Elite Eight in March for the second time on the way to the Huskies’ fifth national title. Gonzaga has made eight Sweet 16 appearances since 2015.

Dellenger reported the Big 12 gathering “is expected to focus on Yormark’s desire to grow the league to as many as 16 members.”

So far as commissioner, Yormark got a long-term television deal last fall with ESPN and FOX and was able to move Texas and Oklahoma out of the league a year earlier than scheduled than their departure for the SEC.

At the forefront of the Big 12’s expansion talk