The Big East break-up between the Catholic basketball-based schools and those that play FBS football is a done deal.

The competition to land spots in a new league with those illustrious programs is just getting started.

The exit fees, departure date and a verdict on who gets the Big East name and Madison Square Garden for a conference tournament are yet to be determined. However, Georgetown, Marquette, DePaul, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova are forging their own path and are considering a few Atlantic 10 schools and a handful of other teams as potential members, according to multiple media outlets.

College basketball analysts believe the new league will consist of either 10 or 12 teams. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Xavier and Butler are sure things, while Dayton has been prominently mentioned as a logical fit. Other candidates include Saint Louis, Gonzaga, Creighton, VCU and St. Mary’s (Calif.).

“It shows that our name really is appreciated and, as a program, we’re in great shape,” UD coach Archie Miller said. “The current Atlantic 10 is an awesome league. If things change, we’ll do what’s best. Either way, we’re in a great place.”

Schools with an invitation to join the new league likely would leap at the opportunity. Along with an enhanced schedule and increased exposure, they’ll get a substantial bump in TV revenue. Each program is projected to rake in more than $1.5 million annually, compared to the roughly $350,000 doled out by the A-10.

“We’re getting ready for the toughest Atlantic 10 season we’ve ever enjoyed. We’ve got our heads down and are focused on that,” UD Athletic Director Tim Wabler said. “We’re certainly monitoring and are aware of everything that’s going on around us, but we’re not going to discuss any speculation about that.”

Dayton would have much to offer a new league with a large fan base, an impressive arena and consistent postseason success with five straight trips to either the NCAA tourney or NIT.

Plus, while Dayton is ranked only 63rd nationally as a TV market, the Flyers have a greater presence in that footprint than most schools located in larger cities. This year, 27 of 30 Flyer games will be televised.

“If it were me, they would be perhaps my second or third call,” said Mike DeCourcy, the respected college basketball reporter for The Sporting News. “I know what Dayton basketball is. I know they’ve got excellent facilities. I know they’ve got probably the most loyal fan base in American sports. And they’ve got a solid market. It’s not huge, but it’s got a nice size. I think there’s great value in that.”

The Flyers can feel somewhat secure if the league grows to 12, DeCourcy said. “Then the competition would be less fierce than a cage match between Dayton and Saint Louis, say.”

He doesn’t see the conference extending itself to the West coast.

“As attractive as Gonzaga is — and they’re a wonderful program — why would anyone want to go all the way across the country to play them on a regular basis?” he said. “It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

UD has had across-the-board success in athletics, but that’s not expected to be high on the criteria list. Although being a Catholic university could help, it’s not as important as basketball pedigree.

The stakes are high, of course. Being left out probably means the Flyers would lose their chief rival in Xavier, and the Atlantic 10 would be without some top-end teams.

But Ted Kissell, the former UD athletic director who has been watching the developments closely, believes the Flyers would still be competing in a quality conference even with a couple of defections.

“It was a multi-bid league before Butler and VCU came aboard this year. All the analysts said the Atlantic 10 was the big winner this summer with all the movement,” he said. “As a result of those strong additions, the Atlantic 10 doesn’t want to absorb a blow, but they can absorb one — as long as it’s not too great of one. It’s a good league.”