Richard Pitino got his father Rick a special present to congratulate him on his 300th win at Louisville this past Monday: A signed picture from the hip-hop star...

quote:

---

“I want to say it is true honor to write this to you,”

---

Pitbull wrote on the photo in addition to lending his John Hancock.

According to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, the new name of the Big East could be something quite patriotic like the "America 12." Let the ripping begin.

The University of Maryland is in serious negotiations to join the Big Ten Conference, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

If Maryland goes to the Big Ten, Rutgers of the Big East is expected to follow suit. The addition of Maryland and Rutgers would give the Big Ten 14 members as the league gears toward negotiations on a new media rights deal when its first-tier rights expire in 2017. Read more here.

According to sources at CBSSports.com, Memphis has accepted an offer to join the Big East Conference in all sports in 2013. Memphis joins three other Conference USA members – Houston, SMU and UCF – for the 2013-14 school year, with an official annoucement coming Wednesday. The Big East also will add Boise State and San Diego State as football-only members in 2013 and Navy in 2015. Man, did that conference go from "decent" to "meh" fast.

ESPN and CBSSports.com are reporting that Navy will announce Tuesday it's joining Big East football in 2015. The Big East wants to end up with a 12-team football conference, split into eastern and western divisions, and hold a league championship game.