The three Big East schools invited to join the Atlantic Coast Conference are reportedly on the verge of making a move that could indirectly affect GW and the Atlantic 10.

Five Big East schools filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami and Boston College Friday as a last-ditch attempt to prevent the two from bolting to the ACC. But the Miami Herald reported that Miami will accept the ACC’s invitation Monday anyway, with Boston College and Syracuse University to follow.

According “a high-ranking official connected to an ACC school,” the conference would then likely hold a press conference Tuesday to announce the move, which Miami, Boston College and Syracuse reportedly want done by the 2004-05 academic year.

During the Atlantic 10’s annual meetings last month in Amelia Island, Fla., Commissioner Linda Bruno released a statement echoing comments by GW Athletic Director Jack Kvancz that the A-10 will look to expand in order to protect itself amidst the shuffle.

“The Atlantic 10 is one of the premier conferences in the country,” Bruno said. “Its members agree that should the landscape of intercollegiate athletics change, the conference will aggressively pursue adding institutions with outstanding basketball programs in order to maintain the high national stature the Atlantic 10 enjoys.”

That aggressive pursuit could put the A-10 at odds with a Big East conference in transition, as each league will likely look to add schools from the other. The results could significantly strengthen or weaken both conferences.

-Brian Costa