Georgetown and its fellow basketball-only schools could be setting up a new conference sooner than expected - and take a very important name with them.

The Big East's seven basketball-only schools expect to begin a new league this fall and keep the "Big East" name, ESPN.com reported.

Georgetown, St. John's, Villanova, Marquette, DePaul, Seton Hall and Providence announced on Dec. 15 plans to part ways with the conference's football members. According to ESPN, Atlantic 10 program's Butler and Xavier are also expected to join the new look Big East next season.

With the expected departures, Notre Dame could join the ACC in 2013 instead of its planned 2014 exit. If the Irish cannot make the move next season, ESPN reports they could join the "Catholic-7" for next season.

The basketball-centric league could eventually reach 12 members. Other A-10 programs including St. Louis, Dayton, VCU and Richmond among the rumored schools. SI.com suggests Creighton out of the Missouri Valley is in the lead should the conference seek a 10th member by next season.

One big unknown; which conference gets Madison Square Garden for its postseason tournament, though the SI.com report puts the basketball-only schools in the lead. Should the Georgetown faction keep the 'World's Most Famous Arena" under its banner, huzzah huzzah.