The reconfigured Big East officially got three new members on Tuesday - Butler, Creighton and Xavier - and will start play next season with its tournament at Madison Square Gardena and a lucrative broadcasting contract from Fox. 

The reworked league, put together after a split with the old Big East was completed earlier this month, will feature the so-called Catholic 7 schools from the old conference plus the three new arrivals.  

Together, the basketball-oriented schools have a 12-year deal with Fox worth about $600 million.

Providence, Georgetown, St. John's, Villanova, Marquette, Seton Hall and DePaul broke away from the old conference in search of stability, which was badly lacking as the football members kept leaving for other leagues.

They feel they've found kindred spirits in Butler, Creighton and Xavier, all private schools with fewer than 8,000 students.

The new schools joining the league can play a little  basketball too.

Creighton is in its seventh NCAA tournament in 13 years. Xavier was one of only eight schools in the country to make at least seven straight NCAA appearances before missing out this season.

And Butler played in the national championship game in 2010 and '11.

Butler and Xavier are leaving the Atlantic 10, while Creighton departs the Missouri Valley Conference.

 Creighton is the furthest west member of the newly formed league in Omaha. The Bluejays bring a strong overall athletic program, loyal fan base and attractive arena.

And Creighton may not remain by itself in the middle of the country - the Big East is open to potentially adding more members in the future.