Perhaps I am reading Ackerman’s comments through my Marianist/Columbia Blue tinted glasses, but:
Geography? Check. Look at a map of the current Big East, and UD is located smack dab in the middle of the other 10 schools.
Commitment to basketball? Check.
Bring fans to MSG? Check.
Catholic? Check.
SLU also checks some boxes, although geography and bringing fans to MSG are somewhat question marks. SLU fans are much more “fair weather” than UD fans. SLU does have the Jesuit angle though lol.