Conference Expansion: Explosion Coming? - Page 100 - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

mainejeff · 01-17-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBOsbu

Surely, with BU gone to PL, UVM, SBU, Albany arent going to help sell out Ryan center either. IF URI really want to leave A-10, I see them joining CAA where their football is already part of, before considering AE.

I agree that URI could end up in the CAA.....especially with a beautiful hoops facility and Hurley are the helm. They would be VERY attractive to the CAA at this point. NO WAY that they stay in a decimated A-10 minus UMass.

The problem is numbers........the CAA will most likely have 4 spots up for grabs (assuming that JMU leaves for an FBS conference).

The candidates for those 4 spots would be:

URI
Fordham
GW
Richmond
Davidson

There's no doubt in my mind that Davidson and Richmond are IN under that scenario. Fordham is next in line IMO because of football (Fordham has gone on record that they want to improve their football program and the CAA hurts Patriot football in the process). That leaves URI vs. GW for the final spot. GW has the advantage with academics and geography..........URI has the advantage with facilities, fan support, mid-sized public and their CAA football affiliation. Hoops wise.......they are pretty equal. Short of UMass or UConn......I don't think that the CAA wants any part of anymore schools from New England. I could be wrong though.

iBOsbu · 01-17-2013, 11:03 AM

Why do you think Davidson would rather go to CAA than A-10? They were invited to CAA, and they declined. Either they are happy to be the big fish in SoCon basketball or they are waiting for an invite to A-10. I just dont think they are interested in CAA.

I am sure Fordham will rather join PL than CAA, if they ever want to leave A-10.

And since we are all speculating here, I dont see any conferences folding. Big East will still be there albait weaker, probably with a new name and giving up on western front. Catholic 7 will form a new conference with 12 members. A-10 will be weaker. CAA will be weaker. PL will be stronger. MAAC will be weaker. AE will not change and good chance of adding a couple from NEC. NEC will add NJIT.

ccd494 · 01-17-2013, 11:22 AM

I'd still rather be in the rump A-10 minus Dayton than in the CAA. Especially if I am GW, Richmond, URI, St. Joe's. Those, plus GMU, are probably the most attractive hoops schools in the "left out" pile. Why would 4/5 leave the A-10 for the CAA? Sure, St. Bonaventure isn't an attractive conference mate. But at least Fordham is in NYC (it doesn't move the needle there at all, but it's there). LaSalle and Drexel are probably a wash. Duquesne is a geographical outlier, but Pittsburgh is an easy get, travel wise, and certainly no worse than getting to Charleston or Wilmington.

I still think that GMU would want to move, and would be interested in the intra-DC metro battle against GW. Northeastern could eliminate some travel, add a bus trip to Rhody, have an easier get to get to Fordham than Hofstra, add a second Philly school. Delaware gets that second Philly rival (third if Drexel goes with).

It just seems like people are hung up on St. Bonaventure (which won the conference last year, don't forget). One bad trip doesn't make a bad conference.

**El Shaqtus** · 01-17-2013, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccd494

I'd still rather be in the rump A-10 minus Dayton than in the CAA. Especially if I am GW, Richmond, URI, St. Joe's. Those, plus GMU, are probably the most attractive hoops schools in the "left out" pile. Why would 4/5 leave the A-10 for the CAA? Sure, St. Bonaventure isn't an attractive conference mate. But at least Fordham is in NYC (it doesn't move the needle there at all, but it's there). LaSalle and Drexel are probably a wash. Duquesne is a geographical outlier, but Pittsburgh is an easy get, travel wise, and certainly no worse than getting to Charleston or Wilmington.

I still think that GMU would want to move, and would be interested in the intra-DC metro battle against GW. Northeastern could eliminate some travel, add a bus trip to Rhody, have an easier get to get to Fordham than Hofstra, add a second Philly school. Delaware gets that second Philly rival (third if Drexel goes with).

It just seems like people are hung up on St. Bonaventure (which won the conference last year, don't forget). One bad trip doesn't make a bad conference.

Bonaventure is a difficult trip I will grant you. At this point as a SLU fan, I guess it would make sense to ask if there's room here for us? Many SLU fans, me included, think Fr. Biondi will find a way to screw this up.

umainealum · 01-17-2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Shaqtus

Bonaventure is a difficult trip I will grant you. At this point as a SLU fan, I guess it would make sense to ask if there's room here for us? Many SLU fans, me included, think Fr. Biondi will find a way to screw this up.

Good question...seems like it may come down to 2 of the 3 of SLU, VCU and Creighton. That said, if Creighton left the MVC, would SLU be the logical choice to replace them? That's a really solid league as well. Who else would they target if not SLU?

**El Shaqtus** · 01-17-2013, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by umainealum

Good question...seems like it may come down to 2 of the 3 of SLU, VCU and Creighton. That said, if Creighton left the MVC, would SLU be the logical choice to replace them? That's a really solid league as well. Who else would they target if not SLU?

Saint Louis pissed off a lot of Valley schools and fans when they left the MVC. Since Evansville is more likely than not going to the Horizon, the Valley may not replace Creighton at all with 2 going.

Confused yet?

uvm4life20 · 01-17-2013, 11:54 AM

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the A10 brand name. Whether the A10 is stronger than the CAA or not after defections the brand name is def a lot stronger. I think that will have some sway.

umainealum · 01-17-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Shaqtus

Saint Louis pissed off a lot of Valley schools and fans when they left the MVC. Since Evansville is more likely than not going to the Horizon, the Valley may not replace Creighton at all with 2 going.

Confused yet?

What? Evansville is leaving the MVC for the Horizon? What on earth is the reasoning behind that? I haven't heard that at all and I live in Indiana...LOL.

Binghamtonswag · 01-17-2013, 12:00 PM

Delaware and uri would be the ideal fits for the AE despite how unlikely they are. True long term conference strength comes from pairing like minded institutions and building rivalries off that and those schools are both similar to the schools left in the AE

**El Shaqtus** · 01-17-2013, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by umainealum

What? Evansville is leaving the MVC for the Horizon? What on earth is the reasoning behind that? I haven't heard that at all and I live in Indiana...LOL.

I thought it was odd, but I saw it first when people started pushing Creighton to the Big Priest. Main idea is that if 2 teams left, they would not necessarily have to add anyone to the MVC.

If those 2 leave, I would think SEMO would replace Evansville, and ??? on Creighton.

umainealum · 01-17-2013, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Shaqtus

I thought it was odd, but I saw it first when people started pushing Creighton to the Big Priest. Main idea is that if 2 teams left, they would not necessarily have to add anyone to the MVC.

If those 2 leave, I would think SEMO would replace Evansville, and ??? on Creighton.

Other than probably jumping near the top of the heap, I can't imagine a scenario where Evansville would rather be affiliated with Cleveland State, Wright State, Youngstown State, Green Bay, Loyola, Milwaukee, UIC, Detroit & Valpo over Wichita State, Missouri State, Illinois State, Indiana State, Drake, Bradley, Southern Illinois & Northern Iowa.

And SEMO?!?!? Really??? I thought their entire athletic program was pretty blah.

**El Shaqtus** · 01-17-2013, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by umainealum

Other than probably jumping near the top of the heap, I can't imagine a scenario where Evansville would rather be affiliated with Cleveland State, Wright State, Youngstown State, Green Bay, Loyola, Milwaukee, UIC, Detroit & Valpo over Wichita State, Missouri State, Illinois State, Indiana State, Drake, Bradley, Southern Illinois & Northern Iowa.

And SEMO?!?!? Really??? I thought their entire athletic program was pretty blah.

SEMO sucks. That is a given.

umainealum · 01-17-2013, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Shaqtus

SEMO sucks. That is a given.

I know this doesn't pertain to Conference expansion, but seeing as you are posting here, I was wondering how everything was there in regards to the passing of Rick Majerus. As a huge college basketball fan, I really enjoyed him, listening to him talk, watching him coach so it was a very sad day for me when that happened and it caught me by surprise. Was it a surprise there?

**El Shaqtus** · 01-17-2013, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by umainealum

I know this doesn't pertain to Conference expansion, but seeing as you are posting here, I was wondering how everything was there in regards to the passing of Rick Majerus. As a huge college basketball fan, I really enjoyed him, listening to him talk, watching him coach so it was a very sad day for me when that happened and it caught me by surprise. Was it a surprise there?

Not really a surprise here. When he announced that he was taking the leave, most of us feared the worst right there. Rick was a great leader, and one of the sharpest minds around. Jim Crews has filled in admirably under the circumstances.

umainealum · 01-17-2013, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Shaqtus

Not really a surprise here. When he announced that he was taking the leave, most of us feared the worst right there. Rick was a great leader, and one of the sharpest minds around. Jim Crews has filled in admirably under the circumstances.

Tough scenario for Crews...glad to hear he is doing ok. Majerus was great and is definitely missed. Best of luck to you and SLU. Hopefully all this conference realignment crap works out for you guys.

01-17-2013, 11:03 AM	#1487 (permalink)
iBOsbu 6th Man Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 256 Rep Power: 1795	Re: Conference Expansion: Explosion Coming? Why do you think Davidson would rather go to CAA than A-10? They were invited to CAA, and they declined. Either they are happy to be the big fish in SoCon basketball or they are waiting for an invite to A-10. I just dont think they are interested in CAA. I am sure Fordham will rather join PL than CAA, if they ever want to leave A-10. And since we are all speculating here, I dont see any conferences folding. Big East will still be there albait weaker, probably with a new name and giving up on western front. Catholic 7 will form a new conference with 12 members. A-10 will be weaker. CAA will be weaker. PL will be stronger. MAAC will be weaker. AE will not change and good chance of adding a couple from NEC. NEC will add NJIT.

01-17-2013, 11:22 AM	#1488 (permalink)
ccd494 Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,255 Rep Power: 216493	Re: Conference Expansion: Explosion Coming? I'd still rather be in the rump A-10 minus Dayton than in the CAA. Especially if I am GW, Richmond, URI, St. Joe's. Those, plus GMU, are probably the most attractive hoops schools in the "left out" pile. Why would 4/5 leave the A-10 for the CAA? Sure, St. Bonaventure isn't an attractive conference mate. But at least Fordham is in NYC (it doesn't move the needle there at all, but it's there). LaSalle and Drexel are probably a wash. Duquesne is a geographical outlier, but Pittsburgh is an easy get, travel wise, and certainly no worse than getting to Charleston or Wilmington. I still think that GMU would want to move, and would be interested in the intra-DC metro battle against GW. Northeastern could eliminate some travel, add a bus trip to Rhody, have an easier get to get to Fordham than Hofstra, add a second Philly school. Delaware gets that second Philly rival (third if Drexel goes with). It just seems like people are hung up on St. Bonaventure (which won the conference last year, don't forget). One bad trip doesn't make a bad conference.

01-17-2013, 11:54 AM	#1492 (permalink)
uvm4life20 Star Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 2,659 Rep Power: 18340	Re: Conference Expansion: Explosion Coming? One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the A10 brand name. Whether the A10 is stronger than the CAA or not after defections the brand name is def a lot stronger. I think that will have some sway.

01-17-2013, 12:00 PM	#1494 (permalink)
Binghamtonswag Rookie Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 82 Rep Power: 1	Re: Conference Expansion: Explosion Coming? Delaware and uri would be the ideal fits for the AE despite how unlikely they are. True long term conference strength comes from pairing like minded institutions and building rivalries off that and those schools are both similar to the schools left in the AE

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