Majestic Mapp

I'm no insider, so I don't know, but you're probably right. Bottom line, I hope BU is playing in a conference tournament next year.

Majestic Mapp

I'm pretty sure BU is eligible for the NCAA tournament and could receive an at-large bid. I'm not sure if they win the AE regular season if they would get the NIT invite. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong.

Edit: what I said is in the unrankedAE link. Let's see if they are correct.

TerrierNation

Yeah if they win the AE regular season, they should be still eligible for the NIT. Obviously in hoops they have no shot at an at large bid, but in soccer they probably would.

i saw a seawolf once

i love how a poster or two think BU shouldnt pay the exit fee and just wait for the AE to sue. And we wonder why society is going down hill. no regard for rules. It reminds of when the league pressured binghamton to step out of the AE tournement. I think this league and teams in the league have made it clear that they only do what is best for themselves. I agree with it, but they need to man up and do it the right way.

TerrierNation

I would only suggest it as a last resort if the AE sticks with this decision, which has gone against precedent and seemingly surprised BU. Its also a negotiation chip. Why pay a buyout fee if the league sticks you on the way out? Make it more difficult for them as they are doing to BU and make them go to court for it. I don't think it has anything to do with societal problems. The league is making a decision that is tantamount to kicking BU out of the league early. I actually don't blame the league for doing it...I just hope BU plays hardball back and uses whatever bargaining chips they have...one is the exit fee. There are probably a fee others, but its all a negotiation. We will see how it plays out.

TerrierNation

The interesting thing about this sort of policy is it discourages giving the league ample notice. I think BU thought they were announcing this at the right time (for both BU and the league) and saying we will play another year so all schedules remain in tact and then join the PL.

So in the future, if say SBU wants to leave they should announce in May (just like Butler and VCU) that they are leaving immediately and will pay a buyout fee. But that screws the AE from a scheduling and logistical perspective. But it prevents SBU's teams from getting screwed. So strategically the correct thing to do is announce an immediate exit.

AE was smart though in this case. They had two advantages: a) they can survive an early BU exit generally because they still have 8 teams. b) they knew it was likely too late to join the PL.

SBU will be in a much better position to avoid this kind of stuff if they decide to leave.

NotDeadYet

This just seems childish on the part of the AE. If BU teams play in AE conference games all season and win, they are the best of the conference in that season and should be the champion. If they are in the PL next year, so be it. This year they are in the AE.

ecasadoSBU

you don't want a team that is leaving potentially representing you in the NCAA... Better to give a chance to those that are actually staying and will benefit the league more in the long run. Those are the league rules. The AE is not the only league with such a policy either.

It simply was better for BU to leave this year...

__________________
Everything a Stony Brook Fan Needs:

SBU FANS Message Board - http://sbufan.createaforum.com/index.php

I'MASEAWOLF News/Fan board/Blog: http://www.imaseawolf.com/

WUSB.FM - SBU Athletics Radio Streaming & Sports Blog: http://sbradiosports.blogspot.com/

Official Stony Brook Athletics Site: http://www.goseawolves.org/

mainejeff

Yeah, I really don't get why BU had to wait a year to join the Patriot. Bad timing on BU and the Patriot League's part. This should have all been worked out long ago and when BU made the announcement......it should have been to join the Patriot next season. It's not like big money football and TV contracts are involved. And if BU voted for this rule then there really is NO reason to whine about it on their part..........

ccd494

In the CAA at least, the NIT bid is going to the #1 seed in the conference tournament- so not Georgia State or ODU (or Towson or UNCW I suppose) even if they win the league regular season.

UVM Hoop Cat

Exactly this.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

PizzaBox09

I would not be insulted by having Boston represent us in the NCAA tournament just because they are leaving the conference next year. If they earn it they should represent us this year. Let's celebrate the moments they gave us while they were here, there were many epic battles. It seems petty to cry sour grapes at this point. And they gave us Hot Dog and Jesus!!! :-)

__________________
E.C. Rider

Majestic Mapp

Just to confirm what we already know. http://dailyfreepress.com/2012/07/01...ps-in-2012-13/

And it looks like BU is preparing a lawsuit against the AE. Stay tuned.

NU Hoop Fan

+1

I feel bad for Jake O'Brien, but if I'm Jones, I redshirt everyone I can and build for the future. You tell the AE, "fine if we can't compete, we're redshirting everyone and will compete in the PL, enjoy our crappy RPI."

As for this "using the CAA as precedent" crap. The NAC/AE has ALWAYS allowed its teams to compete for titles. Siena won a game in the NCAAs in 1989 as a lame duck. The CAA three competed as lame ducks, so did NU. That's what I call precedent.

Hey, it's within the AE schools' rights to amend the rules, but don't use the CAA (which is the ONLY conference in America to have a by law about it) as "precedent" when your league's precedent is 180 different.

__________________
Today is the first day of the next 86 years!

RF1

I wouldn't assume that BU will want to schedule America East teams in several sports in the near future if they feel they are being dealt with unfairly and AE members are being spiteful. The uglier this becomes (with lawsuits), I would think the less likely it is that BU will have America East teams on its OOC schedules. Leverage is a two way street and you can easily be on either side.