Rhett1

Since the CAA affiliates are likely very happy with their situation, I'd be surprised if they broke from the CAA before the AEC had 6 full members playing football. When you hit that magic number, the other full members on the outside of the CAA could force their hand, but until then the current 4 football schools would hold the cards over a school like Bryant.

It's possible that if those 4 were strongly in favor of adding a school for AEC full membership and CAA football, they could convince the CAA to add them and push the league closer to the return of divisional play. In any case, I don't see any way Monmouth takes a CAA slot.

Before the latest Patriot expansion, I remember hearing that Monmouth and Marist had sought entry in that league several years ago and were turned down. I wonder if Monmouth would be a football affiliate possibility for that league. Otherwise, I guess Stony Brook's old slot in the Big South is open. The last option is the Pioneer, which would force them to drop all scholarships, so it's probably a last resort.

iBOsbu

That sounds logical. It would help AEC back to 9 teams and CAA football to 12 teams 2 divisions. One of Bryant and CCSU would then be the focus.

ccd494

Maine and UNH certainly care a lot more about maintaining the integrity of CAA football than they do about adding a decent basketball school to the AE.

I don't see them dying on a hill for Bryant or CCSU to get into CAA football.

Aceinthehole

I don't see it as a "sacrifice," if that what has to happen.

How comfortable is Maine knowing that if SBU bolts to the CAA, the league loses its baseball AQ?

Is the AE that happy with a 14-game basketball schedule?

I'm not suggesting the CAAFB-4 need to demand a spot for Bryant and CCSU, but exploring that option may be in Maine's best long-term interest anyway.

mainejeff

There is absolutely NO reason for Maine, UNH, Albany and Stony Brook to do anything about their CAA Football affiliation. They may outlast CAA football sponsorship and fall in America East's lap by default.

mainejeff

By the way........if I were Monmouth, I'd tell the NEC to stick it and lobby AE for affiliate membership in field hockey.

iBOsbu

Why would SBU bolt to the CAA? Its not the same conference it used to be. I think we are at the same level now and if GMU goes to A10, then AEC would be even more attractive than CAA. We are talking as if CAA has 3/4 autobids and parallel with A10. Golden few years of CAA is gone with VCU moving. SBU is happy with its AEC and CAAFB membership.

iBOsbu

If Bryant can find a place for their football (whether NEC, PL or even CAA), I still hope for adding them to AE all sports. Makes sense in many way.

El Shaqtus

Addressing the A-10 part:

The C7 is driving the bus here. If they take Xavier/Butler/Creighton only, I don't think anything changes on the other conference fronts at all (except for the Colonial, who knows the A-10 is raiding them). If SLU and Dayton go to C7 to make 12, that's when the dominoes start to fall. Saint Louis is more or less leaving either way (either C7 or that conference which will remain nameless who plays their tournament at ScottTrade). In terms of the AE, I don't think URI leaves the A-10 either way from the looks of things. The only school that could be "in play" from the A-10 would be Fordham, and you've got a whole lot of basketball better than the Rams.

I would think the AE's chance of getting Rhode Island would be contingent on a meltdown of the A-10 altogether. They would lose X, Butler, Temple, Dayton, SLU, Charlotte, and UMass (which isn't a bad league on its own). VCU becomes the "hot" free agent in all of this...while also "opening" up the Philadelphia schools like LaSalle and St. Joe.

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ccd494

Well, Bryant is godawful in football. It would hurt the CAA's schedule strength. It would also take away a New England non-conference game. And it wouldn't make the Delawares/Villanovas/etc. of the world very happy.

There are other options to add an AE-baseball affiliate and keep the autobid (the NY/NJ Tech schools for example).

I would like Bryant and CCSU in the AE, but I'd rather have Maine in a strong football CAA. And as far as basketball goes, Maine could be in a 1 team conference and still **** up and lose. So, whatever.

Aceinthehole

Bryant just lost to Sacred Heart last night.

The NEC is a mess. Any team 1-11 could win the league this year. March will be wild!

Also, the NEC is still ranked very high right now (#20 in RPI) - which places it ahead of the PL, Ivy, AE, and CAA. Only the MAAC is ranked higher.

UVM Hoop Cat

Ace, since you're around the NEC do you have any idea of what type of injury happened to Garvey Young at Q-Pac? He's missed a ton of games. That's a big blow to their team.

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Aceinthehole

No. QU beat CCSU last night in Hamden But I missed the pre-game on the radio so I didn't get any info. He's was a solid addition to them, but Johnson seems to be their main threat. QU should be on TV a few more times this year though, so I'll post what I hear then.

I do know that SHU has its 2 starting guards out for the year (Evan Kelley and Chris Evans) and yet they beat Bryant and LIU, but lost to CCSU. As I said, it is a wide open race this year.

BTW - the guys at Big Apple Buckets do a great job following the NYC area teams and the NEC, so they are a great source of info.
http://nycbuckets.com/

UVM Hoop Cat

Yeah, not their big scorer but he was starting and easily their best perimeter defender. Looks like he came back last night but only played 6min. Q-Pac was 3-6 w/out Garvey.

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usslider

When are they going to allow Canadian schools to join the NCAA?

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