Proposed A10 Thread for "Realists"

[Moliva]

OK, lets get real. I assume Xavier and Butler are as good as gone to the Big Priest. Saint Louis and/or Dayton are probably also gone. If one of them isn't invited, they'll probably go seek entry in the Missouri Valley. Umass will go get married to Uconn and their buddies. I also assume remaining A10 membership will not look to throw out any teams because that only really happens on message boards (and Temple Football).

Here was the conference I posted on the SpiderNation board. Take the Xavier Unit Money to lure in Davidson and George Mason. Davidson probably didn't go to the CAA because they saw this A10 Split coming.

(North)
Bona
Duquesne
Fordham
St Joes
Lasalle
Rhody
Siena

(South)
UR
VCU
GMU
GW
Davidson

The 7 north teams draw straws and one of them ends up in the South. Duquesne might be the best bet. Play your divisional opponents twice and each team from the other division once for a 16 game schedule.

I believe this conference could get 3 bids in a great year and 2 bids in most years.

Go back to our roots and play the conference tourney at The Palestra.

Thoughts?

[Bona Wolf for Pope]

Originally Posted by Moliva

OK, lets get real. I assume Xavier and Butler are as good as gone to the Big Priest. Saint Louis and/or Dayton are probably also gone. If one of them isn't invited, they'll probably go seek entry in the Missouri Valley. Umass will go get married to Uconn and their buddies. I also assume remaining A10 membership will not look to throw out any teams because that only really happens on message boards (and Temple Football).

Here was the conference I posted on the SpiderNation board. Take the Xavier Unit Money to lure in Davidson and George Mason. Davidson probably didn't go to the CAA because they saw this A10 Split coming.

(North)
Bona
Duquesne
Fordham
St Joes
Lasalle
Rhody
Siena

(South)
UR
VCU
GMU
GW
Davidson

The 7 north teams draw straws and one of them ends up in the South. Duquesne might be the best bet. Play your divisional opponents twice and each team from the other division once for a 16 game schedule.

I believe this conference could get 3 bids in a great year and 2 bids in most years.

Go back to our roots and play the conference tourney at The Palestra.

Thoughts?

This is why I'm not torn up about the split. I realize why schools are doing it, and I'm sure in a year or two it will make a lot more sense, but I could get behind this conference. We would trim off some of the travel (made even better if we could find another school to bridge to Davidson...I don't know anything about Belmont but they're down there. Edit: Strike this, I was thinking of Belmont Abbey). Or hey, maybe UR likes a northeast centered conference and is happy being the southernmost school.

UR
GW
VCU
GMU
St. Joe's
La Salle

Duquesne
Bonas
Fordham
Siena (can they raise their level?)
URI
Someone? No one if GMU isn't interested?

Not the best conference ever, but we'll still play basketball and probably get a deal similar to what the old A-10 got, once we divide it amongst fewer schools. Plus, I don't want to get into this "claw some other school's eyes out just to make the case for your own school" mindset. I don't know how VCU would feel about this conference as one of the only big publics, and since they were jumping to be with Xavier et. al.

[Moliva]

I really want Davidson in the mix. Adding George Mason is also a priority because it would further wound the CAA and put them in more of a 'life support' mode and less of a potentially predatory mode.

We really must go out and add at least 1 of those teams for me to feel like we are on stable footing.

[Moliva]

Originally Posted by Bona Wolf for Pope

I don't know how VCU would feel about this conference as one of the only big publics, and since they were jumping to be with Xavier et. al.

This is why George Mason needs to be added.

I think i'm speaking for VCU in saying neither Richmond nor VCU considers going back to the CAA as an alternative. Richmond would be looking to go to the Big Priest or be a member of the reformed A10. There are no other alternatives.

[BrownIndians85]

I think VCU leaves one way or another if X, Butler are out the door. St. Louis is gone either due to BE7 or geographical issues. Dayton as well. We don't need to pursue George Mason or any other large public institution. I like Davidson except for locale - it's small and private. If UMass leaves I'd possibly pursue Siena but just as soon stick with 9 schools and wait for a better program to look for a home. (Atlantic) Ten teams, 18 game schedule true H/H. Not to invite ridiculous speculation, but I could also see everyone leaving to find new homes - I've listed those in parens.

UMass (MAC)
URI (America East)
Fordham (MAAC)
Saint Joseph's (Northeast/Patriot)
LaSalle (MAAC)
St. Bonaventure (Horizon)
Duquesne (Horizon)
George Washington (Colonial)
Richmond (Colonial)
Davidson (stays put)

[Bill Russell]

Originally Posted by Moliva

I really want Davidson in the mix. Adding George Mason is also a priority because it would further wound the CAA and put them in more of a 'life support' mode and less of a potentially predatory mode.

We really must go out and add at least 1 of those teams for me to feel like we are on stable footing.

Right on. Davidson and George Mason have to be the first schools on Bernie's list. I'd love to see both schools land in a truly "Atlantic" 10. Sure, the league will lose pop when Xavier departs, but it has seen some very strong programs (Penn State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Villanova, Virginia Tech, Rutgers) leave in the past and, for the most part, found suitable replacements. I'd be careful about Siena. Their off-campus facility and fanbase are solid, but why can't they maintain strength within the MAAC? Still, they should receive serious consideration.

[Bona84]

Originally Posted by Bill Russell

I'd be careful about Siena. Their off-campus facility and fanbase are solid, but why can't they maintain strength within the MAAC? Still, they should receive serious consideration.

Coaches. Siena's strong years were generally with coaches that eventually moved on to higher profile gigs. Don't know much about their current coach, but it has to be difficult to maintain strength in the MAAC, or any conference, when you are a stepping stone for coaches.

[Bill Russell]

Originally Posted by Bona84

Coaches. Siena's strong years were generally with coaches that eventually moved on to higher profile gigs. Don't know much about their current coach, but it has to be difficult to maintain strength in the MAAC, or any conference, when you are a stepping stone for coaches.

Yes, absolutely. However, it's odd to see the depths to which the program has fallen a few different times now. One would think, at that level, that the program would remain in the top half of the MAAC no matter who patrols the sidelines. Compare their situation to that of Saint Peter's, Canisius, Rider, or Marist and it's pretty amazing that they've fallen this far.

[UMass87]

I don't think UMass is likely to go to the MAC all sports. Unfortunately, I think UMass is going to the Big East with Temple. While I like being back with Temple, I don't think the future Big East is much of a conference.

[Bona Wolf for Pope]

I think we should add Drexel. We need more Philly in this league.

[Title_BU]

I think all of this ends well for UMass.

I think it will end up something like...

Cincinnati
Connecticut
South Florida
Central Florida
Temple
Memphis
Tulane
UMass
East Carolina
Old Dominion
Navy
Buffalo

[Moliva]

This thread is about the future A10, not the garbage leftovers of the Big East. Who cares where Umass is going? We just know they're going. Where they go isn't salient to this thread.

[BrownIndians85]

Originally Posted by Title_BU

Buffalo

UB to the BigEAST? Hahahaha.. thanks for the laugh. I needed it. Unless maybe you meant the Bills.

Bill Russell and '84 - I don't like Siena exactly for the reasons you guys allude to in your posts. How has tht school not maintained a level of dominance in the MAAC? If they can't do that, then they certainly aren't A-10 fodder, not even a weakened A-10.

Drexel? Wolf I hope you are joking. They are in the Siena category. I had never read a forum previous to today where Davidson was mentioned, and I really like that idea. So let's take Moliva's assumption that UMass is gone - who auditions for the 10th spot and why should they get it?

GMU is thrown around. I just don't like adding a large public university. Would the College of Charleston warrant any merit?

[Bona Wolf for Pope]

Originally Posted by BrownIndians85

UB to the BigEAST? Hahahaha.. thanks for the laugh. I needed it. Unless maybe you meant the Bills.

Bill Russell and '84 - I don't like Siena exactly for the reasons you guys allude to in your posts. How has tht school not maintained a level of dominance in the MAAC? If they can't do that, then they certainly aren't A-10 fodder, not even a weakened A-10.

Drexel? Wolf I hope you are joking. They are in the Siena category. I had never read a forum previous to today where Davidson was mentioned, and I really like that idea. So let's take Moliva's assumption that UMass is gone - who auditions for the 10th spot and why should they get it?

GMU is thrown around. I just don't like adding a large public university. Would the College of Charleston warrant any merit?

Yes, I was kidding. I didn't extend my post to include Bryn Mawr and Rosemont, but that could have made the sarcasm more evident (though Drexel will soon be playing the roster Mark Schmidt wanted).

I can see GMU to help keep VCU. Perhaps then we would balance with a public up north to go along with URI/replace UMass. I don't like Stony Brook (bogus SBU), but they apparently have money to spend.

Charleston just jumped to the CAA. Let's see how they do for a year or two.

[Deleo77]

Originally Posted by Title_BU

I think all of this ends well for UMass.

I think it will end up something like...

Cincinnati
Connecticut
South Florida
Central Florida
Temple
Memphis
Tulane
UMass
East Carolina
Old Dominion
Navy
Buffalo

Yeah, I don't know about Buffalo, sounds like a stretch. Does anyone think 6 or 7 A-10 schools will partner together and approach these guys as basketball partners? It would be the same junk deal that the BE7 walked away from, but it may be better than a watered down A10. There also wouldn't be any guarantee that it would last for more than a couple of years because UConn and Cinci would leave as soon as they are asked. But maybe they will never be asked. It really depends on whether Clemson and Fla State are invited into the SEC, and that may never happen. So, perhaps it is possible that GW, St. Joe's, Richmond, VCU and URI would consider it (along with UMass). Duq, Lasalle, the Bonnies and Fordham may opt for other conferences because they wouldn't want to step up to funding requirements.