The Future A10 Thread

[Bill Russell]

If Dayton isn't included in the new Big East, I don't think I'd be in a huge hurry to accomodate them by adding midwestern schools. It would seem likely that Dayton would constantly be crusading to get out of the A10, so catering to their short term needs wouldn't be a high priority. If, however, the league could raise the exit fee substantially to guard against more schools leaving, then I'd be all about western expansion. Frankly, I'm really hoping the BE takes UD because I want Richmond to remain in our league.

[stevex]

Detroit and Valpo would seem to be attractive and possibly Western KY. or Evansville.

[Moliva]

Originally Posted by vcurams05

As a recent CAA member I do not like the current direction of GMU's program. They don't seem to have the leadership in the athletic department to take them to the next level. They completely wasted any opportunity they had post Final Four. They finished 5th in a miserable CAA this year.

Agree. And I'm a Richmond fan. And I just agreed with a VCU fan.

[rosceaux]

Originally Posted by RF1

As a Rhody fan I don't like that lineup one bit. We would lose the closest member (UMass) and add three southern teams where we already have a pretty good representation. The southern division would be in a very compact geographic region where they could probably bus to very game while the north would cover a large area requiring increased travel.

I think RF1's biggest gripe is that in the north/south split, he has uncovered another Catholic conspiracy to isolate and conquer a public institution. That's how we took over Europe.

Ratzinger is trying to leave before his cover gets blown.

[res]

Originally Posted by Deleo

The only two I am noticing to the north right now are Bucknell and maybe Northeastern.

Northeastern? As the kids say today, meh. And Bucknell ain't goin' nowhere. The administration places an overwhelming importance on the academic integrity of the athletics program and the alumni overwhelmingly agree. They are happy in the Patriot League and there they will remain.

[antboy]

Originally Posted by bobo

Maybe Siena (but they're so terrible now) or Northeastern but they just had 1900 people show up to their last conf game of the year...AND THEY'RE IN FIRST PLACE.

Take the best programs available that want to play in the A10. Whether that be Wichita, Detroit, GMU or Murray State. Taking bad programs and hopping that putting them in the A10 will improve them is how you end up with Fordham. Do not repeat that mistake.

Agreed on Northeastern. But Siena has much better local support and infrastructure options than Fordham even though they're in the MAAC (not exactly banner teams coming in to draw fan interest, but they still get the crowds). They've struggled since they lost McCaffrey (now coaching at Iowa), but they've had good teams prior to McCaffrey, so it's possible someone else could come in and have success.

No argument about the climate though, Albany weather sucks and Charleston is beautiful.

[Deleo]

Originally Posted by Moliva

Agree. And I'm a Richmond fan. And I just agreed with a VCU fan.

Watching Miami you can't help but think that GMU was all about Jim Larranaga. Once he left the show was over. It makes you realize how lucky VCU and Butler are to have Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens. They are great coaches who seem relatively content where they are.

[vcurams05]

Originally Posted by Moliva

Agree. And I'm a Richmond fan. And I just agreed with a VCU fan.

Ha. Our dislike of Richmond on gameday does not compare to the hatred of all things odu.

[SBUfan]

Originally Posted by stevex

Detroit and Valpo would seem to be attractive and possibly Western KY. or Evansville.

The problem with Western Kentucky is that they have FBS football.

[vcurams05]

Originally Posted by Deleo

Watching Miami you can't help but think that GMU was all about Jim Larranaga. Once he left the show was over. It makes you realize how lucky VCU and Butler are to have Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens. They are great coaches who seem relatively content where they are.

Shaka has been a different cat going back to his college days. Turning down opportunities from Harvard, Brown and Yale to play at DIII Kenyon College. he then saw what happened/is happening to former VCU head coaches Jeff Capel and Anthony Grant. His style also lends itself more to players with a chip on their shoulder than superstar blue chip recruits that he would need say at a Florida or UCONN. How many of those guys would want to be on the floor 37 minutes regardless of wins and losses.

Yes we are lucky.

[ramMan]

Originally Posted by stevex

Detroit and Valpo would seem to be attractive and possibly Western KY. or Evansville.

Scratch Western Kentucky. They have an FBS football program. And Evansville, well, is Nowheresville. The nearest major city, Louisville, is 120 miles away.

I like Detroit for a lot of reasons. They've made the NCAA Tournament three times in the last 15 years (including last year) and have a good shot at making it again this year. During that span, they've advanced to the second round twice (1998 and 1999), and, in 1977, Dickie V led them to the Sweet Sixteen. Their on-campus arena, Calihan Hall, seats 8,295. In addition, Detroit is the 11th largest TV market (per Nielsen), and the school has the only Division I program in the city.

Valpo...interesting choice. Good school, good program, passionate fans...but its location hurts them. I went to a game there a few years back, and although it's only 55 miles from the Loop, the drive there from Chicago seemed like forever.

[RF1]

Originally Posted by Bill Russell

If Dayton isn't included in the new Big East, I don't think I'd be in a huge hurry to accomodate them by adding midwestern schools. It would seem likely that Dayton would constantly be crusading to get out of the A10, so catering to their short term needs wouldn't be a high priority. If, however, the league could raise the exit fee substantially to guard against more schools leaving, then I'd be all about western expansion. Frankly, I'm really hoping the BE takes UD because I want Richmond to remain in our league.

If it were certain that Dauyton was staying, I would agree that it makes sense to add another team out in its region. I would suggest Detroit or Cleveland State.

[RF1]

I would think all these teams could possibly be in the mix.

Cleveland State
Detroit
Siena
Northeastern
Boston University
Fairfield
Delaware
George Mason
Charleston

Several factors would need to be weighed:

Recent on court men's hoops success
Attendance
Facilities
Basketball Budget
Market (hopefully new)
Geographic relationship to other members (with emphahsis on who remains in A-10)
School Type - Public/Private/Religious (maintain a healthy mix)

[e-parade]

So why are a bunch of people still expecting UMass to leave? MAC all sports would be too costly for the Olympic sports, and would be a downgrade in basketball even with the watered down A10.

The Big East football schools are in no rush to add us. If they add another school, it will most likely be Tulsa - UMass is just far too weak of a football program, and brings nothing in terms of recruiting territory.

What would the other options be, outside of the status quo?

[Simms]

Originally Posted by e-parade

So why are a bunch of people still expecting UMass to leave? MAC all sports would be too costly for the Olympic sports, and would be a downgrade in basketball even with the watered down A10.

The Big East football schools are in no rush to add us. If they add another school, it will most likely be Tulsa - UMass is just far too weak of a football program, and brings nothing in terms of recruiting territory.

What would the other options be, outside of the status quo?

Good lord do I hope you are right. As much as your one poster makes me insane, if live for Umass to stick around.