(04-26-2017 02:53 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  Liberty is the best OVC option. Not in Nashville -unlike Lipscomb who would get a Belmont veto- and plenty of money. They are far bigger than anybody in the Big South, and have a budget treble anyone else.

The long run I see the Summit focusing on SIUE to bridge to the little Purdues. SIUE at one point was talking to the WAC, so I know they are less than thrilled by the geography of the OVC. There is ZERO threat for the Summit to lose either of the Purdue schools (IUPUI would need to double its budgets in sports like MBB to reach level tHL is looking for -- that money doesn't exist; and their 263 RPI ... yikes!). Nor WIU, and the four Dakotas are the core. The threats are much greater in losing Denver orOmaha. The exit fee from either could be used to pay the OVC exit fee for SIUE (WAC did that for UMKC).

The school nobody talks about but who has great metrics and is hugely better funded than it's conference is Stephen F. Austin (MBB budget $2.19m, 5 year RPI 88), which is comparable to New Mexico State ($3.00m, 83 RPI). Those would be the best Basketball adds the Horizon could make, since Belmont is unlikely to go anywhere. Travel is another issue here though.

I don't think the Summit has any intention of creating a bridge to WIU and the Indiana schools. At least one of those three will be gone during this round of alignment. Once UND is in the league, when a spot becomes available the Dakota 4 and the hockey schools Omaha and Denver hold a super majority, 6 votes to 3. If they all agree on a candidate school(s) they will get in and Oral Roberts, WIU, and the Indiana schools opinion won't matter. The future of the Summit is in the Great Plains and Upper Midwest.