RE: Mid Majors with Final Four Potential
If I was creating an 8-team "Big West" (I'm aware of potential naming conflicts, this is just to show connection with the Big East), I go with the following (in a first off the top of my head order:
Denver: Private school, Catholic, good metro area. Like Creighton, dominant in a sport other than basketball (adding diversity to conference alignment), though hopefully other programs in the west or north would add hockey to compete against them.
Gonzaga: Private, Catholic, but far away in a fairly small metro area. Great at basketball, capable of spending money, and remarkably consistent.
Saint Mary's: Private, Catholic, travel partner to Gonzaga. Strong, but not as nationally relevant as Gonzaga. Important to provide some travel allowances for Gonzaga.
Loyola-Chicago: This is a head-scratcher, so bear with me. Loyola has fit, but would contrast with DePaul in their city; this would be solved by having DePaul as an Eastern conference member. The main problem is that they haven't been good at basketball for a very long time. But they recently moved up to the MVC despite being bad in a weaker conference largely because they showed they have both the money and desire to get better. They have a $400,000.000 endowment, and rank #101 in US News rankings, and they have history (a national title) and they also fit well with the conference. I think they'd be a good sleeping giant addition (can't hire every school based solely on current records, because those will change!)
Saint Louis: Quality program on the rise, also has institutional fit and a close proximity to Creighton. Obviously doesn't need as much explaining as Loyola-Chicago, as they were close to getting a first-round invitation.
Creighton: Because they'd probably on the Western Side.
Bradley: Another "sleeping giant" program, could potentially be somewhat close to either Butler (if in the West) or Loyola though they are the first non-Catholic school on this list. Not quite as highly ranked academically as Loyola but still has a $200,000,000 endowment and strong history (2 time runner-up in the NCAA).
Wichita State: An optional pick you've probably heard too much about. Not the greatest of fits as they are a public school, but very strong program. While the overall attendance is lower than Creighton, the money made is about the same and programs are roughly similar in performance (Creighton more consistent but without the post-season success, Wichita State with greater peaks but lower valleys and fewer post season appearances). They would be the second best pure basketball pick to bring in. They'd be travel partners with Denver in this scenario (not extremely close but it is something!)
Butler: May or may not go to a hypothetical western division.
Dayton: Also an obvious possible addition, along with Saint Louis. Very strong attendance numbers, program not as strong right now but with potential to improve.
Seems like there are plenty of schools to look from.
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