Gents,

I have long contended that UAB would fit real good, alongside bball only programs like UTA and UALR, in the Belt.
I think Benson is building a decent conference using the hybrid model, and adding UAB would make the Belt a good Southern basketball conference. With USA and Troy, UAB will have a great setup in the Belch.
The question is, will the Belch see UAB as attractive? Or are they looking for an all-sports program with that last spot. Does UAB bring anything to the table? How about a UAB/UMASS combo in the Belt.
The Dragons will likely be able to grow basketball, since the other Belt programs are spending on football too.
I understand Watts strategy. They could become a basketball fladship, carrying the SBC flag.

Well, it appears that so far the presidents and most AD'd don't want a CCG. But getting UAB would be ideal to put the Olympics sports at 12 where they could divide into divisions.
But I guess the bigger question is if CUSA is going to go back to 14 or perhaps 16, is the Sun Belt the best option. Maybe the WAC is a better option than the A-Sun or other minor D1 leagues in the area. The WAC may be able to have UAB spread their name around the country. Even then, UAB may also get a couple more team to the WAC so they are split into divisions with Chicago St and UMKC.

As an ODU fan, I wish UAB the best. The WAC may be the way to go.
I wonder how BamaScorpio would like that. This may be his reward for his shenanigans on csnbbs.
Cusa has some good options.

If UAB wanted a home in the SBC I would be pretty confident they would be able to find one.

UAB would be a good add to any conference A10, Big East,or SBC . That is a town that loves basketball and would support a winner.

The Big East won't add a public school, and most likely, won't add anyone until Fox tells them to add someone. Even if St. Louis is the universally accepted as the eventual eleventh member of the Big East, too much of the conference wants a school along the coast as the twelfth member.

The Atlantic 10 would be interesting, but really needs an expansion partner to go alongside UAB. Belmont would be the logical choice, as it is due north of UAB, and somewhat close to St. Louis.

West - Dayton, UAB, Belmont, St. Louis
North - Rhode Island, UMass, Fordham, St. Bonaventure
East - George Washington, Duquesne, St. Joseph's, La Salle
South - George Mason, Richmond, VCU, Davidson

If CUSA were to force UAB out, then the Big South would be a good geographical fit. There is some disparity in the Olympic sports offered by the Big South versus that carried by UAB, but the Big South does have associate members in several sports so some things would have to be worked out. I could see UAB dominating that conference in basketball in most years.

(01-23-2015 05:13 PM)Ralphus Wrote:  Gents,

I have long contended that UAB would fit real good, alongside bball only programs like UTA and UALR, in the Belt.
I think Benson is building a decent conference using the hybrid model, and adding UAB would make the Belt a good Southern basketball conference. With USA and Troy, UAB will have a great setup in the Belch.
The question is, will the Belch see UAB as attractive? Or are they looking for an all-sports program with that last spot. Does UAB bring anything to the table? How about a UAB/UMASS combo in the Belt.
The Dragons will likely be able to grow basketball, since the other Belt programs are spending on football too.
I understand Watts strategy. They could become a basketball fladship, carrying the SBC flag.

Please explain two things. 1st, how does one get -46 rating with a 3 month membership and 2nd) "Gents". What gives?

(01-24-2015 10:40 AM)NewTimes Wrote:  Please explain two things. 1st, how does one get -46 rating with a 3 month membership ...

I'd be guessing that the same deep thinking that is behind calling the Sunbelt the "Sunbelch" may have been behind some other comments sometime in that three months.

The choice is does a UAB/UMass combo work better than EKU or Liberty.

Most of the desired candidates like their current conference better than the Sun Belt.

Missouri state and JMU being the obvious first choices.

UAB has a lot to offer. If they leave CUSA they'll be a welcoming addition to some lucky conference.

(01-23-2015 05:13 PM)Ralphus Wrote:  Gents,

I have long contended that UAB would fit real good, alongside bball only programs like UTA and UALR, in the Belt.
I think Benson is building a decent conference using the hybrid model, and adding UAB would make the Belt a good Southern basketball conference. With USA and Troy, UAB will have a great setup in the Belch.
The question is, will the Belch see UAB as attractive? Or are they looking for an all-sports program with that last spot. Does UAB bring anything to the table? How about a UAB/UMASS combo in the Belt.
The Dragons will likely be able to grow basketball, since the other Belt programs are spending on football too.
I understand Watts strategy. They could become a basketball fladship, carrying the SBC flag.

No one is happy about what is happening to UAB. I don't see a good reason to refer to the Sun Belt as the Belch. It was home to some of the current C-USA members, and some of the fans of our old conference-mates deserve more respect. I think our conferences can enjoy a healthy rivalry without the name calling.

Having said that, if UAB does part ways with C-USA, the Belt would be a decent home for their athletics. I think UAB should explore the Missouri Valley first, but the Belt would certainly be a good option.

The Sun Belt doesn't need divisional play in basketball, but at least it makes for decent travel pairings:

App State/Georgia State
UAB/South Alabama
Troy/Georgia Southern
Louisiana/ULM
UALR/Arkansas State
UTA/Texas State

If anyone west of US 29 leaves to take UAB's place in C-USA, then bring on a different travel partner for App State.


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There is no such conference.

(01-24-2015 01:03 PM)MJG Wrote:  The choice is does a UAB/UMass combo work better than EKU or Liberty.

It does if the thinking is that EKU is not ready, Liberty is not desired, and the Sunbelt wants to expand to a CCG right away.

Thing is, there's no indication that the Sunbelt wants to "expand for the sake of getting the CCG", and without that, it could be better to wait until a good all-sports school becomes available.

Indeed, if they wanted to expand FB to 12 with UMass, they could expand BBall to 12 "in-house" by inviting NMSU all-sports. That would tend to improve Sunbelt BBall as well.

Quote: Most of the desired candidates like their current conference better than the Sun Belt.

That's the Go5 realignment universal ... "I don't want to join a club that will take people like me as a member" ... most of the schools you would like don't want to join, and most of the schools that want to join are not appealing adds.

It kinds of goes with the fact that the majority of the adds were you want to add them and they want to join ... have already been made and those are your membership.

Quote: Missouri state and JMU being the obvious first choices.

Missouri State not sure about moving up ...
... and JMU the example of the flip side of wanting to be in clubs that show no strong interest in JMU as members ... "holding out" for an all-sports bid from CUSA, the American, or maybe as a Plan C, the MAC, two of whom have shown no interest in JMU and one of which seems to have JMU on a list as a possible 14th, with no compelling number 13 in sight.

(01-23-2015 05:13 PM)Ralphus Wrote:  Gents,

I have long contended that UAB would fit real good, alongside bball only programs like UTA and UALR, in the Belt.
I think Benson is building a decent conference using the hybrid model, and adding UAB would make the Belt a good Southern basketball conference. With USA and Troy, UAB will have a great setup in the Belch.
The question is, will the Belch see UAB as attractive? Or are they looking for an all-sports program with that last spot. Does UAB bring anything to the table? How about a UAB/UMASS combo in the Belt.
The Dragons will likely be able to grow basketball, since the other Belt programs are spending on football too.
I understand Watts strategy. They could become a basketball fladship, carrying the SBC flag.

1. ODU fans probably shouldn't talk Sun Belt Smack until they actually contribute something other than further proof that defenses are non existent at the FBS Level.

2. Half of your current league were former SBC Members...including UAB.

3. SBC is not a basketball league. I do not see us making a run at UAB without football because basketball does not have the popularity in administrations over here to make a big dent. Now, if UAB was to look at starting football back, this would be an entirely different story, and the league might add them if there was even a sniff that they might go that route simply because with football, they are a major value to the league.

(01-24-2015 09:36 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 01:03 PM)MJG Wrote:  The choice is does a UAB/UMass combo work better than EKU or Liberty.

It does if the thinking is that EKU is not ready, Liberty is not desired, and the Sunbelt wants to expand to a CCG right away.

Thing is,

Quote: Most of the desired candidates like their current conference better than the Sun Belt.

That's the Go5 realignment universal ... "I don't want to join a club that will take people like me as a member" ... most of the schools you would like don't want to join, and most of the schools that want to join are not appealing adds.

It kinds of goes with the fact that the majority of the adds were you want to add them and they want to join ... have already been made and those are your membership.

Quote: Missouri state and JMU being the obvious first choices.

Missouri State not sure about moving up ...
... and JMU the example of the flip side of wanting to be in clubs that show no strong interest in JMU as members ... "holding out" for an all-sports bid from CUSA, the American, or maybe as a Plan C, the MAC, two of whom have shown no interest in JMU and one of which seems to have JMU on a list as a possible 14th, with no compelling number 13 in sight.

That's my point. Basketball is not really a major money maker to the league. UAB does not turn us into a 2 bid basketball league, it just copies what CUSA essentially already is, a decent 1 bid league.

If the league is going to go after basketball, it would make more sense to go with the full court press approach and go after New Mexico State, UAB, and Missouri State, which would increase our chances of 2 NCAA bids greatly.

The SBC situation is complicated. Really, I think the only team with enough support for an invite right now is Missouri State, who is not publicly pursuing FBS yet. I think JMU would have the votes as well, but that might have changed after they spurned us. Otherwise, the best options out there all have significant draw backs, or are blocked by a league member (See Jacksonville State)

If I was completely honest, I'd take Liberty, simply because I want football and baseball to be our major sports. Flames are strong at both. I just don't think SBC President's will go for it just yet.

The A-10 has 14 members, and it is my understanding not looking to expand. The OVC has 12 members, also not looking to expand. If the Sun Belt was interested in adding another non-football program, however such a conference would require too much travel for UAB. IMO the UAB Administration is not going to spend money on their olynpic sports going forward, expect further cuts. They will take the cheap way out, and unfortunately that means joining the A-Sun or SoCon.

The A-Sun and SoCon offer UAB the least amount of travel miles and costs. (A-SUN - FL, GA, TN, KY, SC / SoCon - GA, NC, SC, TN, VA) Following the losses of Davidson and Charleston, the SoCon is likely hungry for another basketball program that offers a name with some tradition.

I wouldn't be suprised if the UABOT would ultimately prefer to see UAB athletics die on the vine, and if they cut too many sports the SoCon will not be an option. That would leave the A-Sun as the best option and a step in the direction of killing UAB athletics.


just my .02

TX

(01-24-2015 08:20 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  The Big East won't add a public school, and most likely, won't add anyone until Fox tells them to add someone. Even if St. Louis is the universally accepted as the eventual eleventh member of the Big East, too much of the conference wants a school along the coast as the twelfth member.

The Atlantic 10 would be interesting, but really needs an expansion partner to go alongside UAB. Belmont would be the logical choice, as it is due north of UAB, and somewhat close to St. Louis.

West - Dayton, UAB, Belmont, St. Louis
North - Rhode Island, UMass, Fordham, St. Bonaventure
East - George Washington, Duquesne, St. Joseph's, La Salle
South - George Mason, Richmond, VCU, Davidson

The divisions you've drafted there look very tight.

I don't think Belmont has the D1 tradition that the A10 usually likes to see. UAB definitely has D1 tradition and name recognition as a high mid mid major program.

Speaking of SoCon expansion:

I don't the SoCon is an option for UAB. The four private schools will push for two more private schools to get to six public and six private. The SoCon is also at 9 for football and 10 for basketball and would gain nothing unless if moving to 12 members.


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