GoldenWarrior11
Heisman
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Joined: Jul 2015
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I Root For: Marquette, BE
Location: Chicago
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RE: What does Dayton, or anyone else, have to do to get into the BE?
(02-20-2020 12:00 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote: (02-20-2020 10:38 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote: The "draw" of Dayton is not necessarily their top-10 program right now (which is great for the school and their program), but rather their passionate and committed fan base that sells out UD Arena (and travels very well to away games). Gaining another passionate basketball fan base could only help the exposure and reach of the Big East (especially with a school like Dayton, that has many alums in BE markets). UConn's addition clearly helps the "top" of the BE; any additional members need to provide value to the middle (and even help elevate the bottom in some way).
I've said it for years, but I do think it is inevitable that both SLU and UD eventually get called-up to the Big East. The conference reorganized and re-established itself from 2013-2019, solidifying itself as a power basketball conference; with UConn coming aboard, it can once again enter a period of growth and expand its reach and perception for the next couple of years (likely until 2024-2025). At that point, expanding once again (and perhaps in increments) to 12, 13 or possibly 14 to maximize its values as the most valuable non-football conference (and one of the best top-to-bottom basketball conferences in the country) seems like a strong possibility.
I guess the question I have is...why is St. Louis, not the school/program, but actual market so important than, say, Richmond, Charlotte, Louisville, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Boston, or any other place not currently housing a Big East school?
For all we know, SLU could face the same hypothetical resistance as Dayton. That schools like Creighton, Butler, Marquette, and DePaul could have no problems drawing from the region for recruiting purposes?
I know SLU is better than programs like Richmond, Davidson, etc., but, I can't not look at how a conference wouldn't want to settle down in an area that bleeds for the sport. Someone closer to Louisville, or in the Carolinas...or, heck, further stockpile in the northeast (east of Ohio).
I look at SLU and UD about the same, I guess. One's definitely a better program, but neither really do ultimately that much more for the conference? Is that wrong or bad to feel?
It's a combination of factors.
St. Louis is a top-25 media market, not unlike Charlotte, Boston or Pittsburgh, within not just a strong recruiting state for basketball (especially the city and surrounding area). SLU really creates a bridge with Creighton (Omaha) for travel purposes (more for Olympic sports). SLU has strong alumni numbers in BE cities, and is very much an institutional peer with Georgetown, Marquette, Creighton and Xavier (Jesuit).
Davidson, as a liberal arts college, is too small and not in a big enough city to be seriously considered for the BE, IMO. Most of their home games are between 3k-4k, which is not big enough - and their arena would be by far the smallest default arena in the conference.
Boston lacks the basketball history and resources to be seriously considered. They are an elite academic institution, along with incredibly high endowment, that would definitely intrigue the Presidents, but they wouldn't add any value to the basketball programs. They, too, have incredibly small arena.
Richmond was an interesting case in 2012. They do have a lot of positives - Private, strong academics, high endowment, basketball commitment - but I seem to remember reading that Georgetown was against their add (I could be wrong, however). If the BE really wanted the Richmond market, why not get the better basketball program readily available (VCU)?
Again, the TV market is just one box that ultimately gets checked for expansion candidates. SLU checks a lot of the boxes. The only one it truly lacks is the sustained and competitive men's basketball program (which Majerus started building, and Ford appears to be building again). They are an institutional, academic, athletic and geographic fit with the BE (much like UD). They don't need to be a Sweet 16 threat every year by any stretch, but I think very much the powers-that-be want to see them become a contender for the A10 annually.
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