(11-16-2021 06:37 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 06:22 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  A few thoughts:

1) Is this a proactive move by the A10, perhaps expecting UMass to pull out and join CUSA in all sports (or the MAC)?
2) Or is this a target of opportunity, that was too good to pass up, aiming to shore up Dayton and Saint Louis in the Midwest?
3) if it's a target of opportunity, is the A10 looking to intercept Belmont on the way to the MVC, much like TCU got jacked by the Big 12?

I get it from LUCs POV, as those rural public schools and some mediocre privates like Valpo don't fit how they see themselves. More prestigious schools like GWU, UMass, Fordham, Richmond, and Davidson fit whom they'd rather associate with, as are all the urban centers (St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Philly, NY.

As for the MVC I think this makes them have to think hard. Stay at 10 with Belmont replacing LUC and see how that goes, or look for two schools to go to 12. This has been a cautious league, so I'd venture to guess they'll lean toward riding Belmont a few years to see how that goes before dabbling into the market for expansion.

Didn't see this one coming. Wow.

If I'm running the MVC, my first priority is to get back into the Chicago market specifically. Chicago is to the MVC and other Midwestern basketball leagues as Texas and Florida are to Southern football leagues. It's perplexing to me if they're legitimately looking at Kansas City and UT-Arlington over UIC now that Loyola Chicago has left. (It would be different if Loyola were still in the league to provide Chicago market coverage.) Murray State might be a little different because of their on-the-court quality, but to the extent that the MVC is going to be going after pure market plays regardless of such on-the-court quality, UIC has got to be in the expansion group in my mind.

You got to wonder one of the privates is from the Horizon to go to 12? Detroit Mercy could go which could bring in Grand Valley State and Wayne State to that league and football only in OVC.

My top replacement choice for Loyola (but I'm biased toward the City of Chicago): Illinois-Chicago.

I am puzzled as to what value UT-Arlington would bring to the MVC. While they would open a door (and it would be a doggy-door, at that) in Texas, they would be on an island and really stretch the footprint. They haven't really had a postseason run (unlike a Loyola or Murray State).

UIC should be at the top of the list, for sure. Murray State, UIC and UMKC would be my targets, IMO.

Am I the only one who thinks UW-Milwaukee at least deserves to have their figurative tires kicked?

I'm hoping they take an ovc school. If they take the AQ for football from them, it gets easier for the ASUN to scoop up those Tennessee schools right?

I'm scared looking at that map that EKU might be a target and ASUN football is DOA.

(11-16-2021 07:07 PM)Bogg Wrote:  Am I the only one who thinks UW-Milwaukee at least deserves to have their figurative tires kicked?

I agree. They make more sense to me than UT-Arlington if the goal is simply to get into another market.

(11-16-2021 07:07 PM)Bogg Wrote:  Am I the only one who thinks UW-Milwaukee at least deserves to have their figurative tires kicked?

Well, no...

(Honestly, given the candidates this time around I'll be very disappointed if there are 3 public additions and we aren't one of them)

Wait a couple years and then add Murray St and Bellarmine. Then you’re public/football vs private/non-football balance stays in place.

(11-16-2021 05:56 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Is the A10 done? 15 seems like an odd number for a conference focused on basketball.

They might be. Belmont would be a good addition, but there's not really a need to have an even number with the schedule being 18 or 20 games going forward and the A-10 hasn't played a "everyone plays on these two days" schedule format in decades. Conference games could be Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun... depending on TV. No big deal.

15 would give us 5 "west" (Loyola, SLU, UD, Duquesne, Bona), 5 "east" URI, UMass, Fordham, LaSalle, St. Joe's. 5 "South" Davidson, VCU, Richmond, Mason and GW.

(11-16-2021 06:22 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  A few thoughts:

1) Is this a proactive move by the A10, perhaps expecting UMass to pull out and join CUSA in all sports (or the MAC)?
2) Or is this a target of opportunity, that was too good to pass up, aiming to shore up Dayton and Saint Louis in the Midwest?
3) if it's a target of opportunity, is the A10 looking to intercept Belmont on the way to the MVC, much like TCU got jacked by the Big 12?

The A-10 is usually proactive to protect themselves and their standing of "top 7 conferences in basketball, second best without FBS." They've been proactive rather than reactive every time: Adding Charlotte and Saint Louis because they could; adding VCU and Butler for 16 teams expecting the Big East would split, and having George Mason and Davidson lined up and ready to go for when the Big East did split.

I don't think they're EXPECTING to lose UMass or Saint Louis/Dayton in the coming weeks; But they know that anytime the Big East wants to expand, they can take whomever they want from the A-10 and any would accept.


I actually think it's more likely pushed BY LOYOLA; and the MVC additions of Belmont and the general insanity that's taken place put the A-10 administrators in the mood to be proactive.

Loyola was trying to reunite with Dayton and SLU. Their AD worked at Dayton, was the AD at Bona. His wife is a Loyola grad. He wanted Loyola in the A-10 and worked to get them to the point where they could get in.

I'd love Belmont to the A-10. I've been touting them as the top A-10 candidate for five years or so. Their consistency is what we want, they're Davidson Pt. 2. We don't need someone to come in and make NCAA Tournaments. We need everyone going 18-13 minimum, and Belmont does that. We need people to NOT LOSE at home to lower conferences OOC.

(11-16-2021 07:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Wait a couple years and then add Murray St and Bellarmine. Then you’re public/football vs private/non-football balance stays in place.

I get it in a vacuum, but as I’ve noted in other discussions over the past few months, that’s simply not how conferences are approaching this round of realignment. There are a lot more aggressive “do it now” moves and leagues are being much more about long-term strategy as opposed to maximizing short-term dollars. Even totally content leagues like the MAC took a swing at adding schools.

It wouldn’t shock me if the MVC jumped up to 14 schools.

(11-16-2021 07:39 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 07:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Wait a couple years and then add Murray St and Bellarmine. Then you’re public/football vs private/non-football balance stays in place.

I get it in a vacuum, but as I’ve noted in other discussions over the past few months, that’s simply not how conferences are approaching this round of realignment. There are a lot more aggressive “do it now” moves and leagues are being much more about long-term strategy as opposed to maximizing short-term dollars. Even totally content leagues like the MAC took a swing at adding schools.

It wouldn’t shock me if the MVC jumped up to 14 schools.

Going past 10 or 12 is a poor decision for 1 bid leagues. I think Murray St helps them stay an occasional 2 bid league. Bellarmine intrigues me because they are a football first (and only school) and I think their profile is in line with the likes of Drake, Valpo, Belmont, Bradley, and Evansville.

There are many better choices than UTA or UMKC. If we did add two more after Murray State I'd want NKU and I'd be willing to take a chance with UIC.

(11-16-2021 05:42 PM)FargoBison Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 05:33 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 05:22 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  Chicago State frantically googling the Valley's office phone number

I'm sure the Valley's office has already blocked Chicago State's number

Pretty much every conference has their number blocked.

Not the Southland!

Well now, this is interesting.

https://mobile.twitter.com/JonRothstein/...8970451975

(11-16-2021 07:54 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  Well now, this is interesting.

https://mobile.twitter.com/JonRothstein/...8970451975

Nice Northeastern quadrant of independents: Army, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Temple.

(11-16-2021 06:14 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 06:10 PM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 05:42 PM)FargoBison Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 05:33 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 05:22 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  Chicago State frantically googling the Valley's office phone number

I'm sure the Valley's office has already blocked Chicago State's number

Pretty much every conference has their number blocked.

The Ohio Valley and Southland commissioners are taking calls 24/7

Until they pick up and realize it's Chicago State again

(11-16-2021 07:51 PM)TallTexan Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 05:42 PM)FargoBison Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 05:33 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 05:22 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  Chicago State frantically googling the Valley's office phone number

I'm sure the Valley's office has already blocked Chicago State's number

Pretty much every conference has their number blocked.

Not the Southland!

Yeah, the Southland is physically visiting Chicago St!

(11-16-2021 07:57 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 07:54 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  Well now, this is interesting.

https://mobile.twitter.com/JonRothstein/...8970451975

Nice Northeastern quadrant of independents: Army, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Temple.

That would fill out the November slate nicely

The Temple President recently spoke about localization

That’s a wild thought concerning Temple. Would they really do it though?

Who’d be the next AAC call up if a vacancy occurred?

Have to think that St. Thomas being kicked around. They tick all of the institutional and geographical boxes but the athletics… heh