(05-12-2022 12:27 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-11-2022 11:25 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(05-11-2022 10:22 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-11-2022 07:18 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(05-11-2022 07:06 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  As stated earlier, FIU is "persona non grata" to the Sun Belt.

I think the SB is content with its membership at 10 and FIU should be pleased with the AAC, good conference with USF & FAU in it.

That leaves Liberty. My bet is the MAC.

Without UCF, but with FIU, the AAC would be at 9. Liberty would make 10. An even number makes it possible to have a conference game for every school every weekend.

There are 7-8 weekends available for conference play. The Big East had 11 teams playing a round-robin. With an odd number of teams you need 11 rounds of 5 games. The Big East played 7 weekend matches and 4 mid-week matches, including a stretch of 7 matches in 22 days (at least for most 4 schools, 7 would have had a bye).

You are more likely to play your starting 11 in a conference game, and so you have worn out players. If your midweek game is OOC, you can rest your starters or maybe limit their play.

In addition, because the Big East had 6 teams in the conference tournament they needed three games.

CUSA with 9 teams, played seven weekends with 4 games. The 8th game was played midweek scattered through the season. You can stretch those out some by playing Friday-Wednesday-Sunday.

So AAC at 9 (with FIU) can play a similar schedule. The midweek games could be Tulsa-SMU, Memphis-UAB, and FIU-FAU which at least reduces the travel hardship in addition to playing three games in 10 days.

If FIU played in the Sun Belt this would be 11 teams and they would end up with a schedule like the Big East or using divisions.

The ACC with 12 teams played in divisions.

So if the Sun Belt can get UCF they would be wise not to invite FIU or Liberty. If they could get some real Sun Belt schools, they might even want to push the SEC or B12 schools out.

I doubt they will push the P5s out. They have been a part of the plan for a while.
https://csnbbs.com/thread-933041.html

Going beyond 10 teams for soccer is irrational because of the scheduling. 8 is actually ideal.

If any of the 8 Sun Belt schools that don't sponsor soccer decide to do so then the conference is likely obligated to take them.

Sun Belt schools thinking about starting MSOC will be gently encouraged to consider investing those funds into MBB instead.