(01-19-2022 09:57 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-19-2022 09:36 AM)bricksnivy Wrote:  

(01-19-2022 09:26 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-19-2022 08:33 AM)bricksnivy Wrote:  

(01-19-2022 07:28 AM)82hawk Wrote:  So, if the reports are true for CAA expansion, here's where we are right now.

North - Stony Brook, Hofstra, Drexel, Monmouth, Northeastern, Delaware,
South - Towson, W&M, Hampton, Elon, UNCW, CofC

Since Monmouth and Hampton will bring additional football to the CAA and Stony Brook already has their football with the CAA, that leaves room for a football school and a non football school to be added to get to 14. Towson could easily slide to the north if two southern school are added and I would imagine Towson would rather be with the northern schools and are pushing for that.

So, who's next? The only positive in these additions from a UNCW perspective is that a N/S divisional setup is now a reality, with a more compact geography for travel and rivalries. That should make the CAA more attractive for schools to come on board. It's also more attractive for the southern schools to stay on board. I could really see Campbell jumping at this setup if offered and i'd support them. And although we've heard there are no SoCon schools interested, we should go hard after UNCG. If these additions happened the CAA would look like this:

N- Stony Brook, Hofstra, Drexel, Monmouth, Northeastern, Delaware, Towson
S - W&M, Hampton, Elon, UNCW, CofC, Campbell, UNCG

Elon and Campbell are both on the rise in their athletic investments and already have newer, upgraded basketball arenas that should help in rectruitment. UNCG had their day in the sun with Wes Miller, but he's gone and UNCG is aleady sliding this year. The SoCon has the same problem as the CAA did, with several football schools that are prime candidates to go FBS. If UNCG balked, it wouldn't surprise me if the CAA goes after High Point as a replacement as a non football school. As much as CofC would like to see a school from South Carolina come on board, I just don't see that happening.

From a baseball perspective, Campbell has a strong program and finished #37 RPI last year ahead of all CAA teams. Monmouth was just behind UNCW at #74, Stony Brook was top #97 and UNCG was #100.

I think the time is right for UNCW to move to the SoCon with William and Mary, Elon and CofC. The SoCon is a much stronger baseball conference than the CAA, so a move to the SoCon would help us in baseball and wouldn't hurt us in basketball But if that option isn't available, and we could add two strong southern schools to the CAA, it would still remain a good place to be.

Adding Campbell and UNCG isn't exciting, but much preferred to Campbell and HPU. I'm not sure about Campbell demographics, but Elon and HPU both pull 75% or more of their students from out of state.

Staying with CoC and adding CU and UNCG is really best case scenario, in my mind. It's a sad reality.

Campbell and Winthrop should be #13 and #14 with Towson going up north.

UNCG aint coming.

I don't have an opinion about Winthrop, but if we're raiding the Big South why Winthrop over UNCA or NC A&T? Is Winthrop significant to CoC for any reason? Maybe they tap into the Charlotte market, but do they really?

I would say all in all Winthrop has been the most consistent basketball success in the Big South. Winthrop has 11 Big South Championships, the next closest in UNC Ashville with 5. Being near Charlotte is nice to, though i don't have any delusions about them making a major impact in that media market. Winthrop would also serve as a better travel partner for Charleston, allowing us to partner with Campbell, making travel a bit easier for all.

Appreciate the feedback. I wasn't familiar with Winthrop's basketball success. That is probably the most appealing to me out of all of the potential benefits. I hope that W&M and CoC are tied with us, whether it be in the CAA or in an unexpected scenario where we join the SoCon.