"The heart of this is security," DePaul president Father Dennis Holtschneider told the Tribune in a phone interview. "The big deal about this is a secure conference, 10 teams, eventually more, who are going to be together for the next 12 years and hopefully longer."

http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1...-74924458/

I think UD and SLU are pretty much locks as future additions. If the league goes past 12, you have to think Richmond is a likely candidate as well. Who would be the most likely 14th team?

I think SLU is a lock. Dayton has it's issues, both in the fact that they are in same state as Xavier, and the fact they are the worst team on the floor. Like it or not, VCU continues to impress folks. A long tourney run, coupled with great fan support, would go a long way for them.

(03-20-2013 12:23 PM)Niner National Wrote:  I think UD and SLU are pretty much locks as future additions. If the league goes past 12, you have to think Richmond is a likely candidate as well. Who would be the most likely 14th team?

Depends who steps up. This could be a wake up call to A-10 members like duquenes (sp?) who are not currently in a big east market to invest into their programs and facilities and try and make a splash in the ncaa.

(03-20-2013 12:29 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(03-20-2013 12:23 PM)Niner National Wrote:  I think UD and SLU are pretty much locks as future additions. If the league goes past 12, you have to think Richmond is a likely candidate as well. Who would be the most likely 14th team?

Depends who steps up. This could be a wake up call to A-10 members like duquenes (sp?) who are not currently in a big east market to invest into their programs and facilities and try and make a splash in the ncaa.

unless they could ramp up and explode next year- don't think that would matter quite frankly...

Father Shanley from Providence essentially said the same thing, where it's not a question of whether the Big East will go to 12, but rather when:

http://zagsblog.com/articles/what-you-ne...-big-east/

(03-20-2013 12:32 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(03-20-2013 12:29 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(03-20-2013 12:23 PM)Niner National Wrote:  I think UD and SLU are pretty much locks as future additions. If the league goes past 12, you have to think Richmond is a likely candidate as well. Who would be the most likely 14th team?

Depends who steps up. This could be a wake up call to A-10 members like duquenes (sp?) who are not currently in a big east market to invest into their programs and facilities and try and make a splash in the ncaa.

unless they could ramp up and explode next year- don't think that would matter quite frankly...

We were talking about going past 12.

(03-20-2013 12:40 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  Father Shanley from Providence essentially said the same thing, where it's not a question of whether the Big East will go to 12, but rather when:

http://zagsblog.com/articles/what-you-ne...-big-east/

So, once again we're still talking about $500 million.

(03-20-2013 01:15 PM)Melky Cabrera Wrote:  

(03-20-2013 12:40 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  Father Shanley from Providence essentially said the same thing, where it's not a question of whether the Big East will go to 12, but rather when:

http://zagsblog.com/articles/what-you-ne...-big-east/

So, once again we're still talking about $500 million.

Well, one thing that was interesting was that Shanley mentioned at least the concept of adding 1 and leaving 1 spot open. So, theoretically, the league could add SLU immediately and then wait to fill the last spot. That actually is an interesting thought from my perspective. Many of us are preconditioned to think that an odd number of conference numbers is bad because it's not very good for football, but it actually has little effect on basketball and other sports. I think SLU is valuable enough where you don't just leave them on the table if this league is certain that it wants to add them (which I think is the case). There's no sense in waiting to move on them, especially in terms of taking advantage of how good they'll likely be on-the-court next season. Go to 11 and figure out #12 later if the powers that be still can't decide on the last team. An odd number of members isn't optimal, but basketball doesn't demand a Noah's Ark approach (2 teams at a time to maintain an even number) for expansion in the manner that football does.

(03-20-2013 01:37 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(03-20-2013 01:15 PM)Melky Cabrera Wrote:  

(03-20-2013 12:40 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  Father Shanley from Providence essentially said the same thing, where it's not a question of whether the Big East will go to 12, but rather when:

http://zagsblog.com/articles/what-you-ne...-big-east/

So, once again we're still talking about $500 million.

Well, one thing that was interesting was that Shanley mentioned at least the concept of adding 1 and leaving 1 spot open. So, theoretically, the league could add SLU immediately and then wait to fill the last spot. That actually is an interesting thought from my perspective. Many of us are preconditioned to think that an odd number of conference numbers is bad because it's not very good for football, but it actually has little effect on basketball and other sports. I think SLU is valuable enough where you don't just leave them on the table if this league is certain that it wants to add them (which I think is the case). There's no sense in waiting to move on them, especially in terms of taking advantage of how good they'll likely be on-the-court next season. Go to 11 and figure out #12 later if the powers that be still can't decide on the last team. An odd number of members isn't optimal, but basketball doesn't demand a Noah's Ark approach (2 teams at a time to maintain an even number) for expansion in the manner that football does.

I'm sold. Lets add Saint Louis right now!

I think the biggest thing 11 vs 12 would be really in the conference tournament. If you have 11- generally 1st round would just be a triple header that 1st day. If you have 12, you have 2 sessions that first day- which gets you double the ticket revenue etc.

(03-20-2013 01:42 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I think the biggest thing 11 vs 12 would be really in the conference tournament. If you have 11- generally 1st round would just be a triple header that 1st day. If you have 12, you have 2 sessions that first day- which gets you double the ticket revenue etc.

Well 12 would be the eventual number but a team like SLU who they know they want to add then just add them now. Just do a play in game at Carnesseca the night before the rest of the tourny starts. 11 vs 10

(03-20-2013 01:37 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  There's no sense in waiting to move on [SLU], especially in terms of taking advantage of how good they'll likely be on-the-court next season.

Huh? There's this:

Quote:Six teams headed for the 2013 NCAA tournament this week have Academic Progress Rates below 930, meaning they would not be eligible for the postseason under tougher NCAA requirements that will be enacted in the future.

Oregon, Oklahoma State, James Madison, Saint Louis, Southern and New Mexico State fell below the 930 line this year, according to a study released Monday by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida.

Saint Louis, Southern and New Mexico State also missed the present APR standard of 925 -- which equates to about a 50%(!) graduation rate -- but are eligible to play under the current rules.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/...9103.story

This:

Quote:Saint Louis University announced today that freshman guard Keith Carter has left the Billiken men’s basketball program due to personal reasons.

“When commitments are started, you don’t want to see things like this happen,” Crews said in an official statement sent out by the University. “Unfortunately this is something that is consistent and constant in college basketball. With that said, we wish Keith the best in his future plans.”
...
Coming out of high school, former SLU head coach Rick Majerus called Carter his biggest recruit since Andre Miller.
http://www.foxsportsmidwest.com/12/21/12...kID=838563

Also this:

Quote:Below is list of teams in order of returning point production as of current scoring averages, with overall record and A-10 record in parenthesis, as well as a list of point-producing graduating seniors below each team. There’s always the chance a team loses a player early to the NBA Draft, but from who we know will DEFINITELY be gone, here’s what that list looks like.
1. Fordham (5-13, 1-2) – 14.9 points per game = 22.4% of scoring lost
Chris Gaston 14
Khalid Robinson 0.9

2. La Salle (12-5, 2-2) – 17.3 = 23.7%
Ramon Galloway 17
Garvin Hunt 0.3

3. VCU (16-3, 4-0)- 19.2 = 24.2%
Troy Daniels 12.6
Darius Theus 6.6

4. St. Joseph’s (10-6, 1-2) - 17.3 = 24.6%
Carl Jones 15.3
Christopher Coyne 1.0
Taylor Trevisan 1.0

5. Duquesne (7-11, 0-4) – 20.1 = 28.8%
Sean Johnson 14.0
Andre Marhold 6.1

6. UMass (12-5, 2-2) – 24 = 32.8%
Terrell Vinson 11.8
Feddie Riley 6.6
Sampson Carter 5.6

7. Richmond (12-7, 2-2) – 24 = 34%
Darien Brothers 16.2
Greg Robbins 6.8
Jonathan Benjamin 1.0

8. Dayton (10-7, 0-3) - 25.3 = 35.3%
Kevin Dillard 14.8
Josh Benson 10.5

9. Rhode Island (6-10, 1-2) – 24 = 39%
Nikola Malesevic 10.7
Andre Malone 10.3
Ryan Brooks 2.0
Alwayne Bigby 1.0

10. Butler (16-2, 3-0) – 30.3 = 42%
Rotnei Clarke 16.3
Andrew Smith 11.7
Chase Stigall 2.1
Emerson Kampen 0.2

11. Xavier (11-6, 4-0) – 27.8 = 42.6%
Travis Taylor 11.2
Brad Redford 8.7
Jeff Robinson 7.9

12. St. Louis (12-5, 1-2) – 28.8 = 43.4%
Cody Ellis 10.9
Kwamain Mitchell 10.7
Cory Remekun 7.2

13. George Washington (8-9, 2-2) – 32.2 = 49.5%
Isaiah Armwood 12
Lasan Kromah 9.8
Dwayne Smith 7
Bryan Bynes 3.4

14. St. Bonaventure (8-9, 1-3) – 40.3 = 55.9%
Demitrius Conger 13.9
Chris Johnson 12.8
Eric Mosley 10.6
Michael Davenport 3.0
http://www.vcuramnation.com/2013/01/rams...right-one/

Obviously there's more to basketball than point production, but that's a big hit. Combine it with the fact that Crews isn't a noted world-beater when it comes to recruiting, and the fact that they've got a single commit (2 stars w/no other offers) for 2013, and it ain't nothing.

Then there's the Crews/Mack-ball-in-Coffee's-face thing at Evansville, and getting fired from Army after seven losing seasons and hitting a kid.

I'm genuinely confused by what you mean in re: how good they'll be on-the-court next year. None of this is a knock on SLU, but there are a ton of questions hanging over that program right now.

The Billikens still return a very good team. If you don't get that, I can't help ya there.

(03-20-2013 02:07 PM)thegalen Wrote:  

(03-20-2013 01:37 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  There's no sense in waiting to move on [SLU], especially in terms of taking advantage of how good they'll likely be on-the-court next season.

Huh? There's this:

Quote:Six teams headed for the 2013 NCAA tournament this week have Academic Progress Rates below 930, meaning they would not be eligible for the postseason under tougher NCAA requirements that will be enacted in the future.

Oregon, Oklahoma State, James Madison, Saint Louis, Southern and New Mexico State fell below the 930 line this year, according to a study released Monday by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida.

Saint Louis, Southern and New Mexico State also missed the present APR standard of 925 -- which equates to about a 50%(!) graduation rate -- but are eligible to play under the current rules.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/...9103.story

This:

Quote:Saint Louis University announced today that freshman guard Keith Carter has left the Billiken men’s basketball program due to personal reasons.

“When commitments are started, you don’t want to see things like this happen,” Crews said in an official statement sent out by the University. “Unfortunately this is something that is consistent and constant in college basketball. With that said, we wish Keith the best in his future plans.”
...
Coming out of high school, former SLU head coach Rick Majerus called Carter his biggest recruit since Andre Miller.
http://www.foxsportsmidwest.com/12/21/12...kID=838563

Also this:

Quote:Below is list of teams in order of returning point production as of current scoring averages, with overall record and A-10 record in parenthesis, as well as a list of point-producing graduating seniors below each team. There’s always the chance a team loses a player early to the NBA Draft, but from who we know will DEFINITELY be gone, here’s what that list looks like.
1. Fordham (5-13, 1-2) – 14.9 points per game = 22.4% of scoring lost
Chris Gaston 14
Khalid Robinson 0.9

2. La Salle (12-5, 2-2) – 17.3 = 23.7%
Ramon Galloway 17
Garvin Hunt 0.3

3. VCU (16-3, 4-0)- 19.2 = 24.2%
Troy Daniels 12.6
Darius Theus 6.6

4. St. Joseph’s (10-6, 1-2) - 17.3 = 24.6%
Carl Jones 15.3
Christopher Coyne 1.0
Taylor Trevisan 1.0

5. Duquesne (7-11, 0-4) – 20.1 = 28.8%
Sean Johnson 14.0
Andre Marhold 6.1

6. UMass (12-5, 2-2) – 24 = 32.8%
Terrell Vinson 11.8
Feddie Riley 6.6
Sampson Carter 5.6

7. Richmond (12-7, 2-2) – 24 = 34%
Darien Brothers 16.2
Greg Robbins 6.8
Jonathan Benjamin 1.0

8. Dayton (10-7, 0-3) - 25.3 = 35.3%
Kevin Dillard 14.8
Josh Benson 10.5

9. Rhode Island (6-10, 1-2) – 24 = 39%
Nikola Malesevic 10.7
Andre Malone 10.3
Ryan Brooks 2.0
Alwayne Bigby 1.0

10. Butler (16-2, 3-0) – 30.3 = 42%
Rotnei Clarke 16.3
Andrew Smith 11.7
Chase Stigall 2.1
Emerson Kampen 0.2

11. Xavier (11-6, 4-0) – 27.8 = 42.6%
Travis Taylor 11.2
Brad Redford 8.7
Jeff Robinson 7.9

12. St. Louis (12-5, 1-2) – 28.8 = 43.4%
Cody Ellis 10.9
Kwamain Mitchell 10.7
Cory Remekun 7.2

13. George Washington (8-9, 2-2) – 32.2 = 49.5%
Isaiah Armwood 12
Lasan Kromah 9.8
Dwayne Smith 7
Bryan Bynes 3.4

14. St. Bonaventure (8-9, 1-3) – 40.3 = 55.9%
Demitrius Conger 13.9
Chris Johnson 12.8
Eric Mosley 10.6
Michael Davenport 3.0
http://www.vcuramnation.com/2013/01/rams...right-one/

Obviously there's more to basketball than point production, but that's a big hit. Combine it with the fact that Crews isn't a noted world-beater when it comes to recruiting, and the fact that they've got a single commit (2 stars w/no other offers) for 2013, and it ain't nothing.

Then there's the Crews/Mack-ball-in-Coffee's-face thing at Evansville, and getting fired from Army after seven losing seasons and hitting a kid.

I'm genuinely confused by what you mean in re: how good they'll be on-the-court next year. None of this is a knock on SLU, but there are a ton of questions hanging over that program right now.

LOL. Give it up, VCU aint coming in.

I wouldn't be so sure about VCU not coming in. Next few weeks will tell a lot. Another final 4(heck maybe even elite 8 run) with great support by VCU's fans- VCU is going to continue to make it extremely hard for the Big East NOT to take them. That's just the bottom line right now.

(03-20-2013 02:18 PM)Billikens88 Wrote:  LOL. Give it up, VCU aint coming in.

Can I take that to the bank?

(03-20-2013 02:18 PM)Billikens88 Wrote:  LOL. Give it up, VCU aint coming in.

It has nothing to do with that man. We're all hoops fans here. You guys keep some really nice talent, but if you wanna pretend there aren't question marks hanging over SLU you're living in denial. That has nothing to do with VCU getting into the Big East or not.

(03-20-2013 02:18 PM)Billikens88 Wrote:  LOL. Give it up, VCU aint coming in.

VCU may never get in, but I'm curious to how confident SLU fans are about their future?

Obviously lose a lot after this season (inside and out), then are pretty much in rebuilding mode after next season (top 8 scorers from this season will all be gone).

According to ESPN.com, SLU has one commit for 2013, ESPN 2-star (no stars on rivals) Mike Crawford (#97 shooting guard).

I'm not trying to bash SLU, just think as good of a job as Crewes has done with this group of players, he's basically been guiding a stacked team built by a Hall of Fame coach (who he had no hand in recruiting).

Prior to running SLU, Crewes struggled as a head coach when he was in the Valley at Evansville. Just wonder if SLU might have a hard time in the Big East with what will be a totally rebuilt program.

The more threads get posted, the more I can't beleive UD won't be invited.

WBB: 27-2, #13 RPI, #15 in the polls. Fourth-straight NCAA bid
Volleyball: 27-5, #19 RPI, #19 in the polls. 9 NCAA bids in last 10 years.
WSoc: .752 win pct, 8 NCAA appearances in last 15 seasons.
MSoc: .595 win pct, 1 NCAA appearance in last six seasons