RE: ASUN Expansion Targets to Replace NJIT
Nobody in their right might thinks Liberty will stay long in the ASUN; they are the definition of a short timer; the ASUN is not the destination conference for the Flames. You also have to think Lipscomb and North Alabama would be the OVC choice should they lose a school (say Tennessee State or Murray State). But these moves look to be down the road a bit, and 9 schools is enough.
Bethune-Cookman is thrown about, but is that really much of a fit besides the map? To me that looks like a "break glass" emergency choice, a sign of panic. But then again, NJIT was sort of that too. Frankly B-C is better off in the MEAC and playing a couple games against SWAC schools to fill the schedule (certainly FAMU rivalry will continue), so why would they want to switch?
I think you stand pat. But you do evaluate and work with D-II schools exploring D-I within your existing footprint of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, maybe the right school in Tennessee, Mississippi or South Carolina. What you are looking for is somebody who will help hoops and has a good attendance. Frankly nobody in D-II, in the South, is close to Bellarmine who average 1,769. The only one I found above 1,000 (barely) was Francis Marion, a rather small public liberal Arts school with 2,900 undergrads and a minuscule $25M endowment, hardly D-I material. There are some schools who on paper look large enough, but with low interest. West Georgia, North Georgia, West Florida, Florida Tech, Alabama-Huntsville, Valdosta State all look like better targets. But even these are just 6,000 to 8,000 students and don't get much Basketball support -- the sport the ASUN cares most about.
You have to be careful. Right now, none of the above looks best.
I think you
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