(11-02-2021 11:03 AM)mjs Wrote: When we look at our options, I am pretty confident that the depleted Southland (they are likely to lose more schools to the WAC who is losing schools to CUSA) and Ohio Valley would love to have us if they are "save-able". I would think the Summit would be happy to have us. I believe the ASUN would be very open to taking us.
I wouldn't rule the MoValley out, but I think our chances there are not great. If rumors are true, CUSA will likely survive. No idea if they would take a non-football school and not sure we want to be in the same position we are in now (non-football school in a football conference). If the idea of balancing a football-only school with a non-football school is workable, I believe UMass would like to join CUSA for football only and UConn might consider it.
So I believe these are our possible options at the moment. I saw one national writer predict we would go to the Southern Conference. Good conference, but I think it is too far out of our "footprint".
I think you have given the options, that look like they might exist today anyway, quite well. I think our clear #1 choice would be to stay as a member of the Sun Belt, but if that is not a viable option, then:
1) Missouri Valley is still my first choice. Basketball centric, well established, and fantastic conference tourney- Arch Madness.
2) ASun. Assuming Liberty departs, etc. Ready travel/rival partner with UCA already in place. Although football involved, with Lipscomb and Bellarmine in the mix, along with the four basketball only schools in Florida, basketball would be no worse than an equal sport, if not dominant.
3) CUSA- only if WKU and MTSU remain. As you point out, this might be dicey by putting us back in a football first conference. And it would be seriously spread out- Lynchburg, VA - Miami - El Paso & NMSU. That said though, it would be a pretty strong basketball league!
4) 5) 6) In no particular order as they would all be kind of desperation last resort deals. Summit, OVC, Southland. The Summit is the only relatively stable outfit of the three, but also very spread out, and playing against the Dakota schools has no appeal to me. The OVC and the Southland: not as bad geographically maybe, but what’s left not very attractive. And the future for both of these leagues looks shaky at best.
Some writer suggesting the Southern Conference for us is just throwing stuff out there based on nothing. I don’t see any way that happens any more than us replacing James Madison in the CAA.