(non-MVC) Realignment News

[uniguy]

I don't see how moving to the A-Sun is more geographically friendly for Central Arkansas than the Southland.

I dont know what article you read but he A-Sun is going to 20 teams then splitting off into two separate regional conferences as to get a second bid to the NCAA tournament. One league is for FCS football. Longer travel will only be temporary.

That was their stated long term goal, but for now its just adding three teams. Trying to build some more established programs around Liberty perhaps? I don't know, just seems kind of random for now, but possibly just part of a larger plan. Don't see how those 3 schools are better off in the ASun than the conferences they're currently in unless they're privy to a larger plan.

They all would probably have to relocate their FCS football to the Big South, I would imagine, as well. Which is also kind of a "meh" move. Bit of a headscratcher all around unless there is more to it than appears.

[VUGrad1314]

There's got to be more but this kind of stuff probably has to come out piece by piece. I would expect another announcement at some point before the next academic year probably where most of the rest of the schools are announced or they'll come out one by one who knows? The point is we'll probably know much more in a few months. I'm just interested to see how the conferences that are losing teams rebound from this and what the broader implications are for the MVC (if any) and otherwise. I don't think the MVC is in any danger of losing anybody in this shakeup but I'm wondering as I have stated in this thread before if maybe this is the expansion opportunity we have sought. We'll have to see but I doubt Murray State and Belmont are particularly happy with seeing two of the better hoops programs in that conference reportedly jump ship.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Give me murray. I think we give up in the belmont dream. They're never coming. I think they'd go a-10 if anything...which if teams jump ship from the aac could happen. If they add to basketball schools and gave a 10 team football conference. Wright state? Or NKU. Hell, if belmont comes get all 4

[VUGrad1314]

Can't see the A10 taking Belmont and Belmont would have to like almost double their budget before we even consider travel to even be remotely competitive in the A10. They may not ever come to the MVC which is why as I have said countless times Murray alone is fine for me but not for the Presidents so give me whoever works as a stand in 12th I guess. NKU and Wright State are okay if we must but this was always about getting Murray State from my perspective.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Can't see the A10 taking Belmont and Belmont would have to like almost double their budget before we even consider travel to even be remotely competitive in the A10. They may not ever come to the MVC which is why as I have said countless times Murray alone is fine for me but not for the Presidents so give me whoever works as a stand in 12th I guess. NKU and Wright State are okay if we must but this was always about getting Murray State from my perspective.

wright and nku are both good programs.

[VUGrad1314]

They are, but after having months and years to look at them I'm just not sure if they're good enough as anything other than desperation #12s. As long as there's even a hope of getting Belmont I think they're worth waiting for. Again I would have added Murray State years ago if I were in power with or without Belmont but that's just me. I'm just not sure at this point whether NKU and Wright State (Wright State especially) have the growth potential I suspected they might have a year or two ago. Consider that they would be adding a great deal to their (and everyone's) travel budgets which might harm their competitiveness and I'm just not sure if it's feasible to bring either one in. Murray State and Belmont at least have the track record of being the kind of schools we need in a way Wright State and NKU have yet to show if we're being honest.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

They are, but after having months and years to look at them I'm just not sure if they're good enough as anything other than desperation #12s. As long as there's even a hope of getting Belmont I think they're worth waiting for. Again I would have added Murray State years ago if I were in power with or without Belmont but that's just me. I'm just not sure at this point whether NKU and Wright State (Wright State especially) have the growth potential I suspected they might have a year or two ago. Consider that they would be adding a great deal to their (and everyone's) travel budgets which might harm their competitiveness and I'm just not sure if it's feasible to bring either one in. Murray State and Belmont at least have the track record of being the kind of schools we need in a way Wright State and NKU have yet to show if we're being honest.

theyre both good enough. now, umkc and milwaukee on the other hand are desperation adds

[patnb]

Watch for big news involving the WAC and SLC coming

4 Texas schools leaving the SLC and joining the WAC. WAC starting FCS football as well

ASUN/Big South already have an agreement to share members for football. They are position for the ASUN to be one conference but "two conferences" to get another NCAA bid/payout and having one of them have FCS football to attract more schools - and give them an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. Meaning the agreement with the Big South essentially ends and the Big South has to figure it out on their own once the ASUN gets their members and splits into 2 conferences in 1

Shuffling "below" the MVC but could still send a ripple here or there up

[VUGrad1314]

Watch for big news involving the WAC and SLC coming

4 Texas schools leaving the SLC and joining the WAC. WAC starting FCS football as well

ASUN/Big South already have an agreement to share members for football. They are position for the ASUN to be one conference but "two conferences" to get another NCAA bid/payout and having one of them have FCS football to attract more schools - and give them an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. Meaning the agreement with the Big South essentially ends and the Big South has to figure it out on their own once the ASUN gets their members and splits into 2 conferences in 1

Shuffling "below" the MVC but could still send a ripple here or there up

I've heard the WAC\SLC rumors for awhile too but everything has been quiet on that front for at least a few weeks. I wonder if there will be any movement there soon. All I know is that from a basketball standpoint this could all be good for us. A lot of these football programs are also decent or better at hoops (SFA ETSU Chattanooga etc.) If we can pick up some strength by getting Murray State and Belmont out of this and the right programs coalesce together in the same conferences, we could have some great scheduling opportunities\opportunities for conference challenges and to become a true best of the rest when it comes to mid major basketball which I would argue we already pretty much are.

[patnb]

Watch for big news involving the WAC and SLC coming

4 Texas schools leaving the SLC and joining the WAC. WAC starting FCS football as well

ASUN/Big South already have an agreement to share members for football. They are position for the ASUN to be one conference but "two conferences" to get another NCAA bid/payout and having one of them have FCS football to attract more schools - and give them an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. Meaning the agreement with the Big South essentially ends and the Big South has to figure it out on their own once the ASUN gets their members and splits into 2 conferences in 1

Shuffling "below" the MVC but could still send a ripple here or there up

I've heard the WAC\SLC rumors for awhile too but everything has been quiet on that front for at least a few weeks. I wonder if there will be any movement there soon. All I know is that from a basketball standpoint this could all be good for us. A lot of these football programs are also decent or better at hoops (SFA ETSU Chattanooga etc.) If we can pick up some strength by getting Murray State and Belmont out of this and the right programs coalesce together in the same conferences, we could have some great scheduling opportunities\opportunities for conference challenges and to become a true best of the rest when it comes to mid major basketball which I would argue we already pretty much are.

I have a well connected source/friend at one of the Texas schools.

It's happening barring some really crazy s&&& happening

They are going to match up with Dixie State and see what D2 move ups in Texas or Big Sky schools they can grab.