Catholic Basketball League

[CBB_Fan]

Recent tweets from "sources" are either saying X, Butler and Dayton OR X, Butler and SLU. Guess time will tell...

My best guess is X, Butler, and SLU. The problem with Dayton is that the media market is somewhat redundant with Xavier already in the mix (they are about 60 miles apart if I remember correctly). If the Big East is concerned with money, they will question the difference Dayton would make in a media contract.

SLU, on the other hand, guarantees a larger market with no competition. They aren't competing with any other programs in the city which is helpful for them.

I've heard some talk about VCU as well.

[saluki762]

SLU, on the other hand, guarantees a larger market with no competition. They aren't competing with any other programs in the city which is helpful for them.

Not entirely true. SLU is a distant 3rd behind Mizzou and Illinois in the STL market.

[Ali]

Maybe the Valley needs to look at NCAA distribution. Let the teams that earn the money keep a greater share. UNI would benefit from this plus it would incentivize others to invest and get there. I think Horizon might have done that for Butler at one point. That didn't keep them in the league but it's an idea.

[Snaggletooth]

I've heard some talk about VCU as well.

I think VCU talk is just from people who want to blow a lot of hot air and give themselves more to talk about.

A article I read that this is not as much about $$$, but these schools saw it as a bigger opportunity to reunite schools with common goals and getting back on mission and non-secular schools need not apply. Which if it is true would be breath of fresh air in a time where college athletic landscape is just being ruined by greed and all traditions are being destroyed.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I've heard some talk about VCU as well.

I think VCU talk is just from people who want to blow a lot of hot air and give themselves more to talk about.

A article I read that this is not as much about $$$, but these schools saw it as a bigger opportunity to reunite schools with common goals and getting back on mission and non-secular schools need not apply. Which if it is true would be breath of fresh air in a time where college athletic landscape is just being ruined by greed and all traditions are being destroyed.

Butler is not a catholic school.

[Haha]

If it is X, Butler, Dayton only then SLU is left on a very distant island. I know father Biondi (spelling?) is very east coast bias. I also see he may be out the door as staff members are not happy with him. I'm sure their students and fans want nothing to do with a midwest league but...

If you take away the 3 teams closest geography wise to SLU and two of those being the top two programs you gotta wonder when SLU might say screw it and retreat to the Valley. Maybe offering Loyola or Denver (private school in a large metro area) along with them would ease their fears slightly.

I don't think SLU is some amazing program. I do think they invest and want to be great and one of the few programs in the midwest that can add value to the Valley.

I know SLU wants nothing to do with the Valley but it may become their only choice. Granted it would have to be that very specific scenario (Butler, X, Dayton to C07).

[squirrel]

It will definitely be interesting to see if SLU is left out what they will do.

I certainly understand why they went to the A10 for the East Coast exposure, it would be an entertaining basketball league too.

But I did fault the decision based on my thought that their basketball fortunes would have been greater by dominating CUSA with Memphis rather than middle in the A10.

The question is what the attraction for them being in a league that is basically St. Joe's, Duquesne, LaSalle and GW.

[Ali]

It will definitely be interesting to see if SLU is left out what they will do.

I certainly understand why they went to the A10 for the East Coast exposure, it would be an entertaining basketball league too.

But I did fault the decision based on my thought that their basketball fortunes would have been greater by dominating CUSA with Memphis rather than middle in the A10.

The question is what the attraction for them being in a league that is basically St. Joe's, Duquesne, LaSalle and GW.

I'm sure they'd much rather be with the Evansville's and UNI's of the world.

[CBB_Fan]

I've heard some talk about VCU as well.

I think VCU talk is just from people who want to blow a lot of hot air and give themselves more to talk about.

A article I read that this is not as much about $$$, but these schools saw it as a bigger opportunity to reunite schools with common goals and getting back on mission and non-secular schools need not apply. Which if it is true would be breath of fresh air in a time where college athletic landscape is just being ruined by greed and all traditions are being destroyed.

VCU is a candidate because:

1. They have invested in a quality basketball program
2. They have recent success
3. They aren't in the Midwest

If you want all three, they are the only candidate. And frankly, the bottom of the C7 will weigh them down, so they may need to get the best basketball programs in order for the conference to compete. I'd agree that VCU isn't the most likely candidate, but they are just behind X, Butler, SLU, Dayton, and Creighton.

[Snaggletooth]

I've heard some talk about VCU as well.

I think VCU talk is just from people who want to blow a lot of hot air and give themselves more to talk about.

A article I read that this is not as much about $$$, but these schools saw it as a bigger opportunity to reunite schools with common goals and getting back on mission and non-secular schools need not apply. Which if it is true would be breath of fresh air in a time where college athletic landscape is just being ruined by greed and all traditions are being destroyed.

Butler is not a catholic school.

In the interview they said their core identity was going to lie with the Catholicism but they were not going completely overboard with that identity because it could harm recruiting non-catholic students and possible expansion to schools that fit their profile. They said they ultimately want "reconnect their sports programs to their missions, and reinvigorate their religious identities at time when important groups on campus fear it is slipping away".

They said they would seek certain non-denominational schools that fit their profile of being committed to top-tier competition, are "attractive media entities" and "care about the holistic development of their student athletes". They felt felt Butler was one of those type of schools.

They also said 5 of the 7 schools are lead by Priests or the Catholic Church and they would like to put a "mission-related stamp" on the conference. They in fact were looking to the model of the the ivy league where no athletic scholarships are given, only awards for financial need. Also, games would only be played on the weekends. They would like to establish public service requirements and high ethical requirements for their students. They thought Butler might embrace these initiatives.

The other schools they listed in this article for joining this league were: Gonzaga, st. Marys (but admitted geography would be a issue for these two schools), Dayton, Xavier and St. Bonaventure.