Bradley to A10?

[valleychamp]

But there is absolutely no basis for the thread. It's just nonsense from some Creighton fan hoping the Valley will fall apart.

Agreed. Its really silly.

[brianbown]

For people that have been around awhile look at history first. Why would Bradley leave and end great rivalrys like ISU-Bradley? Who would be their rival in the A10? Bradley is a perfect fit for MVC. I can't see them ever leaving.
As for Creighton, I wish them the best of luck. But remember, there was a time when they couldn't get bast the first round of the MVC tourney. Not that long ago. They are on an up cycle. But what happens when they aren't in an up cycle. They'll be another DePaul. In the basement.

[jaybydna]

For people that have been around awhile look at history first. Why would Bradley leave and end great rivalrys like ISU-Bradley? Who would be their rival in the A10? Bradley is a perfect fit for MVC. I can't see them ever leaving.
As for Creighton, I wish them the best of luck. But remember, there was a time when they couldn't get bast the first round of the MVC tourney. Not that long ago. They are on an up cycle. But what happens when they aren't in an up cycle. They'll be another DePaul. In the basement.

What does "Not that long ago" mean to you exactly?

[rally]

For people that have been around awhile look at history first. Why would Bradley leave and end great rivalrys like ISU-Bradley? Who would be their rival in the A10? Bradley is a perfect fit for MVC. I can't see them ever leaving.

If you look at the history of conference realignment, rivalries matter very little.

[rlh04d]

For people that have been around awhile look at history first. Why would Bradley leave and end great rivalrys like ISU-Bradley? Who would be their rival in the A10? Bradley is a perfect fit for MVC. I can't see them ever leaving.

If you look at the history of conference realignment, rivalries matter very little.

Pretty much squat.

Bradley will leave if they get a better offer. Literally, there is not one school in this conference that would not go to a better conference if offered -- MWC, A10, Big East, AAC as the most likely. Every school here would jump in a second to any of them.

Again, we pay ESPN to air our games.

[m-v-c]

Why do people post things on this board to make it sound like the Valley is falling apart? There is no basis for this thread.

if bradley would go ...wouldn't the MVC be falling apart?

No, it would still be the strongest basketball-first conference in the Midwest with nine teams and would just go get another school or three. Losing a program that's gone to one NCAA Tournament in the past 17 years constitutes falling apart?

Agree with Drakey and VC, this stuff is ridiculous. It's so sad how many people buy into the 'sky is falling' crap of conference realignment. A few years from now, a lot of these schools are going to go right back to looking for the best regional rivals to play against and everyone will look back on this era as the Great Panic. Unless there is no stabilization ever again, in which case major college sports will effectively kill itself off.

[CBB_Fan]

No, it would still be the strongest basketball-first conference in the Midwest with nine teams and would just go get another school or three. Losing a program that's gone to one NCAA Tournament in the past 17 years constitutes falling apart?

Agree with Drakey and VC, this stuff is ridiculous. It's so sad how many people buy into the 'sky is falling' crap of conference realignment. A few years from now, a lot of these schools are going to go right back to looking for the best regional rivals to play against and everyone will look back on this era as the Great Panic. Unless there is no stabilization ever again, in which case major college sports will effectively kill itself off.

I don't think the conference completely falling apart is the worry. The worry is the Valley is drifting towards the realm of the "third-class" conferences, and likely is going to continue to drift that way. Already we were in the second class of college basketball, below the power conferences. Now, I think we are also below the AAC, new Big East, MWC, and A10 (the "second class").

If we aren't first class, and we aren't second class, what are we? We are the C-USA, the Horizon League, the WCC, or even the WAC. Granted, there are lower rungs still; we aren't the CAA (4th tier) or SWAC (last tier) yet.

And that isn't even discussing the idea of a major separation between the top of D1 and the bottom. With all the new teams that have been added to FBS and D1 basketball, I think we may see the division happen as the playoff system in football forces the power conferences to cannibalize themselves. I think you'll see four huge superconferences and that second level of basketball I described leave the rest of D1 behind, if they see profit in doing so.

[uniftw]

No, it would still be the strongest basketball-first conference in the Midwest with nine teams and would just go get another school or three. Losing a program that's gone to one NCAA Tournament in the past 17 years constitutes falling apart?

Agree with Drakey and VC, this stuff is ridiculous. It's so sad how many people buy into the 'sky is falling' crap of conference realignment. A few years from now, a lot of these schools are going to go right back to looking for the best regional rivals to play against and everyone will look back on this era as the Great Panic. Unless there is no stabilization ever again, in which case major college sports will effectively kill itself off.

I don't think the conference completely falling apart is the worry. The worry is the Valley is drifting towards the realm of the "third-class" conferences, and likely is going to continue to drift that way. Already we were in the second class of college basketball, below the power conferences. Now, I think we are also below the AAC, new Big East, MWC, and A10 (the "second class").

If we aren't first class, and we aren't second class, what are we? We are the C-USA, the Horizon League, the WCC, or even the WAC. Granted, there are lower rungs still; we aren't the CAA (4th tier) or SWAC (last tier) yet.

And that isn't even discussing the idea of a major separation between the top of D1 and the bottom. With all the new teams that have been added to FBS and D1 basketball, I think we may see the division happen as the playoff system in football forces the power conferences to cannibalize themselves. I think you'll see four huge superconferences and that second level of basketball I described leave the rest of D1 behind, if they see profit in doing so.

Louisville and Rutgers are leaving the AAC after this year...Louisville may still be trying to find a way into the ACC a year early and not even be there next year.

They are being replaced by ECU, Tulane, and Tulsa.....

UCONN is only there until they get the call from the ACC, Big 10, or drop football to FCS/completely and rejoin the Big East. Cinci is just waiting for the ACC/B1G/B12 to call their name as well.

I'd predict that by the start of the 2015-2016 season the AAC will be

SMU
Temple
Houston
Memphis
UCF
USF
ECU
Tulane
Tulsa

maybe they get Army for all sports...maybe the pull a CUSA team....either way that isn't better than the Valley.

[rlh04d]

Louisville and Rutgers are leaving the AAC after this year...Louisville may still be trying to find a way into the ACC a year early and not even be there next year.

They are being replaced by ECU, Tulane, and Tulsa.....

UCONN is only there until they get the call from the ACC, Big 10, or drop football to FCS/completely and rejoin the Big East. Cinci is just waiting for the ACC/B1G/B12 to call their name as well.

I'd predict that by the start of the 2015-2016 season the AAC will be

SMU
Temple
Houston
Memphis
UCF
USF
ECU
Tulane
Tulsa

maybe they get Army for all sports...maybe the pull a CUSA team....either way that isn't better than the Valley.

Without WSU, yes that is better than the Valley. Significantly.

The ACC isn't taking either UConn or Cinci. It's not happening, unless Notre Dame joins fully, and with their new NBC deal, it doesn't look like that's happening. Eventually those two will probably be able to get out of the conference, but it's not happening soon.

Not to mention the AAC, if it expanded to basketball only schools, would easily be able to take their pick of the Valley or the A-10 for expansion.

[TheAsianSensation]

If there was a way you could physically bolt St Louis and Dayton to the conference, then sure. But that ain't happening anytime soon. Not worth risking being on an island in that conference.

On the other hand, if we could get Bradley, Wichita St, Drake, and maybe Detroit to be part of a western group with St Louis and Dayton, and maybe even if St Louis leaves that's still palatable if you add Valpo......probably too many moving pieces anyways. Nope.