Bradley to A10?

[saluki762]

The A10 talking about adding Sienna shows that geography is more important that basketball tradition and success for that conference right now. Bradley could make a Final 4 run next year and WSU could make another one and neither would get an invite because of geography. The A10 commissioner and basketball coaches may want you. The Presidents of Fordham, St. Bonaventure, and Duquesne do not. Unfortunately, they are the ones that matter.

[frankthetank]

There are two important keys to conference realignment: "It takes two to tango" and "Remember who has the leverage."

In this case, what Bradley wants (or Wichita State wants or Indiana State wants or anyone else in the MVC wants) is largely irrelevant. None of them have any real leverage in this scenario. In this situation, the A-10 has all of the leverage. If they want Bradley, I think they could actually poach them fairly easily from the MVC whether or not SLU and Dayton stay. Even without SLU and Dayton, the A-10 is definitely higher on the conference realignment pecking order than the MVC and Bradley isn't so far outside of the footprint that they wouldn't be nixed as a candidate based on geography alone. However, there's little indication that they would want Bradley at this point. The interesting thing is that Loyola (who the MVC just added) is probably the school that fits what the A-10 would want the best (a large private school in a massive market) if it wanted to go further into the Midwest. That league simply hasn't indicated that it wants to do that, though (as they likely know it's a matter of time that SLU, at the very least, will be a Big East member sooner rather than later).

[IllinoisState]

There are two important keys to conference realignment: "It takes two to tango" and "Remember who has the leverage."

In this case, what Bradley wants (or Wichita State wants or Indiana State wants or anyone else in the MVC wants) is largely irrelevant. None of them have any real leverage in this scenario. In this situation, the A-10 has all of the leverage. If they want Bradley, I think they could actually poach them fairly easily from the MVC whether or not SLU and Dayton stay. Even without SLU and Dayton, the A-10 is definitely higher on the conference realignment pecking order than the MVC and Bradley isn't so far outside of the footprint that they wouldn't be nixed as a candidate based on geography alone. However, there's little indication that they would want Bradley at this point. The interesting thing is that Loyola (who the MVC just added) is probably the school that fits what the A-10 would want the best (a large private school in a massive market) if it wanted to go further into the Midwest. That league simply hasn't indicated that it wants to do that, though (as they likely know it's a matter of time that SLU, at the very least, will be a Big East member sooner rather than later).

Outside of an MVC school, what private school in the Midwest do you think the A-10 would go for?

[squirrel]

There may be optimistic chatter from Bradley fans (myself included) about A10 prospects, but unless it involves a Horizon-A10 hybrid formula of some sort, it's nothing more than a pipe dream.

They are adding George Mason, Davidson and probably Siena. That puts them at an odd number, but I am not sold that URI, Richmond and Duquesne will stay due to football (possibly CAA for all), same for Fordham (Patriot) after they were able to convince Patriot League to start offering football scholarships.

[rlh04d]

There are two important keys to conference realignment: "It takes two to tango" and "Remember who has the leverage."

In this case, what Bradley wants (or Wichita State wants or Indiana State wants or anyone else in the MVC wants) is largely irrelevant. None of them have any real leverage in this scenario. In this situation, the A-10 has all of the leverage. If they want Bradley, I think they could actually poach them fairly easily from the MVC whether or not SLU and Dayton stay. Even without SLU and Dayton, the A-10 is definitely higher on the conference realignment pecking order than the MVC and Bradley isn't so far outside of the footprint that they wouldn't be nixed as a candidate based on geography alone. However, there's little indication that they would want Bradley at this point. The interesting thing is that Loyola (who the MVC just added) is probably the school that fits what the A-10 would want the best (a large private school in a massive market) if it wanted to go further into the Midwest. That league simply hasn't indicated that it wants to do that, though (as they likely know it's a matter of time that SLU, at the very least, will be a Big East member sooner rather than later).

Not sure how much I agree with that. The A-10 without SLU and Dayton isn't a very strong conference ... it would have the benefit of access to east coast markets, and thus would be more attractive for TV purposes, but that's likely a conference below the Valley in RPI and tournament bids. At some point it's just the CAA with Davidson, and the CAA was not ahead of the MVC in pecking order.

[rlh04d]

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.

Missed one thing the first time I replied to this ... no chance in hell Cinci goes to the B1G. Ever. They don't need another school in Ohio, let alone an inferior one. And they're in a weird spot where they seem to be a decent research institute, and thus might get AAU status one day, but their overall academics are poor.

UConn has a better shot, but I think the B1G is more likely to move south for further realignment. I'd imagine their long term goal would include schools like Virginia, UNC or Duke, Georgia Tech, or a Florida State that somehow gets AAU status soon -- all of those are better programs with better markets.

Those states are also 4 (FL), 8 (GA), 10 (UNC), and 12 (VA) in total population, compared to Connecticut at 29. If they were able to get those four states, they'd have a presence in every state in the top 12 but Texas and California.

I don't see Cinci or UConn going anywhere until realignment explodes again. They'd be fill ins as a reaction to realignment rather than driving it themselves. I think the NC and Virginia schools are the same ones the SEC would want, and I don't know what in the hell the B12 wants to do. Eventually the ACC will get shredded and those two will plug in the holes.

*Edit: And today's grant of rights from the ACC has likely ended all conference realignment for the next 12 years. Cinci and UConn might be sitting put for a long time.

[Sycamore_DevilDog]

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.

My niece plays softball for Dayton and they have been told Dayton along with St. Louis will be joining the "New" Big East next year. If so, who replaces these two schools in the A-10?

[DoubleJayAlum]

or a Florida State that somehow gets AAU status soon

I can't decide if this is intentionally funny or unintentionally funny. FSU getting AAU status is certainly high comedy though, whether intentional or unintentional.

[rlh04d]

or a Florida State that somehow gets AAU status soon

I can't decide if this is intentionally funny or unintentionally funny. FSU getting AAU status is certainly high comedy though, whether intentional or unintentional.

http://www.uff-fsu.org/art/Hasselmo.pdf

Hey, look: Creighton is #231 according to Forbes. I wonder if they heard that you guys give diplomas to people who are still illiterate?

http://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/#pag ... l%20states

[TheAsianSensation]

Even without SLU and Dayton, the A-10 is definitely higher on the conference realignment pecking order than the MVC

I'm not sure I agree with this. In fact, I'm pretty sure I don't. They're in better markets, but that's all. Their basketball product will be hurt, and they don't stand out any in other sports. Over time, the MVC would crush them in revenue, both TV and tournament revenue.

My niece plays softball for Dayton and they have been told Dayton along with St. Louis will be joining the "New" Big East next year. If so, who replaces these two schools in the A-10?

It's possible that adding George Mason and Davidson and maybe Siena is the replacement for those 2. Right now with GMU and Davidson they're at 14 teams and would go to 12 when they lose St Louis and Dayton.

If they do head west, to get back to 14, Detroit is a stealth option.

Missed one thing the first time I replied to this ... no chance in hell Cinci goes to the B1G. Ever. They don't need another school in Ohio, let alone an inferior one. And they're in a weird spot where they seem to be a decent research institute, and thus might get AAU status one day, but their overall academics are poor.

UConn has a better shot, but I think the B1G is more likely to move south for further realignment. I'd imagine their long term goal would include schools like Virginia, UNC or Duke, Georgia Tech, or a Florida State that somehow gets AAU status soon -- all of those are better programs with better markets.

Those states are also 4 (FL), 8 (GA), 10 (UNC), and 12 (VA) in total population, compared to Connecticut at 29. If they were able to get those four states, they'd have a presence in every state in the top 12 but Texas and California.

I don't see Cinci or UConn going anywhere until realignment explodes again. They'd be fill ins as a reaction to realignment rather than driving it themselves. I think the NC and Virginia schools are the same ones the SEC would want, and I don't know what in the hell the B12 wants to do. Eventually the ACC will get shredded and those two will plug in the holes.

Well just earlier today, we got Grant of Rights from the ACC. That maybe killed off most of the relevancy of this post.

I think the Big 5 are done moving, unless the Big 12 actually wakes up and realizes West Virginia is on an island, and adds Cincy. Seriously, I can't believe the long term plan there is to hang WVU out to dry.

Theory: Add Cincy to go to 11. UConn as a football only to go to 12 teams. UConn can then join the Big East in the other sports (might take some coaxing, but if UConn can park football in the Big 12, that might work for everyone. But wait, it gets more brilliant. Big 12 can then take a non-football, in the midwest, to balance UConn out. Anyone know of a really good program in the midwest, who doesn't have the BEast as a possibility, that would be a geographic fit?