Bradley to A10?

[saluki762]

I would think that Bradley would fit the profile for possible membership in the Big East (new) (i.e. private school, solid academics, no football). The AD of Seton Hall has said that that league plans to ultimately expand to 12 schools.

did you think before you typed that?

[Mikovio]

I think they need to go to 16 for BU to have a chance. Hopefully by that time Geno has rebuilt the program and we're selling out and making NCAA runs.

[saluki762]

I think they need to go to 16 for BU to have a chance. Hopefully by that time Geno has rebuilt the program and we're selling out and making NCAA runs.

Better chance than if they go to 12 but still an ultimate long shot.

[Mikovio]

Name the six schools ahead of Bradley. I'll give you SLU and Dayton. I think if they go to 14 there's a chance, 16 it's better than 50-50.

BU was invited to the Metro Conference in the 80s with Cincy, Louisville and some of the NBEers. Of course back then BU was winning titles and ranked often. With the program at its lowest point now it's not well positioned for realignment, but that could change in the coming years. I'll add that market size is more relevant than ever today, which doesn't weigh in BU's favor either.

[saluki762]

Name the six schools ahead of Bradley. I'll give you SLU and Dayton. I think if they go to 14 there's a chance, 16 it's better than 50-50.

BU was invited to the Metro Conference in the 80s with Cincy, Louisville and some of the NBEers. Of course back then BU was winning titles and ranked often. With the program at its lowest point now it's not well positioned for realignment, but that could change in the coming years. I'll add that market size is more relevant than ever today, which doesn't weigh in BU's favor either.

If they stay all private maybe 50/50. if they go to 16 I don't think they don't stay all private and I think that drops you out of the top 10.

Private schools alone, off the top of my head, based on all factors, I think Bradley in would be behind Richmond, La Salle, and St. Joes. Market it what really helps them. So including Dayton and SLU, off the top of my head, you are at least 6th in line. If they allow public schools, you fall farther, I believe Bradley may be better basketball wise but TV mobey will drive this, especially if moving to 16.

As a SLU alum, I am still not sure we make it if they go to 12. I think chances are good but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

[rlh04d]

Name the six schools ahead of Bradley. I'll give you SLU and Dayton. I think if they go to 14 there's a chance, 16 it's better than 50-50.

BU was invited to the Metro Conference in the 80s with Cincy, Louisville and some of the NBEers. Of course back then BU was winning titles and ranked often. With the program at its lowest point now it's not well positioned for realignment, but that could change in the coming years. I'll add that market size is more relevant than ever today, which doesn't weigh in BU's favor either.

WSU/VCU as public schools are far more likely to join the Big East than Bradley. I cannot imagine them going to 16 without admitting public schools. There simply aren't many private schools after Saint Louis and Dayton that wouldn't lower the per-school TV money.

Bradley adds nothing to the TV contract. Why would they add a school in rural Illinois -- when they already have Chicago -- which would add nothing to TV dollars? You'd reduce the amount of money going to everyone.

You'd have to make a massive change in the quality of your basketball program to even be looked at.

[TheAsianSensation]

Name the six schools ahead of Bradley. I'll give you SLU and Dayton. I think if they go to 14 there's a chance, 16 it's better than 50-50.

St Louis
Dayton
Richmond
VCU
St Joseph's
Detroit
Wichita St
Drake
Loyola (maybe)
Cleveland St (maybe, if you think the market matters)
Duquesne (maybe)
Siena (maybe)
UMass (football is a possible blocker)
Bellarmine (don't laugh)
Belmont
Davidson (maybe)
College of Charleston (maybe)
and the nuclear option of 4 west coast schools in a package (Gonzaga, St Mary's, and pick two other WCC teams of your preference)

The bottom line: market matters. Bradley brings an irrelevant market. Therefore, if they look at Bradley, they're going to look at teams like St Joseph's, who duplicate an existing market. Wichita is a better market. Des Moines (Drake) is a better market. Loyola, Cleveland St, Belmont, Duquesne, down the line, market market market.

[IllinoisState]

Name the six schools ahead of Bradley. I'll give you SLU and Dayton. I think if they go to 14 there's a chance, 16 it's better than 50-50.

St Louis
Dayton
Richmond
VCU
St Joseph's
Detroit
Wichita St
Drake
Loyola (maybe)
Cleveland St (maybe, if you think the market matters)
Duquesne (maybe)
Siena (maybe)
UMass (football is a possible blocker)
Bellarmine (don't laugh)
Belmont
Davidson (maybe)
College of Charleston (maybe)
and the nuclear option of 4 west coast schools in a package (Gonzaga, St Mary's, and pick two other WCC teams of your preference)

The bottom line: market matters. Bradley brings an irrelevant market. Therefore, if they look at Bradley, they're going to look at teams like St Joseph's, who duplicate an existing market. Wichita is a better market. Des Moines (Drake) is a better market. Loyola, Cleveland St, Belmont, Duquesne, down the line, market market market.

I would be surprised if most of those teams went ahead of Bradley.

[Mikovio]

Name the six schools ahead of Bradley. I'll give you SLU and Dayton. I think if they go to 14 there's a chance, 16 it's better than 50-50.

St Louis Agree
Dayton Agree
Richmond Agree
VCU Only if they let in publics
St Joseph's Villanova won't allow it. Nova led the charge to kick out Temple of the (old) Big East and tried to block their re-admittance because they want to be the big dog in Philly. They'll also fight to keep out St. Joe's, LaSalle, etc.
Detroit They're nearly broke-- their endowment is $26 million, 1/10 the size of Bradley. Bradley crushes them in facilities, attendance, tradition and US News rates BU ahead in academics.
Wichita St Like VCU, only if they allow publics. Even if they do though, depends on how they weigh academics.
Drake A slightly larger metro area doesn't offset Bradley's better facilities, tradition, attendance, endowment.
Loyola (maybe) Just speculating on this one but I don't think DePaul would like another Chicago school.
Cleveland St (maybe, if you think the market matters) Again, they would have to consider publics. If market was all that mattered, UMKC would be BCS.
Duquesne (maybe) This is a possibility, but it's close. Bradley has the larger endowment and attendance. Tradition is about the same and market weighs heavily in Duquesne's favor. I don't know about Duquesne's facilities.
Siena (maybe) No.
UMass (football is a possible blocker) Not unless UMass drops football and they allow publics.
Bellarmine (don't laugh) No
Belmont Maybe. Though Bradley has much better endowment, tradition, attendance.
Davidson (maybe) Maybe. Healthy endowment, good tradition, but I don't know much about their facilities and attendance.
College of Charleston (maybe) They have about 1/4 the $$ of Bradley, but maybe.
and the nuclear option of 4 west coast schools in a package (Gonzaga, St Mary's, and pick two other WCC teams of your preference) If geography wasn't an issue, but I doubt they want to stretch to both coasts. Too expensive.

The bottom line: market matters. Bradley brings an irrelevant market. Therefore, if they look at Bradley, they're going to look at teams like St Joseph's, who duplicate an existing market. Wichita is a better market. Des Moines (Drake) is a better market. Loyola, Cleveland St, Belmont, Duquesne, down the line, market market market.

Market is but one factor of many. They're not going to admit Detroit if UDM can't/isn't going to invest in their program. I'll agree with you on SLU, Dayton and Richmond. I'll say maybe to Duquesne, Belmont, Davidson and Charleston... and VCU and WSU if they decide to allow public schools. I wouldn't dismiss the importance of academics to a bunch of university presidents.

Another school to throw out is George Washington, but just like with Loyola and St Joes, there is already a NBE school in the market that likely wouldn't want to share the spotlight.

[TheAsianSensation]

I did throw in a lot of maybes that would be very borderline to take over Bradley, but I did it to illustrate the point.

Bradley offers a product that won't sour. They would be a good academic fit. They probably wouldn't stand out, but they would be a safe pick. If you took every expansion criteria and compared BU against that list of schools, BU would be in the top half in each category, no question. But are they #1 among all candidates in anything?

The last thing the Big East needs is a safe pick. They need big money, big product, big results. They need to take chances. Bradley offers the complete opposite.

That's why Detroit, Belmont, Davidson, et al have to be mentioned. They offer markets that can make the BEast bigger. That's why VCU and Wichita are listed - they have a basketball product that can enhance the BEast. That's why St Joe's and Drake are listed - they offer history that is at least somewhat comparable to BU. Bradley can beat any of these individual schools out depending on whatever criteria the Big East is using - but can they beat the group?