VCU

[Dew]

I'd be sweating if I was a Dayton fan. In fact, if you're not in the first 10, there could be some sleepless nights.

[augkash]

I love how everyone has counted Dayton out already. BTW their TV market is one of the best country. I believe it will be dayton and stl for 11 and 12 spot but I can see the conference even adding more teams like Richmond down the road

Maybe cause no one wants Dayton?

Of course your gonna say that BC your a Xavier fan. But if dayton was a top 25 team this year no one would care if they join. But with a coaching change and only having 3 scholarship players back this year 17-14 is a OK record. If Gregory wouldn't have left they would be a top 25 team with the kids that left.
Xu fans should want dayton in lg BC of the great rival between the 2 schools

[Eight Legger]

I love how everyone has counted Dayton out already. BTW their TV market is one of the best country. I believe it will be dayton and stl for 11 and 12 spot but I can see the conference even adding more teams like Richmond down the road

Well, it's the #62 market in the country. So technically, yes, it is one of the best 62 markets in the country.

Richmond is #58, BTW.

[podcast411]

I love how everyone has counted Dayton out already. BTW their TV market is one of the best country. I believe it will be dayton and stl for 11 and 12 spot but I can see the conference even adding more teams like Richmond down the road

Well, it's the #62 market in the country. So technically, yes, it is one of the best 62 markets in the country.

Richmond is #58, BTW.

But Dayton owns their market - and Richmond at best splits their market.

It has been said many times on this board - the city of Dayton for the most part is behind the flyers - and watch flyers games.

The Dayton television market is the eighth-best in the country when it comes to college basketball, according to research analyzed by ESPN. ESPN examined the 56 metered markets that carried college basketball games in 2011-12, and ranked them by ratings.

The Flyers had 27 games on television in 2011-12. At least 28 will be broadcast this season. The University has one of the strongest and most long-lasting local television packages in the nation. CBS affiliate WHIO-TV has carried Dayton games since 1952. It is the number one CBS affiliate for total all-day viewership, and yet WHIO will pre-empt network programming more than 10 times a year to carry Flyer basketball games.

Between the local package on WHIO, regional exposure on Fox Sports Ohio and Time Warner Cable, and national games on ESPN’s various platforms, CBS College Sports and NBC College Sports, UD airs between 25 and 30 games a year on one of the strongest and most unique television plans in college basketball.

Community support for University of Dayton basketball is a nationally-recognized phenomenon. UD Arena has been among the national leaders in attendance since it opened in the 1969-70 season. Last year, the Arena was 27th with an average of 12,567 fans a game. Dayton is the annual home of the NCAA’s First Four, and this year’s games are already sold out.

That great support travels as well. UD had the most fans of any out-of-town team at the recently completed Charleston Classic, last year’s championship run in the Old Spice Classic and is expected to have the most fans at next season’s EA Sports Maui Invitational.

If you want to compare TV Markets between what UD brings and Richmond brings - and make that the deciding factor - I am 100% ok with that and can go to sleep assured UD would be in.

[DudeAnon]

Ok, I am glad it hasn't devolved quickly into complete flaming (being serious.)

But my metric was NCAA tournament wins and I truly believe that is what the new conference cares most about.
Its pretty undeniable, or at least thus far, that VCU has the best basketball program between Dayton, Richmond and themselves.

So is the only reason they won't be added is profile (size, public etc.)?

If thats the case, so be it. But I would like to see the best possible basketball schools be added.

[marquette]

The more I think about it, VCU should be the 12th team. Having watched them all year they are without a doubt the real deal. Not only are they gaining in star power, mainly Shaka Smart and "HAVOC" their team is damn good. You don't beat Butler by 30 points for nothing. Call me crazy but they might be the best team out of all the possible additions. Point being, VCU isn't going anywhere and will be in the tournament probably every year for a long time. Why wouldn't you take them?

I don't want to start a flame war. But VCU has 7 NCAA wins in the past 5 years. Obviously it is inflated because they are just recently a power, but why would you pass on adding a team that would be a yearly contender the Conference title vs another bottom dweller in Dayton or Richmond. Don't take offense to this Richmond and Dayton, its just the facts.

I understand them being a public school is an issue, I am going to call BS on that one. Its all about basketball, VCU is the best (possibly better than Xavier and Butler) and why wouldn't their location be an advantage similar to Richmond?

Its just my opinion, but passing on VCU would be a bad mistake, definitely when the conference is already bottom heavy. By tiers (in NCAA tournament success, which is my only metric):
1. Georgetown, Marquette
2. Butler, Xavier
3. The rest.

Don't want to flame, but when comparing programs among passionate fans it seems impossible not too. Simply put, ADD VCU!

Some problems with your post:
1.) VCU does not meet any aspect of the institutional fit the new Big East is looking for. They are huge (nearly 32,000 students) and public. In addition, they are looking to add a major football program. Granted they don't think it will be any time soon, but aspiration is concerning. This is absolutely a deal breaker for the current schools as a potential breakaway would be a blow to the new conference. I would agree that they have the best basketball program in recent years, but I don't think it is enough to overcome the obstacles. If they got in I wouldn't complain, though.

2.) As a Marquette fan I'm grateful that you put us in the top tier, but there is no way you can't include Villanova as well. They went to a final four in 2009 (yes they are having a couple down seasons, they will get better soon). They are in the tournament again this year.

3.) The second tier should include Creighton. I realize they aren't on the same level as Butler the past two seasons or Xavier over the long haul, but they are a solid program with a great recent basketball tradition. They could very easily have a run in the tournament this year.

4.) St. John's and Providence are on the rise. St. Louis is hard to classify right now but I would also put them at least in the "program on the rise" category. They seem to be a little better than the other two in this category recently.

5.) Dayton an Richmond are not far from being competitive in at least the middle of the new Big East, and would already be pretty similar to Seton Hall and DePaul if dropped into the league right now (in my opinion). Ideal? Maybe not, but certainly a lot of potential.

In my opinion it comes down to a few factors for the last two. Is local support or a new market more important? Are we playing in divisions, or is it an unbalanced rotating schedule? How important are balanced divisions? Is the rivalry between Dayton and Xavier something we need or something we can live without? Personally I like both schools and will be happy with either one.

[Throwbackmuskie]

I love how everyone has counted Dayton out already. BTW their TV market is one of the best country. I believe it will be dayton and stl for 11 and 12 spot but I can see the conference even adding more teams like Richmond down the road

Maybe cause no one wants Dayton?

Of course your gonna say that BC your a Xavier fan. But if dayton was a top 25 team this year no one would care if they join. But with a coaching change and only having 3 scholarship players back this year 17-14 is a OK record. If Gregory wouldn't have left they would be a top 25 team with the kids that left.
Xu fans should want dayton in lg BC of the great rival between the 2 schools

Excuses excuses. Dayton has really done nothing to even be in this spot. The biggest thing they are known for is hosting the 1st four. And uc is a bigger rival. I believe it is time for Dayton to stop trying to ride Xavier's coat tails.

[podcast411]

Excuses excuses. Dayton has really done nothing to even be in this spot. The biggest thing they are known for is hosting the 1st four. And uc is a bigger rival. I believe it is time for Dayton to stop trying to ride Xavier's coat tails.

Really ??? You guys are in - and this is the attitude you show - Glad you could be so gracious in victory.

I realize you are not representative of All X fans. Thankfully. Please go find another board one with your own kind.

[yorost]

The more I think about it, VCU should be the 12th team. Having watched them all year they are without a doubt the real deal. Not only are they gaining in star power, mainly Shaka Smart and "HAVOC" their team is damn good. You don't beat Butler by 30 points for nothing. Call me crazy but they might be the best team out of all the possible additions. Point being, VCU isn't going anywhere and will be in the tournament probably every year for a long time. Why wouldn't you take them?

I don't want to start a flame war. But VCU has 7 NCAA wins in the past 5 years. Obviously it is inflated because they are just recently a power, but why would you pass on adding a team that would be a yearly contender the Conference title vs another bottom dweller in Dayton or Richmond. Don't take offense to this Richmond and Dayton, its just the facts.

I understand them being a public school is an issue, I am going to call BS on that one. Its all about basketball, VCU is the best (possibly better than Xavier and Butler) and why wouldn't their location be an advantage similar to Richmond?

Its just my opinion, but passing on VCU would be a bad mistake, definitely when the conference is already bottom heavy. By tiers (in NCAA tournament success, which is my only metric):
1. Georgetown, Marquette
2. Butler, Xavier
3. The rest.

Don't want to flame, but when comparing programs among passionate fans it seems impossible not too. Simply put, ADD VCU!

Villanova should be in on 1.

Seton Hall, DePaul, Providence, and St. John's all have more tournament success than VCU. Has their past success guaranteed success on a yearly basis? You can look through many program's histories and find runs of success, but most programs drop right back off after a few years. We could have added, Northeastern out of the 80's, UMass out of the 90's, or any number of other programs that had good stretches. Anyone that knows VCU will be a contender in our conference for years to come is fooling themselves. VCU will go through a rough stretch, every program does. What matters is how they weather that as a program and fanbase. Nothing right now can tell us if we could have confidence in them returning. If, like many others, they can't recover, they'll turn out to be an awful addition. I'd love to have them over the next couple of seasons, I don't know if I want them long run.

It has nothing to do with being a public school, their success in basketball is neither that great nor are they proven as a program that can weather the tough years. All they have as a basketball product is recent success.

[Throwbackmuskie]

Excuses excuses. Dayton has really done nothing to even be in this spot. The biggest thing they are known for is hosting the 1st four. And uc is a bigger rival. I believe it is time for Dayton to stop trying to ride Xavier's coat tails.

Really ??? You guys are in - and this is the attitude you show - Glad you could be so gracious in victory.

I realize you are not representative of All X fans. Thankfully. Please go find another board one with your own kind.

Lol last I checked this is a big east board, which Xavier is a part of. Honestly what has Dayton done to get in?

I think VCU would be a good fit, however they are not a like minded university