Still hearing SLU and Dayton or Richmond in 2014

[Bluejay]

I can't speak for Edrick, but all of us in the MVC have seen Crews fail first hand. To say that fans of (former) MVC members are a bit skeptical of Crews' ability to maintain a winner is probably an understatement.

[Edrick]

I'm not "worried" about anything. I do not support expansion beyond the present 10. The only programs I would support would be VCU (if they happened to actually be Richmond) and Gonzaga if they happened to be located in Delaware.

No one else is even close to the threshold that would gain my support.

[BillEsq]

I can't speak for Edrick, but all of us in the MVC have seen Crews fail first hand. To say that fans of (former) MVC members are a bit skeptical of Crews' ability to maintain a winner is probably an understatement.

Valid points, although Evansville is kinda out of place in the Valley-really should be a Horizon team. Crews also had a .584 winning percentage in the valley with a NCAA tourney bid. So its not like he was a slouch.

[BillEsq]

I'm not "worried" about anything. I do not support expansion beyond the present 10. The only programs I would support would be VCU (if they happened to actually be Richmond) and Gonzaga if they happened to be located in Delaware.

No one else is even close to the threshold that would gain my support.

Ed, you have made that clear. Why not just stick with that. I don't disagree with your preference. I do disagree with your confusing SIU as a program that compares favorably to St. Louis. There is nothing wrong with you just saying you like the number 10 just as there is nothing wrong with me thinking 12 is better. But if you state that St. Louis can't maintain their level i'll continue to tell you that St. Louis has a long history of competing successfully at that level. (the same goes for Dayton and Richmond).

[BillikensWin]

What we know is that the tournament is where the decisions are made. Butler has had 2 outstanding tournament runs.

I'll leave it at that.

[ChicagoX]

I would be curious to hear people's arguments as to why they think Dayton or Richmond would make a better addition to the conference than VCU. If the primary goal of the Big East is to be the strongest possible men's basketball conference consisting of schools who do not have FBS football, why would either one of those two be a better selection?

This, of course, naturally assumes that SLU is slated to be the 11th team added with one of those other three to be named the 12th.

[yorost]

Who has more Sweet Sixteens, Richmond or VCU?

VCU's basketball resume just isn't so dominating as people make it out to be. Their past does not get them added, speculation on their future does.

[ChicagoX]

I don't think any of the schools being considered for the final two spots have "dominating" resumes, but if the conference has to expand to 12, it does seem like SLU and VCU would be the two teams that would be able to compete well and not water down the conference too much.

I'm of the mentality that keeping it at 10 teams is the best option, but it appears inevitable that a couple teams are going to be added at some point in the relatively near future. From what I've read, FOX is the primary driver making that push for additional expansion.

It will be interesting to see what happens between now and the end of June. If nothing happens, hopefully that means it will remain at 10 for at least two or three years. That would certainly allow for a longer and more thorough vetting process prior to expansion.

[Edrick]

What we know is that the tournament is where the decisions are made. Butler has had 2 outstanding tournament runs.

I'll leave it at that.

Since the beginning of time, Saint Louis University has played in 14 NCAA Tournament games



Since 2010, Butler has played 14 NCAA Tournament games. (Are you even running Office 2010?)

You may as well juxtapose the Lakers.

[cm5yz6]

If the primary goal of the Big East is to be the strongest possible men's basketball conference

Maybe they want a group like-minded institutions who can work on things outside of bball. Yes, bball is important and a prerequisite but maybe so is being a highly regarded, private college. A group of private colleges to work with outside of athletics sounds like something that would be right up a university president's alley no? That kind of league would elevate the prestige of the universities who are included. I have a feeling the presidents would like the sound of that.