We're going to 12 teams

[Jet915]

I'm sure many people don't want to hear about another school, but I always thought Davidson made sense for the Big East. They are a quality academic institution with a solid basketball tradition in a state that loves college basketball. They may not be a major school in NC, but being about 25-50 miles north of Charlotte would draw interest if they were in a major conference. Now that they are going to the A-10, they may get more attention.

I was thinking the same thing, big market, new move likely to A-10 if they do well for 5-10 years..........after research though, they have an undergrad population of like 1500.....one of the smallest in D1, that is REALLY small.

[Jet915]

SLU seems like a no-brainer, problem is team #12.

Can't say that for sure since there does not seem to be any logic behind the choices so far. I am assuming that the final two will go to two of the following in aphabetical order: Dayton, Richmond, St. Louis and VCU. Although I read that Gonzaga did a full court press with the Presidents etc while at the final four in Atlanta.

Creighton is far removed, and what most would consider a logistics problem so Gonzaga could be a real candidate. I mean if you are going to fly to Omaha, what is it to fly on another hour to the West Coast. Biggest concern would be Olympic sports.

Don't know if 10 or 12 is the best option but what we do know is Fox wants 12 and will most likely get it.

Would like to know what the real criteria is for selecting the schools. Using mens bball only: X has been solid for for two decades but faltered this year. Butler has been solid last 5 years and holding their own. Creighton doing well and holding their own. St. Louis solid this year and promising under RM last 4 years, but has new coach. VCU has garnered national attention under Shaka Smart and holding well. Richmond has come around and looking promising. Dayton has been struggling but has two good recruiting classes and could be on their way back under Miller.

Good news for St. Louis is they too are a Jesuit School, solid mens bball last two years, large TV market (albeit is a pro market), great facility, and good Olympic programs with mens soccer top drawer.

Richmond fits the need for another east coast school to balance the league, another small private school with large endowment but smaller fan base than the other three, sure about its Olympic programs.

VCU another east coast school that would balance the league but not sure it fits the mold of the private schools since it is a state school. Certainly successful in mens bball under Shaka Smart and looks to continue so.

Dayton is a nice fit in the Midwest between X and Butler, great for Olympic programs and good rivals with X, Butler and St. Louis. Seems a natural in so many ways yet could be they are just too close to X and Butler throwing the league balance off. Checking their Olympic sports seems the womens teams are top tier in the A-10

Gonzaga while a winner on the west coast is just too far removed and would really disrupt the league balance.

To me any two of the four would be good additions, too bad they can't take all four.

Not sure it's just another hour, probably a couple hours extra plus the fact that it's Spokane. Not doing research but I doubt Spokane has many direct flights to Big East cities which adds several hours of extra time for olympic sports teams.

[BillEsq]

I'm sure many people don't want to hear about another school, but I always thought Davidson made sense for the Big East. They are a quality academic institution with a solid basketball tradition in a state that loves college basketball. They may not be a major school in NC, but being about 25-50 miles north of Charlotte would draw interest if they were in a major conference. Now that they are going to the A-10, they may get more attention.

I was thinking the same thing, big market, new move likely to A-10 if they do well for 5-10 years..........after research though, they have an undergrad population of like 1500.....one of the smallest in D1, that is REALLY small.

Plus one on your thoughts Jet... Davidson is way to small and since 1970 are nothing more than one of the better teams of the Southern Conference a conference usually ranked in the bottom 10 Division 1 conferences. I like Davidson and cheer for them in the tourney every year as an underdog but realistically they have 0 chance of taking the Charlotte Market. In Charlotte they would be behind NC, Duke, NC State, and Charlotte for sure and then be competing for scraps with all the other NC schools, there is like 10 more including another ACC school in Wake. I think people get excited about Davidson's one good year with curry, outside of that there nothing more then another one and done from a undisputed weak conference. I also want to point out that there is no guarantee that Davidson is going to the A-10, or that it could compete there. Davidson since 1993 has never had a SOS stronger than 126 and averages in the upper 160s-180s. Davidson's RPI average during this period is well over 100. Its lowest being 35 in the curry year, after that there is a couple of 60s then it gets off the chart real quick. Here is a link the Davidson's history from '93 http://www.collegerpi.com/subs/index.html .

While Davidson is a fine SoCon school the A-10 let alone the Big East would be a huge step up. The A-10 school most similar is St. Bonaventure and that is including the fact that the Bonnies had pretty hefty sanctions during that time period, The closest thing the BE has to Davidson is Depaul and Depaul plays a significantly tougher schedule. I guess i understand the infatuation with Davidson as they are a fun school to cheer for and there is some allure to the #24 market. Unfortunately adding Davidson would be akin to adding Robert Morris and thinking you were getting the Pittsburgh market.

As jet says Davidson sounds and looks nice until you look at the stats... add in the fact that they are one of the smallest schools and you realize they do not really have the resources to commit to competing year in year out at that high of a level.

[Megavega]

I truly believe the Big East knows who the next 2 schools will be. Its not a question of who 11 and 12 is, it's more of a question who 10 and 11 are. The 12th school is already in the conference

[BillEsq]

Hell if anyone is curious it is 2 hrs and 48 minutes from spokane (ie the moon) to Omaha...(ie the last patch of civilization until the pacific)

1 hour and 13 minutes from Stl to Omaha,
1 hour and 22 minutes from Chicago to Omaha
5 hrs and 2 minutes from Providence to Spokane
3 hrs and 2 minute from providence to Omaha

There you go i'm not sure how accurate it is but it seems about right... site... http://www.travelmath.com/flying-time/f ... /Omaha,+NE

[BillEsq]

And now silence.... somebody needs to check on the Seton Hall AD, the BE mafia might have gotten him for saying too much too soon. Apparently the rumor is you have to have at least 5 priests present to make any statement about the BE official.

[DumpsterFireA10]

And now silence.... somebody needs to check on the Seton Hall AD, the BE mafia might have gotten him for saying too much too soon. Apparently the rumor is you have to have at least 5 priests present to make any statement about the BE official.

So would that make the over/under 4.5 men of the cloth?

At this point, let's watch some non-rev sports and get ready for whatever league we're assigned to.

[shupirate98]

And now silence.... somebody needs to check on the Seton Hall AD, the BE mafia might have gotten him for saying too much too soon. Apparently the rumor is you have to have at least 5 priests present to make any statement about the BE official.

Tony Soprano did attend Seton Hall for a semester and a half...

[QueRico]

And now silence.... somebody needs to check on the Seton Hall AD, the BE mafia might have gotten him for saying too much too soon. Apparently the rumor is you have to have at least 5 priests present to make any statement about the BE official.

See, this is what happens when you change university bylaws to allow a lay president!
Seriously though, I have a sneaking suspicion that Pat Lyons was taken out behind the woodshed on this one. Don't expect any quotes fr/ him anytime soon.

[Dew]

I'd rather see how a couple of years go with 10 members before deciding to add 2 more.