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NilesGold · Senior Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 1324

^ I'll agree they are probably on par with the middle of the pack teams in the A-10, which means they might not be an upgrade, but they wouldn't be a drag on the conference either. By "far outside the footprint" I assume you are referring to distance in geography from current teams? But I wouldn't consider the state of North Carolina to be far outside of the current A-10 geographical sphere.

Obadiah · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 3:18 pm Post subject:

I agree with some of your observations, but your thinking is hampered by your concept of the A-10 "footprint". Thinking outside that box is a real need and I'm sure McGlade is heading in that direction especially since ODU not being included in the group headed to Conference USA gives a reprieve of sorts to the CAA, thus diminishing the prospect of GMU and VCU leaving.

The word is that the A-10 will not add new members who do not have in place a respectable size basketball facility and a solid plan supporting their basketball program. As example, BU qualifies on the former, but not on the latter.

As of right now, the A-10 has 13 members for the 2013-14 season. The odd number is awkward so a push to get at least another new member will continue.

Max11 · Junior Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 260 Location: OH

I think I just saw College of Charleston mentioned for the first time, and if that isn't considered too far geographically, then I think they'd be a nice fit. It's a big state school, with a good academic reputation, a solid hoops program, and no football.

If we're looking for an NYC-area team, then Ryder might be an OK alternative to Hofstra, but I'm not thrilled with adding either school.

Marty Peretz · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 3:58 pm Post subject:

Haven't read the entire thread yet so I apologize if this has already been addressed, but it would seem to me that GMU and VCU must be having reservations in part because the conference already has members from both D.C. and Richmond, respectively. Maybe it doesn't matter, since it's not like there was going to be competition between those fan bases to begin with, but perhaps it's a consideration.

An outside the box thought:to beef up the possibility of landing a good TV deal, perhaps it's actually a benefit to get two schools from as many media markets as possible. This is totally coming from left field, but if we had GMU/GW from DC, Richmond and VCU from Richmond, La Salle and SJU from Philly, and Fordham and (Iona/Hofstra/whomever) from NY, you've now got a pair of teams in the key media markets in three major cities. Maybe that makes a network more inclined to televise games--the idea being that fans of a given school in a given city will be more inclined to watch the conference in general if more local teams in their market are accessible. Dayton and Xavier are close enough. Slu is the only game in town in STL (lots of Mizzou fans but that's obviously a different conference). Butler gives you enough of a footprint in Indy (though obviously you'll never dominate that market, since you have Indiana and Purdue fans). URI in Providence. UMass can command decent market share in Boston area plus Springfield/Worcester. Really, Bona is the only team not cutting it, but it at least semi-touches the Buffalo/Rochester market (in truth Buffalo wouldn't be a terrible addition to the A10 if you're going on this theory). We've lost Charlotte, so I agree Davidson would be a nice get from that region, though they're a tiny school in a basketball-crazed state, so they're not going to be too attractive as a regional TV option (UNC, Duke, NC State, Wake, Charlotte all probably with larger fan bases).
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Marty Peretz · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 4:05 pm Post subject:

Side note: I never understood why we wouldn't take a nice long look at Sienna. They have a deceptively massive fan base in the Albany area, which might be a nice media market to add, particularly since we really don't have a footprint in any upstate media market as a league (Bona is so far from Roch/Buf and has a small alum base and the rest of central NY is Cuse country). Sienna routinely draws huge crowds and seems committed from an institutional standpoint despite having a few down years of late. As to Iona, I don't think they are going to fit the bill. No facility, not a consistently good low major program, no meaningful endowment that I know of, very little credibility in their area. Only benefit there is that they tap into the Westchester/Fairfield County markets, but if you're looking to do that, Fairfield is probably a better bet. Plus they've shown a huge institutional commitment in recent years. Iona is in New Rochelle, which is five minutes from the Bronx, where Fordham is, so you're not really expanding your NYC presence by bringing them in. Fairfield or Hofstra (due to its Long Island location) would be better bets, but I'm not sold on either. St. Johns, Seton Hall and Rutgers pretty much are going to remain the relevant programs in the metro region.
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MikeUMA · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 10:08 pm Post subject:

Conference USA made it official today that they're taking Charlotte, among others.
http://www.conferenceusa.com/genrel/050412aab.html

MassDynasty321 · Senior Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 1026 Location: St. Louis

Haven't seen this posted anywhere yet... GMU staying in the CAA

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/59011/george-mason-decides-to-stay-in-caa

Blutrane93 · Senior Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 1258

^Perhaps an effort to control the PR spin if indications are the A-10 will only invite VCU? 14 teams with VCU/Butler replacing Temple/Charlotte makes more sense in 2013 than 15 would with George Mason thrown into the mix on top of it.

5150 · Sophomore Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Posts: 81

Welcome VCU
http://cbsprt.co/KlGOFB

NilesGold · Senior Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 1324

^ Awesome new for the A-10. Losing Temple is going to hurt the A-10 as a whole and UMass in particular because of the great rivalry. But the combination of Butler & VCU is an improvement over Temple & Charlotte.

SJGMoney · Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 12:35 pm Post subject:

As long as Shaka Smart stays that is. After that it's going to be VC-Who
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sldrums · Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 12:37 pm Post subject:

Another great get for the A10 in replacing Temple & Charlotte. We need Shaka and Bred Stevens to stay long term now, and build up that culture. This helps to shrink whatever gap there is between the a10 and BE (also PAC10).

Woodenships · Freshman Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 37

Good pick up for sure. Now the A 10 needs the Big East to stay intact, at least for a while. If ND and UConn leave Big East, its another scramble where the BE hoop only schools will form their own league. As a college hoops fan, Im begining to detest college football.

Swampy · Hall of Fame Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 2440

NilesGold · Senior Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 1324