PhoenixRising2 wrote:

Wow...  I didn't see that coming.  Nice to have the expansion into the Chicago market. 

Yes.  Who will be the next team to join?
 

CLK wrote:

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

Wow...  I didn't see that coming.  Nice to have the expansion into the Chicago market. 

Yes.  Who will be the next team to join?
 

Wow I love this comish. She is very good for the A10. I hope the final piece of the puzzle is Detroit Mercy a Catholic institution. Duquesne in the west with SLU, Chicago Loyola,( Sister Jean), Detroit Mercy, Dayton & the Bonnie’s. This is a great play for the A10

luckymcd wrote:

CLK wrote:

Yes.  Who will be the next team to join?
 

I agree. This is definitely a good addition to the conference. Loyola is a cultural fit. They expand in the midwest, getting into another major city. Obviously the Final Four run played a part too.

As for who is next? No one really jumps out. Any addition needs to fit in the current geographic footprint, but adding in the south or midwest may be a priority. A school in or at least close to a big city seems to be preferred as well. There are plenty of schools that meet both of those. Many of them might be looking to upgrade conferences and don't play football (or at least don't offer scholarships) and would be good cultural fit. The problem arises in the last (and arguably biggest) qualifier. No one will be added unless they can compete in (if not upgrade) the conference in basketball. All five additions under the current commish had been to at least the Elite Eight within eight years of joining. Even if we expand it to the Sweet Sixteen, I don't see any possibilities. Perhaps there will be a Cinderella run this year to guide the conference.

Throwing out names who might fit, I'd say Vermont, Northeastern, or Boston University in New England, Drexel, Niagara, or Robert Morris in the traditional Mid-Atlantic heart of the conference, American, UMBC, or Loyola  Maryland in the south, or Cleveland St. (most likely in my opinion), Detroit, or Evansville in the midwest. The problem is none of these programs are likely to grab headlines if they join the conference.

So perhaps I'll throw out an alternative. Don't stretch for someone just to get to a round number. 15 might seem like an awkward number for a conference, but three pods of five present themselves naturally. UMass, URI, Fordham, LaSalle, and St. Joe's in the east. GW, George Mason, Richmond, VCU, and Davidson in the south. Bonaventure, Duquesne, Dayton, Loyola, and St. Louis in the midwest. Of course every sport will schedule a little differently, but the conference's marquee sport can play two games against each other team in your pod and one game against every other team in the conference for 18 conference games per year. 

I was also searching for a sixteenth team and was coming empty. That pod idea is a fantastic idea for now and until another school becomes more attractive. Do not add a school to just make it a sixteen team league.

Temple is good, and their football team should give up, move down to I-AA maybe.   

Why not create a 1-AA football conference for the A10?   Would only need 8 teams, Temple, DUQ,URI, Richmond, UMass, Davidson, Dayton, Fordham.   Winner gets birth in playoffs and the A10 brand is more known.

I would go after Witchita State who is in AAC for basketball and does not have football.   I agree with Temple never leaving AAC and the football tv money.   But I don’t think Wichita State gets a share of the football money.  And their basketball profile has diminished.    They added so many teams I don’t see AAC adding basketball only teams. However they may stay put for now until the Big East decides what they are going to do.

This was a great preemptive strike by Bernie.    SLU fans wanted them to move back to MVC so that stops that. 

The Big East tv contract is up in 2023 I believe so that is when next shoe will drop.   If they go go from 11 to 12 not much damage to A10.   If they go from 11-14 there could be.  But travel logistics aside Gonzaga is one of their targets.

I read the Dayton message boards and they know that Xavier will block any move of them to Big East.   So the prime candidates for Big East expansion are in my opinion are:
Witchita State
VCU
SLU
Gonzaga
St Mary’s of California (to give Gonzaga a close rival).

Last edited by A83 (11/17/2021 1:40 pm)

I like the idea of bringing in another school in the midwest Wichita State might be a very good fit even though their TV market may not be that big.  However, positive name recognition I would think would offset that. 

If the Bug 12 falls apart with Texas and Oklahoma leaving, WVU would be a great choice.

I'm sure they will take the money, and smile, but not for long.   Too bad A10 didnt go after them before, I think they were a perfect fit.   What about Delaware?  They just played Davidson and LaSalle, went 1-1.

You really need to add a Midwest team to keep Dayton and SLU happy.   The travel burden on them is far greater than other conference teams.

UIC is midwest.

Not sure where I should post this but unranked Clemson putting on a show against the Bonnies!! Still a ways to go.