So, it has been talked about on this site previously, but I thought I would renew the talk of a new home for Dayton. Clearly the Big East is not a possibility, and I just cannot like the AAC idea. The AAC is unstable due to UConn and UC looking at homes for football. I also cannot get up for opponents like ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, USF, etc. I know it has been discussed here previously, so if you don't like this thread, don't comment on it.
Myself, I like keeping our A-10 core together. That includes URI, SBU, Davidson, SJU, VCU, SLU, GMU, Richmond, Dayton, Duquesne, GW, and UMass. That makes 12, although we could drop SBU, but the others give presence in major cities and are decent programs. This new conference would have to draw Wichita from the AAC. They made a bold move to quickly move there, but are not a fit for the AAC. So, who else? I would consider, just to name a few teams for discussion: Charleston, Belmont, ETSU, Murray State, Wofford, and St.Marys. Charleston would be a nice partner for Davidson, nice arena, decent history. Belmont has a nice arena, good metro area in Nashville, decent recent success, no threat to leave elsewhere. ETSU and Murray fit like UMass, VCU, URI, and Wichita. Larger schools, but nice arenas, good success, not a threat to leave. Wofford is a long shot since they have football. St. Marys is also a longshot, and doubt they have the finances to travel to places like URI for softball. But cannot ignore them, and they may be desperate if BYU and Gonzaga go to the Mountain West, as rumored. Several of these schools are possibilities because they have don't have big time football. All of this is centered around getting Wichita to leave the AAC, and shedding some baggage within the A-10.
So, there you have it. I think our AD needs to take the initiative and look at forming our own conference, or revamping the A-10. The crowds Wednesday and Thursday tell you all you need to know about the A-10. We need teams to commit to basketball. Several of these teams are showing that ability, but clearly Fordham and LaSalle are not. We need out of the A-10 as it currently is.
Myself, I like keeping our A-10 core together. That includes URI, SBU, Davidson, SJU, VCU, SLU, GMU, Richmond, Dayton, Duquesne, GW, and UMass. That makes 12, although we could drop SBU, but the others give presence in major cities and are decent programs. This new conference would have to draw Wichita from the AAC. They made a bold move to quickly move there, but are not a fit for the AAC. So, who else? I would consider, just to name a few teams for discussion: Charleston, Belmont, ETSU, Murray State, Wofford, and St.Marys. Charleston would be a nice partner for Davidson, nice arena, decent history. Belmont has a nice arena, good metro area in Nashville, decent recent success, no threat to leave elsewhere. ETSU and Murray fit like UMass, VCU, URI, and Wichita. Larger schools, but nice arenas, good success, not a threat to leave. Wofford is a long shot since they have football. St. Marys is also a longshot, and doubt they have the finances to travel to places like URI for softball. But cannot ignore them, and they may be desperate if BYU and Gonzaga go to the Mountain West, as rumored. Several of these schools are possibilities because they have don't have big time football. All of this is centered around getting Wichita to leave the AAC, and shedding some baggage within the A-10.
So, there you have it. I think our AD needs to take the initiative and look at forming our own conference, or revamping the A-10. The crowds Wednesday and Thursday tell you all you need to know about the A-10. We need teams to commit to basketball. Several of these teams are showing that ability, but clearly Fordham and LaSalle are not. We need out of the A-10 as it currently is.
