Conference Shake Up 2.0

[Ta town]

I hated the idea of AFA in the Valley, but if you pair them with Denver and make it a western division I might be for it.

Denver, AFA, WSU, MSU, Creighton, Drake

Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Bradley, Southern Illinois, Evansville, Indiana State

I know thats more teams to spread the NCAA love but those two paired together and a western division to offset the poor eastern mindset I think I would be for it.

[SubGod22]

I hated the idea of AFA in the Valley, but if you pair them with Denver and make it a western division I might be for it.

Denver, AFA, WSU, MSU, Creighton, Drake

Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Bradley, Southern Illinois, Evansville, Indiana State

I know thats more teams to spread the NCAA love but those two paired together and a western division to offset the poor eastern mindset I think I would be for it.

I might be able to stomach that. Denver has been improving and putting more of an emphasis on basketball. AFA.....They're a name. But you'd still have to get the Eastern Block to vote for it. I'm guessing we'd need 7 of 10 votes for an addition and I don't see Illinois State, Indiana State, Evansville, Drake or Southern voting in any more travel.

I don't know what sports they sponsor either. I know Denver doesn't play football or baseball. Does AFA play baseball?

I still think the only way a team to the West could be added is if it were offset by a team to the East. Although if you split into E/W and can guarantee that those in the East only have to travel West once a year or something it may work. Or in some sports you could hit both on the same trip.

It's not going to happen.

[Ta town]

Denver plays a lot of snow or ice related sports....they do not play baseball.

AFA does and they also sponsor a lot of sports as they have a different mission.

With divisions travel really wouldn't be that much more for eastern teams as they would have less trips to Wichita, Springfield, Des Moines, Omaha to help offset the trips to Denver and Colorado Springs.

[SubGod22]

Denver plays a lot of snow or ice related sports....they do not play baseball.

AFA does and they also sponsor a lot of sports as they have a different mission.

With divisions travel really wouldn't be that much more for eastern teams as they would have less trips to Wichita, Springfield, Des Moines, Omaha to help offset the trips to Denver and Colorado Springs.

But do you think the PSEB (Poor Sisters of the Eastern Block) would see it that way and go for it? Or would they just see trip to Denver and say hell no? I have little faith in the PSEB.

[Ta town]

Of course they wouldn't, I know this is all talk. Just entertaining myself really.

[rrshock]

Wsu has to get out. This is only going to get worse.

[Ta town]

Actually if AFA was looking for a home it just helps my faux conference.

Creighton, Wichita State, Oral Roberts, Denver, AFA, Missouri State (keep playing FB in MVFC), UTA, and UALR ***add DBU for baseball***

[DoubleJayAlum]

But do you think the PSEB (Poor Sisters of the Eastern Block) would see it that way and go for it? Or would they just see trip to Denver and say hell no? I have little faith in the PSEB.

I'm not quite as pessimistic, but the western team would almost certainly have to provide an economic benefit (NCAA bid ready basketball team, good TV market, etc.) Denver may qualify, but AFA seemingly wouldn't.

The A10 added basketball first schools with tourney level teams. If we are going to expand, that is the formula we need to follow. Otherwise, a few years down the road, the schools could just end up as additional members of the poor sisters.

[SubGod22]

Actually if AFA was looking for a home it just helps my faux conference.

Creighton, Wichita State, Oral Roberts, Denver, AFA, Missouri State (keep playing FB in MVFC), UTA, and UALR ***add DBU for baseball***

Interesting. Creighton and Wichita State are obviously good. MSU has potential but is at the very least, solid. Same with ORU. Denver is on the rise and could be in the same group. Some goes for Arlington. AFA is what it is. Little Rock may or may not have potential.

Although, I can tell you that Little Rock fans wouldn't be happy about having both Denver and AFA in the conference. They're thrilled that Denver is no longer in the Belt based on travel. Having to go to CO twice wouldn't make them very happy. I guarantee though that they'd be fans of the rest.

That is a conference that CU and WSU should dominate for the most part. MSU, ORU, Denver and Arlington would be capable of being solid and having years where they could compete for a title. It would be interesting.

[SubGod22]

I'm not quite as pessimistic, but the western team would almost certainly have to provide an economic benefit (NCAA bid ready basketball team, good TV market, etc.) Denver may qualify, but AFA seemingly wouldn't.

The A10 added basketball first schools with tourney level teams. If we are going to expand, that is the formula we need to follow. Otherwise, a few years down the road, the schools could just end up as additional members of the poor sisters.

That's a fair point. With a weakened WAC, Denver may be able to propel themselves to the top of that conference. There's no denying that they're increasing focus on basketball and trying to build a better program. And it's my understanding that they make a lot of money from hockey to help fund basketball and other sports. It's definitely a nice market and if Denver can take the next step and maintain a solid program and move up the ladder a bit, they'd look like a great addition.

I'm not sure if there are any available additions that are guaranteed basketball ready bids, but the schools I'd have eyes on for that would be Denver, Arlington, Milwaukee and Murray State. The first two have been making strides recently while the other two have solid recent history and potential. Murray is the only one that doesn't bring a market into play. You may be able to add in ORU who has a nice history and some name recognition value still. But nobody is a Butler type of impact right off the bat.

[Rlh04d]

Now there are rumors of either Air Force or BYU joining the BE in the near future. The BE does need another team in the West. Either member would be football only. So BYU's other sports wouldn't be impacted as they're a part of the WCC.

This sounds bizarre to me. I believe BYU can make more from their independent TV deal with ESPN than they could with the Big East. The only major benefit I see to BYU joining a conference is for their other sports ... NCAA tourney money from the Big East could be good for them. But why would they take less money to play in the #6 football conference on the other side of the country?

Unless the BCS playoff is limited to only conference champions, I don't buy it. And if it is, FSU and Clemson will likely stay in the ACC, and they might be able to join the B12, their real wish.

The Big East needs BYU more than the other way around. I can't see that happening with what we know now. That conference might not even exist in a year. BYU is just fine right now ... They don't need to do anything.

[SubGod22]

Southland looking to expand. Appears they're planning on adding New Orleans, Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word. Speculation is that the WAC may be looking at Sam Houston State, Lamar, SFA and McNeese State. Maybe even Central Arkansas... Some seem to think the Southland may be trying to make a play for NMSU if things fall apart and they're desperate for a conference for their other sports.

[SubGod22]

I think I also forgot to mention that Butler will play in the A10 THIS season. They worked out a deal with the Horizon to leave early since the Horizon, like the Colonial, would prohibit Butler from playing in the conference tournament and recieving an auto bid. So the A10 will have 16 this season.

[1979Shocker]

In other news, the Big 12 doesn't plan on expanding past 10.

Big 12, As Of Now, Does Not Favor Expanding

[SubGod22]

There have been a number of pieces about the Big 12 expanding or not. They won't do anything until the postseason format is established. I've read a few articles about how the B12 teams will essentially get 20mil a year from their TV deal and that it would go up no matter who they add. Once things are finalized, I fully believe that the B12 will move back to 12. Not only would they get more TV money, they'll get the benefit of a championship game, which will mean more money.