Coach's Show for 3/14/2013

[jdmee]

Guessing we aren't going anywhere is a pretty good guess. But Marshall is never going to talk about going somewhere else until it is signed, sealed and delivered. As forthright as HCGM is, he surely recognizes that talking about hypothetically leaving is very bad politics.

But is this also a sly "Hey A-10 come get us"?

[SubGod22]

But is this also a sly "Hey A-10 come get us"?

Again, the A10 won't be better than the MVC and only increases travel costs for all sports. They're going to lose 5 of their top 6 programs. The closest school I believe will be in Pittsburgh unless they add teams from the Horizon to get back into the midwest.

[rrshock]

Again, the A10 won't be better than the MVC and only increases travel costs for all sports. They're going to lose 5 of their top 6 programs. The closest school I believe will be in Pittsburgh unless they add teams from the Horizon to get back into the midwest.

Let's just hope those midwest additions aren't the likes of Bradley and Ill St. Then WSU has even bigger problems.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Again, the A10 won't be better than the MVC and only increases travel costs for all sports. They're going to lose 5 of their top 6 programs. The closest school I believe will be in Pittsburgh unless they add teams from the Horizon to get back into the midwest.

Sub, it seems like you and I have been talking about this issue now for about two years!

One thing that I really like about the A10 is that it is a pure basketball league. The schools are all basketball, all the time. There are few that harbor football aspirations. And I firmly believe that the one that may, UMass, isn't leaving the A10 any time soon.

[SubGod22]

Sub, it seems like you and I have been talking about this issue now for about two years!

One thing that I really like about the A10 is that it is a pure basketball league. The schools are all basketball, all the time. There are few that harbor football aspirations. And I firmly believe that the one that may, UMass, isn't leaving the A10 any time soon.

I believe we have as all of this intrigues me. I still believe that UMass will eventually join the football BE. And while the A10 is basketball focused, the results aren't there for the remaining group outside of VCU. They do have some decent programs, but not ones that are really an upgrade over what will be left in the MVC.

I believe that the A10 will stay to the east and not try to replace all they lose in the midwest. Look for them to add Siena and maybe Detroit. George Mason hasn't helped themselves by struggling but may still be considered and I've even heard someone mention Davidson recently. Lets face it, there are a lot of solid options closer to hope for them. I wouldn't say they're better options considering the ceiling than a WSU, but it'll make more sense for them.

Maybe if they could get a commitment from WSU, they'd look to add others to bridge the gap. In that case you could look at a Bradley, Detroit and maybe even a Valpo to try and get back this way. Would that conference be stronger and more attractive than the MVC? That can be debated.

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

If the A-10 proposed moving west by picking up Murray, Detroit, and Belmont, in addition to WSU and 2-3 upper tier MVC schools, I'd be interested. Otherwise, as others have pointed out, the rest of the A-10 is so ridiculously far away it makes absolutely no sense for us to join them. It would be like Gonzaga in the Big East.

[rrshock]

If the A-10 proposed moving west by picking up Murray, Detroit, and Belmont, in addition to WSU and 2-3 upper tier MVC schools, I'd be interested. Otherwise, as others have pointed out, the rest of the A-10 is so ridiculously far away it makes absolutely no sense for us to join them. It would be like Gonzaga in the Big East.

good option if it happened.

[SubGod22]

Just to put it all out there. The A10 will look like the following in a couple of years.

Duquesne (Pittsburgh, PA)
Fordham (Bronx, NY)
G. Washington (Washington, DC)
La Salle (Philadelphia, PA)
UMass (Amherst, MA) I expect them to take their football to the BE in the near future
Rhode Island (Kingston, RI)
Richmond (Richmond, VA) still a possibility for the C7 if they go to 12-14
St. Bonny (St. Bonnaventure, NY)
St. Joseph's (Philadelphia, PA)
VCU (Richmond, VA)

That puts them at 10, but I think UMass will be gone so lets say 9. For us to join, they'd have to go to at least 14 with additions involving some of Bradley, Detroit, Valpo, Murray, Belmont, Cleveland St., Wright State or Oakland. Would 3-5 additions of them be worth it? That can be debated. But you also have to think that the A10 would like to have Siena and perhaps even Mason, Davidson and perhaps CoC. Those are a lot of mouths to feed and you'd have to want to get at least 4 teams in every year and more would be preferable if you're going 16 teams.

Honestly, I think the odds of the MVC getting 2 or 3 in would be more likely than getting 4+ in with the new A10. I don't know enough about the bottom of the A10 to talk about potential or if they're trending upward. I do have confidence that the bottom of the MVC is improving.

[Dave Stalwart]

And by rusty he means ready to light up St. Louis.

Prophet?

[WuDrWu]

Gregg likes to play possum from time to time. There wasn't much doubt that if Ron could go, he would. Gregg loves his skill set, poise and leadership.

I'm pretty sure the rest of the Valley is starting to pick up what I've been puttin' down for more than a year.