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Rick Majerus Wants Out of A-10 and In MVC
- Thread starter tornado
- Start date
tornado
New member
I just ran across some talk on boards about DePaul and their coaching search....and it centers apparently on the fact that some of the candidates being wooed are asking hard about DePaul's long term committment to the Big East...
apparently there is indeed a little bit of rumble behind the scenes that we are not hearing much about, and it involves perhaps BOTH DePaul and Saint Louis leaving the conferences they are presently in, and trying to form a new conference or get into some other conference....and guess what name comes up the most...
the MVC............
schools with stroing basketball programs and no football (Marquette, DePaul, SLU, Creighton, and even Bradley...) seem to get the most mention in regards to some new conference...
but I still just don't see it happening any time soon.......
apparently there is indeed a little bit of rumble behind the scenes that we are not hearing much about, and it involves perhaps BOTH DePaul and Saint Louis leaving the conferences they are presently in, and trying to form a new conference or get into some other conference....and guess what name comes up the most...
the MVC............
schools with stroing basketball programs and no football (Marquette, DePaul, SLU, Creighton, and even Bradley...) seem to get the most mention in regards to some new conference...
but I still just don't see it happening any time soon.......
TheAsianSensation
New member
Recently I ran through likely realignment scenarios. It seems to me that Marquette, DePaul, and the other Big East castoffs would be more likely to try and join forces with select A-10 powerhouses, leaving St Louis behind (as well as the basketball-only MVC members).
The reason that DePaul may want to leave the Big East has to do with location then anything else then why would they join the A-10? If it has to do with being able to compete then you have to really question their administration. I believe realignment is probably right around the corner. There is too much money at stake to ignore the current status and there will be some programs who will want to push their agenda and exploit it.
TheAsianSensation
New member
Well the issue would be if DePaul (and St Louis and Marquette for that matter) would want to compete in a revised conference that includes the Big East basketball-only members, Xavier, Dayton, and a couple other A-10ers. The other option would be to join with other midwest teams (Bradley, Creighton, Butler, other random teams with similar stature).
I think DePaul would choose the former option before the latter. Not saying it's the right thing to do, but that it would be their choice.
Oh, and as for DePaul leaving the Big East, it may be out of their control. Any realignment would force the Big East to 12 for football and push out the 8 non-football members.
If there were an opening to leave the MVC for a larger profile conference, something more like the old CUSA/Great Midwest, I would hope the powers that be would jump at the chance. Getting into a conference with a few old BE, A10, and MVC teams would be outstanding.
Some sort of Marq-Depaul-Xavier-Dayton-SLU-Bradley-Creighton with 3 additional similar institutions.
Not sure if BU would make the financial committment needed for a conference like that. Hopefully we wouldn't be left flat footed if something like this raids the MVC.
Add in Butler and Wichita St and you have a pretty great conference there. Not suure if you need a tenth team in there.
TAS - one of the complaints teams have about A10 and Big East is the crazy travel. Given that why do you think SLU or Marquette would prefer a conf with all the basketball only BE teams and east coast A10 teams to a conference such as the one described above?
TAS - one of the complaints teams have about A10 and Big East is the crazy travel. Given that why do you think SLU or Marquette would prefer a conf with all the basketball only BE teams and east coast A10 teams to a conference such as the one described above?
TheAsianSensation
New member
Well, yes, travel would suck. But from a competition standpoint, if I were Marquette, I'd rather be in the Big East/A-10 merger than a merger involving Valley schools.
Also, there's a threat of a split within D-1 between "BCS schools" and "non-BCS schools". Therefore, securing the most competitive conference possible becomes top priority.
We could spend days breaking it down, really :lol:
Lol yes we could. I've already spent much more time than makes any sense as I suspectyou have. I've done some weird stuff trying to figure out possible scenarios. Maybe I'll share some with you via pm to avoid cluttering the board....
One semi off topic question for you: who's the best candidate for the big ten expansion. I keep hearing Missouri and Pittsburgh, but neither make a lot of sense to me as I cannot see how that'd be better for either school than the conference they're in. I feel ND makes the most sense, though I could see how the Big East would work as well or better for the Irish.
One semi off topic question for you: who's the best candidate for the big ten expansion. I keep hearing Missouri and Pittsburgh, but neither make a lot of sense to me as I cannot see how that'd be better for either school than the conference they're in. I feel ND makes the most sense, though I could see how the Big East would work as well or better for the Irish.
TheAsianSensation
New member
Notre Dame obviously makes sense, but after doing a discussion on realignment, I think the school that makes the most sense is.....*drumroll*
Syracuse.
They, more so than most candidates, would be the most aggressive about moving, IMO. Their football program can step up in class and they'd fit right in with basketball. The Big 10 would gladly take them for the exposure in NY. The travel isn't too bad, not any worse than Penn St, IMO. And Syracuse fits academically, which is of course important to them.
If I were in charge of the Big 10, after Notre Dame, I'd call Syracuse next.
So, in effect the step up to big ten football is a bigger in terms of benefit than the step down in basketball?
The other program that makes immediate sense to me is Cincinnati but they don't seem often mentioned. They're obviously lower profile than ND Cuse Pitt or Rutgers but they have a need to improve their conference. Memphis fits the same bill but don't have the record of succes in football that cincy does.
The other program that makes immediate sense to me is Cincinnati but they don't seem often mentioned. They're obviously lower profile than ND Cuse Pitt or Rutgers but they have a need to improve their conference. Memphis fits the same bill but don't have the record of succes in football that cincy does.
TheAsianSensation
New member
I think so.
Also remember, with 16 teams in basketball, it'll be easier for Syracuse if they move.
I don't have the academic numbers in front of me, but Syracuse is also one of the few who fit the academic profile. I don't think Cincy does, but OSU would object to Cincy. As Penn St would to Pitt. Syracuse offers no such conflicts.
TheAsianSensation
New member
No.
But if the Big 10 goes to 12, their BFFs, aka the Pac 10, will go to 12 too, forcing the Big East to follow, rendering the issue moot.
Kinda surpurised to hear this. I can remember "the other mike" when we played depaul the year before they went into the big east and how happy they were to get into that conf. and get in the east coast recruiting markets. Apparently they have not been successful with their recruiting efforts and coach selection. Who besides lowery are they wooing for the coaching job?
Big East then may go after BC again! I heard that as a rumor anyway. What would happen to Villanova and Georgetown which do have a football teams just not D-I? I'd be surprised if the Big East would want to cut St. John's out of the picture. An only football conference for the Big East is very unlikely. Cutting some teams for teams with football programs though may happen and the two most likely would be DePaul and Marquette.
TheAsianSensation
New member
No kidding. Check out what the theoretical Big East would look like:
Big East South: South Florida, Central Florida, Memphis, UAB, Rutgers, Louisville
Big East North: Connecticut, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Massachusetts
Point is, though, they could get there if they absolutely must.
It's unlikely Villanova or G'town have the financial capability to meet D-1 standards in football.
Big East could go in a few ways; going to 12 for football and cutting a deal with the 8 non-football members seems likeliest.
It's unlikely Villanova or G'town have the financial capability to meet D-1 standards in football.
Big East could go in a few ways; going to 12 for football and cutting a deal with the 8 non-football members seems likeliest.[/QUOTE]
I don't know much about Nova... but I have to think Georgetown is one of the wealthiest schools in the country.
Big East could go in a few ways; going to 12 for football and cutting a deal with the 8 non-football members seems likeliest.[/QUOTE]
I don't know much about Nova... but I have to think Georgetown is one of the wealthiest schools in the country.