Belmont?

[Galway Eagle]

Just wondering why nobody's thought of adding Belmont I mean they're in Nashville so they've got the mareket, they're basketball centric, had good recent success (5 ncaa bids in past decade regular season conference champs 6 times) I mean they seem like a good little program that would work simply to add depth to the conference. 

[Groin_pull]

Just wondering why nobody's thought of adding Belmont I mean they're in Nashville so they've got the mareket, they're basketball centric, had good recent success (5 ncaa bids in past decade regular season conference champs 6 times) I mean they seem like a good little program that would work simply to add depth to the conference. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Just wondering why nobody's thought of adding Belmont I mean they're in Nashville so they've got the mareket, they're basketball centric, had good recent success (5 ncaa bids in past decade regular season conference champs 6 times) I mean they seem like a good little program that would work simply to add depth to the conference. 

Because the criteria is not just basketball centric, that describers 220 of the 350 DI programs.  It is basketball centric programs at an elite level that are going to put significant resources into their programs.  I would argue there are some among the C7 that don't even fit that bill, but Belmont certainly doesn't.

[bamamarquettefan]

love the program, but Butler and Xavier connect the conference with Indiana and Ohio linking us with the Northeastern schools.

Xavier and DAyton are both more profitable than most BCS FOOTBALL programs and in the footprint.  Butler and VCU are programs that have and could go on Final Four runs that earn the conference prestige and money.  you need to keep it at 10 teams unless and 11th or 12th is really bringing in something big, so in my mind Belmont would be a great basketball team, but would be quite a bit behind some schools.  My order is:

1. Xavier
2. Butler (get them unless trying to go all catholic)
3. VCU or Dayton (I prefer VCU, but both would be great)
4. only look at STL, Creighton, Gonzaga etc if you try to go all-catholic)

I don't see going past that

[Galway Eagle]

Idk man maybe you don't, but when I see a game against Belmont I watch it because you can count on them to play real well against good teams like Long Beach State out west.  And I mean they seem committed to upgrading their team as they moved conferences to face Murray State rather than having no competition.  (Know its not elite but it means they're trying)

[Galway Eagle]

love the program, but Butler and Xavier connect the conference with Indiana and Ohio linking us with the Northeastern schools.

Xavier and DAyton are both more profitable than most BCS FOOTBALL programs and in the footprint.  Butler and VCU are programs that have and could go on Final Four runs that earn the conference prestige and money.  you need to keep it at 10 teams unless and 11th or 12th is really bringing in something big, so in my mind Belmont would be a great basketball team, but would be quite a bit behind some schools.  My order is:

1. Xavier
2. Butler (get them unless trying to go all catholic)
3. VCU or Dayton (I prefer VCU, but both would be great)
4. only look at STL, Creighton, Gonzaga etc if you try to go all-catholic)

I don't see going past that

I agree I don't see it going past that either but it just occurred to me that Belmont would be a nice little fit. 

[brewcity77]

Here's how I see Belmont. They are ten years away from being relevant at this level. They have zero NCAA wins, a bandbox stadium, an endowment less than $100M, and a very small student and alumni base. If they continue to dominate, maybe they move up another step to the MVC or A-10. And if they continue to dominate that, maybe they'll be ready to move up again. But right now, they have no tradition, no money to grow their program to this level, and while they are in Nashville, likely do less to deliver that market than any of the other programs we're discussing do for their own respective markets.

Trying to get them to play in the new Big East would be like putting the 9-year-old Pop Warner quarterback under center for Alabama. Maybe in a decade he'll be ready for that, but right now, he would have no chance.

[T-Bone]

How about Belmont Abbey?  It has Al ties!

[4everwarriors]

I'm down with Slippery Rock.

[dayton flyers]

No offense to Belmont, they've done very well recently, but they only averaged 2,012 fans last year at their home games.  And their arena only seats 5,000.  I'm not sure if that's the type of candidate you guys are looking for.

And would they do so well if they were in a tougher conference?

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2012.pdf

[pumata]

No offense to Belmont, they've done very well recently, but they only averaged 2,012 fans last year at their home games.  And their arena only seats 5,000.  I'm not sure if that's the type of candidate you guys are looking for.

And would they do so well if they were in a tougher conference?

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2012.pdf

Dayton, what is the sentiment on your campus about joining the new conference? I have read alternative views but one should not rely on these boards as a statistically reliable sample. I have always admired the program at Dayton for doing so much with relatively limited resources.

[dayton flyers]

Dayton, what is the sentiment on your campus about joining the new conference? I have read alternative views but one should not rely on these boards as a statistically reliable sample. I have always admired the program at Dayton for doing so much with relatively limited resources.

We desperately want in the new conference.  It would absolutely suck for Xavier to get in and have us be left behind.

If we get left behind, it won't be the end of the world, but we believe that we can compete at that higher level, and we have the fan base, tradition, facilities, and financial resources to compete at that level.

As I've said previously, I firmly believe that the program underachieved under Gregory.  Between Purnell's last 4 years and Gregory's first year, UD made the NCAA tournament 3 out of those 5 years.  I really believe that Archie Miller will get UD back to that type of performance level, if not a higher level than that.

I think the only thing holding this program back is the coaching.  We believe that we should be on the level of Xavier/Butler/Gonzaga/VCU/George Mason/Creighton, etc., the best of the non-BCS teams.

[ChicosBailBonds]

We desperately want in the new conference.  It would absolutely suck for Xavier to get in and have us be left behind.

Have you cleared this with UD Pride yet?   

[schubert33]

WOW, has our expectations fallen this far???

Belmont has zero ring to it!!! 

This thread should be taken off immediately...

[bobnoxious]

This thread did start with implied teal, didnt it?

[warriorchick]

Belmont would have a much bigger fan base if its Campus wasn't literally across the street from Vanderbilt.

And I am pretty sure they have money.   I am guessing that 80% of their buildings have been build in the last 20 years.  Back in the 70's, Belmont was probably only the 5th or 6th largest private college in the City of Nashville in terms of enrollment. I don't even remember hearing about their sports teams at all.

All that being said, no.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I'm down with Slippery Rock.

Slippery nipple?

[Dawson Rental]

Slippery nipple?

Hell no, they suck(le).

[Dawson Rental]

WOW, has our expectations fallen this far???

Belmont has zero ring to it!!!  

This thread should be taken off immediately...

Fortunately, no Dodds here, so the thread stays.  The moderators believe in giving everyone an equal opportunity to make a sage or an idiot out of themselves.  Sort of real world like.

[slingkong]

Idk man maybe you don't, but when I see a game against Belmont I watch it because you can count on them to play real well against good teams like Long Beach State out west.

Oh, well in that case....

No.