Conference Shuffling: Butler

[brewcity77]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7675856/butler-bulldogs-interested-joining-atlantic-10-sources-say

So with Temple moving to the Big East, it sounds like Butler is getting ready to move to the Atlantic-10 in their place. Seems like a better fit for Butler than a direct-to-Big East move would have been, but if it all falls apart and the Big East remnants join with the A-10, it would position them to be in the strongest basketball-only league. Granted, they had a down year this year, but I have to think Stevens will have them competitive again in the coming years, and joining a perennial multi-bid league is probably better than rolling the dice of being the Horizon champ every year.

[Hoopaloop]

Could help UWM dominate if Butler leaves.  No reason why UWM couldn't take advantage of that league with the flagship team leaving.

[77ncaachamps]

Could help UWM dominate if Butler leaves.  No reason why UWM couldn't take advantage of that league with the flagship team leaving.

Don't forget Detroit and Cleveland State.

[IrwinFletcher]

Forgive my igonorance, but West Virginia is leaving  this summer and Pitt and Syr the following year.  Is anyone joining for hoops for the 2012-13 season or will there be only 17 teams?

[Aughnanure]

Forgive my igonorance, but West Virginia is leaving  this summer and Pitt and Syr the following year.  Is anyone joining for hoops for the 2012-13 season or will there be only 17 teams?

Pretty sure Temple is since they are joining for football.

[Litehouse]

Forgive my igonorance, but West Virginia is leaving  this summer and Pitt and Syr the following year.  Is anyone joining for hoops for the 2012-13 season or will there be only 17 teams?

As of now, Pitt and Syracuse aren't leaving until 2014.  That may change, but it hasn't yet.

[RubyWiscy]

Temple will join BE in football only in 2012.  In 2013 it will join in all sports.

[Canadian Dimes]

Dont forget Valpo they are positioning themselves really well with Bryce Drew in recruiting the next tier down D! recruits in the state.  those players just under the kids that IU, Purdue etc. are going after.  They have some really nice players committed.

[Avenue Commons]

Dont forget Valpo they are positioning themselves really well with Bryce Drew in recruiting the next tier down D! recruits in the state.  those players just under the kids that IU, Purdue etc. are going after.  They have some really nice players committed.

Avenue Commons had an opportunity to visit Valparaiso during college. A Tuesday at Marquette in December during finals is more fun than Valpo on a Saturday night in September.

[🏀]

Dont forget Valpo they are positioning themselves really well with Bryce Drew in recruiting the next tier down D! recruits in the state.  those players just under the kids that IU, Purdue etc. are going after.  They have some really nice players committed.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo way.



If I were Butler, I'd keep a holding pattern right now. Signing a long term deal with the A-10 wouldn't be in any basketball school's best interest.

[Knight Commission]

Dont forget Valpo they are positioning themselves really well with Bryce Drew in recruiting the next tier down D! recruits in the state.  those players just under the kids that IU, Purdue etc. are going after.  They have some really nice players committed.

Speaking of Valpo. Dominic James' second half at Valpo about 5 years ago, was flat out dominant.

[GGGG]

If I were Butler, I'd keep a holding pattern right now. Signing a long term deal with the A-10 wouldn't be in any basketball school's best interest.

"Signing a long term deal?"  Schools aren't free agents you know.  At the most they would have a buy out and a waiting period.  

The A10 is a step up from the Horizon no doubt.  If the BE ever comes calling, they can leave the A10.  They should leave.

[🏀]

"Signing a long term deal?"  Schools aren't free agents you know. At the most they would have a buy out and a waiting period.  

The A10 is a step up from the Horizon no doubt.  If the BE ever comes calling, they can leave the A10.  They should leave.

So, like I said, I wouldn't be signing a deal with the A-10.

[warriorchick]

"Signing a long term deal?"  Schools aren't free agents you know.  At the most they would have a buy out and a waiting period.  

The A10 is a step up from the Horizon no doubt.  If the BE ever comes calling, they can leave the A10.  They should leave.

If BE ends up collapsing over football, I could picture a great basketball conference  with the basketball-only schools of the Big East and the best of the A-10.  If Butler as a team becomes more consistent, they would be a welcome addition.

[Silkk the Shaka]

If BE ends up collapsing over football, I could picture a great basketball conference  with the basketball-only schools of the Big East and the best of the A-10.  If Butler as a team becomes more consistent, they would be a welcome addition.

Need to have big state schools.  Big state schools have football.  Otherwise, the conference is made up of small schools with small alumni bases that don't get the casual fan to tune in without XYZ State on the front of the jersey.  That leads to minimal if any national exposure.  That leads to a greatly diminished MU basketball program.  The All Basketball School conference is nice in theory.  In practice it would absolutely suck for MU.

[GGGG]

So, like I said, I wouldn't be signing a deal with the A-10.

So you'd stay in the Horizon League, turning down a clearly better conference, thinking that there *might* be a potential BE membership down the line?  

I think one thing that is clear is that schools need to take the opportunities that are presented to them when those times come and not wait.  Boise took the BE invite despite the fact that they just moved to the Mountain West.  Ditto TCU with the Big 12.  

Butler has no idea if a basketball only conference is in the offering for them.  IMO it would be *much* better for them to be in a conference with other potential members of such a conference (Xavier and Dayton), than hanging out in a third, lower level conference.