Butler, Xavier to Join Catholic 7

[real chili 83]

Ok, I'll go there.....

Yes, Dayton is an RPI drain as they stand now. 

I respect them.  They are rabid fans, love their hoops, and they do have a tradition. 

Used to be, back in the day......and not tooooo terribly long ago, the Flyers were one of those teams that you always worried about.  They weren't...like to ten material, but they were sneaky good. 

Too bad the almighty dollar, tv market size, and rpi rule.  Dayton is a worthy opponent.

[jsglow]

Could the 10th member be awaiting a LW trip down to South Bend?

[MerrittsMustache]

Butler is a private school but not a Catholic school. Is the concept to form a Catholic school conference or just a basketball-only conference?

[brewcity77]

Dayton isn't a bad team. They were vying for a NCAA bid last year and came up short. They can play well against quality opposition. But this is about more than that. It's about name cachet. It's about convincing the networks you can draw eyes in multiple top-50 television markets (preferably top-25 to 35). And it's about convincing the rest of the country that you are a conference to be taken seriously.

Without a doubt, Xavier, Butler, and Gonzaga give you all of those things. That's why I feel that they should be the first three names on the list.

After that, St. Mary's, Creighton, VCU, and St. Louis give you some aspects of those things. None of them give you all the factors you want, but all give you some. That's why I think they should be the backup plans and the ideal schools if we go to 12 or 14.

Past that, schools like St. Joe's, Wichita State, and Dayton give you, well, something. It's not a bad something, but it's not a blatantly evident good something either.

In terms of what we need this league to deliver, Dayton to me is clearly a third tier school. I really wish they were in the top tier. Or at least I did until reading some threads on the UDPride website. But the simple truth is they aren't at that level. Let them schedule Xavier for an annual home-and-home series and maybe in a few years they can take over the newly-depleted A-10 and earn their way in by becoming the Gonzaga of the Midwest. For now, I think we should take a pass.

[MuMark]

Gonzaga is 3 time zones away from the eastern schools....just don't think it's going to happen.

[Tommy Brice for Coach]

I'm watching TMJ4 news right now - the lead story was that the C7 was leaving the BE and forming a new conference along with Butler and Xavier. FWIW

[real chili 83]

Logic says you are right.  No argument.

Our values say we find a way to get the Flyers, and a few others in when the time is right.

Dayton isn't a bad team. They were vying for a NCAA bid last year and came up short. They can play well against quality opposition. But this is about more than that. It's about name cachet. It's about convincing the networks you can draw eyes in multiple top-50 television markets (preferably top-25 to 35). And it's about convincing the rest of the country that you are a conference to be taken seriously.

Without a doubt, Xavier, Butler, and Gonzaga give you all of those things. That's why I feel that they should be the first three names on the list.

After that, St. Mary's, Creighton, VCU, and St. Louis give you some aspects of those things. None of them give you all the factors you want, but all give you some. That's why I think they should be the backup plans and the ideal schools if we go to 12 or 14.

Past that, schools like St. Joe's, Wichita State, and Dayton give you, well, something. It's not a bad something, but it's not a blatantly evident good something either.

In terms of what we need this league to deliver, Dayton to me is clearly a third tier school. I really wish they were in the top tier. Or at least I did until reading some threads on the UDPride website. But the simple truth is they aren't at that level. Let them schedule Xavier for an annual home-and-home series and maybe in a few years they can take over the newly-depleted A-10 and earn their way in by becoming the Gonzaga of the Midwest. For now, I think we should take a pass.

[Oldgym]

I'm watching TMJ4 news right now - the lead story was that the C7 was leaving the BE and forming a new conference along with Butler and Xavier. FWIW

The Journal Communications effect.  Pretty much the same newsroom.

[AZWarrior]

I honestly have no clue what you mean by that. Im very excited about this new conference.

Well, "And so it begins" was a very integral quote from a Sci-Fi TV series called Babylon 5, AKA B-5.   I thought you might be channeling your inner Vorlon.   Note:  I fully realize I'm pegging the geek mete here, and I'm OK with that.

So in that case, never mind.

BTW - I'm excited as well.  :-)

[Warriors10]

Both Cincy and Indy papers are running this story tomorrow morning off of Hunt's report.  Hunt has either fooled MKE, Cincy, and Indy or he knows exactly what his sources said and meant.  Even Hunt would take a professional dive if this was total hog-wash so he'd check his s**t

[NersEllenson]

Let's just hope this isn't a premature report, that was to be kept classified/confidential until a later time...that somehow could torpedo X and Butler joining the new league.  Almost reminds me of the Bob Knight to Wisconsin premature reporting scenario that ultimately cost the Badgers Bob Knight back in the day....

Sure this won't be the case...but the above thought crossed my mind.

[🏀]

mikehunt's ass is really on the line right now. He's being linked and quoted all over social media.

[MarquetteDano]

mikehunt's ass is really on the line right now.

I see what you did there.   

[MU82]

Let's just hope this isn't a premature report, that was to be kept classified/confidential until a later time...that somehow could torpedo X and Butler joining the new league.  Almost reminds me of the Bob Knight to Wisconsin premature reporting scenario that ultimately cost the Badgers Bob Knight back in the day....

Sure this won't be the case...but the above thought crossed my mind.

Again, this wasn't the reporter's fault. The reporter used what his source said to write a story. The fact is, Knight WAS ready to go to Wisconsin but got pissed when word got out. The reporter wasn't "wrong," just as Hunt will not be wrong if his source screwed up. Journalism 101, people.

[Benny B]

Both Cincy and Indy papers are running this story tomorrow morning off of Hunt's report.  Hunt has either fooled MKE, Cincy, and Indy or he knows exactly what his sources said and meant.  Even Hunt would take a professional dive if this was total hog-wash so he'd check his s**t

Mike Hunt?  Dive?  Hog wash?

For the love of Gavitt, someone better than me please make a good joke out of this.

[Newsdreams]

Mike Hunt?  Dive?  Hog wash?

For the love of Gavitt, someone better than me please make a good joke out of this.

Wash Mike Hunt after Hog Dive?

[Blackhat]

Catholic 7 is bringing back the middle school memories and beating down the punks of St.Luke's, St. Dominic's, St. Jude and the like and winning Padre Sierra with our 1-3-1 and my killer inside out game.

[RyanConroy]

This would seem to suggest to me that Larry Williams/Pilarz/other MU people have been the ones leaking a lot of this news. Regardless, fantastic news.

[Tommy Brice for Coach]

This would seem to suggest to me that Larry Williams/Pilarz/other MU people have been the ones leaking a lot of this news. Regardless, fantastic news.

I have thought this as well. With G'Town seeming to be on the fence, I'm wondering if MU is trying to force them into the decision that MU wants by leaking info to Hunt.

[AirPunches]

Catholic 7 is bringing back the middle school memories and beating down the punks of St.Luke's, St. Dominic's, St. Jude and the like and winning Padre Sierra with our 1-3-1 and my killer inside out game.

Sounds like holy apostles.

[MUWarrior11]

As a Catholic mid-westerner (St Louis native) who grew up loving hoops, this whole new conference idea is so solid.  I don't really care if its officially or completely a Catholic conference, but the fact is that this conference would have a number of solid schools from two regions (Midwest and Northeast) built on strong values, combined with rich basketball tradition. Old rivalries would be rekindled and new ones would surely form.

This new conference--at least in my head--just seems right. All about hoops. The "West" or "Midwest" division (MU, Depaul, Butler, SLU, Creighton, etc) is something new and exciting.  The East division would have Gtwon,SJU,Nova and would retain that old school feel.  Most schools are similarly-sized Universities and most are in urban areas instead of college towns. Potential for awesome road trips.  Some schools have nice basketball-specific arenas--such as SLU and Xavier-- that get packed to the gills.

Feels like a throwback, almost.  Everything else is getting bigger, more spread out, more football-centric, less geographically logical and just plain unfortunate.  This just seems right.  

I'm so not everyone agrees with me. But I, for one, am pumped about this possibility.

[mr.MUskie]

I'm surprised that no one in this thread has commented on the rotating sites. When that was first suggested a while back it didn't seem to be a popular option.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I'm surprised that no one in this thread has commented on the rotating sites. When that was first suggested a while back it didn't seem to be a popular option.

I honestly dont care that much. Plus I think a lot of scoopers like myself are just ecstatic that were jumping out of a sinking ship.

[chapman]

I'm surprised that no one in this thread has commented on the rotating sites. When that was first suggested a while back it didn't seem to be a popular option.

I hope it's either incorrect or will change once they find a long-term site they can agree on.  Would much rather take a site on own it.

[GGGG]

I have thought this as well. With G'Town seeming to be on the fence, I'm wondering if MU is trying to force them into the decision that MU wants by leaking info to Hunt.

I don't think it is accurate to say that they are on the fence.  They are simply waiting for an official declaration until everything is more clear.