What's Your Ideal New Conference?

[chapman]

Don't know why not Creighton if that's the case.  Fairly regular NCAA team (8 in last 14 years, 9/15 after this one), great attendance, clearly makes the "commitment to basketball" that we're hearing so much about, expands the footprint without being a major geographic outlier, based on the AD's comments they would want in.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Don't know why not Creighton if that's the case.  Fairly regular NCAA team (8 in last 14 years, 9/15 after this one), great attendance, clearly makes the "commitment to basketball" that we're hearing so much about, expands the footprint without being a major geographic outlier, based on the AD's comments they would want in.

There is absolutely no reason why Creighton should not be issued an invite. If it takes 12 teams to get them, you do it.

Xavier
Butler
VCU

Gonzaga
Creighton

Call it a day, or really do it big...

Wichita State
St. Mary's

That that point you go divisions. That, is the best case scenario.

[🏀]

Mark Miller tweeted that it would be Xavier, Butler, and Dayton. I really hope it's not Dayton. Not because of their crappy market or their NIT caliber team, but rather because their fans seem to be complete douchebags. I'd rather add Philadelphia Eagles fans than Dayton fans. What a bunch of whiny, self-important, insecure jackasses. The only positive to adding them is to kick their ass twice yearly and give DePaul someone to beat.

Whoa, whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Dayton is better than 4 out of the 7 BE Catholic schools.

[chapman]

Whoa, whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Dayton is better than 4 out of the 7 BE Catholic schools.

In women's field hockey AND thumb wrestling. 

[MarquetteDano]

I understand people are tired of SOME of the Dayton posters being douche's but the reality is sooner or later Dayton will probably be in the conference.  Will they get the first round of invites?  Maybe not.

I really believe they will be on our conference at some point.  We have had a great rivalry with them (along with DePaul and others), they have great fan support, a good endowment, etc..

Especially if the conference decides to say East of the Mississippi I think we will see Dayton in sooner or later.

[Dawson Rental]

Don't know why not Creighton if that's the case.  Fairly regular NCAA team (8 in last 14 years, 9/15 after this one), great attendance, clearly makes the "commitment to basketball" that we're hearing so much about, expands the footprint without being a major geographic outlier, based on the AD's comments they would want in.

I like Dayton, but "expands the footprint"?  Well, yeah, like a small toe expands the footprint.

[Avenue Commons]

I like Dayton. A friend of mine called UD "Marquette without books." I visited there in college and they party hard. I like the UD grads I know personally as well so overall I have a positive affinity for UD.

I was very impressed at the Nova story as to how profitable their program is. That clinched it for me. Hope to see them in the Priest League.

[brewcity77]

I like Dayton, but "expands the footprint"?  Well, yeah, like a small toe expands the footprint.

They may rhyme, but Creighton's not Dayton

[Dawson Rental]

They may rhyme, but Creighton's not Dayton

You lost me.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

Catholic 7, Butler, Xavier, SLU, Creighton, Dayton

No divisions. I'm a fan of geographical compactness.

[MU Buff]

You lost me.

chapman was talking about Creighton, not Dayton.

[dwaderoy2004]

Catholic 7, Butler, Xavier, SLU, Creighton, Dayton

No divisions. I'm a fan of geographical compactness.

You're also a fan of being a mid major conference.  Butler, Xavier, Creighton, Gonzaga, VCU.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

You're also a fan of being a mid major conference.  Butler, Xavier, Creighton, Gonzaga, VCU.

Not exactly mid major. If Dayton and SLU were teams 11 and 12, and that conference was in play last year, it would have sent 5 teams to the NCAAs (MU, GTown, Xavier, SLU, Creighton). That's as many as the current incarnation of the ACC, and only one less than the Big 10.

[UDfan]

My sources come from both X and UD, not the UDPride board.  There are a lot of people who are connected to both programs around here because of their proximity.  It's second hand information from people who are connected to the administrations.  I know that talks are taking place daily, so maybe things have changed lately, but a few days ago, I heard that talks were leaning towards 10 teams.  The people I spoke to are convinced that Butler and X are in and have both have accepted informal invites.  With all the information and spin going around, it could be wrong, but I trust the people who told me.

[brewcity77]

I really wish I was hearing VCU more frequently. It sounds like the one public that everyone wants isn't in the mix, and that's a shame. They've been committing to the program, don't forget Anthony Grant was having success there before Smart came along, and certainly fit the footprint. They aren't Gonzaga, but after XU and Butler, I'm hard pressed to think of anyone this side of the Mississippi that adds more value.

[GGGG]

You're also a fan of being a mid major conference.  Butler, Xavier, Creighton, Gonzaga, VCU.

This is why I hate labels.  Somehow Dayton makes this group "mid-major," but Creighton, Gonzaga and VCU don't?  Makes absolutely no sense.

[Dreadman24]

Does anyone realize that Creighton is in Nebraska??

[chapman]

Does anyone realize that Creighton is in Nebraska??

They're closer to Milwaukee than any C7 school except DePaul.  After this year they will have made 9 of the last 15 NCAA tournaments.  They're right up there with MU on the attendance lists.  The TV market size is questionable, but the geography shouldn't be an issue and they have an obvious commitment to basketball. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Creighton is good, and they are good get.

Obviously they are good at hoops, but they are pretty good at several other sports as well, which helps.

I have run all of the numbers, but my gut is that they are a better add than Dayton.

Butler even makes me a little nervous, but they are in Indiana, so you figure they should be able to build a decent program for the long term.

[jsglow]

They're closer to Milwaukee than any C7 school except DePaul.  After this year they will have made 9 of the last 15 NCAA tournaments.  They're right up there with MU on the attendance lists.  The TV market size is questionable, but the geography shouldn't be an issue and they have an obvious commitment to basketball. 

If we go to 12 I'd be committed to getting our friends from Omaha.  At 10, I'd need to think some more.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Question...would the capacity of Loyola's gym preclude it from being invited? I realize they're not on par with nearly any of the other programs, but they are a Jesuit institution and has a pretty strong history - just not recently. And they were in Butlers conference. Just curious. I know they're a non-starter

[Aughnanure]

Question...would the capacity of Loyola's gym preclude it from being invited? I realize they're not on par with nearly any of the other programs, but they are a Jesuit institution and has a pretty strong history - just not recently. And they were in Butlers conference. Just curious. I know they're a non-starter

Not sure what the Gym size is, but Gonzaga's is only 6,500. So probably not if the program was actually good enough.

[Avenue Commons]

Question...would the capacity of Loyola's gym preclude it from being invited? I realize they're not on par with nearly any of the other programs, but they are a Jesuit institution and has a pretty strong history - just not recently. And they were in Butlers conference. Just curious. I know they're a non-starter

DePaul wouldn't want to share the Chicago market. For that matter, MQ probably wouldn't be thrilled with having another Jesuit school in the same league only 70 miles away. Loyola is even closer than DePaul. I'd see Detroit and their market joining before Loyola.

[Golden Avalanche]

You're also a fan of being a mid major conference.  Butler, Xavier, Creighton, Gonzaga, VCU.

Majority of these teams have had better success than Marquette over the last decade in March.

Momentum with consistent winning is the only label you should concern yourself about.

[dwaderoy2004]

This is why I hate labels.  Somehow Dayton makes this group "mid-major," but Creighton, Gonzaga and VCU don't?  Makes absolutely no sense.

It's a perception, and you know it's true.  If we add St. Louis, people are gonna be like "really?"  If we add Gonzaga, people are gonna say "wow."  Same with VCU over Dayton.  People will think, "hey, they were just in the final four and have that Shaka Smart coach that every major program wants."  Instead of "Dayton?  what have they done in the last 15 years?"  Creighton, nationally, may not have the cachet of VCU and Gonzaga, but their sustained success is impressive nonetheless, and the envy of teams like SLU and Datyon.

Honestly, I just don't want SLU in this league.  It would be an add strictly for the TV market.  They have a pretty terrible program over the last 15 years, and I think any recent momentum they got with Majerus will now be lost.  People in St. Louis just don't care about them, either, as they barely crack the top 100 in attendance.  I've said it before.  To be relevant, this league needs to base decisions solely on basketball.  Not TV markets.  Not religious affiliation.  But basketball.