NEW C7/Big East info

[lab_warrior]

It doesn't really matter if it is Creighton or Richmond...both are lame.  I can't get pumped up that my AD is going after Creighton, sorry.  The whole realignment is so depressing.  Looks like that Texas job is going to open at seasaon's end.  Buzz is going to have a decsision to make..neither Richmond nor Creighton do anything to help MU's case.  Then eventually we'll all be dead.  And billions of years from now, the sun will die out, turning  the Earth into  a cold, lifeless rock. Eventually, increased entropy will result in the heat death of the universe.  WHY BOTHER. 

Fixed.  Oh, and

WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

[MUMountin]

I don't like the line-up of 10 either.  Lame is it.  Go for 12!

Who are you guys so excited about as #11 and #12?  Dayton?  SLU?  Gonzaga?  VCU?

I'm not entirely convinced that the options to go past 10 are worth it, currently.  While 'zags would be a great basketball addition, it seems pretty clear they just add too much difficulty in logistics (if the Eastern schools aren't happy about Omaha, they surely won't like SpoCompton).  And, while VCU is a good program, I can understand philosophically about wanting to keep it private/smaller schools.  Once you knock out those two, I don't think any of the other options are so compelling at this point to make that leap to 12--unless you can make a significant leap in $$$.  Otherwise, you risk diluting the basketball product and splitting the pie too many ways.  

Now--this isn't to say that SLU or Dayton couldn't be good additions at some point.  But, right now, they haven't demonstrated long-term success in the same way the others have.  Go slowly with the expansion, and it will give you time to see what rises to the top.

[LastWarrior]

Why hasn't Valpo come up at all?  They had a pretty good run with the Drew family coaching.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

I don't get the fascination with 12 teams unless it is a mandatory condition to get the deal with Fox. Why would you add more schools just to add schools? The true double round robin is a nice feature. Additionally, it provides you with flexibility as the league establishes itself. Richmond and SLU aren't going anywhere. Keep the 11th and 12th positions open to see what happens with the ACC schools and if the league is a big success perhaps you can lure Gonzaga over for basketball at least.

While the other conferences are going bigger to maximize revenue, I'm not sure Richmond and SLU do that for us in the long run. Wait and see how things roll out.

[Jet915]

With the Big Ten probably eventually going to 20 and the power conferences following suit and getting to 16-18, minus well go big and get 14 and be done with it.  Xavier, Butler, Creighton, Gonzaga, Dayton, SLU and Richmond + BE7.  That would be a top 4 conference every year w/6-7 bids a year.

[Coleman]

With the Big Ten probably eventually going to 20 and the power conferences following suit and getting to 16-18, minus well go big and get 14 and be done with it.  Xavier, Butler, Creighton, Gonzaga, Dayton, SLU and Richmond + BE7.  That would be a top 4 conference every year w/6-7 bids a year.

Fixed.

[RJax55]

I don't get the fascination with 12 teams unless it is a mandatory condition to get the deal with Fox. Why would you add more schools just to add schools? The true double round robin is a nice feature. Additionally, it provides you with flexibility as the league establishes itself. Richmond and SLU aren't going anywhere. Keep the 11th and 12th positions open to see what happens with the ACC schools and if the league is a big success perhaps you can lure Gonzaga over for basketball at least.

+1. Also, as the article stated, if a 10 team league team gives MU more of an opportunity to schedule some high profile made-for-TV non-conference games, I'm all for it.

[Pakuni]

It doesn't really matter if it is Creighton or Richmond...both are lame.  I can't get pumped up that my AD is going after Creighton, sorry.  The whole realignment is so depressing.  Looks like that Texas job is going to open at seasaon's end.  Buzz is going to have a decsision to make..neither Richmond nor Creighton do anything to help MU's case.

[Mr. Nielsen]

It doesn't really matter if it is Creighton or Richmond...both are lame.  I can't get pumped up that my AD is going after Creighton, sorry.  The whole realignment is so depressing.  Looks like that Texas job is going to open at seasaon's end.  Buzz is going to have a decsision to make..neither Richmond nor Creighton do anything to help MU's case.

Wow, your life must suck! 

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Why hasn't Valpo come up at all?  They had a pretty good run with the Drew family coaching.

I'm guessing Valpo hasn't come up because they don't have a great basketball tradition (aside from a few seasons), they're located in the middle of cornfields, their administration doesn't appear to have a great commitment to athletics, and they wouldn't be likely to make the tournament in the new conference.

[klyrish]

It doesn't really matter if it is Creighton or Richmond...both are lame.  I can't get pumped up that my AD is going after Creighton, sorry.  The whole realignment is so depressing.  Looks like that Texas job is going to open at seasaon's end.  Buzz is going to have a decsision to make..neither Richmond nor Creighton do anything to help MU's case.

They'll probably just cancel Marquette's basketball program entirely after this season. What's the point?

[Eight Legger]

In fairness (to us), we did make the Sweet 16 in 2011. I realize we may not be the most exciting choice for some of you, but we are a basketball school and will only get better as a member of this league.

Nothing against Creighton, but they have 1 NCAA win since 2003 and have been to the tourney 4 times since then. We have 2 wins and have been there three times. We also finished 2010 and 2011 ranked in the AP top 25.

[Litehouse]

I still say just stick with 9 for now.  Round robin schedule of 16 games which gives everyone more flexibility for stronger non-conference games.

[ShannonSmith]

Round robin format with ten teams is better from a fan standpoint. It creates more intrigue and rivalries. I'd rather be able to schedule a top 20 non-conference game than SLU or Dayton.

[Litehouse]

Round robin format with ten teams is better from a fan standpoint. It creates more intrigue and rivalries. I'd rather be able to schedule a top 20 non-conference game than SLU or Dayton.

Going to 12 and adding SLU or Dayton would just substitute conference games, not non-conference.  It would still be an 18 game schedule either way.  SLU and Dayton will eliminate 2nd games against Georgetown, Villanova, or St. Johns, not a quality non-conference team.  The only way to get more flexibility for non-conference games would be to stay at 9 and go with a 16 game schedule.  If we add Creighton as a 10th (or Richmond, doesn't matter) we'll substitute 2 games with Creighton instead of 2 quality non-conference games, which we could use for games against ND, Louisville, or Cincy.

[Golden Avalanche]

In fairness (to us), we did make the Sweet 16 in 2011. I realize we may not be the most exciting choice for some of you, but we are a basketball school and will only get better as a member of this league.

Nothing against Creighton, but they have 1 NCAA win since 2003 and have been to the tourney 4 times since then. We have 2 wins and have been there three times. We also finished 2010 and 2011 ranked in the AP top 25.

Spidey makes a good point.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

In fairness (to us), we did make the Sweet 16 in 2011. I realize we may not be the most exciting choice for some of you, but we are a basketball school and will only get better as a member of this league.

Nothing against Creighton, but they have 1 NCAA win since 2003 and have been to the tourney 4 times since then. We have 2 wins and have been there three times. We also finished 2010 and 2011 ranked in the AP top 25.

I understand you guys have to try your best to convince GU that you need to be included. The A10 is the next Horizon League when this is all said and done.

But you have to understand why we look more favorably on Creighton than you guys. They have almost twice as many tournament births than you in their history (6 to 3 since the turn of the century). They are Jesuit. They are located in a Midwestern city very similar in size to Milwaukee and help balance out the geographical footprint of the league from our perspective. They have an extremely supportive fan base.

Its easy to say that you guys will improve if your allowed to tag along, but Creighton likely will as well. My suggestion would be to go out and put together a few tournament runs like Butler did and get in when this league expands.

[Aughnanure]

In fairness (to us), we did make the Sweet 16 in 2011. I realize we may not be the most exciting choice for some of you, but we are a basketball school and will only get better as a member of this league.

Nothing against Creighton, but they have 1 NCAA win since 2003 and have been to the tourney 4 times since then. We have 2 wins and have been there three times. We also finished 2010 and 2011 ranked in the AP top 25.

Not a stronger program still.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Have to quietly hold a spot open for ND ... when (if?) UNC leaves the ACC (for the B1G) that starts the "great ACC implosion."  ND can go back to being completely independent in football and the C7 can roll out the welcome wagon for all other ND sports, including basketball.

If that happens, you don't have to hold anything you just add them.  If that get us to 11, or 13 or whatever other prime number, doesn't matter, you just make it happen.  I don't think it happens, even if UNC leaves.  I suspect they stay in the ACC or join the Big Ten

[ChicosBailBonds]

Why hasn't Valpo come up at all?  They had a pretty good run with the Drew family coaching.

Lots of reasons.  8 years since the NCAA tournament.  5,500 seat arena.  Small market.  Horizon League team that nobody really cares about.

[muguru]

I'm with the crowd that says keep it at 10. If going to 12 means adding SLU and Dayton, no way no how do i want the conference at 12. I don't want SLU or Dayton to be anywhere near this conference...ever. They scream "mid major" and then some. The bottom half of the C7 will be weak enough, without adding two other weaklings to the mix, that's why IMO you need to add strength to the TOP of the conference if at all possible. Gonzaga is the obvious choice. Too bad the Presidents seemed to have pooh pooh'd their inclusion.

[setyoursightsnorth]

It doesn't really matter if it is Creighton or Richmond...both are lame.  I can't get pumped up that my AD is going after Creighton, sorry.  The whole realignment is so depressing.  Looks like that Texas job is going to open at seasaon's end.  Buzz is going to have a decsision to make..neither Richmond nor Creighton do anything to help MU's case.

wow... I cannot believe what I just read.
The benefits of this new conference and the addition of teams like Creighton is a fantastic. Marquette and the little Jesuit schools get to call their own shots and make a league that is solid and stable. I cannot believe you would disagree.

[MUMountin]

In fairness (to us), we did make the Sweet 16 in 2011. I realize we may not be the most exciting choice for some of you, but we are a basketball school and will only get better as a member of this league.

Nothing against Creighton, but they have 1 NCAA win since 2003 and have been to the tourney 4 times since then. We have 2 wins and have been there three times. We also finished 2010 and 2011 ranked in the AP top 25.

In terms of the strength of the basketball programs, you might be right--Richmond might be close to equal footing with Creighton.  Although, I do note that the time period that you used to compare cuts short a series of NCAA tourney appearances by Creighton while Richmond was sitting at home.  Still, considering, I would not consider either team to be considerably better than the other.

It's MU's other connections to Creighton, not the least of which is closer geographical proximity, that make it more appealing for us.  With MU, DePaul, Xavier, and Butler, and Gtown, Nova, Providence, St. John's, and Seton Hall, Creighton would balance the league out between East Coast and Midwest.  Not to mention plenty of other connections between MU, Creighton, and Xavier.

That said--part of me thinks that Richmond would be attractive as another non-Catholic private school to pair with Butler--I personally don't like the idea of being so heavily "Catholic" and think it is good to have more than one "non-Catholic" school in the fold (partially because I don't want Butler to feel like an outsider, and for broader marketing appeal).  But, if choosing between the two, I think Creighton still makes more sense, from MU's perspective.

One other piece--what are Richmond's other sports like?  I know Creighton is competitive in some of the other sports--how does Richmond compare?

[setyoursightsnorth]

wow... I cannot believe what I just read.
The benefits of this new conference and the addition of teams like Creighton is a fantastic opportunity. Marquette and the little Jesuit schools get to call their own shots and make a league that is solid and stable. I cannot believe you would disagree.

whoops.

[Stronghold]

If that happens, you don't have to hold anything you just add them.  If that get us to 11, or 13 or whatever other prime number, doesn't matter, you just make it happen.  I don't think it happens, even if UNC leaves.  I suspect they stay in the ACC or join the Big Ten

I also think that ND should basically have a spot waiting for them if/whenever they want it.  As much as I am not a fan of ND they would fit perfectly into the new conference style and would be one of the biggest draws to the conference.  Let them have their independent football.

I'm also not opposed to taking Richmond.  Bring them and their ~1.8 billion endowment along.