Would you take Detroit Mercy

[Avenue Commons]

I don't think anyone is suggesting the conference jettison DePaul but they truly have been horrible in the Big East. They do need to get their sh1t together, though. It's easier to hide an oozing sore when you have 16 teams. Their incompetence will be an issue with just 10 teams. As you correctly point out, they have significant structural advantages and offer Marquette in particular select benefits. But they need to start delivering on the promise now for they will drag the conference down. Perceptions are every thing but the empiricism in this case is god awful ugly. 

A lot of it is the AD. She needs to go. Nice lady, but simply not cutting it for DPU.

[Dawson Rental]

Would I take Detroit Mercy?  It depends.  Does head coach Ray McCallum have any more sons who are going to be McDonald's All-Americans who are also going to come play for him?  If so, then I say yes.  Otherwise, no.

[Warrior_2002]

Enough other schools out there to add before Detroit. Find the money (there is plenty) to move west and add Catholic schools of Gonzaga and/or St. Mary's. Cost more to travel? Yes. Would Fox Sports 1 up their deal? Yes!

[Dawson Rental]

Enough other schools out there to add before Detroit. Find the money (there is plenty) to move west and add Catholic schools of Gonzaga and/or St. Mary's. Cost more to travel? Yes. Would Fox Sports 1 up their deal? Yes!

St. Mary's?  Really?

[Warrior_2002]

St. Mary's?  Really?

Over Detroit, um yes.

[keefe]

St. Mary's?  Really?

If the choice is Dayton, Detroit, or SMC there is no question - SMC.

[Dawson Rental]

If the choice is Dayton, Detroit, or SMC there is no question - SMC.

I'm sorry, what is the conference name we just negotiated to keep?

[Warrior_2002]

If the choice is Dayton, Detroit, or SMC there is no question - SMC.

Thank you. Plus if you were ever going to add Gonzaga (I know this is a pipe dream) you would probably have to throw them a west coast foe. SMC way over Detroit. Dayton over Detroit too for me.

[Warrior_2002]

I'm sorry, what is the conference name we just negotiated to keep?

That doesn't mean anything anymore. It's still a brand and origination thing. You mean to tell me you wouldn't take Gonzaga simply because they are in the west?

[keefe]

I'm sorry, what is the conference name we just negotiated to keep?

Does the Big 10 have 12 schools or does the Big 12 have 10 schools?

'But I don't want to go among mad people,' said Alice. 'Oh, you can't help that,' said the cat. 'We're all mad here.'...Lewis Carroll

[Warrior_2002]

Exactly Keefe.

[Norm]

If the choice is Dayton, Detroit, or SMC there is no question - SMC.

You mean the team that was just put on 4 years probation for recruiting violations?

[rocky_warrior]

Jeez guys... The guy comes here from another school and asks his opinion and beat the guy down.

Actually he's a Marquette fan, and has been on Scoop for a long time (a couple years longer than you). Even owns a couple Buzz mugs. 

[keefe]

You mean the team that was just put on 4 years probation for recruiting violations?

Yep. That SMC. I like their commitment to winning basketball.

[Warrior_2002]

You mean the team that was just put on 4 years probation for recruiting violations?

You mean on probation with these weak sanctions?

Saint Mary's will still be allowed to participate in the league tournament and the NCAA tournament but can't play in preseason or in-season tournaments that it is not already contractually obligated to attend. The team also will have a reduction in scholarships from 13 to 11 for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons and an elimination of all foreign tours until the start of the 2017-18 season.

[Dawson Rental]

That doesn't mean anything anymore. It's still a brand and origination thing. You mean to tell me you wouldn't take Gonzaga simply because they are in the west?

Me?  I'd take Gonzaga in an instant.  You?  You'd take Gonzaga in an instant.  But, either the new Big East or Gonzaga or both don't want it to happen.  If distance mattered as little as you think, Gonzaga would already be in the Big East.

The two most prevalent examples of delusional thinking currently on this board. 

a) Distance doesn't matter when putting together an athletic league

b) There's always more money to pay a basketball coach.