440Rambler wrote:Im not sure what other jump people would have had in mind. The Big East isnt ever going to be an option for us while DePaul is there. The American is collapsing as we speak. Getting in a basketball first conference with a strong Catholic presence and good media reputation is absolutely a home run.
Yes. That is mostly true. But the closest road game is going to be 283 miles away. If Dayton and/or Saint Louis leave the A10 (as their fans and common sense have suggested ever since Xavier and Butler left), the closest road game would be Duquesne.... 460 miles away.
Huge news, lots of great thoughts and stats already provided by y’all. Who’s else is excited for some great catholic rivalries? Can’t wait to play Dayton, SLU, St. Bonnie, and St. Joes every year.
Overall this is a shocking but a great move. I think it will bring better exposure, more money with TV deals, and a higher profile. Completely understand the semi hand wringing with the budget but this move to a bigger conference will help alleviate that, especially considering we are middle of the pack now budget wise. That stat above of the A10 receiving 24 at large bids v. 5 from the MVC in the pat 10 years is sobering. The MVC is a great league, but don’t think anyone can argue this isn’t a step up.
Also don’t forget this will help with recruiting, bigger and better prospects will pay attention to Loyola now. Being in a big time city with more TV opportunities will allow us to get great recruits.
Who could have guess in about 12 years going from a Horizon league bottom feeder to being in the A10, what a great run this program has been on. Keep marching Ramblers!
I think the road game stuff is totally fair. As a family we go to 1 road non-con road game a year (this year its Davidson) and at least the Valpo road game in Valley play but usually one or two more. I think we'd be happy to cut the number of attended road games to do a nice trip to NYC or Philly or St. Louis once a year. Cant speak for everyone but thats our perspective. I get for the folks who live closer to ISUr and Evansville and SIU that this would be a huge hit to how often they can see the team and that totally sucks.
440Rambler wrote:Im not sure what other jump people would have had in mind. The Big East isnt ever going to be an option for us while DePaul is there. The American is collapsing as we speak. Getting in a basketball first conference with a strong Catholic presence and good media reputation is absolutely a home run.
Yes. That is mostly true. But the closest road game is going to be 283 miles away. If Dayton and/or Saint Louis leave the A10 (as their fans and common sense have suggested ever since Xavier and Butler left), the closest road game would be Duquesne.... 460 miles away.
I'm not bothered. Are Creighton fans upset about travel in the big east? Besides, there's a pretty high chance life takes me to a metropolis on the east coast for an extended period of time. There's zero chance it takes me to evansville Indiana. I'd love to catch a blers game once or more a year if I end up having to move.
I was just in SLU’s arena a few weeks ago. It’s a very, very nice college-size arena, and the area around their campus and just West of there is a great spot. It’ll be a fun road game to attend (assuming they stay in the A-10)
I've thought about the 15 team possible issues and could see this a few ways.
1) An A10 team is going to leave for the Big East to bring them to 12 teams and bring the A10 back to 14 teams. Similar to how Belmont very briefly looked like an 11th team but the Valley will stay at 10.
2) The A10 decides to stay at 15. It's a little awkward, but you can do it for basketball. The ACC and Big East are currently making it work with odd numbers of teams.
ramblermgr9599 wrote:Doesn't the A10 need 16 teams for an even number? 2 divisions?
East: Loyola Saint Louis Dayton Duquesne La Salle St. Bonaventure St. Joseph's ? 8th team
I wouldn’t be “shocked” if Wichita State is a possibility
Would be wild if the A10 was able to get some AAC schools looking to abandon ship. WSU, Memphis and Temple would make the conference really really great.
