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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2017 9:02:36 GMT -6
Link per argusleader.com: USI Renovations Sign of D1 Prep?USI will break ground in May on the first of a two-phase, $57 million renovation of the Physical Activities Center – supplying its basketball and volleyball programs with a state-of-the-art arena that seats 4,000. There are currently 69 Division I gyms that are smaller than that.
With all that said, is the university actively looking to follow in the footsteps of NKU and others that have made the jump? The answer right now remains: never say never, but it’s not being discussed right now.
“Our main focus right now is taking the programs we have and putting them in a position to compete for NCAA championships on a more regular basis,” USI Athletic Director Jon Mark Hall said. “We don’t really talk Division I, but I do think once the new facility is finished then you can check off one thing that maybe we needed to get ourselves to a certain level.”
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Post by ougrizz05 on May 11, 2017 17:49:16 GMT -6
I can't get excited about a D2 school. I'm actually pretty embarrassed about the idea of them coming straight to the Horizon.
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Post by Blackbird on May 11, 2017 19:56:11 GMT -6
NKU was willing to spend, had connections to the HL in their athletics department, and was willing to do their time in a lesser conference during the first couple years of their transition. The HL shouldn't consider any D2 that doesn't meet those criteria.
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Post by commissioner on May 12, 2017 10:39:54 GMT -6
NKU was willing to spend, had connections to the HL in their athletics department, and was willing to do their time in a lesser conference during the first couple years of their transition. The HL shouldn't consider any D2 that doesn't meet those criteria. The Horizon also rebuffed NKU initially, which is why they went to the ASun--their goal, when they decided to go D-I, was always the Horizon--and took them only after they'd established themselves in transition. Southern Indiana is at a minimum several years away from any consideration.
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2017 10:50:04 GMT -6
They're on the same trajectory as NKU. They've had NCAA D2 success. It'll be a few years, but I'd like to see them move up. The HL needs a team in Indiana.
The Screaming Eagles are currently one of the most successful basketball programs in Division II athletics. In 1994 USI finished runner-up at the Division II championship and the following year, in 1995, won the national championship. Overall USI has made 23 NCAA tournament appearances and won the GLVC tournament in 2005, 2007, 2012 and 2014.
Currently the team is coached by Rodney Watson. Despite a one-year probation on postseason play imposed by the GLVC and the NCAA, Watson led USI to a 23-0 start and a #2 ranking in the NABC Division II Top 25 Poll, making it the best start for a first-year coach at USI.
Men's baseball began at USI in 1971. Recently USI has established itself as a top competitor nationally in Division II. In 2010 the school won the NCAA DII National Championship and won their second NCAA title in 2014, defeating Colorado Mesa by a final score of 3-2 in 12 innings. The team also earned a third-place finish in 2007 under head coach Tracy Archuleta.
Per Wikepedia
I like Bellarmine as well. That one is a very long way off and they're talking about adding football, which could or could not be a problem. Bellarmine opens up the Louisville market.
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PantherU.com
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Post by PantherU.com on May 12, 2017 17:51:05 GMT -6
NKU was willing to spend, had connections to the HL in their athletics department, and was willing to do their time in a lesser conference during the first couple years of their transition. The HL shouldn't consider any D2 that doesn't meet those criteria. By those criteria, any D-II school wouldn't be "doing their time in a lesser conference." It's too bad IUPUI and UIndy can't change names.
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Post by gbphoenix1 on May 15, 2017 11:13:43 GMT -6
I did not know that Southern Indiana might be making a move to D1. Certainly building a new building and then potentially adding sports that better align them with D1 conference within their geographic region seems to point to them wanting to make a move.
I know it is not popular to take a D2 team and then sit on them for 5 years because there will be some hurdles but then again I don't think this would be the worst for the HL either. They have sports that align with the conference. They are good at a few key sports like men's basketball and baseball. They are going to build a 4800 seat arena that will be a great atmoshpere for home games. As it is now they can draw over 2500 people for conference games. The Evansville market is good for hoops and big enough to support the team. The university is a 10,000 student public school that fits the HL profile. They are in a market that won't allow them to go to the MVC ever, no way Evansville lets that happen so they can be a long term fit for the HL. They can be a geographic connector to other potential HL members as they are 175 miles or less from any of Indianapolis, Nashville, or St. Louis.
It is probably just me but I see Robert Morris building a 4000 seat building 30 minutes outside of a metro area with 2,500,000 people and think nobody must care about RMU hoops most of the time. I see Southern Indiana building a 4800 seat arena in a metro area of 300,000 people and think this is a program people support and can be a potential player in the HL once they are done making the D1 transition.
The biggest hurdle I see for the HL is they need membership now and USI hasn't even started the process yet where RMU can plug right in.
As a side note I like RMU a lot more as a replacement for YSU if YSU ever puts a stronger focus on football and no longer fits the HL.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2017 14:57:34 GMT -6
Just remember, RMU has to come in with another team as they don't have baseball. Granted the League will still have the minimum 6 teams and can then petition for a waiver, but why do all of that? Just go ahead an add the 3...or 5 for '17-'18!
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PantherU.com
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Post by PantherU.com on Jun 5, 2017 14:46:57 GMT -6
Just remember, RMU has to come in with another team as they don't have baseball. Granted the League will still have the minimum 6 teams and can then petition for a waiver, but why do all of that? Just go ahead an add the 3...or 5 for '17-'18! The Horizon League will not have to petition for a waiver with six teams in baseball next season. We have the minimum. Look for more baseball teams, sure, but the conference doesn't need #10 to carry baseball.
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Post by gbphoenix1 on Jun 9, 2017 9:14:16 GMT -6
Not directly related to USI but I just read something on twitter that I found interesting. Cal Baptist has added 5 D1 transfers this off season. They are from Wyoming, Santa Clara, Portland, Omaha and UC Davis. Depending on if these guys play this year or not they will have anywhere from 1 to 3 years left to play when they get to D1. I will be curious to watch how Cal Baptist does in 2018, their first in D1, to see if this strategy works and if it could be applied to USI.
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Post by ougrizz05 on Jun 9, 2017 14:42:23 GMT -6
Not directly related to USI but I just read something on twitter that I found interesting. Cal Baptist has added 5 D1 transfers this off season. They are from Wyoming, Santa Clara, Portland, Omaha and UC Davis. Depending on if these guys play this year or not they will have anywhere from 1 to 3 years left to play when they get to D1. I will be curious to watch how Cal Baptist does in 2018, their first in D1, to see if this strategy works and if it could be applied to USI. That does sound very interesting.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2017 16:35:57 GMT -6
Cal Baptist is doing exactly the way a D2 call up has to do when moving up. Transfers and red shirts. If USI comes, I'm sure they'll follow suit.
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PantherU.com
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Team: Milwaukee
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Post by PantherU.com on Jun 10, 2017 12:21:51 GMT -6
Cal Baptist is doing exactly the way a D2 call up has to do when moving up. Transfers and red shirts. If USI comes, I'm sure they'll follow suit. I disagree. I believe the best way to do it is the way North Dakota State did it - load up a recruiting class with high school seniors to redshirt as freshmen in your first year of Division I, then head into your first year of eligibility with a full class of fifth-year seniors. That Bison team was incredibly good. Of course, on the other hand the landscape has changed and grad transfers are far more prevalent. It's still how I would choose to build if I could - just make sure the culture is so good that they want to stay even if they get their degree before their final year of eligibility. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using proboards
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2017 14:03:28 GMT -6
How can you disagree with gbphoenix1 and myself about transfers and redshirts but you mention redshirts?! Lol! That's funny.
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Post by gbphoenix1 on Sept 26, 2017 7:51:11 GMT -6
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