What Team(s) Does HL Backfill With?

Yeah, but if New Mexico State and GCU join, we'd have a minimum of 8 baseball teams--they both have baseball. So if both then left, we'd still have six--and of course we'd look to add new teams.

The 1 of 3 WDSU mentions comes if Bob Morris and IUPUI are added along with Fort Wayne. But there are other powerful reasons to add RMU and IUPUI--the Big D's calculation notwithstanding, only 1 baseball school has to agree. And if we add three schools and don't go outside the current footprint, who else will it be? Omaha? If we're adding Omaha, we may as well add the GCU/NMSU combo, if they'll come. That is, if we can't get or won't ask NMSU and GCU, where do we get baseball schools? Why say "if we add three, at least two must have baseball?" If we're adding RMU, as rumored, we're still at 6 for baseball. So if we want more than six, we add Fort Wayne--and then what does it matter if we add IUPUI? I just don't get the thinking that if we add 3 schools, at least 2 must have baseball.

In other words: unless we're willing to broaden our footprint by a considerable amount, the only legit current candidate with baseball is Ft. Wayne. If getting above 6 in baseball is so crucial, why would we be looking first at RMU, which doesn't have baseball. I'm not doubting DWSU's info. I'm suggesting that it makes no sense and if the league does want to go beyond 10 (as rumored) and is unwilling to make a big leap west (as rumored) then two of the three additions won't have baseball, and the AD's/Presidents will come to realize that.

I'd prefer, though, the MNSU/GCU gambit.

I still like RMU, NMSU and GCU.

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It's not Fort Wayne at least this year. I have it on really good sources its Murray State. IPFW presented with Murray State but was told last night that only MSU would be extended an invite. My source said IPFW will join in 2018-19 likely with IUPUI.

I would have accepted IPFW. At least they consistently win.

Apparently the answer to the question "What team does the HL backfill with?" is "a fucking shotgun blast to the back of the head."

This begs the question I have asked before, "At this point which of these teams, if any, would want to join the Horizon League?" This season is not just a blip on the radar...it's a continued trend. The League has floundered for the last 3 years. All of those conferences except maybe the A-Sun (Lipscomb's League) are rated higher than the HL. The HL isn't as attractive competitively anymore. Any move by another team to this conference would be for geography and cost.