|
|
Post by gbphoenix1 on Dec 7, 2017 21:25:51 GMT -6
The HL is going to stay at 10 until it gets back to the point of being a desirable conference. They aren't going to add 2 more shitty teams just to get to 12. Signed the league that added IUPUI for no reason  I don't think we can dismiss any possibility of foolishness after that move!! |
|
|
|
Post by gbphoenix1 on Dec 7, 2017 21:58:45 GMT -6
The Atlantic Sun is losing USC Upstate to the Big South. That makes NJIT and Lipscomb bigger geographic outliers in the ASun. The Big South is picking up Hampton as well.
Liberty is trying to make football related moves. They have tons of money to throw around but have been rejected by the Sunbelt and CUSA. They are in the Big South now but don't seem a like long term fit there even though they have agreed to a football independent and leave the rest of their sports there for now.
While these aren't big hitters, it does go to show that the conference carousel is probably not stopping. It will be interesting to see if any ripple effect impacts the HL.
|
|
norsefan92
Team Operations
Die Hard NKU Norse Fan and Season Ticket Holder
Posts: 70 
|
Post by norsefan92 on Mar 1, 2018 15:08:58 GMT -6
Here is a question. If the A-Sun loses NJIT this offseason on top of the loss of USC Upstate do you think Florida Gulf Coast would have any desire to leave the A-Sun. It just seems like they have a higher ceiling than the rest of the league and at some point will make a jump up. If that is the case, where would they go? Is there a possibility that they could be interested in the Horizon League? They are not a great geographic fit but are a bit closer than say Grand Canyon or New Mexico State which we have considered before. I think it could make sense for the Horizon League (considering they also offer baseball and soccer). I think the real question would be if they would want to join as they may have their sites on something bigger. What is everyone else's thoughts?
|
|
|
|
Post by ougrizz05 on Mar 2, 2018 9:59:13 GMT -6
Here is a question. If the A-Sun loses NJIT this offseason on top of the loss of USC Upstate do you think Florida Gulf Coast would have any desire to leave the A-Sun. It just seems like they have a higher ceiling than the rest of the league and at some point will make a jump up. If that is the case, where would they go? Is there a possibility that they could be interested in the Horizon League? They are not a great geographic fit but are a bit closer than say Grand Canyon or New Mexico State which we have considered before. I think it could make sense for the Horizon League (considering they also offer baseball and soccer). I think the real question would be if they would want to join as they may have their sites on something bigger. What is everyone else's thoughts? No thanks, FL is way too far. One of the best things about this league is the compact geography. |
|
|
|
Post by kevinudm on Mar 2, 2018 16:34:18 GMT -6
NKU has been a fine addition to the HL from the Atlantic Sun Conference. But if we were to dip into the A-Sun again, Lipscomb would be the school to target. They've been developing a solid basketball program and Nashville would be geographically practical.
Belmont apparently turned down a chance last year to leave the OVC for the Missouri Valley Conference. But Belmont is likely to end up in the Colonial or even A10 in the near term, at which point the OVC will invite Lipscomb. It could make sense for the HL act first.
|
|
|
|
Post by kevinudm on Mar 2, 2018 23:53:49 GMT -6
NKU has been a fine addition to the HL from the Atlantic Sun Conference. But if we were to dip into the A-Sun again, Lipscomb would be the school to target. They've been developing a solid basketball program and Nashville would be geographically practical. Belmont apparently turned down a chance last year to leave the OVC for the Missouri Valley Conference. But Belmont is likely to end up in the Colonial or even A10 in the near term, at which point the OVC will invite Lipscomb. It could make sense for the HL act first. The real question is why would Lipscomb want to come to the HL? It doesn't make sense to pay a large exit fee from the A-Sun and a large entrance fee to the HL and to increase their travel costs for all sports to come to the HL. The A-Sun is the 29th rated conference. The HL is the 26th. Why would they make that move? There are some good reasons for Lipscomb to depart the A-Sun, and to consider the HL as a new home: - Travel is not further in the HL. Four of the A-Sun teams are in Florida and one in NJ. Those destinations are further from Nashville than Indianapolis, Dayton and Cincinnati (NKU) and comparable to the balance of the HL.
- The A-Sun is less a conference than temporary way-station. Most of the members when Lipscomb joined in 2003 are long gone (Mercer, Georgia St, UCF, FAU, Campbell, Belmont, Gardner-Webb)
- Mid-majors and low-majors are being squeezed big time. Going forward there may be fewer D1 move-ups than there are drop outs. At the same time average conference size is increasing from 8-10 to 10-14. The WAC and the A-Sun may not survive the inevitable further poaching.
- I don't know how much the A-Sun exit fee is, but it hasn't deterred 26 schools from leaving since 1979.
- 2017-18 has been an uncharacteristically tough year for the HL but it still rates above the A-Sun. The gap will grow in future seasons.
The move from the A-Sun to the HL seems to have worked well for NKU. It could work for Lipscomb too.
|
|
|
|
Post by kevinudm on Mar 4, 2018 16:40:15 GMT -6
Lipscomb defeats Florida Gulf Coast 108-96 to the win the A-Sun Tournament and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Wild and entertaining game as FGCU whittled down a 31 point deficit to just 5 points near the end. But all the more impressive for Lipscomb as the game was played at FGCU.
I don't know how likely it is that Lipscomb would consider the HL as a future home, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were not long for the A-Sun.
|
|
norsefan92
Team Operations
Die Hard NKU Norse Fan and Season Ticket Holder
Posts: 70
|
Post by norsefan92 on Mar 6, 2018 7:28:43 GMT -6
I would think Lipscomb would be an add for the OVC if Murray State or Belmont leaves.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2018 21:27:04 GMT -6
Of course Lipscomb wouldn't be a bad add, but they'd have to have a southern partner to really make it work. Belmont is content in the OVC, and with Murray State probably headed to the MVC, the Bruins will probably go Dancing on a yearly basis. I agree with norsefan92 that the Bisons would head to the OVC to reunite with their rival/partner/friend Belmont.
|
|
I don't think we can dismiss any possibility of foolishness after that move!!
