Expansion: UAB to reunite with Marquette and DePaul in NBE?

[bmorex]

These last two pages have been entertaining as hell, thanks to all involved.

[BEwannabe]

These last two pages have been entertaining as hell, thanks to all involved.

dittos and probably equally as entertaining to me as well are the same posters sucked in by murph's trolling. Chances of murph being a legit UD follower are slim and none, he can't spell Marianist, he believes Fox News is evil and the money ball, sure cinch clue he's a troller... UD would decline an invitation to the NBE.

[Professor_Bulldog]

But why are there nuns on a bus?

[RedStormHoops]

Gonzaga is such a great program, but how would they play in the big east, flying cross country for most away games and halfway across the country for the others. It would just be rough for them.

VCU was a lower level CAA team before Shaka. What is going to happen when he leaves?

St Louis is the obvious first choice to me.
Dayton could be an option.
St Joes? Just spit balling here

I'd add 2 more. No need to expand more than that if our conference keeps playing at this level for the next few years.

[billyjack]

But why are there nuns on a bus?

I saw a great old movie once about a priest on a bus... had a bunch of women on the bus with him... Starred Richard Burton, from the 60's... titled "Night of the Iguana"... in black and white... I think he got to "know" one of the women... controversial plot... sorry for g he spoiler...

There was another movie maybe from the early 70's that was literally about nuns riding across the desert on a bus... forgot the name of it... an empowering movie about nuns... the Dayton nuns may have based their idea on that movie...

By the way, the real Dayton "Nuns on a Bus"... I had never heard of them, but they sound kinda cool... and what exactly is a Marianist...? What are they known for, or what is their angle...? I'll hang up the phone and listen to your answers offline.

[BEwannabe]

But why are there nuns on a bus?

I always like to rule out the obvious and work backward, that said, I think it's safe to assume the nuns weren't on board headed to a Sean Hannity rally!

[marquette]

But why are there nuns on a bus?

Athletics budget doesn't cover airfare.

Nuns on a plane, new Samuel L. Jackson movie. Coming this spring.

[stever20]

Gonzaga is such a great program, but how would they play in the big east, flying cross country for most away games and halfway across the country for the others. It would just be rough for them.

VCU was a lower level CAA team before Shaka. What is going to happen when he leaves?

St Louis is the obvious first choice to me.
Dayton could be an option.
St Joes? Just spit balling here

I'd add 2 more. No need to expand more than that if our conference keeps playing at this level for the next few years.

VCU was not a lower level CAA team before Shaka. Anthony Davis took them to 2 NCAA tournaments in 3 years(including the year they beat Duke). Jeff Capel also took them to the NCAA tournament. Bottom line, VCU not being in has NOTHING to do with basketball. If Richmond had VCU's resume right now, they would be in the Big East- no doubt about it. It's entirely litmus test.

SLU to me is not an obvious first choice. You talk about a lower level team before a coach, that's exactly what SLU was before Majerus. He's gone(RIP), and they are showing signs of slippage.

[muskienick]

I'm for non-football publics being considered for membership in the NBE whenever it is decided that we would benefit from expansion. Assuming they continue their fine performances on the hardwood, the two most obvious schools for such membership would be VCU and Wichita State U. Next in line would be SLU. I really dislike the idea of inviting programs that would not add totally new markets to the Conference (VCU --- Richmond; Villanova --- St. Joe's; Xavier --- UD; etc.). And I believe the main criteria for adding new members should be proven basketball excellence over the recent past (6-10) years based on NCAA Tourney invites, high ranking in current Conference, and frequent poll rankings; no FBS football aspirations; good facilities and fan base; and "cleanliness" of the program. I see no reason to eliminate public institutions simply because they are public if they measure up well in the other criteria.

[BEwannabe]

VCU was not a lower level CAA team before Shaka. Anthony Davis took them to 2 NCAA tournaments in 3 years(including the year they beat Duke). Jeff Capel also took them to the NCAA tournament. Bottom line, VCU not being in has NOTHING to do with basketball. If Richmond had VCU's resume right now, they would be in the Big East- no doubt about it. It's entirely litmus test.

Anthony Grant (now HC at Alabama) preceded Shaka, both of them UD men...Anthony played for the Flyers, Anthony played for the Flyers when Nova beat the Flyers (in Dayton), Nova then went on to win the National Championship. Shaka is a graduate of Kenyon and was a member of Oliver Purnell's staff.

Agree with you 100% about SLU - I'll bet Crews resigns before the season is over so SLU can start over. Crews was done as head coach in hoops and found his way back to first chair by way of Rick's death.