Outside the Big East

[Bill Marsh]

Since this is the Holy Land, I thought it might be interesting to see how some of the other Catholic/private schools are doing at midseason:

1. St Louis is tightening its grip on a Big East expansion spot if/when that occurs. Crews is proving that he can coach while no longer riding the wake of the Majerus era. Recruiting has been good by a10 standards but not by Big East standards although he is bringing in a couple of legit big men. Attendance is to 8400 per game and with students returning to campus we can probably expect that to rise. All in all, a very strong season for the Billikens.

2. VCU has not lived up to its early billing, but Richmond has not taken advantage of the opportunity to step out from VCU's shadow. UMass, however, has to make everyone wish that they hadn't decided to upgrade football.

3. Dayton is having a strong seasons. 2014 recruit Darrell Davis could be a future star. Attendance remains a major positive at 12,000. They're getting it together at just the right time.

4. Manhattan is having a break out season in the MAAC despite losing their leading scorer for the month of January. If you're a college basketball fan in NYC, they're the team to watch. Steve Masiello took them to the MAAC finals last year where they lost a close game to Iona and has used that to launch them to a 13-3 start this season and a likely NCAA tournament bid. A Pitino protégée, he is a hot young coach and someone to watch for future openings.

5. Harvard is 14-2, beat BC, and played UConn tough. Tommy Amaker has recruited a 4 star recruit for the 2nd year in a row. It makes you wonder if he can take them beyond just being the class of the Ivy League. The Duke of the North maybe?

6. On the West Coast, Gonzaga still makes the Big East wish that the geography was different.

[tsmithohio1234]

Outstanding post Marsh - if UD and SLU were added last year, BE would be looking an 6 bids instead of 4

[marquette]

I do really like what SLU is doing this season. Crews is doing an outstanding job coaching the talent he has and bringing in new talent. They are in good shape to go to their third straight NCAA tourney, which would be a first in program history. A win in the tourney would also be the third year in a row, which is pretty impressive.

[HoosierPal]

George Washington has put together a nice year, beating Creighton, Miami, Rutgers, Maryland and Georgia.

Saint Louis is a senior dominated team that highly likely makes the NCAA, and could be a Sweet Sixteen team. But with five seniors graduating, they will have a challenging year next season. They have a solid recruiting class coming in, but they will all be Freshmen, and ask Kentucky if having highly regarded Freshmen guarantees you much.

I flew from the West Coast to the Midwest last week. That is one L O N G flight, and was only half way (okay 60%) across the country. No way I would have student athletes spend all that time in the air to go coast to coast.

[Omaha1]

Outstanding post Marsh - if UD and SLU were added last year, BE would be looking an 6 bids instead of 4

I'd be surprised if Dayton is dancing on selection Sunday.

[marquette]

Outstanding post Marsh - if UD and SLU were added last year, BE would be looking an 6 bids instead of 4

I'd be surprised if Dayton is dancing on selection Sunday.

It would take an awful lot for the A10 to wind up with 5 bids, and that's what would have to happen for Dayton to get in. Right now they are behind UMass, SLU, GW, VCU and possibly LaSalle/St. Joe's. UD would have to execute down the stretch in conference, which I have absolutely no faith they can do. See the last 5 years or so if you need examples.

[Flyer75]

Outstanding post Marsh - if UD and SLU were added last year, BE would be looking an 6 bids instead of 4

I'd be surprised if Dayton is dancing on selection Sunday.

It would take an awful lot for the A10 to wind up with 5 bids, and that's what would have to happen for Dayton to get in. Right now they are behind UMass, SLU, GW, VCU and possibly LaSalle/St. Joe's. UD would have to execute down the stretch in conference, which I have absolutely no faith they can do. See the last 5 years or so if you need examples.

I have no clue if UD will make it or not this year. Historically we wet the bed in A10 play....BUT that last statement about UD being behind LaSalle and St. Joe is crazy talk.

UD - RPI of 45 SOS of 52

St. Joseph - RPI of 64 SOS of 85

LaSalle - RPI of 71 SOS of 83

LaSalle needs to win 12-13 A10 games to get in. UD needs 11. Possibly only 10 if they were against the right opponents and then a couple wins in A10 tourny would put UD with 24 wins. I'm not here to debate if UD should ever get into the BE...I've completely stayed out of that discussion and will do so. I'm only posting this now because that last part about LaSalle and SJU is crazy on today's date.

[Bill Marsh]

Outstanding post Marsh - if UD and SLU were added last year, BE would be looking an 6 bids instead of 4

I'd be surprised if Dayton is dancing on selection Sunday.

I won't.

[marquette]

I have no clue if UD will make it or not this year. Historically we wet the bed in A10 play....BUT that last statement about UD being behind LaSalle and St. Joe is crazy talk.

UD - RPI of 45 SOS of 52

St. Joseph - RPI of 64 SOS of 85

LaSalle - RPI of 71 SOS of 83

LaSalle needs to win 12-13 A10 games to get in. UD needs 11. Possibly only 10 if they were against the right opponents and then a couple wins in A10 tourny would put UD with 24 wins. I'm not here to debate if UD should ever get into the BE...I've completely stayed out of that discussion and will do so. I'm only posting this now because that last part about LaSalle and SJU is crazy on today's date.

*Possibly*

Maybe crazy, maybe not. LaSalle is 3-0 in conference play, St. Joe's is 2-1. UD sits at 1-1 at the moment. If UD performs how they did in some of their non-con games they will make the tourney. If they take a dump in the bed like they normally do in conference, then they are NIT bound (it won't be so bad, we will likely be there to keep you company).

[Xudash]

First and foremost, my guess is that Ackerman and the Presidents are serious about being patient; they will not pursue expansion in any form for the next few years.

Were expansion talk to flame up again, the only A10 team in the midwest that makes any sense at this point is SLU, both for the program, including its facilities and the school, as well as for its television market. Otherwise, balance has to be a big part of the problem: who could possibly make sense as #12, especially if the Big East looks for East/West balance.

UD is a mid-major through and through. UD's program has no resume; it's that simple. UD has nothing to offer, given their terrible performance in the A10; they don't deserve consideration. The Dayton television market certainly is inconsequential.