Big East Conference Expansion Ideas and Discussion

[pki1998]

... or, more accurately, you could call them the VCU of Cedar Falls, IA with slightly less attendance and recent success but with a coach with hair on his head. And more purple.

Luckily for Xavier, the C7 didn't but a lot of emphasis on the amount of hair on the coach's head. If they did we would have been SOL

[HoosierPal]

I guess it's fitting that SLU is kind of the boring addition. We have had our success of late by being exactly that.

SLU will be an interesting topic on this board next year for the 'flavor of the week' crowd. If I read all correctly, Saint Louis will graduate 5 seniors, which comprise the core of the team. They won't be nearly as good next year as they have been the past three years. I can already hear the moaners, 'My gosh, look what their record is this year.'

[notkirkcameron]

And more purple.

Hahaha This league definitely needs a wider variety of pantone swatches.

Blue and White
Blue and Red
Blue and Gold
Blue and White
Blue and Gray
Blue and Gray
Blue and Light Blue
Blue and Gray
Red and White
Black and Gray

[cm5yz6]

And more purple.

Hahaha This league definitely needs a wider variety of pantone swatches.

Blue and White
Blue and Red
Blue and Gold
Blue and White
Blue and Gray
Blue and Gray
Blue and Light Blue
Blue and Gray
Red and White
Black and Gray

Its too bad Hawaii doesn't fully embrace the rainbow warriors in their uniforms. That'd be quite the colorful addition.

[marquette]

I guess it's fitting that SLU is kind of the boring addition. We have had our success of late by being exactly that.

SLU will be an interesting topic on this board next year for the 'flavor of the week' crowd. If I read all correctly, Saint Louis will graduate 5 seniors, which comprise the core of the team. They won't be nearly as good next year as they have been the past three years. I can already hear the moaners, 'My gosh, look what their record is this year.'

SLU is losing a lot of production, there's no doubt. 5 of their top 6 minute getters are graduating, and 4 of their top 5 scorers. They will be losing 72% of their scoring. However, the A10 is losing a lot of production as whole next year. George Washington is losing 3 seniors accounting for 41% of their scoring. VCU is losing 3 seniors accounting for 33% of their scoring (not too bad, actually). UMass is losing 3 seniors and 48% of their scoring. Dayton is losing 3 seniors and 37% of their scoring (not so bad either). However, the real winner next year could be Richmond who only have 1 senior accounting for 26% of their scoring. He is injured, so they have already been playing without him for a couple games (split 1-1). They could be the team to watch next year.

Back to SLU, I don't think they will be a great offensive team next year. However, I do believe Crews will instill the defense we are used to seeing from them and, if they have a fairly weak early non-con, I can see their offense coming together before conference play starts. I firmly believe that their defense will keep them in the top 3 of the A10 next year and in the dance (albeit not a very good seed). The other thing about SLU is that even if they fall off some from a basketball standpoint they will always be a great institutional/geographic fit for the conference.

[Dawgsfolife]

Here are some thoughts on SLU. As a market, arena, and university the team is a perfect fit for the Big East. As a basketball team, they will struggle past this year. I am a Butler fan so obviously this year has been a downer, but the Dawgs have been relatively close in almost every game and are really hurting from losing Jones (arguably their best overall player) from the start of the season. I have attended 5 SLU games this year, and the team THIS YEAR is special. They could make a F4, but could also get knocked out by a team with that has some size or athletes (think Gtown, Pitt, Cincy, ect.). Next year is a whole other story. Beside McBroom (who at best is a Big East bench player), who do they have coming back who will compete against the Big East? Their new recruits are below average, and if taking composite scores would finish 11th out of 11 teams in the Big East. Could they build to become a great Big East team? Maybe. You just wonder if their first few years they would get rocked while also not increasing their ability to recruit. That being said, you could make the same argument about Butler-- but we will have to wait and see how the '15 class turns out.

[marquette]

Here are some thoughts on SLU. As a market, arena, and university the team is a perfect fit for the Big East. As a basketball team, they will struggle past this year. I am a Butler fan so obviously this year has been a downer, but the Dawgs have been relatively close in almost every game and are really hurting from losing Jones (arguably their best overall player) from the start of the season. I have attended 5 SLU games this year, and the team THIS YEAR is special. They could make a F4, but could also get knocked out by a team with that has some size or athletes (think Gtown, Pitt, Cincy, ect.). Next year is a whole other story. Beside McBroom (who at best is a Big East bench player), who do they have coming back who will compete against the Big East? Their new recruits are below average, and if taking composite scores would finish 11th out of 11 teams in the Big East. Could they build to become a great Big East team? Maybe. You just wonder if their first few years they would get rocked while also not increasing their ability to recruit. That being said, you could make the same argument about Butler-- but we will have to wait and see how the '15 class turns out.

I think it sucks, but if we don't pick up SLU in the summer (not super likely) we will probably not do it for at least two more years. SLU lost a recruiting class the year Majerus died. They will be rebuilding, although I think they will have reasonable success in the A10. It will probably take those two years to get some stability back in their line up. They have a solid (for the A10) recruiting class coming in and I truly believe they have some staying power.

[BillikensWin]

Here are some thoughts on SLU. As a market, arena, and university the team is a perfect fit for the Big East. As a basketball team, they will struggle past this year. I am a Butler fan so obviously this year has been a downer, but the Dawgs have been relatively close in almost every game and are really hurting from losing Jones (arguably their best overall player) from the start of the season. I have attended 5 SLU games this year, and the team THIS YEAR is special. They could make a F4, but could also get knocked out by a team with that has some size or athletes (think Gtown, Pitt, Cincy, ect.). Next year is a whole other story. Beside McBroom (who at best is a Big East bench player), who do they have coming back who will compete against the Big East? Their new recruits are below average, and if taking composite scores would finish 11th out of 11 teams in the Big East. Could they build to become a great Big East team? Maybe. You just wonder if their first few years they would get rocked while also not increasing their ability to recruit. That being said, you could make the same argument about Butler-- but we will have to wait and see how the '15 class turns out.

I think it sucks, but if we don't pick up SLU in the summer (not super likely) we will probably not do it for at least two more years. SLU lost a recruiting class the year Majerus died. They will be rebuilding, although I think they will have reasonable success in the A10. It will probably take those two years to get some stability back in their line up. They have a solid (for the A10) recruiting class coming in and I truly believe they have some staying power.

This is SLU's last chance for awhile at moving. If what has happened the last couple years isn't good enough, it just isn't going to happen. Take recruiting rankings for what they're worth...less than nothing. Every player in the Billikens' rotation is less than 3*...every one of them. Jones is a good player, but Dwayne Evans had his way with him.

It's probably a dead issue at this point, however. The Big East has 10 and will probably stay that way.

[marquette]

This is SLU's last chance for awhile at moving. If what has happened the last couple years isn't good enough, it just isn't going to happen. Take recruiting rankings for what they're worth...less than nothing. Every player in the Billikens' rotation is less than 3*...every one of them. Jones is a good player, but Dwayne Evans had his way with him.

It's probably a dead issue at this point, however. The Big East has 10 and will probably stay that way.

If I'm not mistaken, your current crop of seniors was kind of thrown into the fire, right? Basically had the starting jobs forced on them from the day they stepped on campus? It's kind of crazy what a couple years of pressure and experience can do to a 2* or 3* kid with potential.

[admin]

If we are going to add someone (I'm on record saying I'd like to stay at 10), I'd like to understand why SLU is only averaging 7,798 fans per game with a nationally ranked program. There is no question in my mind that the Billikens would be team #11, but the support does give me some concern.