Big East Conference Expansion Ideas and Discussion

[BillikensWin]

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.

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.[/quote]

Mainly addressing the concerns of the Butler fan about the ratings of SLU's incoming class. As for attendance, this town turned pretty nasty with regards to the Billikens after Spoonhour and the comedy of errors afterward. St. Louis is starting to come back around to SLU. I would also venture that any Big East team will draw more people to SLU than the home slate we have this year. The bigger A-10 draws are to come (UD, VCU), so that may move the numbers.

[HoosierPal]

http://ursports.blogs.timesdispatch.com/2014/02/11/theres-dayton-theres-everyone-else-10-far-home-attendance/

Article on Dayton attendance, SLU attendance and VCU attendance. I know, I know, attendance should not be brought up on this Big East board, but this is about A-10.

[muskienick]

HoosierPal,

It's not the idea of attendance that doesn't belong on this board, it's the discussion of other Conferences or teams from other Conferences that should be considered not relevant for our discussions.

Furthermore, as many have already stated on this thread, a potential member will be considered by the Big East's powers-that-be not on the basis of a single criterion, but as a result of a careful study of their entire package as compared to all the other schools under consideration.

[NJRedman]

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.

Well who in their conference is going to come to town and really get fans excited? Also I bet their aren't too many A-10 alums in the St. Louis area.

To the folks who are wondering how they can compete going forward. Once again, on the court success is behind things like market size, geography, academic and institutional fit. It's not about flavor of the month. If that were the case teams like Davidson, George Mason and Northern Iowa would have been added or at least the favorite on the message boards if we were in this same position in years past.

Saint Louis is on it's third straight successful season, is in a big market, passes both the academic and institutional fit eye test. What else could anyone here want from them short of a final four or winning the national title?

[Bill Marsh]

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.

Well who in their conference is going to come to town and really get fans excited? Also I bet their aren't too many A-10 alums in the St. Louis area.

To the folks who are wondering how they can compete going forward. Once again, on the court success is behind things like market size, geography, academic and institutional fit. It's not about flavor of the month. If that were the case teams like Davidson, George Mason and Northern Iowa would have been added or at least the favorite on the message boards if we were in this same position in years past.

Saint Louis is on it's third straight successful season, is in a big market, passes both the academic and institutional fit eye test. What else could anyone here want from them short of a final four or winning the national title?

Long term success.

[Jet915]

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.

Yeah, if they can't sell out this season, not sure when you can...that number would be easily bottom half of Big East. I could understand if this year was the first year they've been good for awhile but they've been good for 2.5 years now, support should have built up by now.

[NJRedman]

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.

Well who in their conference is going to come to town and really get fans excited? Also I bet their aren't too many A-10 alums in the St. Louis area.

To the folks who are wondering how they can compete going forward. Once again, on the court success is behind things like market size, geography, academic and institutional fit. It's not about flavor of the month. If that were the case teams like Davidson, George Mason and Northern Iowa would have been added or at least the favorite on the message boards if we were in this same position in years past.

Saint Louis is on it's third straight successful season, is in a big market, passes both the academic and institutional fit eye test. What else could anyone here want from them short of a final four or winning the national title?

Long term success.

Oh so we'll just shelf the expansion for say what? 20 years? That sound good? Tell Fox to just hold tight while we wait and see who has long term success?

Winning the A-10 2 straight years, making the NCAA three straight, wins in the last two...what have you done for me lately! hahaha

Seriously, you guys are a hoot! I forgot that Butler was a national power at Butler for a couple of decades. Same with Creighton in the MVC. It's funny at how tough the standards have gotten. I seriously doubt most of the current Big East would meet the standards set forth by most of the posters here.

Saint Louis is a perfect fit for this league if they win every year or not.

Once again, if you bring in a winning team, then you are turning a current winning team into a losing one. Thats just the way it works.

[NJRedman]

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.

Yeah, if they can't sell out this season, not sure when you can...that number would be easily bottom half of Big East. I could understand if this year was the first year they've been good for awhile but they've been good for 2.5 years now, support should have built up by now.

How about when Gtown, Creighton, Nova, Xavier, Butler comes to town? I mean really, they are so far out on an island in their own conference now. Dayton is the closest school to them and even there you have illinois and indiana between them.

You're pretty much saying if you can't sell tickets against Fordham, St. Joe's and George Washington then you have no chance of selling seats against GTown, Nova and St. John's. That makes zero sense.

[Jet915]

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.

Yeah, if they can't sell out this season, not sure when you can...that number would be easily bottom half of Big East. I could understand if this year was the first year they've been good for awhile but they've been good for 2.5 years now, support should have built up by now.

How about when Gtown, Creighton, Nova, Xavier, Butler comes to town? I mean really, they are so far out on an island in their own conference now. Dayton is the closest school to them and even there you have illinois and indiana between them.

You're pretty much saying if you can't sell tickets against Fordham, St. Joe's and George Washington then you have no chance of selling seats against GTown, Nova and St. John's. That makes zero sense.

Not trying to boast but Creighton sold out an arena twice as large with the likes of Evansville, Indiana State and Missouri State's of the world. I have no doubt that our fan support helped us get into the Big East. If SLU was selling out their arena for every game, it would be that much harder for the Big East to turn them down. It would show that their is strong enough fan support to hopefully withstand down years. On our "down years" 4-5 years ago, we still averaged 14K a game.

[Bill Marsh]

Well who in their conference is going to come to town and really get fans excited? Also I bet their aren't too many A-10 alums in the St. Louis area.

To the folks who are wondering how they can compete going forward. Once again, on the court success is behind things like market size, geography, academic and institutional fit. It's not about flavor of the month. If that were the case teams like Davidson, George Mason and Northern Iowa would have been added or at least the favorite on the message boards if we were in this same position in years past.

Saint Louis is on it's third straight successful season, is in a big market, passes both the academic and institutional fit eye test. What else could anyone here want from them short of a final four or winning the national title?

Long term success.

Oh so we'll just shelf the expansion for say what? 20 years? That sound good? Tell Fox to just hold tight while we wait and see who has long term success?

Winning the A-10 2 straight years, making the NCAA three straight, wins in the last two...what have you done for me lately! hahaha

Seriously, you guys are a hoot! I forgot that Butler was a national power at Butler for a couple of decades. Same with Creighton in the MVC. It's funny at how tough the standards have gotten. I seriously doubt most of the current Big East would meet the standards set forth by most of the posters here.

Saint Louis is a perfect fit for this league if they win every year or not.

Once again, if you bring in a winning team, then you are turning a current winning team into a losing one. Thats just the way it works.

What got your panties all in a bunch? You asked a question, i answered it. Are you suggesting long term success is not desirable in an expansion candidate?

The 3 schools that the C7 added last year had a run of success that went back more than 2 or 3 years.

Xavier - 22 NCAA tournament bids over the past 30 years under multiple coaches, 2 Elite 8's & 5 Sweet 16's in the past decade.

Butler - 11 NCAA tournament bids over the past 16 years, highlighted by 2 runs to the NC game but also including a total of 4 runs to the sweet 16 and they did it under 3 or 4 different coaches.

Creighton - 9 bids to the NCAA tournament over the past 14 years with tournament wins over Florida, Louisville, Alabama, and Cincinnati. Add to that incredible home attendance.

Those are established programs, which is why they were chosen. Whether you look at the past 15 years or the past 30 years, St Louis' record simply doesn't compare.

St Louis - 6 bids to the NCAA tournament in the past 19 years with a total of 4 tournament wins - New Mexico State, Memphis, UMass, Minnesota