Conference realignment discussion - v. 2015

[Hoyas]

Unlike hoopstar, I have heard nothing in Indy regarding conference realignments. However, I agree that it is much better to be proactive than reactive. Adding some existing rivalries would be interesting. Wichita State and Creighton are naturals. The same can be said with Xavier and Dayton. Rivalries need passion, proximity and normally a history. Rivalries draw a few more eyeballs. I'd watch Duke v NC before I'd watch Duke v Louisville any day of the week.

With the Dawgs jumping conferences annually a few years back, it has been impossible to continue/establish solid rivalries. I guess we would suggest Xavier is our biggest Big East rival, but I am not sure Xavier would agree. Perhaps we could rekindle the SLU rivalry?

Until SLU gets their program going back in the right direction, I don't see how they can get added. I mean, can you imagine what the pundits would say if we added SLU right this second?

[R Jay]

Boys, there will be major shifts in conferences the next 24 mos. The Play for pay will make a huge impact as will the TV contracts . Conferences including the Big East have to be ahead of the game and ready to go. UConn and Cinn looking at all options and more movement to come. The first two years of Big East was solid, teams getting better but Fox will need more product. Ratings rule the day and thus far not so good.

Dude, my crystal ball is never wrong. Neither is my Magic 8 ball. Don't doubt it.
I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but you've been duped.

[BEwannabe]

SLU is worrisome because they're sticking with Crews and I don't see him attracting top talent because for a college coach he's old and a corn pone to boot. He was able to succesfully coach Majerus recruits because he's a fine enough coach but I just don't think he'll be able to have sustained success.

[DudeAnon]

SLU is worrisome because they're sticking with Crews and I don't see him attracting top talent because for a college coach he's old and a corn pone to boot. He was able to succesfully coach Majerus recruits because he's a fine enough coach but I just don't think he'll be able to have sustained success.

I don't think SLU's fanbase was ever that big even when they had Majerus.

On another note, with Shaka leaving VCU it is completely up in the air how their program will be in 5 years. More and more I think we are better off waiting 5 years to see who is still standing after the next P5 shakeup + coaches leaving.

[BEwannabe]

Rick M had them pretty fired up. re: VCU - I don't think they'll miss a beat. Crazy fan base in a recruiting rich environment, if they get the former asst I think they will be solid.

[Bill Marsh]

SLU is worrisome because they're sticking with Crews and I don't see him attracting top talent because for a college coach he's old and a corn pone to boot. He was able to succesfully coach Majerus recruits because he's a fine enough coach but I just don't think he'll be able to have sustained success.

I don't think SLU's fanbase was ever that big even when they had Majerus.

On another note, with Shaka leaving VCU it is completely up in the air how their program will be in 5 years. More and more I think we are better off waiting 5 years to see who is still standing after the next P5 shakeup + coaches leaving.

Why is it up in the air any more than it is when any program changes coaches? They won before Shaka was there and they'll win after he's gone. They have great facilities, a strong fan base, and have now built a solid tradition. They're fine.

[DudeAnon]

SLU is worrisome because they're sticking with Crews and I don't see him attracting top talent because for a college coach he's old and a corn pone to boot. He was able to succesfully coach Majerus recruits because he's a fine enough coach but I just don't think he'll be able to have sustained success.

I don't think SLU's fanbase was ever that big even when they had Majerus.

On another note, with Shaka leaving VCU it is completely up in the air how their program will be in 5 years. More and more I think we are better off waiting 5 years to see who is still standing after the next P5 shakeup + coaches leaving.

Why is it up in the air any more than it is when any program changes coaches? They won before Shaka was there and they'll win after he's gone. They have great facilities, a strong fan base, and have now built a solid tradition. They're fine.

Oh c'mon man, he was VCU. I am not saying that VCU was nothing but I know I had never heard of them before his Final Four run and nor had most of the country.

[Hoyas]

Capel and Grant had started VCU on their way though.
They were there for 7 years. Had 3 NCAA appearances. Had 1 25 win season(and 2 24 win seasons along with a 23 win season).

VCU had been to the tourney 3 of the 6 years before Smart took over.

And most of the country had heard of VCU in 2006-07 when they beat Duke in the tourney(and then lost to Pitt in OT).

[aughnanure]

Capel and Grant had started VCU on their way though.
They were there for 7 years. Had 3 NCAA appearances. Had 1 25 win season(and 2 24 win seasons along with a 23 win season).

VCU had been to the tourney 3 of the 6 years before Smart took over.

And most of the country had heard of VCU in 2006-07 when they beat Duke in the tourney(and then lost to Pitt in OT).

3 out of 6 isn't some amazing number. The concern is that they are still relatively a new name to most fans, and don't have decades of history to sustain a bad hire. This is a perilous time, as it is a lot easier to fall down a peg than rise up.

But no one is immune to this, just some have a slightly easier time rising up after a change or a bad hire. Marquette got lucky with Buzz walking into a loaded team his first year. This time with Wojo is a lot closer to what should be expected when you have a major coaching change. So bringing back the experience VCU will will help the transition and perception of the program. I think they'll be solid, but will they be equal to what they were with Shaka or will it be more like the 3 out of 6 years?

Does anyone remember Southern Illinois in the mid 2000s? 6 straight tourney appearances. 2 Sweet Sixteens. Bruce Weber, then Matt Painter, then Chris Lowry kept it going for a little bit before falling down to earth and getting fired

[Hoyas]

Capel and Grant had started VCU on their way though.
They were there for 7 years. Had 3 NCAA appearances. Had 1 25 win season(and 2 24 win seasons along with a 23 win season).

VCU had been to the tourney 3 of the 6 years before Smart took over.

And most of the country had heard of VCU in 2006-07 when they beat Duke in the tourney(and then lost to Pitt in OT).

3 out of 6 isn't some amazing number. The concern is that they are still relatively a new name to most fans, and don't have decades of history to sustain a bad hire. This is a perilous time, as it is a lot easier to fall down a peg than rise up.

But no one is immune to this, just some have a slightly easier time rising up after a change or a bad hire. Marquette got lucky with Buzz walking into a loaded team his first year. This time with Wojo is a lot closer to what should be expected when you have a major coaching change. So bringing back the experience VCU will will help the transition and perception of the program. I think they'll be solid, but will they be equal to what they were with Shaka or will it be more like the 3 out of 6 years?

Does anyone remember Southern Illinois in the mid 2000s? 6 straight tourney appearances. 2 Sweet Sixteens. Bruce Weber, then Matt Painter, then Chris Lowry kept it going for a little bit before falling down to earth and getting fired

I do agree with you about the ability to sustain a bad hire. I think the fact they have 2 guys who were assistants who could come back to the program with head coaching experience is very important. And I think them relying maybe a little bit less on Havoc could make them even better.

Where VCU is different than Southern Illinois is that the period before the run you bring up, they weren't all that good at all. So it was just a 6 year run there, compared to really a 13 year run at VCU.