Topic: ESPN : A10 possibly adding BE basketball schools

[DJdaHERDfan]

http://m.espn.go.com/ncb/story?storyId=8736716

[DJdaHERDfan]

The Atlantic 10 has discussed the possibility of a 21-team basketball league in the event that the changing conference landscape makes high-profile Big East schools available, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com Tuesday.

The A-10 has been proactive over the last year, strengthening its brand as a high-profile basketball conference with the additions of Butler and VCU, two programs that were in the 2011 Final Four.

[luvherd]

Makes a lot of sense.

[field pass]

I hope CUSA is trying to sell a new league back to those of our schools that have plans to leave to the Big East!

Lets take back some of our schools....UConn and Cinncy can come with!!!

[svherd]

That would be great for the A10 and the BE basketball schools. I wouldn't mind taking back ECU and Memphis.
UCF, Houston and SMU can go to hell!

[_sturt_]

Hold the phone, boys.

Why wouldn't the Big East basketball schools pick off the A10 schools they want to include, and at that, bring those schools under their tent into the Big East brand, as opposed to the lesser A10 brand?

[DJdaHERDfan]

Exactly sturt.
I was thinking this may actually be a last ditch effort by A10 to grab the catholic 7 before the catholic 7 raids the A10 of its marquee programs.

[BooneCo.4Herd]

Hold the phone, boys.

Why wouldn't the Big East basketball schools pick off the A10 schools they want to include, and at that, bring those schools under their tent into the Big East brand, as opposed to the lesser A10 brand?

 I think the issue is the quality of teams that are being added is kind of the have and have nots of the basketball world. The basketball only schools are seeing crap like Tulane and they were vocal in keeping East Carolina basketball out (sorry East Carolina fans, you can build all the facilities in basketball you want, all you have done is gone from a pig toa pig with lipstick) and they have reached the breaking point. The football money is not going to be there like it was in recent years and they are ready to bolt.

[svherd]

It is a question of branding. The A10 is known as a quality B'ball league only. The BE is now a mere shadow of its former self and many aren't sure what it is. Its lost the luster of being the best B'ball league. The football is now considered less than top notch. That being said, the BE schools moving to the A10 may not be a bad idea. They align with a league known solely for B'ball and strengthen that league. All those schools make b'ball a top priority. Thet merger would be good for all, regardless of the name they fall under.

[IM4DHERD]

Question of NCAA basketball assets are what killed the CUSA/MWC merger.  Imagine the BE teams will want to retain those.

[FlyHawk98]

Yeah but if the conference dissolves (which would happen if the bball schools voted to dissolve and go to A10) then the basketball credits go back to the individual schools that earned them. So under this scenario, anyone who has NCAA money would end up getting to keep it.

I think a big time all basketball league could be great. Time will tell.

[herdman]

Hold the phone, boys.

Why wouldn't the Big East basketball schools pick off the A10 schools they want to include, and at that, bring those schools under their tent into the Big East brand, as opposed to the lesser A10 brand?

Bingo. I still contend something like this will happen.

[wasbarryb]

Yeah but if the conference dissolves (which would happen if the bball schools voted to dissolve and go to A10) then the basketball credits go back to the individual schools that earned them. So under this scenario, anyone who has NCAA money would end up getting to keep it.

I think a big time all basketball league could be great. Time will tell.

I maybe over thinking or over complicating this issue, but if things transpired the way you’ve described, would the school retain the credit money when they joined the new conference or would their credits go to the new conference?

[IM4DHERD]

Also, if the credits go with the school, why was it such an issue with CUSA/MWC merger, which might have forestalled most all of the current problems for CUSA.  Not arguing that they don't, I just don't know.

[wasbarryb]

Also, if the credits go with the school, why was it such an issue with CUSA/MWC merger, which might have forestalled most all of the current problems for CUSA.  Not arguing that they don't, I just don't know.

If you’re in a conference and leave the credits you earned belong to the conference and stay there when you leave. However, if you’re in a conference and the conference disbands, the credit reverts to the school.

That’s the genesis of my question. In the latter case of a school “owning” the credits due to a conference disbanding, who owns the credits if they join a new conference.  

As I remember part of the issue in combining CUSA and MWC was the reduction in automatic qualifying slots for the NCCA tournament from two to one.

[GoHerd2010]

the A10 is a very good basketball conference. Those BE basketball schools should definitely merge with them one way or the other. That would be a very good competitive league in my opinion.

[cincyherd]

If the BE disbands, recent BE exit fees would probably be a nice check for the remaining schools.  I assume if the BE disbands, the new members would not have to pay entrance fees.

At this point, the BE b'ball schools probably hope Cincinnati and UCONN leave so they won't share the windfall with me.

[wasbarryb]

At this point, the BE b'ball schools probably hope Cincinnati and UCONN leave so they won't share the windfall with me.

When I read the article it occurred to me the bball schools were probably hoping one of the two would leave before July 1, so they could be sure of having the 3/4 vote necessary without getting into legal p!ss!ing matches over Temple maybe being able to block their voting super-majority.