Creighton and the new Catholic 7 league

[Bravesfan]

Bravesfan, Temple is a public, state university in Philadelphia with nearly 40,000 students. IMO they do not fit with your other choices (all smaller private schools).


Here is a list of all the Division I schools, and their affiliations-

http://www.rpiratings.com/schoolaffiliations.php

There just are not many private universities other than in the eastern states. Perhaps ORU, Belmont, or Denver would be the next best options if a private school is desired.

Yeah, I'm not that familiar with which schools are public and which ones are private. I guess me getting one wrong out of this bunch is a pretty good percentage. But yes, it will come down to whether or not Bradley would be willing to travel a lot to the east coast if they want to look into joining another new private school conference.

[SFP]

Yeah, I'm not that familiar with which schools are public and which ones are private. I guess me getting one wrong out of this bunch is a pretty good percentage. But yes, it will come down to whether or not Bradley would be willing to travel a lot to the east coast if they want to look into joining another new private school conference.

That's why it needs to be 2 divisions. We can play the schools that are in the mid-west home and away every year and the ones out east just once a year switching home and away. 16 teams would give us a fairly god schedule to play with and decent recruiting grounds. It would also have legs for a TV contract.

[stevebu91]

The 2 division private school model would fit with a mix of leftover A10s, Drake, BU, a Summit or 2, and some academic power weights in the East. It's east coast centric with some midwest flavor.

What sports (does it appear) that Bradley is concentrating in? Maybe in this order: Its mens basketball, mens soccer, women's basketball, baseball, softball, mens and women's cross country/track, golf, volleyball, and then tennis. Some of you may not realize that the largest student athlete number as far as enrollment on campus is for mens and women's cross country/track.

So, look to private schools in the Midwest and East that have similar athletic program and academic profiles. Next addition will probably be women's soccer after competitiveness in the other sports are seen. After that, and it depends upon the conference (East coast?) where it may be lacrosse. Don't laugh. Go out East and look at all the fields/goals...

[tornado]

Official announcement supposedly shortly forthcoming - will this news distract the Bluejays on the even of the tourney?

https://twitter.com/TheBluejayCafe/status/309680014775955457

[stevebu91]

And there apparently is the first shoe to drop.....

Take away Creighton's average attendance figures at the STL tournament over the past 10 years, take out their NCAA Basketball tournament $$ shares sent to all MVC schools, and the minor TV package $$$ for the MVC...and, well, its somewhat of a disaster scenario. Elgin won't get that in his replacement school...

Don't hide your head in the sand, its significant to both the conference and to BU....

Another issue is SIUC. The continued fight between SIUE, SIUC, Gov. Quinn, and the SIU Board is at a boiling point. The rise of power of SIUE versus declining enrollment and funds for SIUC.

[amckillip]

And there apparently is the first shoe to drop.....

Take away Creighton's average attendance figures at the STL tournament over the past 10 years, take out their NCAA Basketball tournament $$ shares sent to all MVC schools, and the minor TV package $$$ for the MVC...and, well, its somewhat of a disaster scenario. Elgin won't get that in his replacement school...

Don't hide your head in the sand, its significant to both the conference and to BU....

Another issue is SIUC. The continued fight between SIUE, SIUC, Gov. Quinn, and the SIU Board is at a boiling point. The rise of power of SIUE versus declining enrollment and funds for SIUC.

I agree, BU needs to act now. We should look for Butlers spot in the A-10 at the very least...

[alczervik75]

I agree, BU needs to act now. We should look for Butlers spot in the A-10 at the very least...

That is my hope as well

[stevebu91]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/21826120/five-questions-and-answers-about-our-new-nationally-relevant-league

Article notes that the MVC may not be done with its conference member losses. Interesting.......

[tornado]

Interesting - but the answer is obvious - it's all about schools with football not wanting to share a penny with a school that doesn't have football and schools with decent or successful basketball & with good fan bases....wanting a bigger piece of the pie and not wanting to share a penny with lesser successful teams.
The one thing Bradley currently has going for it is the STRONG fan base so I sure hope there aren't any more bad moves that send more of the fan base packing...
(and when I say fan base I mean more than the guy buying walk-up tickets or owning a pair of upper bowl season tix)

Why else would teams like Syracuse bolt form Georgetown (football), teams like Creighton bolt from Wichita State & Bradley (more money if they host Pitt & Goergetown than SIU or Evansville and then they will play in 20-25K arenas on the road)..
and so what's in the future will be teams like ISU bolting from the Valley to join NIU in the MAC, teams like Wichita parlaying their recent success to align with teams that are more successful recently than all the MVC teams below them...
Had all this happened in 2006, or back in 1996 - BU would have been in a MUCH better position - people woulda been calling......
Bradley sure did pick a bad time to make moves that sunk us to the bottom of the picking order...

[stevebu91]

Really BU has 3 options:

Short Term Option:
Stick in the MVC. Absolutely require Elgin to pick a private to replace Creighton. Elgin will need to add 2 more teams besides that to increase tv population and fan base from loss of Creighton fan base. I suspect he is going to chase after Oral Roberts as his #1, Valpo as #2, and Detroit? / SIUE? / Loyola as #3. Its anybody's guess. This model is going to blow apart in the longer term as our football schools look for higher status and $$$$ in the FBS.

Short Term Option:
Head to the A-10 for the 'leftover' private school basketball centric party. This gets us with like academic schools. Our fan base may not like this. Probably will be the best long term option as the A-10 may be done being pillaged and will rebuild.

Short Term Option:
Elgin and the Presidents realizing they are one of the next in the pecking order...get smart and bump the MVC up to a 16 team conference. Picks the best of the Horizon, Summit, and a little east coast. Two divisions.

[tornado]

as bad as they are doing this year UW-M would be tickled to get an invite to the MVC - and it would give the Valley a BIG-city market...
then offer two more to bring MVC membership up to 12..
Maybe ORU, Detroit, Green Bay, UM-KC, CSU..and FB shouldn't matter - hey - Butler, Dayton, UMass all play FB in different league than BB

[Tulsa Brave]

Interesting - but the answer is obvious - it's all about schools with football not wanting to share a penny with a school that doesn't have football and schools with decent or successful basketball & with good fan bases....wanting a bigger piece of the pie and not wanting to share a penny with lesser successful teams.
The one thing Bradley currently has going for it is the STRONG fan base so I sure hope there aren't any more bad moves that send more of the fan base packing...
(and when I say fan base I mean more than the guy buying walk-up tickets or owning a pair of upper bowl season tix)

Why else would teams like Syracuse bolt form Georgetown (football), teams like Creighton bolt from Wichita State & Bradley (more money if they host Pitt & Goergetown than SIU or Evansville and then they will play in 20-25K arenas on the road)..
and so what's in the future will be teams like ISU bolting from the Valley to join NIU in the MAC, teams like Wichita parlaying their recent success to align with teams that are more successful recently than all the MVC teams below them...
Had all this happened in 2006, or back in 1996 - BU would have been in a MUCH better position - people woulda been calling......
Bradley sure did pick a bad time to make moves that sunk us to the bottom of the picking order...

Yep...poor choices in 2002 led to this. Glad you are finally seeing the light...

[tornado]

LOL - maybe it was the point shaving scandal in the 50's or the decision to leave the Armory

[Tulsa Brave]

LOL - maybe it was the point shaving scandal in the 50's or the decision to leave the Armory

Maybe but hiring a coach with no experience whatsoever usually doesn't turn out too well. We see now where we have ended up. We haven't challenged for an MVC title since prior to that time despite having MVC-calibur talent on the team for several years aound 2005-2008. The cupboard has now been mcuh too thin ever since that time, and not just since 2011. But hey, you support Geno 100%, right?

[tornado]

I always support the team 100% - with my words & actions and even with my financial support - wish more people did - but the empty upper bowl indicates otherwise - and I fear it's going to get worse unless things turn around fast..