NIT selections: Indiana State gets NIT bid; UNI does not

[Mikovio]

Of course the public line is going to be "getting a head start on recruiting," but is it possible ISU turned down these tournaments (which do require a guarantee) because they're cheap and/or strapped for cash? I'm concerned they're pouring more money into chasing the pipe dream of I-A football stardom at the expense of their basketball program. You see major Hancock Stadium renovations taking place, meanwhile their last basketball head coach left to become an assistant at SMU because it substantially increased his salary. If Bradley is going to make a commitment to the basketball program going forward it needs to be in a conference of like minded institutions, and the addition of another pipedream school like North Dakota State to replace Creighton should sound an alarm on the Hilltop.

[Old Coach]

Of course the public line is going to be "getting a head start on recruiting," but is it possible ISU turned down these tournaments (which do require a guarantee) because they're cheap and/or strapped for cash? I'm concerned they're pouring more money into chasing the pipe dream of I-A football stardom at the expense of their basketball program. You see major Hancock Stadium renovations taking place, meanwhile their last basketball head coach left to become an assistant at SMU because it substantially increased his salary. If Bradley is going to make a commitment to the basketball program going forward it needs to be in a conference of like minded institutions, and the addition of another pipedream school like North Dakota State to replace Creighton should sound an alarm on the Hilltop.

I agree (on both accounts).

[Da Coach]

... If Bradley is going to make a commitment to the basketball program going forward it needs to be in a conference of like minded institutions, and the addition of another pipedream school like North Dakota State to replace Creighton should sound an alarm on the Hilltop.

That is all easy to say. But just what schools specifically are you talking about? It's not like there are a bunch of great basketball-only D1 schools sitting around waiting to align with Bradley.

First, I doubt anyone is seriously thinking of adding North Dakota State. But if you are talking about Bradley joining other small, private midwestern universities that only play basketball (not football), then there are just not very many schools available on that list. The better ones are already committed to the Catholic 7 conference, and most of the remaining ones are below the level of competition that Bradley should be aligning themselves with. It would be a major step down.
These are the only private Midwestern D1 schools that aren't already affiliated with or committed to better conferences and that might be options:
Evansville
Drake
Loyola
Detroit
Valpo

That's it. I'd rather stay in the MVC than align with a handful of lower-level schools that are below the level of what we have now.

If we stretched the geography to include the Mid-south region of the US, there might be a few more private D1 primary basketball schools like:
ORU
Belmont
Lipscomb
Houston Baptist

But again, none of those schools really does anything to elevate Bradley. They are all a huge step down, IMO.
IMO, Bradley is far better off staying with the MVC and adding a new school like Belmont, Valpo, or Loyola to replace Creighton.

[Mikovio]

That is all easy to say. But just what schools specifically are you talking about?

(The rest of the) A-10. If indeed SLU and Dayton leave, it will certainly be too eastern-based and travel cost-prohibitive for Bradley to make the move on its own, but replace the departed schools with for instance Valpo, Detroit, Drake and Loyola and you have a conference still a cut above the rest of the midmajors.

If SLU and/or Dayton doesn't go (I've read Richmond or VCU may be taken in their stead), then that makes the decision easier.

I don't know whether the MVC is seriously considering NDSU, but given that they're in the MVFC and do very well there I fear they'd be a candidate.

IMO, Bradley is far better off staying with the MVC and adding a new school like Belmont, Valpo, or Loyola to replace Creighton.

I hope they pick between Belmont, Murray State and Valpo. My concern is that the football-oriented members may want to bring in a like minded school and push for a Dakota, in which case I'd hope the admin starts looking for an out.

If SLU and Dayton are left in the A-10 and that conference wants to backfill, which sounds unlikely, I'd move though. I imagine Bradley would be near the top of their list.

[Mikovio]

Say Bradley jumps right now. IIRC, the A-10 loses four schools for next year (Butler, Xavier, Charlotte, Temple). Bradley jumps along with Valpo, Drake and Detroit.


2013-2014 A-10
West Division
SLU
Dayton
Bradley
Valpo
Detroit
Drake
Duquesne
St. Bonaventure

East Division
UMass
Rhode Island
La Salle
Fordham
St. Joe's
George Washington
VCU
Richmond


Then if, as what seems to be expected, SLU and Dayton leave after that season, you add Evansville and Loyola


2014-2015 A-10
West Division
Evansville
Loyola
Bradley
Valpo
Detroit
Drake
Duquesne
St. Bonaventure

East Division
UMass
Rhode Island
La Salle
Fordham
St. Joe's
George Washington
VCU
Richmond



Play everyone in your division twice and four or so games against the other division. Looks a lot better to me than a Creighton- and possibly WSU-less Valley plus Dakotas.

[tornado]

Illinois State refuses to play in the CBI or CIT. ...But first year coach Dan Muller decided otherwise.-..

For those who really want to know - one guy on the Redbird board has an interesting thing to report...FWIW
The thread starts with this but degenerates into some even more implausible rumors...

"A friend of mine knows Dana Ford very well. He told me that Dana Ford said the
reason they did not want any post season action is because Muller plans on
keeping only 2 players for next season and theres no point in playing when none
of them will be around next year.."