A-10 Tourney Changes - March 3-6 in Richmond, March 14 Final in Dayton

[spider23]

Well, if I am the league office and commissioner, I look at Hardt and Mooney, and say: "What type of NCAA units have they brought us lately" , and "which nice guys will not be a jerk and attack if we bend them over"

Mooney and Hardt.

 

[RichmondNative]

no it wasn’t bad reporting. Did u listen to Mooney’s press conference? It was clear. Either Mooney is lying as others stated above or Hardt is not keeping Moon in the loop which is another issue.

I did not listen to the press conference, so sorry about the snap judgement on Noah. The point I was really trying to make is that the JOC article clearly shows me that JH and CM talked. So I believe the “total shock”, but do not believe the “no rumblings”. However, maybe Hardt didn’t bring it up to CM because he wanted him to focus on coaching and not league politics.

I think all the shuffling the league is doing is not going to change anything. The A10 looks like a 2 bid league to me. The P5 is going to get the bulk of the at large bids like they always do.

 

[Eight Legger]

I think Mooney probably meant that in general it was a total shock, not that they didn't get notice about it before it was announced publicly.

 

[GKiller]

I think Mooney probably meant that in general it was a total shock, not that they didn't get notice about it before it was announced publicly.

Well his “no rumblings” answer was amazing then. I mean sure I expect he got alerted just b4 the release hit the streets but that is meaningless. Hardt clearly knew something was up b4 the decision was made. Mooney, at least from what he says, had no idea it was even a consideration.

 

[ur2K]

Looks like these are attributed as quotes from Mooney - looks like the messaging isn’t on the same page again

 

[iamaspider2013]

If VCU and UR decide to "scrimmage" and report the results to NCAA "for your consideration", does the A-10 implode?

 

[Eight Legger]

It was interesting to me that Noah asked Mooney if he had talked with Rhoades about trying to schedule that game somehow, and his answer basically was "yes." I expected him to say "the league controls that, so no."

Are we able to schedule a "non-conference" game against a conference opponent, I wonder, without the league's permission?

 

[SpiderTrap]

Can UR and VCU do this. Since the A10 is moving the A10 tourney final to 1 week after semifinals in Dayton. Why don't UR and VCU just schedule a game for that week? Even if one of the teams is in the finals - they may want the game in order to continue to boost resume or use as a game to keep players going with an 8 day layoff. If both teams are in the finals - I can see cancelling it.
OR - if both teams are knocked out and not in finals - it would make total sense to just schedule the game on their own. Can only help them at that point from a rankings standpoint.

 

[GKiller]

EL and Trap - VCU has already played their max number of non conference opponents allowed (9) so no it's not an option at all.

In general yes I believe u r are allowed to play a "non conf" game vs. a league opponent but given the above it is moot.

If Mooney was alluding to a non conference game with VCU that was dumb bc he should know that. He has said a lot of strange things recently that lack credibility tho. More likely he was talking about a league game.

Only way that happens is if they sub in VCU for our 3/1 St Joe's game instead. But that regatta has sailed. We've seen what kind of influence Mooney and Hardt carry with the A10. Basically none.

 

[SFspidur]

EL and Trap - VCU has already played their max number of non conference opponents allowed (9) so no it's not an option at all.

That's not correct...there is no distinct limit on non-conference games, only on total games. With VCU now only scheduled to get 14 A-10 games in instead of the originally planned 18, they could technically play more games.

I did check to see if there are rules against playing games after your conference tournament has begun, but couldn't find anything about that. Once you're eliminated from your conference tournament, you're not allowed to practice (or compete) unless you are under consideration for a postseason tournament, but that wouldn't apply since both teams would be under consideration.

Regardless, I don't see it happening.

 

[urmite]

Can UR and VCU do this. Since the A10 is moving the A10 tourney final to 1 week after semifinals in Dayton. Why don't UR and VCU just schedule a game for that week? Even if one of the teams is in the finals - they may want the game in order to continue to boost resume or use as a game to keep players going with an 8 day layoff. If both teams are in the finals - I can see cancelling it.
OR - if both teams are knocked out and not in finals - it would make total sense to just schedule the game on their own. Can only help them at that point from a rankings standpoint.

I had always thought that playing a "non-conference tournament" game after the conference tournament started disqualified you from the NCAA Tournament. But since SF can't find it, it must not exist.

But I still I don't see it happening...

 

[GKiller]

That's not correct...there is no distinct limit on non-conference games, only on total games. With VCU now only scheduled to get 14 A-10 games in instead of the originally planned 18, they could technically play more games.

Thx then i apologize & stand corrected. SF I trust u on this stuff. But am i losing my mind, weren't there lot of reports about this year only going from 13 non conf games to max 9?

 

[SFspidur]

Thx then i apologize & stand corrected. SF I trust u on this stuff. But am i losing my mind, weren't there lot of reports about this year only going from 13 non conf games to max 9?

That was true for most teams because most conferences play an 18-game schedule, and with the reduced 27-game max (if you play an MTE), most teams had a limit of 9 non-conference games.

But there were some conferences like ASUN that only have a 16-game conference schedule, so like Liberty, for example, played 11 non-conference games. (Edit: Liberty has actually played 12 non-conference games...they played 11 originally scheduled ones and added another one a couple of weeks ago since they've had a few ASUN games canceled.)

Anyway, for completeness, here's the text from the basketball scheduling section of the the Division I manual. Seems to be the only section even possibly relevant, and doesn't seem to disqualify us from playing another game in the middle of the A-10 tournament:

17.4.4 End of Playing Season. A member institution's last contest (game or scrimmage or postseason tournament contest) with outside competition in basketball shall not be played after the respective Division I Basketball Championship game. However, an institution may not continue to practice (or compete against outside competition) in basketball beyond its last regular-season contest, including the conference championship (if any), unless it has reason to believe it is under consideration for selection to participate in an NCAA championship or other postseason national championship event. An institution not selected to participate in the championship or an institution that loses in the championship may not continue to practice until the conclusion of the championship event.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

Pretty sure Gonzaga scheduled a game after they won their conference tourney a few years back, since WCC had their championship a full week before Selection Sunday, and therefore was going to be a break for about 12 days.

I don't know that I'd play VCU, but you might look to similarly situated desperate teams with bubble resumes (Syracuse, Duke, Ga. Tech, St. John's, Belmont, Wichita, SMU) who might want the opportunity to get one more win.

Regardless of whether it's normally done, nothing this year is normal so you wonder if it is in consideration.

 

[GKiller]

https://richmond.com/sports/college...campaign=user-share&__twitter_impression=true

wow the A10 commish dances all over our grave here. Really gives it to U of R in I guess u can call it subtle but still direct ways.

calls out our 3 pauses, points out our well known issues right after SLU cancellation, that UR facility availability wasn’t raised by Hardt, and fact that’s it’s responsibility of the AD to communicate with the coaches. Which clearly Hardt didn’t do from what Mooney said.

No weekend at Bernie’s for the Spiders.

 

[Eight Legger]

What a confusing interview. Is she saying teams can schedule games after they've been eliminated from the tournament, or...?

Her explanation about why the Robins Center didn't remain in the rotation to the same extent originally announced also makes no sense and makes it sound like they never asked us if the building was available a week earlier (obviously it would be). I guess that was a middle finger to us for sure.

And then the explanation about moving to Dayton... Uhh, what? I read that four times and still don't understand what she was trying to say.

 

[SFspidur]

Hot damn...

 

[8legs1dream]

A10 "leadership" out flapping in the breeze sound like they don't even know what the next word that is about to come out of their mouth is

 

[GKiller]

Hot damn...

we r definitely a longer shot at large candidate right now but can u imagine Bernie advocating for us over another A10 team if it came down to multiple A10 teams?

I can’t. Shots fired by Bernie at the already sinking Spiders regatta and Captain Hardt. high alert for 2nd billboard.

 

[KE Spider]

The interview is pretty damning for someone schooled in couching their words bc all the constituencies she serves. She was as directly critical as she could politely be. Clearly, she and Hardt are not going to be dance partners at the League's next social function.

 

[97spiderfan]

The interview is pretty damning for someone schooled in couching their words bc all the constituencies she serves. She was as directly critical as she could politely be. Clearly, she and Hardt are not going to be dance partners at the League's next social function.

Yeah, there is very clearly no love lost between her and John Hardt and that might be an understatement. I mean, wow, she throws him under the bus multiple times in that interview without ever mentioning him.

 

[97spiderfan]

What a confusing interview. Is she saying teams can schedule games after they've been eliminated from the tournament, or...?

Her explanation about why the Robins Center didn't remain in the rotation to the same extent originally announced also makes no sense and makes it sound like they never asked us if the building was available a week earlier (obviously it would be). I guess that was a middle finger to us for sure.

And then the explanation about moving to Dayton... Uhh, what? I read that four times and still don't understand what she was trying to say.

It was a middle finger to our Athletic Director in particular. I honestly think a big part of this move was to specifically screw over John Hardt and by default us. We went from hosting the final game at our facility to it being moved without our knowledge and input, more games played at VCU. Jesus, what a shitshow.

 

[97spiderfan]

Also she makes it sound like they offered to play the VCU-UR game last weekend and we said no that we wanted to go the D-3 prep game route.

It was a middle finger to our Athletic Director in particular. I honestly think a big part of this move was to specifically screw over John Hardt and by default us. We went from hosting the final game at our facility to it being moved without our knowledge and input, more games played at VCU. Jesus, what a shitshow.

 

[SFspidur]

Also she makes it sound like they offered to play the VCU-UR game last weekend and we said no that we wanted to go the D-3 prep game route.

Not sure about that. She said "this past weekend" and the interview was today. I'm sure VCU would rather have played us than lose to GMU.

 

[whampas]

Hardt, at a minimum, should be fired over this. What an embarrassing situation. Then a new AD could come in, show a pair, and do what needs to be done.

 

[spider fan]

Did say NIT was still on so that gives us another shot at postseason play.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

I'm sure Bob Black and Ivan will get to the bottom of this at 6 PM tonight.

 

[97spiderfan]

Not sure about that. She said "this past weekend" and the interview was today. I'm sure VCU would rather have played us than lose to GMU.

Makes sense. Damn, so we could have gotten another Quad 1 game but said nah, well play Duquesne instead.

 

[712_VT]

That article just makes me realize even more that UR does not care about athletics at all. Dayton and vcu saw the value of hosting the semifinals/finals. It sounds like Hardt either didn’t see that or didn’t care. Yet another reason why it’s no coincidence that you see vcu and Dayton towards the top of the standings every year.

 

[SpiderRick]

Yeah, there is very clearly no love lost between her and John Hardt and that might be an understatement. I mean, wow, she throws him under the bus multiple times in that interview without ever mentioning him.

No love lost between Hardt and the diehard Spider faithfuls either. But he's not interested in what we think, and the Administration could care less about athletics.

 

[32counter]

Wow.Incriminating statement about Hardt. Not good.Hardt’s rank in the A10 AD chain got knocked down a bunch of pegs in the eyes of Commish and likely other ADs.
Bernadette is a no nonsense kick ass.Would believe she’s not into the Hardt metaphorical writing style.

Hardt likely gave Commish no answer answers
She doesn’t buy any form of equivocation which Hardt constantly makes his living from as the UR AD.

 

[Gallipoli]

The interview with Lone Wolf McGlade was quite insulting to UR. It sounds like Lone Wolf believes UR does not have the ability to protect the public or other players.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

Can we stop hiring Patriot League Athletic Directors?

 

[KE Spider]

Speculation. Few facts, just reading the tea leaves. This goes back to the St Louis cancellation debacle.

Believe St Louis and the League found U of R less than forthcoming in explaining our protocols and test results before the scheduled game (as much was said on the STL board). Found U of R, at best, less than candid, and possibly worse, as evasive and disingenuous, or possibly the worst, untruthful. Didn't sit well with either party. Once trust is lost, it is difficult to reclaim. Believe this is where UR stands with the League at this point. Would explain much in the Commish's interview.

 

[whampas]

Speculation. Few facts, just reading the tea leaves. This goes back to the St Louis cancellation debacle.

Believe St Louis and the League found U of R less than forthcoming in explaining our protocols and test results before the scheduled game (as much was said on the STL board). Found U of R, at best, less than candid, and possibly worse, as evasive and disingenuous, or possibly the worst, untruthful. Didn't sit well with either party. Once trust is lost, it is difficult to reclaim. Believe this is where UR stands with the League at this point. Would explain much in the Commish's interview.

Totally agree with this. We, the fans and supporters, are treated the same way. "We'll just find new fans." We're headed straight to the Patriot League. Book it.

 

[GKiller]

Wow.Incriminating statement about Hardt. Not good.Hardt’s rank in the A10 AD chain got knocked down a bunch of pegs in the eyes of Commish and likely other ADs.
Bernadette is a no nonsense kick ass.Would believe she’s not into the Hardt metaphorical writing style.

Anyone is welcome to their opinion of the A10 decision. I would have liked them to stick with the original plan. But when u have an AD like Hardt with his pretentiousness off the charts eventually you are going to get dunked on. Posterized in this case by Bernie.

 

[712_VT]

A good coach would not do as much complaining about this situation as Mooney. Ya it’s a bad deal but just go out and win the thing and it doesn’t matter. Mooney hasn’t once mentioned just going out and winning the title to the media and he probably hasn’t to the players either.

 

[ur2K]

Bernie’s not getting invited to the holiday regatta cruise/meat and potato feast this year. Wow.

 

[RollSpides]

When you get the AD job because your daughter was college roommates with the biggest donor’s daughter.... things like this happen.

 

[localspider]

Why do imagines of Laurel and Hardy remind me of these two....