UAB/A-10 tinkering

[HuntsmanSpider]

If there were an opening, either through conference expansion or a school departing, would you want UAB in the A-10?

While their program is on a strong rebound, they have a nice history of success in the NCAA. It would also open up new markets, as it would give the A-10 an excuse to add a 2nd team in say, Nashville. We've had great success recruiting in Georgia, and signed Fore from AL last year, so the deep southeast seems like a recruiting ground we need to continue expanding our presence.

The big downside is pretty glaring: We would be inviting a school in that doesn't even have the right to control their own fate with athletics, and their athletic department budget. While they are the best Bball program in Alabama (at least till Big Bruce Pearl gets going) what exactly is that worth?Also, if we don't end up adding a Belmont, etc to the list, its out of the way geographically.

Their unstable politics scare me, but if they can get that resolved, I'd welcome them with open arms given the right situation. What say you?




This post was edited on 3/20 12:38 PM by HuntsmanSpider

 

[Eight Legger]

It's an interesting idea. They obviously fit better with the publics in our league institutionally than with us, but on the court I think they'd be a decent add. I view them similarly to ECU, but probably a little better because they've had more basketball success. We could do worse. Adding Belmont would be great to get into Nashville and to get another quality Davidson-type program.

 

[MolivaManiac]

I like the A10 as it's comprised now. It won't happen but i'd actually prefer contraction to expansion. The conference can only get so many bids per year and 14 mouths to feed is a lot of mouths.

 

[Stonewall D]

Belmont

 

[TBSpyder]

I think we have too many programs now. George Mason is a better fit with the CAA, and Fordham, with the Patriot League.

But if we were to add a team, I'd vote for Belmont. Mainly, because they're in our geographical footprint, and provide a program closer to St. Louis and Dayton. UAB would be a good program, but really doesn't fit geographically.

 

[spidernole87]

Agree with the comments re: too many teams. My 'right situation' involved one or both of the Midwest teams leaving, or the miracle that Fordham moves on.

Belmont vs. UAB would be interesting. Nashville is a lot closer than I thought to SLU and Dayton. If we're lucky enough to see Fordham move on, Belmont is my first call. If it's a situation where the two midwest teams leave, I look for a pair of southern schools that are decently close to one another (Nash-BHM is a little over 3 hours by bus) , preferably one big public school and one private smaller school to make everyone happy. Some of the northern schools may be upset, but it would open up recruiting pathways for them too. Even in basketball, the better athletes are in the southeast, IMO.

Too bad there isn't a school in urban/metro Atlanta worth taking a look at. My god, talk about a sleeping giant. Though if there was, maybe we wouldn't have landed DG, KA, ANO....



This post was edited on 3/20 2:43 PM by spidernole87

 

[WebSpinner]

ga state is the commuter school of atlanta but whether they will do anything other than be in the tourney once in a while remains to be seen.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

Would of preferred Belmont over GMU. Another Davidson esque program with a solid coach. Need a more western wing to keep SLU and Dayton happy. After X and Butler left. Belmont also is warm in the spring. Doing no research whatsoever, adding another southern program could help sports like baseball and maybe provide better opportunities scheduling during the early spring months. Wouldnt mind losing some of the deadweight northern schools either.

 

[SpiderK]

Belmont down 8 to UVA at half. 40-32

 

[The Vault]

I'd be fine with Wichita State/Northern Iowa or UAB idk about Belmont or GA State, neither seems to schedule great out of conference or will move the needle. The Atlanta market is nice, Nashville wouldn't be bad either but like most A10 schools these guys are second (or third or fourth) fiddle at best. 16 isn't too much for me. Think two 8 team divisions would give us more bids not less.

I agree would be nice if we could trade out teams... Mason and the usual suspects. Nothing wrong with teams getting in crushed in conference but get it done out of conference please.

 

[brooklyn brownstone]

UAB to me feels like Charlotte, solid if unspectacular history in bball but no history w/any A10 teams and no natural rivalries. Would be kind of apathetic to most current A10 fanbases and their own fanbase would probably want to be somewhere else instead of a league primarily based 1000+ miles away.

MVC teams are too far away.

 

[wr70beh]

MVC teams would feel like the A10 is a lateral move, plus the bulk of the schools are too far away.

UAB maybe. It would give VCU their old Sun Belt rival back (which most fans of the team probably didn't know that they were in that conference in the 1980s).

GA State has football in the Sun Belt, so they aren't going anywhere. They're all in for football, even though they play in front of no crowds.