What are we doing with this program?

[fan2011]

The A10 should look at adding new members if la salle and Fordham leave. I don't know who would be a potential new member though. Charleston maybe?

There is no talk of Fordham leaving, and the A10 should NOT add a new member if La Salle leaves unless they are better than La Salle. There is no advantage to having 14 teams, adding teams without increasing the competitive profile or geographic footprint of the conference is idiotic.

 

[AnnapSpider]

There is no talk of Fordham leaving, and the A10 should NOT add a new member if La Salle leaves unless they are better than La Salle. There is no advantage to having 14 teams, adding teams without increasing the competitive profile or geographic footprint of the conference is idiotic.

Since the A-10's footprint goes all the way to St. Louis, I'd be surprised we couldn't find another "better"
program to add.

 

[Ulla1]

Since the A-10's footprint goes all the way to St. Louis, I'd be surprised we couldn't find another "better"
program to add.

Someone mentioned Radford.

 

[fan2011]

Since the A-10's footprint goes all the way to St. Louis, I'd be surprised we couldn't find another "better"
program to add.

The problem is, all the schools that are decent have already moved on. The concentration of power in college athletics has been steadily increasing, and there just aren't many good teams left in bad conferences.

 

[FrontRoyalSpider]

There is no talk of Fordham leaving, and the A10 should NOT add a new member if La Salle leaves unless they are better than La Salle. There is no advantage to having 14 teams, adding teams without increasing the competitive profile or geographic footprint of the conference is idiotic.

Is it true LaSalle is on the verge of going "Belly Up"?
It was the 50 million dollar gift by Robins that saved our beloved university from going Belly Up in the late 1960s.

 

[SpiderK]

The problem is, all the schools that are decent have already moved on. The concentration of power in college athletics has been steadily increasing, and there just aren't many good teams left in bad conferences.

Agreed, the pretense of academics has been abandoned in most of the power schools. Even Duke and Virginia have given up on that illusion for the sake of success. Most “top 200” players think they are NBA caliber and don’t care much about a degree. I think it has gotten worse since the foreign professional options have become more lucrative. Rude awakening for them later, but not when they are 17.

 

[MolivaManiac]

Hiring the consulting firm will probably suck money from athletic budget. Then the study will conclude that you need to cut back on athletic budget.....ha.

Agreed. You hire a consulting firm to look at this when the decision is already made. They are paying the consulting firm for validation and letting the A10 know they need to be ready.

This might end up with a clean trade with the MAAC for Siena.

 

[SpiderHoops32]

This might end up with a clean trade with the MAAC for Siena.

The return of Kadeem Smithen.

 

[fan2011]

Is it true LaSalle is on the verge of going "Belly Up"?
It was the 50 million dollar gift by Robins that saved our beloved university from going Belly Up in the late 1960s.

Yes. In 2015 they had a budget shortfall of ~15% of their total endowment, and started making serious changes. Their enrollment numbers are dropping year-over-year, they have laid off a lot of staff and faculty to try and make up the shortfall, and this year they are now selling off art assets (their most valuable non-real estate assets) to try and make up for the continued shortfall. It looks like their attempts to save the university have not been successful so far. Moving down to a lower conference and firing Dr. G. are the next steps to try and save money. I am not sure how much more can be done.

 

[spiderstudent17]

If La Salle were to leave the conference I would not want to take a team just for the sake of taking one. Less can be more sometimes. Look at the Big East with 10 teams. There's more concentrated talent and fewer teams dragging them down. Also there are fewer teams to split money revenue with.

I think A10 should wait out the inevitable dissolve of the American conference in a few years and take Witchita State. If not, there's no other teams I would want.

If I had to pick another team because we have to to have 14, the order would be this:

1. Witchita State
2. U. Northern Iowa
3. Vermont
4. Valparaiso
5. Middle Tennessee State
6. Bucknell
7. UNC-Wilmington

 

[VT_Spider]

Yes. In 2015 they had a budget shortfall of ~15% of their total endowment, and started making serious changes. Their enrollment numbers are dropping year-over-year, they have laid off a lot of staff and faculty to try and make up the shortfall, and this year they are now selling off art assets (their most valuable non-real estate assets) to try and make up for the continued shortfall. It looks like their attempts to save the university have not been successful so far. Moving down to a lower conference and firing Dr. G. are the next steps to try and save money. I am not sure how much more can be done.

Sounds like the same problems the HBCU schools have.

 

[SpiderK]

If La Salle were to leave the conference I would not want to take a team just for the sake of taking one. Less can be more sometimes. Look at the Big East with 10 teams. There's more concentrated talent and fewer teams dragging them down. Also there are fewer teams to split money revenue with.

I think A10 should wait out the inevitable dissolve of the American conference in a few years and take Witchita State. If not, there's no other teams I would want.

If I had to pick another team because we have to to have 14, the order would be this:

1. Witchita State
2. U. Northern Iowa
3. Vermont
4. Valparaiso
5. Middle Tennessee State
6. Bucknell
7. UNC-Wilmington

We will end up with ODU, JMU or W&M and you know it. Lol

 

[Spiders10]

I'd rather have W&M than LaSalle

 

[spiderstudent17]

We will end up with ODU, JMU or W&M and you know it. Lol

I sure hope not! Ever since Xavier, Butler, and temple left, A10 basketball isn't what it used to be (except 2014). We need to invest in the teams we have and make them better, and only take a team if it will elevate our basketball.

Taking a school like W&M or JMU says that A10 doesn't care about its basketball success.

Teams like La Salle and Fordham should go, in my opinion. But I don't think we can kick a school out of the conference, or at least it'll be tough to do

 

[urfan1]

ODU would not come because of football -- JMU has their eyes on FBS football, I don't see them joining either

 

[wr70beh]

Valpo. Come on, guys. This is a no brainer. Look farther afield.

 

[Spiders10]

College of Charleston
W&M
Vermont
Bucknell

 

[ur2K]

W&M? Come on. That’s a team that has never been to the NCAA tournament. At least Lasalle has been there and was in the Sweet 16 more recently than us.

 

[spider23]

Someone mentioned Radford.

Yes. YES YESYESYESYES!!!!

We would come in hot "insert Fire Emoji"

 

[MolivaManiac]

Bump.

We were 234th in the country in effective defense with Khwan last year. He was our best perimeter defender. Any guesses what our defense will look like next year without him?

Again, what are we doing here?

 

[keefusb]

If you believe the Truthers, we will be a better perimeter defending team with Cayo on the floor instead of KF. And I'm waiting up for the Easter Bunny this coming weekend...

We really can't afford to lose any other starters. If we do, heads should roll at the RC.

 

[plydogg]

Bump.

Again, what are we doing here?

Apparently beating the dead horse into the ground

 

[MolivaManiac]

Apparently beating the dead horse into the ground

Does being an equine veterinarian pay you well?

 

[plydogg]

Does being an equine veterinarian pay you well?

This horse is well past needing a veterinarian. It needs an equine coroner

 

[keefusb]

Horse hearse.

 

[Stones River Spider]

Belmont in Nashville would be a great fit.

 

[iSpider]

Apparently beating the dead horse into the ground

Does being an equine veterinarian pay you well?

This horse is well past needing a veterinarian. It needs an equine coroner

Not the statement of a veterinarian. More descriptive of a sadistic equine necrophile. They usually work pro bono privatus.
.

 

[SpiderK]

Not the statement of a veterinarian. More descriptive of a sadistic equine necrophile. They usually work pro bono privatus.
.

I think I bet on the horse Probonoprivatus one time at Churchill Downs.

 

[FrontRoyalSpider]

I sure hope not! Ever since Xavier, Butler, and temple left, A10 basketball isn't what it used to be (except 2014). We need to invest in the teams we have and make them better, and only take a team if it will elevate our basketball.

Taking a school like W&M or JMU says that A10 doesn't care about its basketball success.

Teams like La Salle and Fordham should go, in my opinion. But I don't think we can kick a school out of the conference, or at least it'll be tough to do

Several years ago Big East Football kicked out Temple Univ.

 

[keefusb]

Bump...

 

[spider23]

Serious question, it seems quite a few have emailed Hardt to express concern with the direction of the basketball program. Has anyone received a response?

I know, I know he cannot respond to every one, and a few may be kind of message board crazy (who are you looking at?). But many and most I would expect are fairly well written and reasoned. Just curious if anyone did receive a response, even just to say the email went through or something generic?

 

[SpiderK]

Serious question, it seems quite a few have emailed Hardt to express concern with the direction of the basketball program. Has anyone received a response?

I know, I know he cannot respond to every one, and a few may be kind of message board crazy (who are you looking at?). But many and most I would expect are fairly well written and reasoned. Just curious if anyone did receive a response, even just to say the email went through or something generic?

I would guess you are referring to any response other than the cold shoulder?

 

[Gospiders06]

Just try to be .500 next year might be a victory lap. Being competitive seems more important than actual wins....