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The Nit has changed it's format and eliminated the automatic big for regular season conference champs who lose their conference tournaments.  Instead the first 12 teams will be the top two ranked teams from each of the six power conferences the remaining 20 schools will be the  highest ranked remaining teams.

Chicago State just signed twin brothers Matt and Ryan Bewley.  They are 6/9 power forwards who were ranked the 2nd and 20th best players in the 2023 recruiting class. instead  they played in the Overtime Elite program which just sent four players to the NBA draft. 

NCAA Division 1 council voted to start basketball season  Nov. 25.  Practices can start Oct 14.

 Here's some positive news. Northern Illinois has released their MAC conference basketball schedule and is taking season ticket orders. Their first conference game is January 2.Information on non-conference games is forthcoming.

If you don't  remember the name Rachel Folden, she was the Chicago Bandit catcher who worked off season as a Valpo assistant softball coach about a decade ago.  She just got hired by the other Chicago baseball team as a minor league hitting instructor.  Hopefully she will be a Crusader against  the launch angle.

Can anyone tell me if the NBCSCH plus channel is included on Sling or just the main channel?

Just noticed an hour long MVC preview show on NBC sports net tonight at 7:00.

Jerry Slocum announced he is stepping down as Youngstown State coach. 

There is a Jason Kayrs listed on the roster. Maybe my alzheimers  is kicking in but I have no idea  who he is. Walk on?

www.cbssports.com/college-fo
otball/news/wichita-state-interested-in-joining-mountain-west-considering-football/

Individuals representing Wichita State's athletic interests have approached the Mountain West Conference about membership, multiple sources told CBS Sports.
Led by president John Bardo, Wichita State has been exploring its conference options in basketball and football. Last year, Bardo commissioned an ongoing feasibility study to bring football back to the athletic program. The school dropped the sport in 1986.
The 12-member Mountain West has only 11 basketball-playing members; Hawaii plays basketball in the Big West. Wichita State might value its basketball on a larger stage with momentum created by highly successful coach Gregg Marshall.
Through a spokesman, Bardo declined comment.

Pretty neat site ranks  professional and college stadiums including the ARC


www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/athletics-recreation-center-s789

Just noticed that Tonagel's Indiana Wesleyan team is playing for the NAIA D2 championship on ESPN3

68 teams.... not one from Illinois...not one from Indiana

From Sports Illustrated's S I Wire

NCAA president Mark Emmert met with Big 12 leaders Wednesday to discuss problems larger NCAA schools are having within the NCAA framework.

The result could be a fourth subdivision within the NCAA.

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said during the meeting that larger schools have problems unique to them among college athletic institutions. From Chron.com:

"I wouldn't say they're outraged or up in arms," Dodds said. "I just think they're concerned, and somehow the NCAA needs to federate in a way that people with common programs can vote on their programs."
There's speculation the fourth subdivision would include schools/teams from the so-called "power five" football conferences: SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Pac-12 and Big 12.

Emmert acknowledged the economic disparity between major and minor football schools is a growing concern. Texas led all NCAA schools with $163.3 million in athletic revenue in 2012, while Louisiana-Monroe had the smallest revenue of $11.3 million.

The fourth subdivision would not fully cure the growing problems in the NCAA, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby noted. From Chron.com's report:

"It would be unforthright to say that people aren't concerned and frustrated with the legislative process and the governance processes," Bowlsby said. "I just think there's a general uneasiness, and I haven't heard anybody that's got the master plan that fixes it all."
Emmert noted the fourth subdivision could work within the NCAA framework, but that it was the member institutions to make the change. From Chron.com:

"That's not my decision," he said. "That's the members' decision. And I hope they look at it. I think it would be healthy and the right thing to do."
Despite concerns about differences in size of schools, Bowlsby said he didn't sense any eagerness from schools to withdraw, saying everyone is committed to the NCAA while still looking for ways to improve it.

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Kyle Gaedele has been bumped up to advanced A Lake Elsinore of the California League. 

Bryce Shafer is a Peoria Chief and Kyle Gaedele a Fort Wayne Tin Cap

Western Illinois knocked off Oral Roberts and will advance to the finals for the first time since the 2OT game at the ARC. 

Bryce Shafer has been assigned to the  Peoria Chiefs, the Cub's low  A team in the Midwest League.