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Archive => On The Horizon => Topic started by: Valposter on January 07, 2013, 11:19:50 AM

Title: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Valposter on January 07, 2013, 11:19:50 AM
Ok, I am just speculating based upon this article from back in September and comments from the Wright State AD at halftime last Saturday.  The article (link posted below) referenced alot of indicators pointing to Oakland, Evansiville, and Belmont as the leading candiates expected to be added as the Horizon League is expected to expand from 9 to 12 teams.

http://www.midmajormadness.com/2012/9/27/3418698/horizon-expansion-candidates-oakland-evansville-belmont-rumor (http://www.midmajormadness.com/2012/9/27/3418698/horizon-expansion-candidates-oakland-evansville-belmont-rumor)

I bet there is a lot of truth to this rumor.  If it has been finalized by now, then it was probably close to being finalized back in September when this article rolled out.  It makes a lot of sense, and it would certainly be consistent with the comments the Wright State AD was referencing when he said the expansion candidates have been finalized and will be annnounched in March and that the fans of the HL would be very pleased.  With the plural "candidates" we know that 3 teams and not one team is being added.  And we know that Oakland is being added, that has been a given for awhile.  Belmont and Evansville are logical additions to join with Oakland. 

If so, I like it!!!  I think Oakland, Evansiville, and Belmont would be very good additons for both baseball (my first love) and basketball (most people's number on priority).  Actually, I think it would be a very good fit for all sports programs.  Add the Nashville market.  Add a past rival in Evansiville.  And Oakland has been a frontrunner all along.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Valpo89 on January 07, 2013, 11:40:53 AM
I agree with all three, Valposter. But how do you know that "Oakland being added as been a given for a while?"

I know Greg Kampe would love to be in the Horizon, but I also know Detroit has tried to block them in the past.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Valposter on January 07, 2013, 11:49:25 AM
Valpo89, I should clarify that Oakland being added has been a forgone conclusion TO ME.  Certainly by no means do I have concrete inside information nor should this be taken as a statement of fact.  I didn't phrase that well.  However, every rumor that I have heard or seen on the internet or othewise regarding HL expansion has indicated Oakland.  Also, I know a couple of student-athletes at Oakland and they indicated that their coach thought it was likely to happen.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: VULB#62 on January 07, 2013, 12:25:17 PM
Lets wait and see.  But all three add something.

But, if/when Evansville comes aboard in the HL and we resume our competitive association, we need to convince them to resume FB in the PFL.  As mentioned before in other threads, there is a remorse down there about dropping the sport and the PFL could be an answer.  Some of those southern schools I firmly believe are using the PFL as a staging ground for going scholarship FCS in a couple of years.  That's pretty evident when you look at the facilities they are building.

Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpotx on January 07, 2013, 01:20:08 PM
Belmont makes a lot of sense for us, as it seems like our athletic teams play them just about every year anyways.  I would love to add all 3 in all sports, and get our baseball number up to 8!  Though, I do have to admit that this year's 1 in 5 chance of going to the NCAA tournament is nice lol
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: vuweathernerd on January 07, 2013, 02:51:59 PM
i like the potential, but i think we should hold off on this kind of speculation until something official is out. while these are all good possibilities, there are some others that very well could also be on that list.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: VULB#62 on January 07, 2013, 04:23:09 PM
Yah, that article was in September. But I didn't really expect the Purple Aces to pull out of the MVC -- somewhat of a step down for them.  But that's what makes it tantalizing for the HL as it pulls an OVC and MVC team into the fold.  My brain, however, doesn't handle well Belmont only staying in the OVC for only one year.  On the other hand, Belmont is a private university that might want to expand it's student recruiting base northward and Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan can significantly expand their recruiting area -- it would be the only "warm" weather location in the league. But they are already in Illinois and Mizzou.  I don't count Jacksonville State as it is an aberration geographically.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: HC on January 07, 2013, 04:28:30 PM
These would be great additions. I was hoping for a Murray State, but would be thrilled if these teams were announced in March
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Enrico Palazzo on January 07, 2013, 06:49:08 PM
I don't know the date, but expect an announcement in March.  And at this point, it's a safe assumption that three teams, not one, will be added.  Heard a lot of names, but at this point it's a parlor game as to whom.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Valposter on January 08, 2013, 08:06:38 AM
Quote from: Enrico Palazzo on January 07, 2013, 06:49:08 PMI don't know the date, but expect an announcement in March. And at this point, it's a safe assumption that three teams, not one, will be added. Heard a lot of names, but at this point it's a parlor game as to whom.

I think I can speak for a lot of the fans of Valpo and the Horizon League that we will be anxiously awaiting the expansion announcement in March!  This will be a big moment for Valpo and the Horizon League to help position us for the future!
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpopal on January 08, 2013, 12:25:12 PM
A lot of interesting speculation, some on other boards even suggesting adding 5 teams rather than 3. However, going with the teams most mentioned and in the title of this thread, there seems to be some difficulty in geographic considerations for Valpo. If we go back to travel partners, what would the pairings be?

Milwaukee/Green Bay
Cleveland State/Youngstown State
Detroit/Oakland
Loyola/UIC
Belmont/Evansville
Valpo/Wright State

Or ideally, my preference would be if we added a stronger lineup of schools with Murray State and Robert Morris as well for 5-team expansion:

Milwaukee/Green Bayi
Cleveland State/Wright State
Detroit/Oakland
Loyola/UIC
Belmont/Murray State
Valpo/Evansville
Robert Morris/ Youngstown State

Though I'd like to see Murray State added, I am still afraid IUPUI might eventually be in the mix as a travel partner for Valpo and to provide a school based in Indianapolis, where the Horizon League headquarters are located:

Milwaukee/Green Bay
Cleveland State/Wright State
Detroit/Oakland
Loyola/UIC
Belmont/Evansville
Valpo/IUPUI
Robert Morris/ Youngstown State


All pure speculation.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: FWalum on January 08, 2013, 01:22:23 PM
I know that I had stated in another thread that I would report back after talking to some of my friends involved with a sports management group that has universities in all of the conferences that could probably be affected by our Horizon League additions/expansion.  I was asked NOT to talk about specifics regarding those conversations and the univeristies those people work with so I did not reply as I had originally intended.  This thread does talk about what most of them thought was the lynch pin university to the 3 team addition to the Horizon League, and that was to my surprise the University of Evansville. They also thought that the Oakland Detroit situation was not as clear cut as we all seem to think that it is. 
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: wh on January 08, 2013, 04:37:12 PM
To FW's point it would not surprise me if Oakland has not received an invitation.  What makes sense to us may play a lot differently in Detroit.  Imagine if there were another mid major in NWI, and they are in the Summit Conference. Right now we can tell potential recruits about the advantages of the HL over the Summit-higher rated conf ., less travel, closer for friends and family to attend road games, etc.  Once they join the HL, all those talking points are gone.  Being honest if we were Detroit, I would be completely against it.  If the conf. can find a way to add quality teams that will support baseball as well as basketball without bringing in Oakland, it would probably be a better long term solution. 
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: crusadermoe on January 08, 2013, 05:13:27 PM
You don't think that the chance to travel and see new sites in the Dakotas during winter is a selling point?   
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: bbtds on January 08, 2013, 05:25:13 PM
Quote from: wh on January 08, 2013, 04:37:12 PMBeing honest if we were Detroit, I would be completely against it.  If the conf. can find a way to add quality teams that will support baseball as well as basketball without bringing in Oakland, it would probably be a better long term solution.

Wait a minute. Why does Loyola and UIC work in the Horizon League? Why doesn't Detroit sell their school instead of their league or their location when recruiting? Are they afraid that Oakland's suburban location will draw better than their urban location in the city of Detroit. In that case your coach is just plan bad at recruiting. What's the real problem for Detroit? Not a good excuse. Maybe the HL should drop Detroit and pick up Oakland if that is the case.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: VULB#62 on January 08, 2013, 05:37:45 PM
Quote from: bbtds on January 08, 2013, 05:25:13 PM
Quote from: wh on January 08, 2013, 04:37:12 PMBeing honest if we were Detroit, I would be completely against it.  If the conf. can find a way to add quality teams that will support baseball as well as basketball without bringing in Oakland, it would probably be a better long term solution.

Wait a minute. Why does Loyola and UIC work in the Horizon League? Why doesn't Detroit sell their school instead of their league or their location when recruiting? Are they afraid that Oakland's suburban location will draw better than their urban location in the city of Detroit. In that case your coach is just plan bad at recruiting. What's the real problem for Detroit? Not a good excuse. Maybe the HL should drop Detroit and pick up Oakland if that is the case.

I was going to post generally the same thing.  Isn't this like UIC/Loyola and suburban Chicago-located Valpo?  The rivalry potential in super.  Could result in sellouts twice every year.  Maybe like Cincy/Xavier, the Philly 5, USC/UCLA, Colby/Bates/Bowdoin.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Valposter on January 08, 2013, 05:46:07 PM
Quote from: bbtds on January 08, 2013, 05:25:13 PM
Quote from: wh on January 08, 2013, 04:37:12 PMBeing honest if we were Detroit, I would be completely against it.  If the conf. can find a way to add quality teams that will support baseball as well as basketball without bringing in Oakland, it would probably be a better long term solution.

Wait a minute. Why does Loyola and UIC work in the Horizon League? Why doesn't Detroit sell their school instead of their league or their location when recruiting? Are they afraid that Oakland's suburban location will draw better than their urban location in the city of Detroit. In that case your coach is just plan bad at recruiting. What's the real problem for Detroit? Not a good excuse. Maybe the HL should drop Detroit and pick up Oakland if that is the case.


All good points. 

Also, as a Conference, I would be careful putting the desires of one school over the best interests of the Conference as a whole.  The Greater Good and all of that.  After all, Detroit, or any HL team (see Butler), can leave at any time for a "better offer".  So, how does it make sense to turn down Oakland, and then Detroit leaves next year to join some other conference they perceive better.  There was an article recently in the Detroit paper that Detroit (Titans) was keeping its options open.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Valposter on January 08, 2013, 06:26:42 PM
Here's the link to the Detroit Free Press article I referenced above about Detroit keeping it's "conference options open".

http://www.freep.com/article/20130108/SPORTS08/301080105/College-basketball-roundup-Titans-might-be-tempted-to-look-beyond-Horizon (http://www.freep.com/article/20130108/SPORTS08/301080105/College-basketball-roundup-Titans-might-be-tempted-to-look-beyond-Horizon)
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: wh on January 08, 2013, 07:14:37 PM

Quote from: Valposter on January 08, 2013, 05:46:07 PM
Quote from: bbtds on January 08, 2013, 05:25:13 PM
Quote from: wh on January 08, 2013, 04:37:12 PMBeing honest if we were Detroit, I would be completely against it.  If the conf. can find a way to add quality teams that will support baseball as well as basketball without bringing in Oakland, it would probably be a better long term solution.

Wait a minute. Why does Loyola and UIC work in the Horizon League? Why doesn't Detroit sell their school instead of their league or their location when recruiting? Are they afraid that Oakland's suburban location will draw better than their urban location in the city of Detroit. In that case your coach is just plan bad at recruiting. What's the real problem for Detroit? Not a good excuse. Maybe the HL should drop Detroit and pick up Oakland if that is the case.


All good points. 

Also, as a Conference, I would be careful putting the desires of one school over the best interests of the Conference as a whole. The Greater Good and all of that.  After all, Detroit, or any HL team (see Butler), can leave at any time for a "better offer".  So, how does it make sense to turn down Oakland, and then Detroit leaves next year to join some other conference they perceive better.  There was an article recently in the Detroit paper that Detroit (Titans) was keeping its options open.


Of course we would not want to put the best interests of an individual school over the best interests of the conference.  My point is trying to find a comprehensive solution that best serves the interests of the conference without alienating any of its current members in the process has to be the preferred approach.  For instance, if adding Belmont, Murray State and Evansville would meet the needs of the conference as much as adding Oakland and 2 of those three, the conference would be silly not to consider it.  As to the point that Detroit might walk regardless, Oakland will still be available whether they're a first option or a second.  They're not going anywhere else because they don't fit the profile (geographic, no football, other) of any conference other than the Horizon League. 
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Valposter on January 08, 2013, 07:22:59 PM
Well said wh...............
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: vuweathernerd on January 08, 2013, 07:28:04 PM
Quote from: crusadermoe on January 08, 2013, 05:13:27 PM
You don't think that the chance to travel and see new sites in the Dakotas during winter is a selling point?   

quoting raj from the big bang theory, "i'd like to answer this. no."
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: crusaderjoe on January 08, 2013, 07:31:18 PM
Quote from: bbtds on January 08, 2013, 05:25:13 PM
Quote from: wh on January 08, 2013, 04:37:12 PMBeing honest if we were Detroit, I would be completely against it.  If the conf. can find a way to add quality teams that will support baseball as well as basketball without bringing in Oakland, it would probably be a better long term solution.

Wait a minute. Why does Loyola and UIC work in the Horizon League? Why doesn't Detroit sell their school instead of their league or their location when recruiting? Are they afraid that Oakland's suburban location will draw better than their urban location in the city of Detroit. In that case your coach is just plan bad at recruiting. What's the real problem for Detroit? Not a good excuse. Maybe the HL should drop Detroit and pick up Oakland if that is the case.

C'mon, this was a joke, right?  If Valpo can't compete for public dollars like Wright State et. al. can, why would you want to cut down on the number of private schools in this conference if you are VU?

I'm not an expert on MCC matters, but something that I think is overlooked in this discussion is that the conference dynamic that was in play when UIC joined the MCC in 1994 and Oakland's situation in potentially joining the HL in 2013 is vastly different from one another, so it is hard to compare both situations IMO.  IIRC, and some of you on this board may have a better memory, but I believe there were only five or six schools left in the MCC when UIC and the others moved as a packaged deal from the Mid-Con in '93/94, thus preserving their automatic bid.  Just a guess, but I would venture that as a charter member of the MCC/HL, UDM has far more leverage now to exert its proximity concerns than Loyola did back then because the HL is not nearly in as much peril now as the MCC was in the early 90's.

And for argument's sake, who says the LUC/UIC thing is working for all parties anyway?  LUC hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since 1985 and UIC has been there three times since 1994. You don't think VU would at least pause and ponder athletically if PUC or PNC decided to make the move to D-I and then attempted to join the HL?
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: StlVUFan on January 08, 2013, 09:01:57 PM
Quote from: crusaderjoe on January 08, 2013, 07:31:18 PM
And for argument's sake, who says the LUC/UIC thing is working for all parties anyway?  LUC hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since 1985 and UIC has been there three times since 1994. You don't think VU would at least pause and ponder athletically if PUC or PNC decided to make the move to D-I and then attempted to join the HL?


Yeah, I was going to say.  LUC/UIC "works" because neither team gets much attention from the market they are in anyway.  They're both scrounging table scraps.  The 4 Chicago papers do a horrible job of covering their men's teams and there is zero coverage of their women's teams.  You have to actually have a piece of the pie before you can muster up any jealousy toward your neighbor's attempt to slice off their own piece.

That said, I personally think that if Detroit can't compete with Oakland in the recruiting game, they should be ashamed of themselves.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: vu72 on January 08, 2013, 10:23:59 PM
Quote from: VULB#62 on January 08, 2013, 05:37:45 PM
Quote from: bbtds on January 08, 2013, 05:25:13 PM
Quote from: wh on January 08, 2013, 04:37:12 PMBeing honest if we were Detroit, I would be completely against it.  If the conf. can find a way to add quality teams that will support baseball as well as basketball without bringing in Oakland, it would probably be a better long term solution.

Wait a minute. Why does Loyola and UIC work in the Horizon League? Why doesn't Detroit sell their school instead of their league or their location when recruiting? Are they afraid that Oakland's suburban location will draw better than their urban location in the city of Detroit. In that case your coach is just plan bad at recruiting. What's the real problem for Detroit? Not a good excuse. Maybe the HL should drop Detroit and pick up Oakland if that is the case.

I was going to post generally the same thing.  Isn't this like UIC/Loyola and suburban Chicago-located Valpo?  The rivalry potential in super.  Could result in sellouts twice every year.  Maybe like Cincy/Xavier, the Philly 5, USC/UCLA, Colby/Bates/Bowdoin.

Seriously?  A bit of Northeast snobbery or just having some fun with the field hockey rivalry??  We are talking midwest basketball, not northeast hockey.  You know as well as most that a colby-bates "rivalry" basketball game might draw what? 500 or 600?

I like the Detroit/Oakland thing as much as I loved the Valpo/Butler rivalry.  Interconference rivalries only add to the overall conference status.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: VULB#62 on January 08, 2013, 10:45:55 PM
Just playfully wondering if someone would pick up on it and thought for sure that setshot, not you 72, would be all over that.

But I was serious about the rivalry potential. That could turn into a local war -- and that would be great for both schools.  In the Chicago land area there are many more D-I schools vying for attention.  Metro Detroit less so -- most of the attention is in the East Lansing/Ann Arbor vicinity. A hot rivalry in the metro area would pull some of that attention back to Detroit, don'tcha think?.   
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: wh on January 09, 2013, 12:25:24 AM
There are 3 possible outcomes for every change - positive, negative, no effect.  In the business world, the rule of thumb is to only consider making a major organizational change when the prospects of a positive outcome considerably outweigh the risks of a negative one.  As to Oakland and Detroit, I think most people would agree that the risk of a negative outcome for Oakland by joining the HL is practically non-existent. Detroit, on the other hand,  incurs a lot of downside risk in bringing Oakland on board, with a probable best case scenario of no effect on their program as it presently exists.  The point is this - Detroit agreeing to add Oakland would be a big roll of the dice for them.  I would not blame their administration at all if they are not willing to pull the trigger. Their first obligation is to their university and its stakeholders.  Their obligation to the "greater good" of the Horizon League is way down the line somewhere.       
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valporun on January 09, 2013, 01:12:46 AM
I think the LUC/UIC thing works because they both have specifics about the types of students they will admit to their respective institutions. Detroit and Oakland may not have as stringent of academic standards as LUC/UIC do, so they are really concerned about the cross over in recruiting athletes from the local area, but honestly, like Stl said, if Detroit can't recruit the Detroit area because Oakland is stepping on their toes, then they might want to consider a new direction in recruiting.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpotx on January 09, 2013, 01:20:48 AM
I would highly doubt that Detroit is asked to join the new 'Catholic 7' league.  They don't carry enough sports versus a Butler, Dayton, Xavier, Creighton, or St. Louis, and haven't had the success that these other schools have had in their main sport.  I predict that league goes to 10 teams, not 12, which would leave Detroit as the jilted wannabe that they are.  If they added baseball, as they should, it would improve their profile years down the line for other league moves.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: vu72 on January 09, 2013, 03:27:13 PM
Quote from: VULB#62 on January 08, 2013, 10:45:55 PM
Just playfully wondering if someone would pick up on it and thought for sure that setshot, not you 72, would be all over that.

But I was serious about the rivalry potential. That could turn into a local war -- and that would be great for both schools.  In the Chicago land area there are many more D-I schools vying for attention.  Metro Detroit less so -- most of the attention is in the East Lansing/Ann Arbor vicinity. A hot rivalry in the metro area would pull some of that attention back to Detroit, don'tcha think?.   

Agree, and certainly think Oakland would be a good fit although I'd like to see a couple of additional private schools like Evansville and Belmont added.  Not sure about the Chicago "rivalry" as it is hard to see much excitment for their team over on the UIC board.  They are playing the defending champs and pre-season favorites and--they have one post on the game and ZERO responses. Embarassing.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: historyman on January 09, 2013, 10:51:29 PM
Quote from: vu72 on January 09, 2013, 03:27:13 PMNot sure about the Chicago "rivalry" as it is hard to see much excitment for their team over on the UIC board.  They are playing the defending champs and pre-season favorites and--they have one post on the game and ZERO responses. Embarassing.

I think that just because a certain UIC message board doesn't have a lot of posts doesn't mean that there aren't a bunch of UIC fans out there who want to see the Flames win and aren't excited about UIC playing Valpo. They didn't have a great crowd but it wasn't awful. Not all fans like to go on message boards to talk about their team. Think about all the fanatic Valpo people who are great supporters of VU basketball but yet don't post on this message board.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Pathfinder on January 10, 2013, 07:31:42 AM
re Detroit/Oakland: teams that consider themselves higher rarely welcome in the lower rated team from the area. DePaul for years wouldn't join the MCC (as the Horizon was then known) because they didn't want to be in the conference with Loyola. With a few exceptions based on history that long predates modern recruiting and scheduling (think the Big 5 in Philly, or some of the New York City schools) it's not done. UIC joined the Horizon as part of the big package merge that preserved the conference's auto bid - very different circumstances.

But usually the better schools won't even play the perceived lesser school unless the lesser school is no threat at all, or until changing circumstances absolutely force them too because the lesser school has become on par with the better school. So Marquette doesn't want to face Milwaukee, Dayton won't play Wright State, Big 10 schools won't play their non-Big 10 in-state rivals, Georgetown doesn't play GW, and so on.

Also, as to Detroit/Oakland, there is bad blood unrelated to the competitive situation. They used to play, back when Oakland was an easy D-II and later low-major win for Detroit, but stopped because of various allegations of bad faith, etc. Detroit may soon find itself forced to play Oakland, but not yet, and WH is right about how they perceive their interest and how they must act accordingly.

All that said, I'll bet Oakland is in.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: oklahomamick on January 10, 2013, 11:02:36 AM
Iwas hoping that Valpo would join the Missouri Valley.  I don't know if that would be beneficial.  I think there would be more travel. 
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpotx on January 10, 2013, 11:18:30 AM
I just read the below article, which mentions that the large Fox TV deal for the Catholic 7 would be predicated on the league obtaining 12 schools, and it could form as soon as next season.  I could see this being Butler, Xavier, Creighton, St. Louis, and Dayton, but it could involve any of several other teams.  I don't see the MVC as being as strong without Creighton, so the HL would be my option, while adding Belmont/Evansville/Oakland.  The same goes for the Atlantic-10, in that they will be significantly weakened when the dust clears, and we DO NOT want to be in that league because of travel, and they would lose their best teams.  Teams such as Fordham, La Salle, St. Joe's, etc, don't mean anything without the 4 A-10 teams above.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8831345/catholic-7-talk-tv-deal-commissioners-sources (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8831345/catholic-7-talk-tv-deal-commissioners-sources)
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: Valposter on January 10, 2013, 11:36:56 AM
Quote from: valpotx on January 10, 2013, 11:18:30 AMI just read the below article, which mentions that the large Fox TV deal for the Catholic 7 would be predicated on the league obtaining 12 schools, and it could form as soon as next season. I could see this being Butler, Xavier, Creighton, St. Louis, and Dayton, but it could involve any of several other teams. I don't see the MVC as being as strong without Creighton, so the HL would be my option, while adding Belmont/Evansville/Oakland. The same goes for the Atlantic-10, in that they will be significantly weakened when the dust clears, and we DO NOT want to be in that league because of travel, and they would lose their best teams. Teams such as Fordham, La Salle, St. Joe's, etc, don't mean anything without the 4 A-10 teams above. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8831345/catholic-7-talk-tv-deal-commissioners-sources (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8831345/catholic-7-talk-tv-deal-commissioners-sources)

Valpotx, interesting article on the Catholic 7 television deal.....thanks for sharing.  I think you take is dead on.  I agree with all of your points.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: wh on January 10, 2013, 11:50:10 AM
Quote from: Valposter on January 10, 2013, 11:36:56 AM
Quote from: valpotx on January 10, 2013, 11:18:30 AMI just read the below article, which mentions that the large Fox TV deal for the Catholic 7 would be predicated on the league obtaining 12 schools, and it could form as soon as next season. I could see this being Butler, Xavier, Creighton, St. Louis, and Dayton, but it could involve any of several other teams. I don't see the MVC as being as strong without Creighton, so the HL would be my option, while adding Belmont/Evansville/Oakland. The same goes for the Atlantic-10, in that they will be significantly weakened when the dust clears, and we DO NOT want to be in that league because of travel, and they would lose their best teams. Teams such as Fordham, La Salle, St. Joe's, etc, don't mean anything without the 4 A-10 teams above. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8831345/catholic-7-talk-tv-deal-commissioners-sources (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8831345/catholic-7-talk-tv-deal-commissioners-sources)

Valpotx, interesting article on the Catholic 7 television deal.....thanks for sharing.  I think you take is dead on.  I agree with all of your points.

Another ESPN article talks more specifically that the 3-5 schools they add to the mix would get less than half the bloated amount the "Catholic 7" schools would get from the new TV deal.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8817624/fleeing-big-east-schools-working-lucrative-tv-deal-basketball (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8817624/fleeing-big-east-schools-working-lucrative-tv-deal-basketball)

With exit fees from the A-10 reported to be a staggering $1 Million, I can't imagine that would play well with the prospective add-ons like Xavier, Dayton, etc.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpotx on January 10, 2013, 12:32:54 PM
Well, if they will get around $2m/year in a TV deal from this new conference (a little less than half the 7's $5m/year expectation as mentioned), and only make $400k/year currently, they pay that $1m fee off that first year, and still have $600k more that year to utilize.  After that first year, that $1.6m more per year adds up, if the articles numbers are correct!
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: historyman on January 11, 2013, 02:25:35 AM
It seems rather simple to me.

In another thread many posters on this board are calling Detroit classless for running up the scores in some of their games.

The dispute between Detroit and Oakland that nobody at Detroit wants to discuss was about Detroit pulling out of an oral agreement that Oakland had to play a game at the O'Rena. After Oakland recruited their NBA center Keith Benson suddenly Detroit said their was no oral agreement and said they never agreed to play that game. That is the story that OU coach, Greg Kampe related in a story in the Oakland Press about a year or two after Valpo left the Mid-Con/Summit for the Horizon League. The people at Detroit who were in charge of the athletic department at the time have since left their positions. One of those people, the assoc AD  at the time, was fired by the current president of Detroit for a relationship with one of the assistant basketball coaches. The other assistant basketball coach is suing the university for illegal dismissal, a case which has not reached the courts yet.

Now who do you guys believe? Greg Kampe, someone who has been with Oakland since their many years of Div.II dominance or the people at Detroit who, it turns out, one of them later was dismissed for an inappropriate relationship?

Let's hear someone from Detroit dispute that disagreement and the nature of it.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: StlVUFan on January 11, 2013, 11:55:11 AM
Quote from: historyman on January 11, 2013, 02:25:35 AM
It seems rather simple to me.

In another thread many posters on this board are calling Detroit classless for running up the scores in some of their games.

The dispute between Detroit and Oakland that nobody at Detroit wants to discuss was about Detroit pulling out of an oral agreement that Oakland had to play a game at the O'Rena. After Oakland recruited their NBA center Keith Benson suddenly Detroit said their was no oral agreement and said they never agreed to play that game. That is the story that OU coach, Greg Kampe related in a story in the Oakland Press about a year or two after Valpo left the Mid-Con/Summit for the Horizon League. The people at Detroit who were in charge of the athletic department at the time have since left their positions. One of those people, the assoc AD  at the time, was fired by the current president of Detroit for a relationship with one of the assistant basketball coaches. The other assistant basketball coach is suing the university for illegal dismissal, a case which has not reached the courts yet.

Now who do you guys believe? Greg Kampe, someone who has been with Oakland since their many years of Div.II dominance or the people at Detroit who, it turns out, one of them later was dismissed for an inappropriate relationship?

Let's hear someone from Detroit dispute that disagreement and the nature of it.
:clap:
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: bbtds on February 14, 2013, 05:18:09 AM
I happened across this on the SLU board from back in December. It's a flat denial by the Evansville AD that the Purple Aces are moving to the Horizon League. The original rumor came from the writer who covers Bradley for the Peoria Journal Star.

http://www.courierpressblogs.com/sports/ue/?p=2099 (http://www.courierpressblogs.com/sports/ue/?p=2099)

(Evansville) Athletic director John Stanley denied a report Saturday by Dave Reynolds, long-time Bradley beat writer at the Peoria Journal Star, that UE would be leaving the Missouri Valley Conference for the Horizon League.

"I'm hearing that announcements on Creighton and Evansville leaving Valley are coming today," Reynolds tweeted, later adding "Creighton going to the Catholic conference, Evansville to the Horizon."

Though a move to the Horizon League wouldn't be a huge surprise — UE has by far the smallest enrollment among the MVC's 10 members — the school's athletic administration previously discussed realignment earlier this year and decided not to become part of it.

Those decisions can always change, however, given the current landscape.

"We understand that the conference world is changing rapidly and has over the last couple years, so we always have to be aware of the circumstances surrounding us, and we'll make decisions based on events as they occur," Stanley said in September. "We enjoy the Missouri Valley Conference, but we need to be cognizant of the world surround us as it comes to athletic conferences."
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpotx on February 14, 2013, 10:13:27 AM
No one ever admits if they are considering something else in the press...except Oakland lol
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: vufan75 on March 10, 2013, 03:12:52 PM
HL Commissioner LeCrone comments on HL conference expansion in his "state of the league" address per the NWI Times article of Paul Oren. Doesn't sound like any HL expansion is imminent. After almost a year or so of waiting for some "big"  announcement and all the rumors out there, this disappoints me. Seems like we should be striking while the iron is hot, and not be in "wait and see what develops" mode. Of course, it takes two to tango as they say, and perhaps there just isn't as much mutual interest as we all would of hoped for in schools clamoring to join the HL. "Sounds like we will have to continue to be patient and wait and see what school(s) are really interested, a good fit, and can improve the conference profile. Maybe, the commish is throwing a curve ball out there and bluffing. One can hope.  ;) 

http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/lecrone-expects-horizon-league-expansion-within-two-years/article_4e57fabe-6a61-5787-90e9-cdcd1a230c91.html (http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/lecrone-expects-horizon-league-expansion-within-two-years/article_4e57fabe-6a61-5787-90e9-cdcd1a230c91.html)
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: bbtds on March 10, 2013, 03:31:43 PM
Quote from: vufan75 on March 10, 2013, 03:12:52 PM
HL Commissioner LeCrone comments on HL conference expansion in his "state of the league" address per the NWI Times article of Paul Oren. Doesn't sound like any HL expansion is imminent. After almost a year or so of waiting for some "big"  announcement and all the rumors out there, this disappoints me. Seems like we should be striking while the iron is hot, and not be in "wait and see what develops" mode. Of course, it takes two to tango as they say, and perhaps there just isn't as much mutual interest as we all would of hoped for in schools clamoring to join the HL. "Sounds like we will have to continue to be patient and wait and see what school(s) are really interested, a good fit, and can improve the conference profile. Maybe, the commish is throwing a curve ball out there and bluffing. One can hope.  ;) 

http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/lecrone-expects-horizon-league-expansion-within-two-years/article_4e57fabe-6a61-5787-90e9-cdcd1a230c91.html (http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/lecrone-expects-horizon-league-expansion-within-two-years/article_4e57fabe-6a61-5787-90e9-cdcd1a230c91.html)
If Valpo had decided to join the OVC from the Mid-Con and all this change was going on in the mid-major conferences wouldn't it be smart for Valpo to wait to see if a better deal developed before Valpo made a final committment to the OVC?
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: vufan75 on March 10, 2013, 06:09:15 PM
Don't know the answer to your example, could only speculate what Valpo might of done. But we do know Valpo followed thru and moved to the HL once the decision was made. Yes, I do get that times were different when Valpo made the league change in terms of conference movement. In any event, I'm still disappointed that we could not at this time convince a couple of the schools mentioned over the last year to join the HL. Maybe later...one or more of the rumored schools will join.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: bbtds on March 10, 2013, 06:18:23 PM
Quote from: vufan75 on March 10, 2013, 06:09:15 PM
Don't know the answer to your example, could only speculate what Valpo might of done. But we do know Valpo followed thru and moved to the HL once the decision was made. Yes, I do get that times were different when Valpo made the league change in terms of conference movement. In any event, I'm still disappointed that we could not at this time convince a couple of the schools mentioned over the last year to join the HL. Maybe later...one or more of the rumored schools will join.

I totally agree with you. I just think if Valpo was in the same boat as Evansville, Belmont, Robert Morris, Bradley, Illinois State or even Indiana State, I would be standing pat at the moment to see what other offers came out of the current movements in the mid-major conferences.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: wh on March 10, 2013, 07:36:53 PM
Belmont's average game attendance in 2012 was 2,012.  As good as they were and with several recent NCAA Tourney appearances, that is terrible.  To say that Nashville, TN has not embraced them would be putting it mildly.   I would have to see a lot more evidence than simply they have a good men's bb program before I would be in favor of adding them.  Every sport at every school in the league will be spending more time on the road, more cost, and more time away from the classroom.  And for what, so we can add a school out of our footprint and which basically no one from their home city cares about.  I think we can do better than that.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: bbtds on March 10, 2013, 08:49:09 PM
Quote from: wh on March 10, 2013, 07:36:53 PM
Belmont's average game attendance in 2012 was 2,012.  As good as they were and with several recent NCAA Tourney appearances, that is terrible.  To say that Nashville, TN has not embraced them would be putting it mildly.   I would have to see a lot more evidence than simply they have a good men's bb program before I would be in favor of adding them.  Every sport at every school in the league will be spending more time on the road, more cost, and more time away from the classroom.  And for what, so we can add a school out of our footprint and which basically no one from their home city cares about.  I think we can do better than that.

I think a move up in conference would certainly help Belmont compete with Vanderbilt for the Div.I college basketball fans which would help them get into the 3,000 fans per game range that Valpo is in.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: FWalum on March 10, 2013, 09:07:26 PM
Oakland just lost to IPFW 91-72 for the third loss in as many weeks. This bounced them out of the Summit League tournament after they appeared to be making a late run at the league title (until running into the Mastodons). Beginning to wonder if they are Horizon League worthy.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: VULB#62 on March 15, 2013, 03:15:17 PM
I was snooping around the all-time results section on the VU MBB website and something struck me that I wasn't aware of:  From 1997-2003 VU and Belmont played regularly:

97-98  - Played twice (H/A) - Valpo winning both
98-99  - Played twice (H/A) - Valpo winning both
99-00  - Played twice (H/A) - Valpo winning both
00-01  - Played once (H) - Valpo win
01-02  - Played once (A) - Valpo loss
02-03  - Played once (H) - Valpo win

This question is for you guys who were around and following the team back then:  Why were we doing H & A games from 97-00?  At first I thought that maybe Belmont had joined the Mid-Con, but the Mid-Con history in Wiki makes no mention of Belmont.  Although most of you probably knew all this in our prior discussions of who the HL would be inviting, this adds new light to the discussion for me at least.  There is a history there.  Just one additional variable to play with I guess.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpotx on March 15, 2013, 03:55:08 PM
I believe that they were a schedule filler in my first year of 1999-2000, as I remember thinking it was odd that we were playing them twice.  They were fun games to be at, as they were competitive against us back then as well. 
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: vurich on March 15, 2013, 07:19:09 PM
Quote from: VULB#62 on March 15, 2013, 03:15:17 PM
I was snooping around the all-time results section on the VU MBB website and something struck me that I wasn't aware of:  From 1997-2003 VU and Belmont played regularly:

97-98  - Played twice (H/A) - Valpo winning both
98-99  - Played twice (H/A) - Valpo winning both
99-00  - Played twice (H/A) - Valpo winning both
00-01  - Played once (H) - Valpo win
01-02  - Played once (A) - Valpo loss
02-03  - Played once (H) - Valpo win

This question is for you guys who were around and following the team back then:  Why were we doing H & A games from 97-00?  At first I thought that maybe Belmont had joined the Mid-Con, but the Mid-Con history in Wiki makes no mention of Belmont.  Although most of you probably knew all this in our prior discussions of who the HL would be inviting, this adds new light to the discussion for me at least.  There is a history there.  Just one additional variable to play with I guess.

I was around at that time and if I recall correctly there was some speculation that Belmont was being looked at to join the Mid-Con. They made the jump to Division 1 in 1996 or 1997 and were looking for a conference affiliation and the speculation was that the home and homes were a prelude to them joining the Mid-Con. I could be mistaken but I seem to remember them having a home and home with, or at least playing some other Mid-Con members during that timeframe but don't quote me on that.  They obviously didn't end up in the Mid-Con and instead went to the Atlantic Sun, so I'm not sure how strong the interest was on either's part.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: justducky on March 15, 2013, 07:40:03 PM
Quote from: vurich on March 15, 2013, 07:19:09 PMI was around at that time and if I recall correctly there was some speculation that Belmont was being looked at to join the Mid-Con. They made the jump to Division 1 in 1996 or 1997 and were looking for a conference affiliation and the speculation was that the home and homes were a prelude to them joining the Mid-Con. I could be mistaken but I seem to remember them having a home and home with, or at least playing some other Mid-Con members during that timeframe but don't quote me on that.  They obviously didn't end up in the Mid-Con and instead went to the Atlantic Sun, so I'm not sure how strong the interest was on either's part.
Maybe Milan or somebody else with a LaPorte County background can help with the names but I seem to remember that 2 LaPorte HS players went to and played for Bellmont in that stretch of time. My impression at that time was that Homer wanted to help them get into the Mid-Con.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: vurich on March 15, 2013, 08:08:18 PM
Quote from: justducky on March 15, 2013, 07:40:03 PM
Quote from: vurich on March 15, 2013, 07:19:09 PMI was around at that time and if I recall correctly there was some speculation that Belmont was being looked at to join the Mid-Con. They made the jump to Division 1 in 1996 or 1997 and were looking for a conference affiliation and the speculation was that the home and homes were a prelude to them joining the Mid-Con. I could be mistaken but I seem to remember them having a home and home with, or at least playing some other Mid-Con members during that timeframe but don't quote me on that.  They obviously didn't end up in the Mid-Con and instead went to the Atlantic Sun, so I'm not sure how strong the interest was on either's part.
Maybe Milan or somebody else with a LaPorte County background can help with the names but I seem to remember that 2 LaPorte HS players went to and played for Bellmont in that stretch of time. My impression at that time was that Homer wanted to help them get into the Mid-Con.

Steve Drabyn played for Belmont in the early 2000's.  i also believe Nick Otis, son of current VHS and former LaPorte HS coach Joe Otis, played at Belmont during that same timeframe.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: milanmiracle on March 15, 2013, 11:41:06 PM
Quote from: vurich on March 15, 2013, 08:08:18 PM
Quote from: justducky on March 15, 2013, 07:40:03 PM
Quote from: vurich on March 15, 2013, 07:19:09 PMI was around at that time and if I recall correctly there was some speculation that Belmont was being looked at to join the Mid-Con. They made the jump to Division 1 in 1996 or 1997 and were looking for a conference affiliation and the speculation was that the home and homes were a prelude to them joining the Mid-Con. I could be mistaken but I seem to remember them having a home and home with, or at least playing some other Mid-Con members during that timeframe but don't quote me on that.  They obviously didn't end up in the Mid-Con and instead went to the Atlantic Sun, so I'm not sure how strong the interest was on either's part.
Maybe Milan or somebody else with a LaPorte County background can help with the names but I seem to remember that 2 LaPorte HS players went to and played for Bellmont in that stretch of time. My impression at that time was that Homer wanted to help them get into the Mid-Con.

Steve Drabyn played for Belmont in the early 2000's.  i also believe Nick Otis, son of current VHS and former LaPorte HS coach Joe Otis, played at Belmont during that same timeframe.

Yep, I can confirm that. It was both Drabyn and Otis. Steve's dad was an assistant under Otis too. Adam Mark from Breman also played there at that time and of note shot 70% from the field...yes you read that correctly.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: historyman on March 16, 2013, 02:04:08 AM
As I recall many in the Mid-Con didn't think Belmont would be a good addition to the Mid-Con because they didn't win many games and they weren't sure about their commitment to facilities.   
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: talksalot on March 16, 2013, 06:00:14 AM
Vurich's memory is the same as mine... we were in a "courting" stage, as it were.   Then Tonagel hits a 77' shot (that seems to get farther and farther as the years go on) to beat them at the buzzer and we stopped hearing from them.

Speaking of Tonagel, I see his Indiana Wesleyan beat Ryan Wronkowicz's Lourdes team in the national tournament in OT...
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: justducky on March 16, 2013, 11:24:25 AM
Quote from: talksalot on March 16, 2013, 06:00:14 AMVurich's memory is the same as mine... we were in a "courting" stage, as it were.   Then Tonagel hits a 77' shot (that seems to get farther and farther as the years go on) to beat them at the buzzer and we stopped hearing from them.
So you are saying that if not for that 79 or 80 footer Belmont might have tormented us out of the Mid-Con, followed us earlier to the Horizon and we could now be on the phone trying to line up a CBI or CIT gig if the NIT didn't call? That guy might have changed the entire future of college basketball. ::)
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: wh on March 16, 2013, 02:03:53 PM
Quote from: justducky on March 16, 2013, 11:24:25 AM
Quote from: talksalot on March 16, 2013, 06:00:14 AMVurich's memory is the same as mine... we were in a "courting" stage, as it were.   Then Tonagel hits a 77' shot (that seems to get farther and farther as the years go on) to beat them at the buzzer and we stopped hearing from them.
So you are saying that if not for that 79 or 80 footer Belmont might have tormented us out of the Mid-Con, followed us earlier to the Horizon and we could now be on the phone trying to line up a CBI or CIT gig if the NIT didn't call? That guy might have changed the entire future of college basketball. ::)

Either that or the HL would be a 3-bid league by now (with us being one) and the envy of the Mid Major BB world.  ;)
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpo64 on March 18, 2013, 07:24:51 PM
Is expansion definitely off the table for next season(13-14)?  I thought last Fall someone posted here who was on the inside at the Horizon office said there would be an official  release this March.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpotx on March 18, 2013, 11:02:51 PM
If we are going to have an announcement, it will be AFTER Butler/Xavier/Creighton/Dayton/SLU make their announcements  :)
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: bbtds on March 19, 2013, 01:18:42 AM
Quote from: valpo64 on March 18, 2013, 07:24:51 PM
I thought last Fall someone posted here who was on the inside at the Horizon office said there would be an official  release this March.

The president of Wright State said that at halftime of one of the Raiders TV broadcasts this past conference season. He said an announcement would be made in March.

I believe that was the plan until all the movement started with the split in the Big East and the "Catholic 7" creating their own conference and the need to fill spots in both the "old Big East" (still to be named-maybe American 12) and the "new Big East." Those schools that were going to join the Horizon League with an announcement in March have since backed off to see what other invites they might receive.
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valporun on March 19, 2013, 10:12:35 AM
I thought Commissioner LeCrone also tabled discussion of new expansion until things have settled down during his "State of the Horizon League" speech at the HL Men's Tournament?
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: FWalum on March 19, 2013, 03:53:12 PM
IMO better to be proactive than sit back and wait.  Thinking bigger/better we may not be going after the same universities that we were before so I say lets make waves rather than ride the ripples.  :)  Or I could be completely off base.  ???
Title: Re: Welcome to the Horizon League Oakland, Evansivlle, and Belmont!!!!!!!
Post by: valpo64 on March 19, 2013, 06:49:21 PM
You're right...let's go for it!