|
|
Post by oklahoamamick on Feb 8, 2011 10:59:31 GMT -5
Based on all sports (not just b'ball) what university should the Horizone go after? Which university would be the best fit geographically, traditionally, academics, endowement, private/public? Could we lure a school from the MAC or the Missouri Valley?
Last year, Butler thought they were Big 10 material (in all sports). If we lost them, which would be a big blow to the league, who would we replace them with?
|
|
|
|
Post by agibson on Feb 8, 2011 11:43:51 GMT -5
The Horizon doesn't have a single coherent stance on the private-public divide, nor probably on endowment or even academics. Geography and basketball tradition seem important.
I guess the MAC tends to have football schools?
Oakland's been mentioned here, and elsewhere (one of the Milwaukee web pages? suggesting a Youngstown <--> Oakland swap?), recently. Not exactly a one-for-one replacement for Butler, but...
They've had some recent success. Do they have a long enough track record to take at as an indication of future performance?
Good question about the Valley, but I don't know if any of those schools would have a motivation to switch.
|
|
|
|
Post by rlh on Feb 8, 2011 11:46:37 GMT -5
I seriously doubt that Detroit would allow Oakland to join the league, although I think it would be a great idea...also, there basketball facility is smaller than ours by far....
|
|
|
|
Post by oklahoamamick on Feb 8, 2011 12:14:13 GMT -5
The Oakland addition would be great and would make for a natural rivarly with Detroit.
Good point with MAC also being a football conference. I would like to see Drake added to the Horizone League.
|
|
|
|
Post by drewsaders11 on Feb 8, 2011 12:44:01 GMT -5
I honestly think Depaul makes sense. Another Chicago school, not doing very well at the time. They wouldn't really want to go down in division, obviously, but from the Big East's perspective, I think it may make sense, especially after adding TCU
|
|
|
|
Post by 78crusader on Feb 8, 2011 12:48:31 GMT -5
Drake would not leave --it has strong rivalries with other MVC schools, including Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, and Wichita St.
Why not Evansville? I have always thought they were a duck out of water in the MVC. Paul
|
|
|
|
Post by oklahoamamick on Feb 8, 2011 12:53:13 GMT -5
simple no to Evansville, they are purple...
They did beat Butler this year....
|
|
|
|
Post by CO_VU_Fan on Feb 8, 2011 13:04:29 GMT -5
Based on all sports (not just b'ball) what university should the Horizone go after? Which university would be the best fit geographically, traditionally, academics, endowement, private/public? Could we lure a school from the MAC or the Missouri Valley? Last year, Butler thought they were Big 10 material (in all sports). If we lost them, which would be a big blow to the league, who would we replace them with? When did Butler think they were Big 10 material? Butler would be about 1/4 the size of the Big 10's smallest and only private school, Northwestern. The Butler endowment would be by far the smallest. The only place they would fit would be geographically. The MAC teams all play Division I-A (I can't remember the new term) football, so all of them would be out. The Missouri Valley and Ohio Valley conferences would have the bulk of schools that would make sense. Outside of those two conferences, only Dayton comes to mind. You also need to know if the HL is replacing a team or expanding. If expanding in numbers, does the HL want to expand the geographic boundaries, or strengthen the current boundaries? Speaking of endowments, is the wikipedia HL site accurate with UW Green Bay's endowment? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizon_League It shows an endowment of $210,000. Seems quite low. |
|
|
|
Post by vu72 on Feb 8, 2011 13:33:41 GMT -5
Evansville does make a lot of sense. They don't play football so don't have a problem with leaving a particular conference. They are private so would add to that balance and have significant historical ties to both Butler and Valpo having been part of the ICC in days gone by. To worry whether or not they currently have a good basketball program is short sited. I'd drop YSU, who belongs in the MAC and add Evansville.
|
|
|
|
Post by crusadermoe on Feb 8, 2011 13:53:48 GMT -5
Two questions:
1) Are there actual statements by anyone about expanding?
2) Why did the Horizon ever add YSU? That was a huge slap at Valpo when they added YSU and then paused at the 9 team total. What was the hurry to add a #9?
|
|
|
|
Post by fwalum on Feb 8, 2011 15:38:09 GMT -5
Evansville does make a lot of sense. They don't play football so don't have a problem with leaving a particular conference. They are private so would add to that balance and have significant historical ties to both Butler and Valpo having been part of the ICC in days gone by. To worry whether or not they currently have a good basketball program is short sited. I'd drop YSU, who belongs in the MAC and add Evansville. As Simmons appears to be resurrecting this team after the Bouchie experiment failure, I doubt that UE would move from the MVC unless there was a financial advantage. As someone who has some connections to the school I know that they are very happy in the MVC and consider themselves lucky to be in the conference. While they would appear to be a good fit for the Horizon I just don't see any conference realignment of any kind happening in the near future. |
|
|
|
Post by vufan75 on Feb 8, 2011 19:49:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by crusaderjoe on Feb 8, 2011 20:13:47 GMT -5
I think an HL play to get Northern Kentucky University would be interesting, assuming it decides to make the transition from D-II to D-I. NKU brings another state and market (Cincy) to the geographical footprint of the conference. Their basketball facility is superior and I believe they have one of the strongest men's soccer programs in D-II, which is important to a conference like the HL since the HL is a fairly competitive soccer conference because dollars generally do not have to be diverted towards football. Nothing against Oakland by any means but NKU is a better fit, IMO.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigdwsu on Feb 8, 2011 20:37:47 GMT -5
Two questions: 1) Are there actual statements by anyone about expanding? 2) Why did the Horizon ever add YSU? That was a huge slap at Valpo when they added YSU and then paused at the 9 team total. What was the hurry to add a #9? 1. The HL is NOT planning to expand. 2. Valpo was asked to join the HL at least 3 times before they decided to accept. (when WSU, Green Bay, etc joined the HL, when YSU joined the HL, and finally when you did accept the invite) |
|
|
|
Post by bigdwsu on Feb 8, 2011 20:40:58 GMT -5
I think an HL play to get Northern Kentucky University would be interesting, assuming it decides to make the transition from D-II to D-I. NKU brings another state and market (Cincy) to the geographical footprint of the conference. Their basketball facility is superior and I believe they have one of the strongest men's soccer programs in D-II, which is important to a conference like the HL since the HL is a fairly competitive soccer conference because dollars generally do not have to be diverted towards football. Nothing against Oakland by any means but NKU is a better fit, IMO. NKU would have to double their total athletic budget every year to get anywhere near the HL average. And they would NOT bring the Cincy market to the HL. People in Cincy follow Xavier, UC, and UK. NKU gets less coverage than high school sports in Cincy. |
|
