New A10 - URI Basketball's Conference Future

sf2010 · Unread post by **sf2010** » 11 years ago

Pleased with the potential addition of Davidson. Along with GMU, they would have been at the top of my list for expansion. I think they A10 is doing about as well as they can here, given the circumstances. Well done, Commissioner McGlade.

Rhody74 · Unread post by **Rhody74** » 11 years ago

I really wish they'd add another northern school such as Siena to balance things, but Davidson has a good basketball tradition and is worthy of the A-10.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

Yeah, there will be tons of A10 schools in that area... UMass and Rhody will be considered the outliers once SLU / Dayton leave one day.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 11 years ago

It looks like the conference is solidifying eastern teams with these additions. I would have preferred Siena over Davidson. But, they could still be added.
I feel that the league is seeing what our western tems are going to do. If any stay, I'm sure we'll add teams out there.
I was as upset as anyone when we lost those teams to the New BE. But, at least the league is being proactive in their approach.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 11 years ago

I don't get the obsession with Siena. They definitely do not do it for me. I'd rather have Stony Brook if we wanted to add a NY team.

RhodyNJ · Unread post by **RhodyNJ** » 11 years ago

What about Northeaster or BU? Going more on potential with these two but it would give the A10 presence right in the heart of Boston. They're both large schools with potential to grow their programs (although with little track record to prove this). Would rather one of them over Siena.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 11 years ago

TruePoint wrote:I don't get the obsession with Siena. They definitely do not do it for me. I'd rather have Stony Brook if we wanted to add a NY team.

Siena is the dominant sports team in a fairly large metro region that has no pro teams. They play in a large modern arena and even in their worst season draw pretty well (they averaged about 6k this year). Siena has had NCAA success with several notable wins under multiple coaches. They are not a one coach wonder.

Stony Brook, while a large public, presently plays in a 2k seat gym, has never made the NCAA tournament, and is located quite a distance from a large metro region. They do nothing for me right now.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 11 years ago

I'm not in love with Siena, either. Stony Brook would be fine, too. There aren't a lot of options.
I just would have liked to see us bring in a team in the northeast, rather than another southern team.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

Northeastern and BU? BU's dropping down in leagues, which shows you their
commitment to basketball.
Northeastern didn't create any buzz in Boston even when Calhoun was getting them to
multiple NCAAs with Reggie Lewis.
Boston is a waste of time. A pro town.
Sienna has a track record and a wild fanbase. Look at the attendance in a poor season.
Stonybrook has done nothing.
To me, Sienna is a slam dunk over any other program the A-10 might be looking at
in the Northeast.

wakefield · Unread post by **wakefield** » 11 years ago

How can Davidson afford joining the A10 on such a small budget? Cleveland State would be a better fit for the A10 and they are not that far from Duquesne/St. Bonaventure. I do understand the chance of Cleveland State wanting to join the A10 is small but it is worth a try. Maybe the league is holding off on adding Siena because there is another team in the mix.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

I also support Siena over any other Northeast A10 candidate. The Boston schools are a complete waste.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 11 years ago

I'm taking back my "ok" for Stony Brook. (lol)

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 11 years ago

Not seeing the attraction with Siena. It is a small college with a reputation as being a terrible academic school that plays in the middle of nowhere. You guys ever been to Albany? Gross.

steviep123 · Unread post by **steviep123** » 11 years ago

I'd want Siena, plus one or two of these, especially if it guarantees St. Louis and Dayton remain:

Murray State, Cleveland State, Wichita State.

I'm okay with Davidson, but I like the others better.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

Forget about the Shockers, and Murray State

NJRhodyFan · Unread post by **NJRhodyFan** » 11 years ago

ATPTourFan wrote:Forget about the Shockers, and Murray State

Not to be argumentative, but why?? Both programs are MUCH better and more competitive than some of the other names that have been bandied about.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

I like them, but I don't see how either fit geographically, as has been discussed here earlier.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 11 years ago

TruePoint wrote:Not seeing the attraction with Siena. It is a small college with a reputation as being a terrible academic school that plays in the middle of nowhere. You guys ever been to Albany? Gross.

It appears that the choices right now are for Davidson or Siena. I prefer Siena. Davidson is even smaller than Siena. Siena has 3,390 undergrads while Davidson has 1,756. Siena is a just a few miles from downtown Albany, the center of a 800k metro region. Davidson is in small town of 11k located some 20 miles outside Charlotte. Siena averaged 6,361 this past year in a modern arena for a team that went 8-24. Davidson averaged 3941 this past season in a 5223 seat venue for a 26-8 NCAA team. Siena is just 160 miles from Brooklyn, home of the A-10 Toureny while Davidson is 620 miles.

Siena College Saints
School: Private-Catholic
Campus: Loudonville, NY (just outside Albany)
Distance to Barclays Arena-Brooklyn 160 miles
Enrollment: 3,390 Undergraduates
Market: Albany MSA-870,716 (4th largest urban area in New York State and the 58th nationally)
Home: 14,500 seat Times Union Center in downtown Albany (all home games off campus)
2012-13 Attendance: averaged 6,361 for 14 games (for an 8-24 team)
(averaged 7,853 in 2009-10 season when team went 27-7 and was in NCAA)
Division 1: started play in 1976
NCAA Appearances: 6 - 1989, 1999, 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2010
NCAA Record: 4-6
Notable NCAA Wins: Stanford-1989, Vanderbilt-2008, Ohio State-2009
NIT Appearances: 5 - 1988, 1991, 1994, 2000, and 2003
NIT Record: 9-5
Notable NIT Wins: South Carolina-1990, UMass-1990 & 2000, Kansas State-1994, Ga Tech-1994, Tulane-1994, Bradley-1994, Villanova-2003
Coaches that moved on: Mike Deane-Marquette, Paul Hewitt-Ga Tech, Louis Orr-Seton Hall, Fran McCaffrey-Iowa

Davidson College Wildcats
School: Private (loose affiliation with the Presbyterian Church)
Campus: Davidson, NC
Distance to Barclays Arena-Brooklyn 620 miles
Enrollment: 1,756 Undergraduates
Market: Davidson, NC pop-10,944 - 20 miles north of Charlotte (Charlotte MSA: 1,758,038 - 33rd nationally)
Home: 5,223 seat Belk Arena (on campus)
2012-13 Attendance: averaged 3,941 for 13 games (for 26-8 team)
NCAA Appearances: 12 - 1966, 1968 1969, 1970, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, and 2013
NCAA Record: 8-13
Notable NCAA Wins: Rhode Island-1966, St. John’s-1968 & 1969, Villanova-1969, Gonzaga-2008, Georgetown-2008, Wisconsin-2008
NIT Appearances: 5 – 1972, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2009
NIT Record: 3-5
Notable NIT Wins: VCU-2005
Notable Coaches: Bob McKillop, Lefty Driesell, Terry Holland

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

Siena wins that matchup for sure.

I can see why they might also be a BE target in a couple years.

Sign 'em up. Anybody know if there's been any contact with them lately? Up to a couple weeks ago, nothing.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 11 years ago

I'd prefer Davidson. Not sure what the "Distance from Barclays Center" category is all about. Why not "Distance from Sri Lanka" or "Distance from the moon"? How is that relevant? Do a lot of fans walk or ride horses to conference tournaments?

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 11 years ago

Buffalo.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 11 years ago

TruePoint wrote:I'd prefer Davidson. Not sure what the "Distance from Barclays Center" category is all about. Why not "Distance from Sri Lanka" or "Distance from the moon"? How is that relevant? Do a lot of fans walk or ride horses to conference tournaments?

I'm starting to think you don't like what I post. The relevance is that the teams closer to the site of the A-10 tournament Barclays Arena in Brooklyn) are more likely to bring more fans.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 11 years ago

Ha, RF1 you are one of the better posters on the board and always bring good info. What I don't like is Siena. I don't think distance is very important, and I was trying to make that point. I understood why you brought it up. Sorry for being a bit of a dick about it. Just my sense of humor.

RIFan · Unread post by **RIFan** » 11 years ago

For some perspective:

Basketball Revenue and Expenses

Davidson College 1,703,395 1,531,513
Siena College 1,922,954 1,922,954
Cleveland State University 1,952,828 1,952,828
Murray State University 1,361,280 1,360,269
George Mason University 2,437,763 2,055,164
Fordham University 2,585,201 2,585,201
Wichita State University 4,139,169 3,187,098
Xavier University 8,791,518 3,938,466
University of Rhode Island 2,665,146 2,694,027
Virginia Commonwealth University 2,772,146 2,772,146
Providence College 6,082,595 4,637,423

URI96 · Unread post by **URI96** » 11 years ago

Siena clearly the better choice. I don't get Davidson at all.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

That's revealing. What it means is, only X and PC are making any kind of money.

Imagine what X will make once they join the BE.

URI_IEP · Unread post by **URI_IEP** » 11 years ago

Figures that URI is the ONLY ONE running a deficit!

rhodylaw · Unread post by **rhodylaw** » 11 years ago

X was making a lot on its NCAA units due to the A10 revenue share system.

Hopefully our revenues will increase when we start getting some units

Rhody72 · Unread post by **Rhody72** » 11 years ago

While men's basketball is the major conference sport, there are significant expenses for other teams that compete in a conference for whom travel expenses can exceed basketball. You also need to factor in how an entire athletic program fits into a conference.

rhodylaw · Unread post by **rhodylaw** » 11 years ago

Hoping that Davidson and GMU keeps VCU happy in the conference.

iBall · Unread post by **iBall** » 11 years ago

rhodylaw wrote:Hoping that Davidson and GMU keeps VCU happy in the conference.

I'm hoping that in a few years it will be us (URI) that they'll need to keep happy

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 11 years ago

rhodylaw wrote:Hoping that Davidson and GMU keeps VCU happy in the conference.

What difference do they make. Do you think if VCU was invited to the Catholic Big East, they would decline because the A-10 had GMU and Davidson? VCU will remain in the A-10 so long as it does not have a better offer. Their happiness makes no difference.

Rhody Guy · Unread post by **Rhody Guy** » 11 years ago

I am assuming those numbers are from Barons last year? Not surprised that we had a deficit that year. The team was horrible and no one went to games.

BFC · Unread post by **BFC** » 11 years ago

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the ... ncaab.html

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

Yep... hope A10 decides to go a different way after kicking Davidson's tires.

RIFan · Unread post by **RIFan** » 11 years ago

The more I know about them, the less I am sold on them...

There are really no good alternatives out there. All the good schools we have added in the last 15 years were already on par or better than the best A10 schools. Right now there aren't any even close; we have to go on "potential".

I am assuming those numbers are from Barons last year? Not surprised that we had a deficit that year. The team was horrible and no one went to games.

Yes, I believe those numbers are from Barons last year...they came from the link that was posted here about a month ago.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

If this was 1965, Davidson would be a great addition.
Most people don't realize that they were a top five ranked program
back then.
Fred Hetzel was a first team All American. They kicked our ass in the 1966 NCAAs.
a 6'9" beast named Rodney Knowles got 39 points on us that night.
One of the greatest performances I've seen by an opposing player.
We had no way to stop him.
Dick Snyder, who had a long NBA career was on that team, coached by the great Lefty Driesell.
Most of their recent success was tied to the great Steph Curry.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 11 years ago

I don't really love Davidson, either. I just don't like Siena at all.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

It would seem more likely that a school like Siena could make the jump to A10 easier than little Davidson. I'm thinking along the lines of "margin of error".

Why are we adding more teams right now? Let's stay with the 13 we have and deal with defections or "deletions" that can prove the fabled "addition by subtraction".

Iggy1979 · Unread post by **Iggy1979** » 11 years ago

I think Davidson is a mistake.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

Iggy1979 wrote:I think Davidson is a mistake.

Listen to the man!!

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

Whatever we think, this is not our call.
Why expand? George Mason was a good and logical
move.
What's the rush to bring in any other schools?

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

Maybe McGlade knows something we don't. Or maybe not.

URI96 · Unread post by **URI96** » 11 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:Whatever we think, this is not our call.
Why expand? George Mason was a good and logical
move.
What's the rush to bring in any other schools?

Totally agree. Why bother unless you know someone's leaving. Even then would it be that bad to be at 12? I don't think so. If you're going to add soneone it has to br Siena. They have had success in the NCAA. They fit the geographic profile. They pay in a big arena and sell tickets. They're close to Brooklyn. Need I go on?

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

Add Siena. Subtract Fordham.

Maybe McGlade is holding off on Siena, because she knows they are on the BE's radar. Whenever they decide to expand.

If the BE takes Siena, that means Dayton stays. Dayton stays because of X?

Davidson to me is an OK add, but please, no more Southern schools.

steviep123 · Unread post by **steviep123** » 11 years ago

URI96 wrote:
rodfromcranston wrote:Whatever we think, this is not our call.
Why expand? George Mason was a good and logical
move.
What's the rush to bring in any other schools?
Totally agree. Why bother unless you know someone's leaving. Even then would it be that bad to be at 12? I don't think so. If you're going to add soneone it has to br Siena. They have had success in the NCAA. They fit the geographic profile. They pay in a big arena and sell tickets. They're close to Brooklyn. Need I go on?

Agreed!

wakefield · Unread post by **wakefield** » 11 years ago

I hope it is not true that Davidson has volunteers coaching some of their sports teams. Then we have Siena which is spending 13 million to fix up a practice gym (this gym is used for women's sports).

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

Well, it's up to Davidson's BOG's. If they approve the move, they're in.

Hopefully Davidson has committed to upgrading their programs where they need to.

Of course, we have Fordham that has the money, but not the will to improve their programs. Playing in a 2200 seat bandbox just doesn't cut it.

Why doesn't the A10 force the issue with them?

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 11 years ago

I would be ok with a tradeoff of Davidson for Fordham

I also like Davidson more than Siena I think they have had better hoop teams

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

As someone mentioned on this board having a large endowment does not guarantee success in your athletics program. What does correlate with success is having a substantial athletics endowment alone. The school with the largest Athletics endowment in the A-10 is Richmond. In this respect, Davidson stands pretty well as several ago their athletics endowment was close to $20 million. As contrast, URI's is less than a million