Loyola-Chicago to the A10

[Rhodyram]

Per the Athletic

[Jersey77]

Terrific news
https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... lantic-10/

[Billyboy78]

Yep. Rothstein just tweeted it too.

[Billyboy78]

The question being, is someone leaving?

[theblueram]

The question being, is someone leaving?

Hopefully FU.

[Rhody15]

The question being, is someone leaving?

Please god

[RhowdyRam02]

Why would we want them? The only reason they were any good is because of a coach that isn't even there anymore.

1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1985, 2018, 2021. Those are the times they've made the tournament.

Feels like we just added Chicago Fordham

[PeterRamTime]

That'll make SLU happy

[Cameron_Dollar]

Fordham is not going anywhere. If you were to follow the entire A10 Athletic Programs, both men and women Fordham is above average. Also they are not the reason for low RPI and other ranking organizations. They are just one school. And they usually find a way to beat us once a year. During our frequent droughts in MBB, one can wonder how many fans from other schools wished we would leave the A10. Gotta get off that high horse.

[Rhodymob05]

Why would we want them? The only reason they were any good is because of a coach that isn't even there anymore.

1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1985, 2018, 2021. Those are the times they've made the tournament.

Feels like we just added Chicago Fordham

We shall see. No one is Fordham. I think its odd that the "Atlantic" 10 is expanding even more to the Midwest.

[theblueram]

Fordham is not going anywhere. If you were to follow the entire A10 Athletic Programs, both men and women Fordham is above average. Also they are not the reason for low RPI and other ranking organizations. They are just one school. And they usually find a way to beat us once a year. During our frequent droughts in MBB, one can wonder how many fans from other schools wished we would leave the A10. Gotta get off that high horse.

Can we get rid of all the gym schools?

[Rhodymob05]

Fordham is not going anywhere. If you were to follow the entire A10 Athletic Programs, both men and women Fordham is above average. Also they are not the reason for low RPI and other ranking organizations. They are just one school. And they usually find a way to beat us once a year. During our frequent droughts in MBB, one can wonder how many fans from other schools wished we would leave the A10. Gotta get off that high horse.

The one that matters to most (MBB) is bad enough to expunge the success of all other sports.

[Rhody15]

Why would we want them? The only reason they were any good is because of a coach that isn't even there anymore.

1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1985, 2018, 2021. Those are the times they've made the tournament.

Feels like we just added Chicago Fordham

Ah here it is, people being pissy just for the sake of being pissy.

You may be the only A10 basketball fan who doesn’t like this.

Did VCU suck after Shaka? Dayton after Brian Gregory? Butler after Stevens?

[theblueram]

Loyola has a 4,900 seat arena.

[Rhody15]

Loyola has a 4,900 seat arena.

People will continue to be miserable just for the sake of being miserable.

I cannot believe (actually I 10000% can) people on this board are questioning this move.

[KeaneyBluBallz]

Fordham is not going anywhere. If you were to follow the entire A10 Athletic Programs, both men and women Fordham is above average. Also they are not the reason for low RPI and other ranking organizations. They are just one school. And they usually find a way to beat us once a year. During our frequent droughts in MBB, one can wonder how many fans from other schools wished we would leave the A10. Gotta get off that high horse.

Can we get rid of all the gym schools?

this.

[theblueram]

Why would we want them? The only reason they were any good is because of a coach that isn't even there anymore.

1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1985, 2018, 2021. Those are the times they've made the tournament.

Feels like we just added Chicago Fordham

Ah here it is, people being pissy just for the sake of being pissy.

You may be the only A10 basketball fan who doesn’t like this.

Did VCU suck after Shaka? Dayton after Brian Gregory? Butler after Stevens?

NO, but George Mason has sucked since joining the A10. Seems similar with this add.

[RhowdyRam02]

Fordham is not going anywhere. If you were to follow the entire A10 Athletic Programs, both men and women Fordham is above average. Also they are not the reason for low RPI and other ranking organizations. They are just one school. And they usually find a way to beat us once a year. During our frequent droughts in MBB, one can wonder how many fans from other schools wished we would leave the A10. Gotta get off that high horse.

Only men's basketball really matters for the A10, and Fordham is objectively terrible at the one sport that matters for the A10. Also there is a massive difference between our droughts where many times we've had a winning record but didn't make the tournament, and Fordham, who isn't competitive most years in the one sport that matters for our conference. They belong in the Patriot League but are all too happy to steal money from other A10 schools.

Looking at the makeup of this conference, now with the addition of Loyola Chicago, I don't see how we fit if some combinations of UMass, VCU, Dayton, and/or St. Louis leave, but I don't see a conference we have a chance of getting in that makes sense for us to move to

[section(105)]

…….the thinking in some places was that the A-10 should contract rather than expand……..what next divide conference into two divisions?………add Temple?………maybe some school with gym will look to go somewhere……..thought the Capital District Albany region was ripe new market for the A-10…….I still like Fordham to the MAAC……..

[Rhody72]

Did the CAA bounce URI football? I can remember times when SBU, Duquesne and URI were awful in MBB. Even UMASS in the mid-80's prior to "Here's Johnny". Fordham is the A10's presence in NYC. They were one of the first to pay their head coach $1M. Leave Fordham alone.

[PeterRamTime]

Fordham is not going anywhere. If you were to follow the entire A10 Athletic Programs, both men and women Fordham is above average. Also they are not the reason for low RPI and other ranking organizations. They are just one school. And they usually find a way to beat us once a year. During our frequent droughts in MBB, one can wonder how many fans from other schools wished we would leave the A10. Gotta get off that high horse.

ZERO fans from other schools have wanted us out

Just about every fan of an A-10 school wants stupid Fordham out.

They are one of the most wealthy institutions in the league and they invest nothing into basketball and fund their program through the money the A-10 deals to every school in the conference from TV deals and NCAA tournament appearances

Speaking of NCAA tournament appearances, us Rhody Rams on our high horses have given the A-10 the most NCAA credits over the last 5 seasons

[theblueram]

Did the CAA bounce URI football? I can remember times when SBU, Duquesne and URI were awful in MBB. Even UMASS in the mid-80's prior to "Here's Johnny". Fordham is the A10's presence in NYC. They were one of the first to pay their head coach $1M. Leave Fordham alone.

Did the CAA bounce URI? Can you provide specifics on CAA Media contracts? Like which channels they play on? And how much the schools get per? The A10 has contracts with CBS, NBC and ESPN.

[ramster]

Fordham is not going anywhere. If you were to follow the entire A10 Athletic Programs, both men and women Fordham is above average. Also they are not the reason for low RPI and other ranking organizations. They are just one school. And they usually find a way to beat us once a year. During our frequent droughts in MBB, one can wonder how many fans from other schools wished we would leave the A10. Gotta get off that high horse.

Agree

[Jersey77]

Why would we want them? The only reason they were any good is because of a coach that isn't even there anymore.

1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1985, 2018, 2021. Those are the times they've made the tournament.

Feels like we just added Chicago Fordham

Are you serious?

Last season they went to the Sweet 16.
Final Four - 2018

Coach Valentine played an integral part in their success including: player development, recruiting, defense (ranked 1st last year).
Porter Moser recommended him for the position and he is very highly regarded in the coaching community.

This year KenPom has them ranked 32, ahead of the Bonnies.

They are favored this season to win the MVC.

Not to mention we add the Chicago market plus their addition will be favorable for both Dayton and SLU.

https://bustingbrackets.com/2021/08/22/ ... 22-season/

[spookydog]

Sister Jean...welcome to the A10

[Rhody74]

Good move! Good partner for SLU and Dayton.

[theblueram]

End of the day it doesn't matter what we think. What matters is what CBS, NBC and ESPN think. Will this increase our contract?

[SGreenwell]

Wow - This news seemingly came out of nowhere, but hey, I'll take it.

[rhodysurf]

This is a good move, they fit really well with the other city based catholic schools and they value basketball. Now add temple bernie

[Rhody_NYCT]

Ok so we now have Loyola, VCU and George Mason (and their Final 4's) in the A10. Now we need an A10 school to make the Final Four. It's about time isn't it?

[STC]

Loyola Chicago doesn’t really do much for me as a fan of the A10. I think Loyola is much more likely to be a GMU than a VCU in the A10.

Now, bring back Temple and that is something I can get excited about.

Hope Sister Jean is ready to get Rhody Rammed.

[Frank_Keaney_95]

I'm with you, STC!

Bring back Temple and I'd be stoked but I hate this move. It's fool's gold.

What has Loyola done in the last 50 years without Moser? One Sweet 16 run in '85?

Is Bernie trying to appease SLU and UD who very likely could bolt to the Big East in a few years? If that happens we have another mouth to feed on an island in Chicago. If they don't bolt, the A10 being in the Chicago market won't move the needle enough financially in a 15-member league to make it worthwhile. It's not like Chicago is a college hoop hotbed. That's not even considering the cost to travel the Olympic sports to Chicago. Facilities? Another gym school.

If Valentine is successful, he'll be gone to greener pastures in short order.

The A10 needs to be contracting not expanding. We need to get down to a round robin schedule. We're an east coast league and Bernie has made some brilliant moves to keep us relevant but this move feels desperate and impulsive.

[RF1]

Loyola has a 4,900 seat arena.

The Gentile Center is a nice arena which opened in 1996. It is on the campus which is north of downtown right on the shore of Lake Michigan.

[Rhody15]

I'm with you, STC!

Bring back Temple and I'd be stoked but I hate this move. It's fool's gold.

What has Loyola done in the last 50 years without Moser? One Sweet 16 run in '85?

Is Bernie trying to appease SLU and UD who very likely could bolt to the Big East in a few years? If that happens we have another mouth to feed on an island in Chicago. If they don't bolt, the A10 being in the Chicago market won't move the needle enough financially in a 15-member league to make it worthwhile. It's not like Chicago is a college hoop hotbed. That's not even considering the cost to travel the Olympic sports to Chicago. Facilities? Another gym school.

If Valentine is successful, he'll be gone to greener pastures in short order.

The A10 needs to be contracting not expanding. We need to get down to a round robin schedule. We're an east coast league and Bernie has made some brilliant moves to keep us relevant but this move feels desperate and impulsive.

“I hate this move.”

Hahahahaha.

We have the most MISERABLE fan base I’ve ever seen.

Never ever can be happy about anything when 100% of social media reaction by the national media has been all positive about this move.

[theblueram]

Loyola has a 4,900 seat arena.

The Gentile Center is a nice arena which opened in 1996. It is on the campus which is north of downtown right on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Looks like Keaney Gym.

[Obadiah]

Good move. Over the last few decades, all the best conferences have expanded their geographic footprint which gives all schools more name recognition in more media markets and also helps expand the base of their recruiting efforts. The ACC was once a Carolina dominated 8 team league with its tourney always in NC, now they conduct it also in NYC. It was great to see URI mentioned in the St. Louis Post Dispatch when SLU was added, now URI will get a mention in the Chicago Tribune. I'll take that any day as contrasted to being in a small footprint league like the NEC or America East with mentions in the Bridgeport Post.

[PeterRamTime]

Fordham is not going anywhere. If you were to follow the entire A10 Athletic Programs, both men and women Fordham is above average. Also they are not the reason for low RPI and other ranking organizations. They are just one school. And they usually find a way to beat us once a year. During our frequent droughts in MBB, one can wonder how many fans from other schools wished we would leave the A10. Gotta get off that high horse.

Agree

Hey ramster you found yourself a Fordham loving disciple!

[Rhody15]

Loyola has a 4,900 seat arena.

The Gentile Center is a nice arena which opened in 1996. It is on the campus which is north of downtown right on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Looks like Keaney Gym.

Slowly working your way up to Rhody72 troll status, nice work.

[RF1]

This move will provide another midwest school which should please both Dayton and St Louis. Furthermore both UD and SLU likely have a lot of alums in Chicago which will also make them happy.

Other than Temple, this is probably about the best add the A-10 could reasonably make at this time. Getting a school in the 3rd biggest market in the nation with easy air access is a plus.

[theblueram]

The Gentile Center is a nice arena which opened in 1996. It is on the campus which is north of downtown right on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Looks like Keaney Gym.

Slowly working your way up to Rhody72 troll status, nice work.

Troll status? So lay out the facts of how this new gym team expands the A10. Tell us how this makes the A10 better. I don't see it. I see George Mason times 2 here.

[ramster]

Fordham is not going anywhere. If you were to follow the entire A10 Athletic Programs, both men and women Fordham is above average. Also they are not the reason for low RPI and other ranking organizations. They are just one school. And they usually find a way to beat us once a year. During our frequent droughts in MBB, one can wonder how many fans from other schools wished we would leave the A10. Gotta get off that high horse.

Agree

Hey ramster you found yourself a Fordham loving disciple!

Except my point is it gets old hearing Rhody posters blaming so much on Fordham being in the A10

Not Fordham’s fault we went 10-15 last year and finished 10th in the A10 no matter how much Fordham gets trashed

[section(105)]

……..they are a better add than……..let’s say……..Siena………

[Jersey77]

This move will provide another midwest school which should please both Dayton and St Louis. Furthermore both UD and SLU likely have a lot of alums in Chicago which will also make them happy.

Other than Temple, this is probably about the best add the A-10 could reasonably make at this time. Getting a school in the 3rd biggest market in the nation with easy air access is a plus.

Doubtful Temple is ready to jump from the AAC at this time.

I agree that this is the best add the A10 can reasonably make.

[Jersey77]

I'm with you, STC!

Bring back Temple and I'd be stoked but I hate this move. It's fool's gold.

What has Loyola done in the last 50 years without Moser? One Sweet 16 run in '85?

Is Bernie trying to appease SLU and UD who very likely could bolt to the Big East in a few years? If that happens we have another mouth to feed on an island in Chicago. If they don't bolt, the A10 being in the Chicago market won't move the needle enough financially in a 15-member league to make it worthwhile. It's not like Chicago is a college hoop hotbed. That's not even considering the cost to travel the Olympic sports to Chicago. Facilities? Another gym school.

If Valentine is successful, he'll be gone to greener pastures in short order.

The A10 needs to be contracting not expanding. We need to get down to a round robin schedule. We're an east coast league and Bernie has made some brilliant moves to keep us relevant but this move feels desperate and impulsive.

Just the opposite, this move was probably well thought out and calculated.
I believe the A10 members need to approve any expansion.

[ramster]

Comments from the Loyola Massage Board

Most all were surprised by the announcement.

http://www.ramblermania.net/forum/viewt ... 7&start=30

[Jersey77]

[Seawrightspostgame]

Cool. Give me temple!

[RhodyKyle]

I love this move for the A10.

[ramster]

$19 million practice facility opened in 2019

https://www.luc.edu/features/lede/alfie ... efacility/

[RamFaninSF]

I swear some of y'all will be negative about literally anything. Everyone who's pointing to GMU is seemingly ignoring Davidson who plays in a similar size arena and has been nothing but a benefit for the conference.