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Post by nycrusader2010 on Apr 8, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -5
In the MBB 2024 team rankings above, America East is #15, and the CAA is #18. The PL is #32. The CAA is a fine FCS FB conference. Why would Bryant change anything? America East has five of nine BB schools in New England, the CAA only has Northeastern as the one New England School out of fifteen (what's up with NU?) BB schools. Who goes from a nine school one bid league to make a fifteen school one bid league a sixteen school one bid league? If the CAA gets more than one bid most years, my apology. NU joined a league that really doesn't exist any more- Georgia State, Old Dominion, JMU, Mason, VCU, Delaware all moved on since the Huskies moved in; that list includes two schools that made it to the Final Four this century in that conference (plus ODU had a couple of first round wins). One could say that's comparable to the Maac HC left versus what it is now. Northeastern must value being in a league that traverses the eastern seaboard as opposed to a highly regional one.
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Post by trimster on Apr 8, 2024 7:33:54 GMT -5
NU joined a league that really doesn't exist any more- Georgia State, Old Dominion, JMU, Mason, VCU, Delaware all moved on since the Huskies moved in; that list includes two schools that made it to the Final Four this century in that conference (plus ODU had a couple of first round wins). One could say that's comparable to the Maac HC left versus what it is now. Northeastern must value being in a league that traverses the eastern seaboard as opposed to a highly regional one. I have thought for a long time that Northeastern would make a perfect PL partner to BU.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 8, 2024 8:53:39 GMT -5
NU joined a league that really doesn't exist any more- Georgia State, Old Dominion, JMU, Mason, VCU, Delaware all moved on since the Huskies moved in; that list includes two schools that made it to the Final Four this century in that conference (plus ODU had a couple of first round wins). One could say that's comparable to the Maac HC left versus what it is now. Northeastern must value being in a league that traverses the eastern seaboard as opposed to a highly regional one. Or else they aren't thinking straight.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Apr 8, 2024 10:37:12 GMT -5
Northeastern must value being in a league that traverses the eastern seaboard as opposed to a highly regional one. Or else they aren't thinking straight. They've had 23 years to think about it. Plus, they haven't had football since 2009 so being part of a strong FCS league is no longer a need. And yet they stay.
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Post by timholycross on Apr 8, 2024 12:11:45 GMT -5
NU joined a league that really doesn't exist any more- Georgia State, Old Dominion, JMU, Mason, VCU, Delaware all moved on since the Huskies moved in; that list includes two schools that made it to the Final Four this century in that conference (plus ODU had a couple of first round wins). One could say that's comparable to the Maac HC left versus what it is now. Northeastern must value being in a league that traverses the eastern seaboard as opposed to a highly regional one. The DC presence, which I would think they viewed as important; has vanished with the above defections. So did Atlanta.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 8, 2024 12:59:24 GMT -5
Northeastern was 7-5 at home, 4-13 on the road. Only 12 of 32 games at home. The CAA ain't working for them. Next door BU was 9-7 at home, 7-10 away and had 16 of 33 games at home. America East is the right conference for NU. It's easier for them to get a camel through the eye of a needle than get to the NCAA out of the CAA.
I bet URI and UMASS would like an A-10 team in Boston and Merrimack and Stonehill would love an NEC team in Boston but not ever school/league thinks familiarity breeds content for some reason. I don't want to go up to eleven teams but I would love Northeastern in the PL for proximity and local interest if any other school decides to leave. Maybe a Route Nine Trophy with them.🙂
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Apr 8, 2024 17:10:48 GMT -5
UMASS is leaving the A-10. I highly doubt the Atlantic 10 wants to bring in a hockey school.
NEC is barely a DI conference at this point. If Northeastern went anywhere, would be back to the America East or to the PL. They seem happy in the CAA though.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 8, 2024 17:57:57 GMT -5
UMASS is leaving the A-10. I highly doubt the Atlantic 10 wants to bring in a hockey school. NEC is barely a DI conference at this point. If Northeastern went anywhere, would be back to the America East or to the PL. They seem happy in the CAA though. Agree but I also was trying to comment on a concept that puzzles me, why some schools do not want nearby institutions in the same league and will try to block them. If I was URI, HC, BU, Stonehill, Merrimack or many America East schools, I would love a team in Boston in the league but you read about schools trying to block regional schools from their conference.
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Post by efg72 on Apr 8, 2024 21:16:38 GMT -5
Is there any school, outside of the high major/ivy from New England that you would want in the PL for all sports? I can't think of a single school that makes the PL better.
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 8, 2024 22:22:08 GMT -5
Are we really going to be in the same subdivision as Mercyhurst? From a pure "feels" perspective, it feels like we belong with Harvard and Yale, AWP, Navy, the Dakotas and Montanas of the world, but Mercyhurst and RMU? At least we are not in the same conference as them. If they tried to get in the PL (which calm down guys it wouldn't happen with academic indexes and the like) I'd rather be an affiliate of the mvfc. Robert Morris has been D-1 since 1976. They have played in EIGHT NCAA Tournaments in Men's Basketball since joining. Holy Cross has only played in seven in that same time period.
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 8, 2024 22:26:55 GMT -5
I agree that Bryant being an affiliate CAA member for football and America East for Other sports is the ideal situation for them. Kudos to that administration and centers of influence for setting their athletic programs up for success and just more relevance. Bryant is also an affilate member of the Southland Conference in three sports.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 8, 2024 22:32:10 GMT -5
Is there any school, outside of the high major/ivy from New England that you would want in the PL for all sports? I can't think of a single school that makes the PL better. Most schools would make the PL better in MBB as the PL is 32/33 among D-1 conferences. If you like Boston University in the PL, Northeastern is close to a mirror image. I just don't want to expand beyond ten teams in a one bid league.
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Post by trimster on Apr 8, 2024 22:58:23 GMT -5
Is there any school, outside of the high major/ivy from New England that you would want in the PL for all sports? I can't think of a single school that makes the PL better. Richmond would definitely make the league better and W&M would probably as well. I think Fordham as an all sport could meet that low bar also. Davidson wouldn't bring football so I left them out as well as Villanova which would never leave the league they are in on the hoops front. Fairfield and Northeastern are other strong academic schools that wouldn't bring football. I would take all of the above minus Villanova, as all sport members, minus football for those that don't sponsor it, in a heartbeat. I would divide the league into North and South and would do it even if it remained a one bid league. IMHO, it would make the regular season more interesting since it would restore some old rivalries, several of which are Jesuit to boot. I am just thinking out loud and highly doubt such a conference would ever come about.
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Post by trimster on Apr 8, 2024 23:01:50 GMT -5
As an addendum, there is more to the college hoop season than the month of March, usually the PL Champ gets bounced in Round One and who knows if the Big Dance will even exist in 5 years in its current iteration.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 9, 2024 0:09:52 GMT -5
Fordham would be centrally located in the PL but how could they justify dropping to the PL in basketball?
There is much more BB before March. But appearances in the tournament is one of the ways mid major schools, coaches, players and fans keep score. It would be unusual to read the bio of a 20 year mid major head coach without appearances in the NCAA tournament being highlighted.
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Post by efg72 on Apr 9, 2024 8:34:48 GMT -5
Is there any school, outside of the high major/ivy from New England that you would want in the PL for all sports? I can't think of a single school that makes the PL better. Richmond would definitely make the league better and W&M would probably as well. I think Fordham as an all sport could meet that low bar also. Davidson wouldn't bring football so I left them out as well as Villanova which would never leave the league they are in on the hoops front. Fairfield and Northeastern are other strong academic schools that wouldn't bring football. I would take all of the above minus Villanova, as all sport members, minus football for those that don't sponsor it, in a heartbeat. I would divide the league into North and South and would do it even if it remained a one bid league. IMHO, it would make the regular season more interesting since it would restore some old rivalries, several of which are Jesuit to boot. I am just thinking out loud and highly doubt such a conference would ever come about. Trimster I agree with your selections- I was referring to the NE schools, and as you noted for all sports. I don't disagree with Northeastern being a fit, but it doesn't have football, and if we went to an all sports league, we would lose BU, Loyola, Army, Navy, Fordham, and Georgetown. Colgate would be in that group if you have baseball in that group. Leaves us with Bucknell, Holy Cross, Laffy, and Lehigh. And if you include Hockey, it changes even more with Holy Cross in a league of its own. The landscape remains uncertain when it comes to future realignment. We could see a new football league, keeping the current PL for most other sports, Hockey remaining a sport outside of the PL, and perhaps we reduce our offerings for other sports.
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Post by trimster on Apr 9, 2024 8:48:05 GMT -5
How about if the Ancient 8 went the scholarship route and invited HC to join. Who would be the 10th member? Again, just thinking out loud.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Apr 9, 2024 9:19:39 GMT -5
Zero chance
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 9, 2024 9:26:52 GMT -5
Richmond would definitely make the league better and W&M would probably as well. I think Fordham as an all sport could meet that low bar also. Davidson wouldn't bring football so I left them out as well as Villanova which would never leave the league they are in on the hoops front. Fairfield and Northeastern are other strong academic schools that wouldn't bring football. I would take all of the above minus Villanova, as all sport members, minus football for those that don't sponsor it, in a heartbeat. I would divide the league into North and South and would do it even if it remained a one bid league. IMHO, it would make the regular season more interesting since it would restore some old rivalries, several of which are Jesuit to boot. I am just thinking out loud and highly doubt such a conference would ever come about. Trimster I agree with your selections- I was referring to the NE schools, and as you noted for all sports. I don't disagree with Northeastern being a fit, but it doesn't have football, and if we went to an all sports league, we would lose BU, Loyola, Army, Navy, Fordham, and Georgetown. Colgate would be in that group if you have baseball in that group. Leaves us with Bucknell, Holy Cross, Laffy, and Lehigh. And if you include Hockey, it changes even more with Holy Cross in a league of its own. The landscape remains uncertain when it comes to future realignment. We could see a new football league, keeping the current PL for most other sports, Hockey remaining a sport outside of the PL, and perhaps we reduce our offerings for other sports. Do you see positives in a six game FB league schedule?
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 9, 2024 9:30:11 GMT -5
Did anyone like the eight team PL BB league better than the ten team BB (and many other sports) league?
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Post by efg72 on Apr 9, 2024 9:44:43 GMT -5
My point is that any realignment will be complicated, but the status quo might be equally problematic.
There is no preference on my part; I just wanted to raise an issue or two and suggest the PL, out of necessity, just might be forced to change. And then again, maybe not-- time will tell
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Post by trimster on Apr 9, 2024 10:06:17 GMT -5
Trimster I agree with your selections- I was referring to the NE schools, and as you noted for all sports. I don't disagree with Northeastern being a fit, but it doesn't have football, and if we went to an all sports league, we would lose BU, Loyola, Army, Navy, Fordham, and Georgetown. Colgate would be in that group if you have baseball in that group. Leaves us with Bucknell, Holy Cross, Laffy, and Lehigh. And if you include Hockey, it changes even more with Holy Cross in a league of its own. The landscape remains uncertain when it comes to future realignment. We could see a new football league, keeping the current PL for most other sports, Hockey remaining a sport outside of the PL, and perhaps we reduce our offerings for other sports. I would substitute Richmond and W&M in a heartbeat for the OOC rotation of Bryant, Merrimack and CCSU. Possibly even UNH. Do you see positives in a six game FB league schedule?
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 9, 2024 10:27:31 GMT -5
Last season HC enjoyed the half life of the 2022 season in the rankings. Where do we open up in the rankings before the 2024 season? I'll guess "receiving votes."
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Post by drjack on Apr 9, 2024 10:37:25 GMT -5
Last season HC enjoyed the half life of the 2022 season in the rankings. Where do we open up in the rankings before the 2024 season? I'll guess "receiving votes." RV is most likely, agreed. Laffy maybe gets a top 20 seed, but that'll be it from the PL until later in the season
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Apr 9, 2024 10:44:48 GMT -5
Most FCS rankings pre-season heavily go off of years prior finishes. Laffy should open in the Top 25. We MIGHT get a couple votes and will likely be Patriot Leage #2 in most projections.
Ny early bird projections:
1) Colgate 2) Lafayette 3) Holy Cross 4) Fordham 5) Georgetown 6) Lehigh 7) Bucknell
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