IndyDawg

Rethinking... I like this much better. More importantly I think the schools would too.... Butler University - West Dayton University - West DePaul University - West Marquette University - West St Louis University - West Xavier University - West Georgetown University - East Providence College - East St. John's University - East Seton Hall University - East Villanova University - East Saint Joseph's University - East ----- You'd have true home-and-homes, in-division, and 3 road and 3 away (yearly rotation) out-of-division. It is clean. It makes sense for the non-revenue sports. And, most importantly it is as "high major" as the non-football schools are going to be able to accomplish.

They wouldn't thats why I said they really don't have much of an option other than the MWC or Conference USA.

It may not necessarily be them but they meet most of the criteria, probably most importantly they are in the right location.

Butler would absolutely move. Barry Collier has more than once said that they always are evaluating. Something starting with Marquette and Xavier is what you always hear. Filling the remaining 5 or 7 isn't too difficult (traveling partners theory) Butler hasn't moved because there isn't a conference of peer programs that currently exists. ----- Using football as the first guide, then region/basketball, and other factors this is what I came to a while back (of course things on the periphery could move around) BUTLER MARQUETTE XAVIER DAYTON DEPAUL DREXEL GEORGETOWN ST JOHNS PROVIDENCE SETON HALL And, of course, since this thing would be the basketball-only response to the football-conference arms race, the strongest programs are going to get offered (to gain that ubiquitous "high major" tag for the league) ***Assuming Villanova does, in fact, make the FBS move.

This is why Butler will never join another existing conference - this break-up of the Big East and the resulting fall out isn't just a possibility, its a likelihood. I think if the SEC and Pac-10 go to 16, the Big Ten hits Yahtzee and gets Texas and Notre Dame. Iowa State, Baylor, and possiblity a couple others have nowhere to go other than Conference USA or MWC. What becomes REALLY interesting is that if the Big East loses who they could be losing on the football side (Pitt, WVU, etc) and the MWC gains said teams, I think you are looking at a change in auto-qualifier status. This, of course, would hasten the consolidation of like schools in conferences (new or otherwise) Put that non-football, post Big East fallout conference on paper - its a Top 2-4 basketball league every year.

I know Butler REALLY likes where they're at with Austin following his visit last week.

Butler told him that he'd have a spot with the team, but he hasn't been offered. Butler does not offer players until June after their sophomore year, at the earliest. Its semantics but Butler wont offer until June 15.

The contract Brad Stevens signed last year was an undisclosed amount per year (north of 1mm per year) through 2022. After the season, it will be further augmented (creatively, but certainly probably a per year increase and more years) He has, effectively, a life time contract If a program isnt one of the top 2 or 3 in the country and (probably) located in the Midwest, you may as well pursue Coach K. Its just not happening. With as much money as he makes (for as long), in his hometown, for a program that can win at the absolute highest level, its simply one of the better jobs in America. As far as recruiting goes, Butler sort of gets who it targets. On the occasions it has bumped up against Purdue and IU, its been a bit of a 50/50 proposition in recent years (Gordon Hayward, Matt Howard, for example). I cant recall ever going against Notre Dame, accept in talking to Scott Martin after he decided to transfer. ND mostly recruits east coast kids. I believe they have only one Indiana kid on their roster. Butler averages 1 to 2 Top 150 recruits per year and I dont really see any reason why that wouldnt be the baseline assumption going forward, with a likely bias significantly improved.

Butler is a testament at consistently getting Top 20 classes, just not going by the definitions of people who arent qualified to make that determination. For example, Shelvin Mack and Gordon Hayward were ALWAYS Top 50 players in their classes. The fact that Scout and Rivals are fairly incompetent notwithstanding.

Drake probably makes more geographic sense (and they are in a football conference with Dayton, Butler, and Valpo already), though, a 10-team league requires an 18-game schedule. I've always preferred 9-team leagues with 9th place out of the conference tourney for that reason.

As far as an autobid goes for a new conference, it is possible a "new" conference wouldn't be needed. If there is a major reshuffling (probably as a result of destabilization in the Big East), there'll likely be consolidation with the low majors in the Midwest (Summit, Great West, OVC, etc) What you could see is a "new" conference born that resembles the old MCC without the autobid count increasing, as the small conference meld together Something like this would come about with a new brand name... Xavier Dayton Valpo Evansville Butler Depaul Bradley St Louis Detroit

This decade, Butler was ranked in '01, '03, '07,'08, and '09 and will open next season in the top 10. The 09 class had room for one post player which turned out to be the best center in the state Andrew Smith. He lead the state in rebounding by almost two rebounds a game. Due to a foot injury he missed about 1/3 of the season. Butler had no room for Jordan or any other guards,