Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

[89rabbit]

Interesting article from the Shreveport Times about Centenary College the smallest D-I school in the Nation.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/.../1026/SPORTS02


Go State! ;D

[89rabbit]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Here is another story on CC:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/...02/1001/SPORTS

Go State! ;D

[filbert]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Dropping Centenary and adding NDSU and SDSU would immediately increase by light-years the overall competitive stance of the Mid-Con.

Centenary is stuck in the Mid-Con cellar in almost every sport, with little real hope for advancement. They remind you a lot of Morningside in the old NCC. Morningside has flourished after biting the bullet and dropping down to NAIA. Centenary really needs to seriously consider doing something similar.

Filbert's take on the Mid-Con schools other than Centenary:

Chicago State -- If Centenary leaves, CSU becomes the new weak sister of the conference. But any school in a major metro area has potential for great success. A couple of good basketball recruits from Chicagoland could really put CSU on the map, for instance. Long bus trip for SDSU (11 hours), and probable travel partner with Valparaiso in a 10-team Mid-Con that would include NDSU and SDSU. The big uncertainty involves the rumors a while back about CSU getting dinged by the NCAA, but I've not seen anything other than that one CBS Sportsline quickie about the Cougars being in any trouble. CSU is building a new 6,000-seat arena. NDSU and SDSU, both with significant alumni bases in Chicago and known for traveling well, could help fill that new facility.

IUPUI -- Has proven it can be competitive. Is one of the two peer research universities (according to the recently updated Carnegie classifications) to NDSU and SDSU in the Mid-Con. 14-hour bus trip probably means air travel to Indianapolis.

Oakland -- The most recent D-II move-up, in 1997, has found some degree of success in the Mid-Con, as they went to the NCAAs last year, upsetting Oral Roberts. The eastern-most member of the Mid-Con, located north of Detroit. 16-hour road trip means an airplane ride for most road trips to Rochester, MI.

Oral Roberts -- Strong basketball tradition (Kansas' Bill Self got his first head coaching job here). Would benefit greatly from the increased level of competition NDSU and SDSU would provide. Probably teamed with UMKC as a travel partner. Borderline bus trip to Tulsa, about a 13 hour trip from Brookings.

Southern Utah -- The Cedar City area is growing fast. Don't short-change the long-term upside of the Thunderbirds. It might be worth adding Utah Valley State to the conference to create a decent travel partner out west--no worse for NDSU and SDSU than the old NCC days of getting on a plane to Denver. Just fly another hour or two to Salt Lake or Las Vegas.

UMKC -- The other Mid-Con Carnegie research university peer to NDSU and SDSU. Adding SDSU especially would create an instant rivalry for UMKC, as it would give the Jackrabbit Nation another attractive conference road trip with a six-hour straight shot down I-29. UMKC would probably be the school that would benefit the most from adding SDSU and NDSU to the Mid-Con.

Valparaiso -- Think Augustana, but with a much better basketball tradition. An hour or so east of Chicago, making a long 12-hour bus ride vs. air travel an option.

Western Illinois -- Very good women's basketball team this year. Horrible men's basketball the past couple of years. Intriguing possibility would be to pry the Leathernecks from the Gateway football conference into the GWFC. No real good travel partners for WIU in a 10-team Mid-Con--unless you add both IPFW and Utah Valley State and team them up with Chicago State, Valpo with IUPUI, and IPFW with Oakland in the east. Macomb, IL is a ten-hour bus trip from Brookings.

[filbert]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Case in point for NDSU and SDSU instantly strengthening the Mid-Con:

the conference went 1-21 vs. the NCAA tournament field.

NDSU alone would have doubled the win total against the field. And we all know we did not see the real SDSU men's basketball program all year.

Invite us, Mid-Con, you won't regret it! (Well, maybe you will, but in a good way ;D ;D ;D )

[Jacks02]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Ok, its been bugging me for a long time, what the heck does IUPUI stand for? ;D

Is this a version of our beloved USDSU?

[thebluehatman]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

oh it stands for Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis

[thebluehatman]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Kind of like how UNO stands for Underperforming Nebraska Outcasts

[filbert]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

oh it stands for Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis

And I understand they get huffy if you pronounce it Ooey-Pooey.

[Jacks15]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Both of the SU's would instantly help give the Mid-Con some more credibility.

[Jacks15]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Mens BBall RPI
Oral Roberts- 131
IUPUI- 158
Valpo- 182
NDSU- 223
Chicago St- 227
UMKC- 262
SDSU-276
Oakland- 285
Southern Utah- 303
Western Illinois- 317
Centenary- 325

[NightHawk78]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

My hunch is that the Mid-Con is tempted to invite SDSU and NDSU into their fold, but 1) they may be waiting for us to become NCAA-eligible and 2) they could be concerned that we would quickly bolt to the Big Sky if we were invited since those schools are more similar to the academic profiles of SDSU and NDSU.

On another point, we might be hesistant to join a conference with a tradition of instability and where the tourney winner would frequently be relegated to a very low seed (such as OR's #16 seed this year) or (ugh) the infamous play-in game.

[rabidrabbit]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Check out the Auburn Hills arena in the NCAA's. That's Oakland U's court. That, my bunny buddies, is a NICE facility!!!!

Even if we don't join right away, or at all, I'd still love to get get some OOC games with the Mid-Cons, Horizon and Mo Valley teams next year.

[Jacks15]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

The Mid-Con is still paying for feeling like they were forced into adding Centenary. So if they are really hesitant to make some changes, don't be surprised.

[filbert]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Check out the Auburn Hills arena in the NCAA's. That's Oakland U's court. That, my bunny buddies, is a NICE facility!!!!

Even if we don't join right away, or at all, I'd still love to get get some OOC games with the Mid-Cons, Horizon and Mo Valley teams next year.

The Palace isn't Oakland's home arena. Oakland is the host institution and the Mid-Con is the host conference for the first and second rounds.

Oakland U. doesn't play in the Palace.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

I had thought Oakland to be a small private college. Yesterday I purchased a World Alamanac of Facts for year 2006. It listed Oakland as having roughly 16,500 students and tuition and board is about the same as SDSU. Apparently this a suburban institution with some state support. I was really surprised. Also being unfamilar with the Detriot, area I would assume Auburn Hills is an affluent suburb of Detriot.

I guess you got to be from Detriot to understand all this. The only, Oakwood I know is Lake Oakwood near Bruce SD which is probably consuming ice houses that have not been removed. ;D Thaw on. and think spring.