(02-22-2013 02:31 PM)College Basketball Fan Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 02:18 PM)Jet915 Wrote:  We are probably just interpreting the article differently but I read it as:

And though its boundaries may extend west of the Mississippi (like Creighton), some “geographical coherence” is expected (no Gonzaga).

My interpretation of that was two-fold:

1. "Geographic coherence" could just be another sign towards Richmond

2. It could also mean that the "long-distance" candidates are not being seriously considered. To me, this points towards SLU but not Creighton/Gonzaga.

I know this is just over-analyzing now but why even put something like west of the Mississippi if Creighton or Gonzaga wasn't being considered.

(02-22-2013 02:16 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  I'd say don't underestimate the importance of Coach Thompson's advocacy for his athletes over the decades. That would line up with bringing in Shaka Smart.

I am sorry, but maybe I am being obtuse, but I have not seen too much more out of Coach Smart regarding this than any other coach. Do not get me wrong, I think he is an excellent coach, and from all I have heard and read a very good man, but what leads you to believe he is more of an advocate for his athletes than any other coach?

This story about Coach Mooney, from ESPN this past fall, on the otherhand, really pulls at the heartstrings

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...basketball

(02-22-2013 02:36 PM)aughnanure Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 12:42 PM)Title Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 12:07 PM)Jet915 Wrote:  Washington Post article about Georgetown President DeGioia:

DeGioia is tight-lipped about the contours of the conference that’s taking shape, acknowledging that it likely will consist of 12 members though may expand to 10 initially. According to others close to the process, the three to five new members need not be Catholic schools. And though its boundaries may extend west of the Mississippi, some “geographical coherence” is expected.

Some people are reading this as Creighton is a possibility but Gonzaga is a no.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/col...ory_3.html

Omaha is 304 miles to Davenport, IA (Mississippi River)

Saint Louis is on the western banks of the Mississippi River.

In context, Richmond, VA is 335 miles to New York City.

I think its little more likely he was referring to the Billikens

I don't think that's good context. The east coast is different. It's more condensed. There are more medium and large-sized cities per square mile. So yeah, naturally cities in also a smaller region of the country will be closer.

If you're from the Midwest, you're used the next significant city being at least 2-2.5 hours away (driving) in every direction, and major cities bout 4-6 hours away. In a plane flight, that's only about an hour. Omaha to St. Louis is ~45 minutes. Milwaukee to Kansas City is usually under an hour. Saying Omaha is too far would be the same as saying Kansas City is too far. I think this is good for Creighton, as they are really the only candidate beyond the Mississippi River.

Saint Louis still isn't in Illinois.

(02-22-2013 02:36 PM)Jet915 Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 02:31 PM)College Basketball Fan Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 02:18 PM)Jet915 Wrote:  We are probably just interpreting the article differently but I read it as:

And though its boundaries may extend west of the Mississippi (like Creighton), some “geographical coherence” is expected (no Gonzaga).

My interpretation of that was two-fold:

1. "Geographic coherence" could just be another sign towards Richmond

2. It could also mean that the "long-distance" candidates are not being seriously considered. To me, this points towards SLU but not Creighton/Gonzaga.

I know this is just over-analyzing now but why even put something like west of the Mississippi if Creighton or Gonzaga wasn't being considered.

Yeah, it seemed like he was trying to say two things at once like "While we may extend the conference considerably far don't worry, we won't get ridiculous"

(02-22-2013 02:41 PM)Title Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 02:36 PM)aughnanure Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 12:42 PM)Title Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 12:07 PM)Jet915 Wrote:  Washington Post article about Georgetown President DeGioia:

DeGioia is tight-lipped about the contours of the conference that’s taking shape, acknowledging that it likely will consist of 12 members though may expand to 10 initially. According to others close to the process, the three to five new members need not be Catholic schools. And though its boundaries may extend west of the Mississippi, some “geographical coherence” is expected.

Some people are reading this as Creighton is a possibility but Gonzaga is a no.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/col...ory_3.html

Omaha is 304 miles to Davenport, IA (Mississippi River)

Saint Louis is on the western banks of the Mississippi River.

In context, Richmond, VA is 335 miles to New York City.

I think its little more likely he was referring to the Billikens

I don't think that's good context. The east coast is different. It's more condensed. There are more medium and large-sized cities per square mile. So yeah, naturally cities in also a smaller region of the country will be closer.

If you're from the Midwest, you're used the next significant city being at least 2-2.5 hours away (driving) in every direction, and major cities bout 4-6 hours away. In a plane flight, that's only about an hour. Omaha to St. Louis is ~45 minutes. Milwaukee to Kansas City is usually under an hour. Saying Omaha is too far would be the same as saying Kansas City is too far. I think this is good for Creighton, as they are really the only candidate beyond the Mississippi River.

Saint Louis still isn't in Illinois.

Oh whatever. I don't think you say "west of the Mississippi" as a way to refer to a city located on its banks.

(02-22-2013 02:41 PM)Title Wrote:  Saint Louis still isn't in Illinois.

Who said it was?

It's not in California or Connecticut or Cambodia either. What is your point?

(02-22-2013 03:05 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 02:41 PM)Title Wrote:  Saint Louis still isn't in Illinois.

Who said it was?

It's not in California or Connecticut or Cambodia either. What is your point?

I'm lost now. Where is St. Louis again?

(02-22-2013 03:05 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 02:41 PM)Title Wrote:  Saint Louis still isn't in Illinois.

Who said it was?

It's not in California or Connecticut or Cambodia either. What is your point?

Because aughnanure said "I think this is good for Creighton, as they are really the only candidate beyond the Mississippi River."

Only problem? Saint Louis is west of the Mississippi River.

(02-22-2013 03:06 PM)LouPower Wrote:  I'm lost now. Where is St. Louis again?

38.35N 90.12W

(02-22-2013 02:36 PM)bostonspider Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 02:16 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  I'd say don't underestimate the importance of Coach Thompson's advocacy for his athletes over the decades. That would line up with bringing in Shaka Smart.

I am sorry, but maybe I am being obtuse, but I have not seen too much more out of Coach Smart regarding this than any other coach. Do not get me wrong, I think he is an excellent coach, and from all I have heard and read a very good man, but what leads you to believe he is more of an advocate for his athletes than any other coach?

This story about Coach Mooney, from ESPN this past fall, on the otherhand, really pulls at the heartstrings

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...basketball

Great read, boston. I am a huge Mooney fan (go Tigers!). As to your question re: Smart, it's probably stuff like this:

Quote:The VCU men’s basketball team had nine players achieve a 3.0 GPA or better this semester. What’s more, the cumulative GPA for the team is the highest in program history. When Shaka Smart opened his postgame press conference the other night after defeating Western Kentucky by praising his team's academic performance, you knew it was a laudable moment.

"I'm proud of our guys. They come here to get a degree," says Smart. "I tell them during recruiting that I won't guarantee them anything about what happens on the court, but I do guarantee them that they will graduate, provided they put in the effort and dedication to get there. I also tell them that if they can't (put in that effort academically) then they won't be here very long."

Smart is comfortable with that statement because he has an ace in the hole that is the backbone of the performance in the classroom—Sofia Hiort-Wright, VCUs Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support.

"I can guarantee them this because of Sofia. She is an all-star, a superstar," he says. "She puts the guys in great position to succeed--tutors, study halls, structure--we as coaches monitor them but she does a phenomenal job in putting our guys in the position to succeed in the classroom."

http://www.vcuhoops.info/2012/12/memoriz...it-is.html

Also, I know that as part of the $14 million new practice facility, Shaka insisted on including an academic/study/learning annex. This is all just FYI, boston, but it would seem that his general outspokenness on academics as a priority and putting his money where his mouth are pluses in this column.

More broadly, the phrasing about putting student-athletes first could also be a reference to general commitment to quality on and off-field facilities, and/or total athletic budgets.

I thought the bit about athletics departments being run with integrity was interesting as well. Haven't ever heard that raised as an issue. Just out of curiosity, what if any scandals do any of the prospective candidates have in their semi-recent past? There was controversy when VCU's (ardently Catholic) AD, Ed Mclaughlin, let an openly gay volleyball coach go. That's gone away, and doesn't seem to be an issue. What about the other programs? I seem to remember something with one of the prior UR coaches leaving under some questionable circumstances, or am I mixing my schools up?

Perhaps, too, it's in reference to the..er..complicated history of Majerus' and Jim Crews' treatment of players? Anyway, not trying to stir the pot or single out any schools, so please don't go ballistic. Just askin'....

Can we now get all of the C7 people to agree with what we Hoya fans have been saying all along: Feinstein is a clown.

(02-22-2013 03:48 PM)thegalen Wrote:  What about the other programs? I seem to remember something with one of the prior UR coaches leaving under some questionable circumstances, or am I mixing my schools up?

I think Richmond might have had a Women's Lacrosse coach resign a few years ago, but I don't think her leaving was all that scandalous. Otherwise nothing too much in UR's closet. We did have a texting violation that was self reported and ended up with an assistent coach leaving the program. From all I understand, it is not even against the rules anymore.

(02-22-2013 04:02 PM)bostonspider Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 03:48 PM)thegalen Wrote:  What about the other programs? I seem to remember something with one of the prior UR coaches leaving under some questionable circumstances, or am I mixing my schools up?

I think Richmond might have had a Women's Lacrosse coach resign a few years ago, but I don't think her leaving was all that scandalous. Otherwise nothing too much in UR's closet. We did have a texting violation that was self reported and ended up with an assistent coach leaving the program. From all I understand, it is not even against the rules anymore.

Ah, it was Wainwright. I'd seen "shady dealings" with him referenced before, but that was awhile ago I guess.
http://link-filtered-due-to-frequent-spamming/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=362&p=2385&hilit=Jerry+Wainwright&sid=67f62361eb89a06f65e143d4648dc803#wrap

(02-22-2013 04:09 PM)thegalen Wrote:  Ah, it was Wainwright. I'd seen "shady dealings" with him referenced before, but that was awhile ago I guess.
http://link-filtered-due-to-frequent-spamming/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=362&p=2385&hilit=Jerry+Wainwright&sid=67f62361eb89a06f65e143d4648dc803#wrap

Thank god DePaul took him away before he could do anymore damage to Richmond's program.. Just not a good match with UR. Apparently not a good one with DePaul either.

(02-22-2013 01:55 PM)Title Wrote:  Where did this weird idea that Butler was going to have issue leaving the A10 come from?

It's absurd and simply not the case. Carry on.

Both Xavier and Butler had conversations and tacit agreements before the C7 even exited.

The problem I see with Butler leaving if the C7 started 2013-14 is I don't know what kind of entry agreement they had with the A10 last year. I can't imagine it'd be all that cheap to leave less than 1 calendar year after they joined. (note, I think the same thing with VCU). To me, a 10/12 situation may be 10 at first, then Butler and VCU coming the 2nd year when their A10 situation is a lot different.

Like I said, that's a made up "problem". It doesn't exist.

I very much doubt there's anything in Butler's (or anyone's) entrance agreement with the A-10 that makes it easier to leave after two years or five years or ten years than after one year. Give your notice (or not), pay your money and you're done.

Well the Mississippi river in Minnesota is actually further west than it is in Missouri, so in a sense st louis is east if the Mississippi!

At a minimum it's going to be more expensive for Butler and VCU to leave the A-10 after this season than the others under consideration, because they owe the A-10 a 700k entrance fee in addition to their exit fees from their former conferences, 250k for VCU and not disclosed for Butler. When Butler joined the A-10 McMurphy reported that, "Sources told CBSSports.com ... Butler has negotiated with representatives of the Atlantic 10 for the league to assist financially for the Bulldogs to change leagues." McMurphy So, Butler may owe more money to the A-10 than VCU does.

(02-22-2013 04:24 PM)bostonspider Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 04:09 PM)thegalen Wrote:  Ah, it was Wainwright. I'd seen "shady dealings" with him referenced before, but that was awhile ago I guess.
http://link-filtered-due-to-frequent-spamming/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=362&p=2385&hilit=Jerry+Wainwright&sid=67f62361eb89a06f65e143d4648dc803#wrap

Thank god DePaul took him away before he could do anymore damage to Richmond's program.. Just not a good match with UR. Apparently not a good one with DePaul either.

He who must not be named or more He who must be forgotten. He is an assistant under Buzz at Marquette right now. If Buzz ever moves on from MU, DO NOT MAKE HIM YOUR HEAD COACH!