Report: VCU, George Mason to join A-10
Virginia Commonwealth's Troy Daniels (30) smiles at his teammates after being fouled and making a three-pointer against Drexel during the first half of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship NCAA college basketball game at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond Va. (March 5, 2012) Credit: AP
It looks like there will be another round of conference realignments.
Lenn Robbins of the New York Post Tweeted Friday that VCU and George Mason will leave the CAA for the Atlantic-10 on May 1. CBSsports.com first reported the talks late last month.
Hoops Scoops stated in a previous post last month what the potential fallout could be for the CAA’s basketball operations. We took a soft approach in that post.
With more time to think about it, Hoops Scoops has come to the conclusion that it would be a devastating blow to the CAA. VCU and George Mason have been the top two teams in the CAA the last several years. Each has made a Final Four.
The CAA tried to deny it was happening after the CBSsports.com report surfaced last month, but where there's smoke there's fire. Truth be told, the CAA should have prepared (or at least attempted to do so) for this after Temple announced it was leaving the Atlantic-10 for the Big East.
Logic dictated that the Atlantic-10 would come looking for another quality program or two to keep its basketball strong.
With the CAA coming off a disappointing post season (only 1 team, VCU, made the NCAA), its profile won’t be anywhere near where it has been the past few seasons. Making matters worse, there is no quick fix.
Unlike the major conferences, the CAA can’t go into another conference and pry a solid program away. The Big East for example, bought in Temple as one of its replacements for Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia. The Owls have a rich tradition in basketball and building one in football.
The Owls’ entrance into the Big East is in addition to SMU, Houston, Boise State, etc… joining the league. Although the Big East has gotten some heat for reaching into every region of the country, Boise State gives its football league some credibility.
Where can the CAA go to replenish its basketball strength? Stony Brook and Albany are probably the first schools that come to mind because both play FCS football. It’s also worth noting that both schools made the FCS playoffs last season. And let’s not forget Georgia State, which also plays FCS football, recently announced it was joining the Sun Belt.
But will either school suffice for the CAA basketball contingent? Stony Brook has won the America East regular season title two of the last three years and has advanced to the conference tournament championship the last two years.
Albany has two previous NCAA Tournament appearances and nearly knocked off Connecticut in a first-round game in 2006. Both schools, after a couple of seasons of solid recruiting, could catch up to the rest of the CAA.
Could Iona be a candidate? The Gaels dropped their football program several years ago, but have remained strong in basketball. But would Iona want to join a conference with southern roots?
This story is far from over.
