Originally Posted by Sea Bass
UD has little leverage if it doesn't have anywhere to go.
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If the AAC was interested in non-FB WSU it would be interested in Dayton. Indeed, UD was always mentioned in the discussion of AAC expansion. UD had no interest. That's not the issue though.
To me the issue is this. Let's assume at least half of 14 schools really are serious about men's BB and would like to make the NCAAs regularly...say 3-4 times a decade....consistently. And, those schools know that the bottom feeders hamper their chances significantly (assuming that's true.)
Collectively they do have leverage. If the top seven leaned on the bottom seven....with the threat of downsizing to 10,11 schools...seems reasonable that at least 3 or 4 of the bottom seven could be coerced into committing to up their investment. That's all you need. Seven are OK now...add another three or four and the A10 becomes a 10 or 11 school league.
I'm assuming that three or four schools would opt not to invest at the required level. By making that decision they are essentially withdrawing from the A10....they are not being booted out. No conference wants to kick schools out. But a school that refuses to meet minimum standards that ten or so schools agree to is withdrawing.
Now no school can guarantee 10,000 fannies in the seats. But, even a school that draws only 4000-5000 (think St. Joes) can have top notch facilities that impress recruits, the media, patrons, etc. Schools still playing in a HS gym with no decent training facilities, etc., are making a statement to the other conference members. Men's BB is not important to us and we're not going to invest in it. I don't think more than two or three A10 schools would make that decision. But, those that do are deciding that the A10 is not for them.
This issue should not be a problem for the average-to-top A10 programs. It should be a problem for the below average-to-bottom feeders.