TK's "benchmark group"...

[UACFlyer]

In "New Realities 2007" there is a list of 11 programs that TK feels can/should be compared with Dayton; the group was "thoughtfully chosen; all have strong programs, a similar mission, strong commitment to men's BB, big-time arenas, and fan support".

The benchmark group is as follows (no significance to the order): Creighton, Marquette, Villanova, Georgetown, DePaul, Xavier, Saint Louis, Providence, St. Johns, Seton Hall and Gonzaga,....and Dayton, of course. (I think St. Joes would feel it should also be on the list; but, for sure, they do not have an "arena")

Take a look at this list of 12 schools. Only 5, Creighton, Dayton, Xavier, SLU and Gonzaga, are NOT in the Big East,...a BCS conference. The BE 7 have their noses pointed up in the air and won't schedule series with non-BCS underlings like UD.

But, let's get real,.....these 7 are NOT BCS schools. BCS is an FBS football term;...not one of the 7 plays FBS football and 5 don't play football at any level. These 7 seven UD basketball "peers", all Catholic schools, are in a BCS conference by a fluke circumstance that profoundly influences their fortunes and behavior. Othewise the likes of Seton Hall and Providence wouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath with Dayton.

And, should the Big East football schools, whose coat tails the 7 non-FBS football schools are latched on to, decide to go their separate way, these 7 schools would/will soon find themselves in the same status and scheduling boat as Dayton, et al.

Of the 5 non BE schools, Xavier and Gonzaga have succeeded in escaping the second tier, mid-major stigma, to their credit. As of now only UD, SLU and Creighton still are on the outside looking in;....but not for lack of trying.

I don't know what it will take for UD to achieve its goal, or if it ever will. But, the "lucky 7" non-football schools of the Big East enjoy their exalted status because of a combination of pure luck and a far-sighted decision years ago by their ADs of the time to join the Big East basketball conference. And a fateful decision it was. For example, Holy Cross was offered the opportunity to be a Big East charter member and declined. Think of the impact of that decision.

Whatever, it is what it is. But, Dayton's current inability to reach the level of a Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette, et al, is as much a consequence of cirucmstances over which we have no control as it is anything we have/have not done.

The focus of UD, X and SLU should be to work to make the A10 as good as it possibly can be. Hopefully, the new A10 commishioner will recognize that fact and drive the conference in that direction.

	Xavier XAVIER MUSKETEERS Dayton's biggest rival dating back to the early 1900s. Founded in 1831, Xavier University is a Jesuit, Catholic university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its three colleges offer 78 undergraduate majors, 43 minors and 11 graduate programs to 6,646 total students, including 3,961 undergraduates. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities nationwide. Xavier's nickname is the Musketeers and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Located in St. Louis, MO, and just five minutes from the Gateway Arch, SLU offers 85 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate study tracks. Over 99% of the SLU faculty hold the highest degree in their respective fields. Fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Billikens, but also commonly known as "Sloo", the phonetic pronunciation of the school's initials. Athletic claims to fame include multiple national titles in men's soccer and men's basketball star Larry Hughes.

[Avid Flyer]

Alot is riding on the A-10 commish. What looked like a horrible TV contract with CSTV could turn out to be positive now that CBS has taken over and is promoting CBS College Sports. The A-10 was one of the entry level conferences and if successful others may want to join the new CBS viewing audiance and up the anti for schools like UD.

I believe overall Tk has laid the foundation for a solid sports program with addition of the sports complex and the upgrading of other teams like men womens soccer, womens basketvall and most recently the premier team being the womens vollyball from a national perspective.

I also believe mens basketball is on the verge of coming into the national power we all want but have not yet reaped from the seeds sown. A few bad breaks here and there have postponed what many of us feel is the emergence of Dayton again as a national power. Certainly the recruiting has improved, now for the results.

[NorthwestFlyer]

This is a much more interesting topic than talking about our OOC schedule. The A10 seems to be on the rise from a low a few years back and there was some good competition in the league last year. I know a lot of folks were down on the CSTV deal and we seemed to have to pay for a lot of games that other schools did not to watch streaming games, but for once I was able to watch a lot of the games because of CSTV. Granted being on ESPN is always going to be better.

If the more successful programs in the A10 demand that certain standards be met in the Conference, we should see the A10 rise and be a perennial conference and compete for more spaces in the NCAA.

The chips seem to be falling into place for UD basketball to rise to the next level. Hopefully we will start to see a more consistent basketball team that wins at home and more regularly on the road.