MBB: Great South Athletic Conference

[scottiedoug]

From what I know of Maryville's dilemma, there is a strong desire to be in a conference for reasons of scheduling and championship competition for all the sports.  Pool B for men's basketball has been ok, but the AD is also the volleyball coach. not the men's bb coach, as was the case for a long time.

A logical alignment for travel and scheduling would be some GA, TN, KY, AL, MS, AR conference that does not require Maryville to travel all the way over to the eastern NC or way up I 81 near DC and I think Maryville would like that, but the SCAC seems to be holding tight despite outrageous travel costs for its teams.

[Ralph Turner]

From what I know of Maryville's dilemma, there is a strong desire to be in a conference for reasons of scheduling and championship competition for all the sports.  Pool B for men's basketball has been ok, but the AD is also the volleyball coach. not the men's bb coach, as was the case for a long time.

A logical alignment for travel and scheduling would be some GA, TN, KY, AL, MS, AR conference that does not require Maryville to travel all the way over to the eastern NC or way up I 81 near DC and I think Maryville would like that, but the SCAC seems to be holding tight despite outrageous travel costs for its teams.

The SCAC schools have endowment that are 2-5 times the average of the GSAC men's schools, too.

The USA South schools need to the play the GSAC schools as in-region opponents, regardless.  Two more GSAC schools have moved out of Pool B, which will be down to 1 Men's Hoops bid in a couple of seasons anyway.

(In fact, UDallas, Piedmont and LaGrange move out of Pool B in the next 2 seasons.)

[cush]

The two leagues should trade school's where the GSAC becomes an all women's conference. As for the scac, I believe CC has an offer to join d2 and will decide this month. If they stay, the scac probably should jump to 14-16 to ease travel, if they go jumping to 14 still might not be a bad idea with school's like berry, centenary, Georgetown, etc. to make travel less daunting.

[Pat Coleman]

From what I know of Maryville's dilemma, there is a strong desire to be in a conference for reasons of scheduling and championship competition for all the sports.  Pool B for men's basketball has been ok, but the AD is also the volleyball coach. not the men's bb coach, as was the case for a long time.

A logical alignment for travel and scheduling would be some GA, TN, KY, AL, MS, AR conference that does not require Maryville to travel all the way over to the eastern NC or way up I 81 near DC and I think Maryville would like that, but the SCAC seems to be holding tight despite outrageous travel costs for its teams.

Shenandoah is leaving the USA South, so I hope that isn't a factor in Maryville's thinking.

[scottiedoug]

I'm slow, Pat, but why would SU's leaving the USA South matter to Maryville?

[Pat Coleman]

Because of the part I bolded. Shenandoah's departure means Maryville would not have to travel way up I-81 near D.C. to play conference games.

[scottiedoug]

It's still a long way to CNU, but maybe that's not going to be an issue....

[narch]

It's still a long way to CNU, but maybe that's not going to be an issue....

if m'ville joins the usasac, i suspect that cnu to m'ville or m'ville to cnu won't be problematic...i see cnu heading to the cac

[bballlover]

LaGrange names a coach:http://www.lagrangepanthers.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/releases/20110506lbkg9w

[scottiedoug]

No kidding!  What a great choice for LaGrange.  Coach Haynes' work will not be wasted by Kendall Wallace!

[scottiedoug]

Coach Lambert is on a role with bigger people:

http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/athletics/sport/general/news/details/3954/

[RustCollege]

So what will Maryville do....if maryville stay they should at Berry,centenary,and maybe even rust with the great battles rust an maryville had over the year

[scottiedoug]

I'm for Maryville playing Rust whatever else they do.

[wilburt]

http://www.thedepauw.com/sports/four-schools-consider-scac-departure-in-2012-1.2225563

Four schools consider SCAC departure in 2012
By Michael Appelgate and Leslie Gaber

Published: Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Updated: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 02:05

Sewanee: The University of the South, Rhodes College, Hendrix College and Centre College all voted to leave the SCAC, effective July 1, 2012.... After 13 years, 76 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference titles and six Presidents Trophies, DePauw will close the final chapter on its membership in the conference at the end of the school year.

While the Tigers' decision to join the North Coast Athletic Conference has been official since last June, this summer could bring even more drastic changes for the remaining members of the SCAC.

SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry confirmed via email Sunday that Sewanee: The University of the South, Rhodes College, Hendrix College and Centre College have all expressed their intent to leave the conference effective July 1, 2012. Hanberry said he does not expect a formal announcement to be made until after the conference presidents' meeting on June 7.

University presidents of each of the member institutions were informed of the four schools' considerations in an email sent last week, according to Laurie Saxton, director of media relations at Sewanee.

Should Sewanee, Rhodes, Hendrix and Centre choose to leave the SCAC, the size of the conference would be cut from 12 members down to eight with Austin College, Birmingham-Southern College, Colorado College, Millsaps College, Oglethorpe University, Southwestern University and Trinity University remaining. In September, the University of Dallas accepted an invitation to join the SCAC beginning with the 2011-12 season.

***

scottiedoug you may be getting your wish....

[scottiedoug]

Pretty interesting.  I learned today that Maryville intends to make some decision by Friday.

Nice coverage of Fisk in the PBS documentary on the Freedom Riders.