Conference changes

[Ralph Turner]

Dave McHugh,

Where do Eastern Nazarene, Mitchell and New England College land now?

Thanks.

From what I understand, the NECC believes their AQs are intact one more year, until Lesley actually leaves. I've not heard concrete plans from any school, but I don't think any of them are going to try and attract new members to keep it together.

I've wondered why a few renegade GNAC members don't join to get a better AQ chance. Maybe Hartford can take it over and build their own d3 conference? It seems a waste to let an established AQ just disappear.

+1!

[Caz Bombers]

the plan for the NECC is to transition to a single sport conference for men's volleyball. Membership in NECC men's volleyball is currently Eastern Nazarene and Lesley plus affiliate members Endicott (CCC), Nichols (CCC), NVU-Johnson (NAC), Russell Sage (E8), SUNY Poly (NAC) and SUNY Potsdam (SUNYAC), so it has a healthy stable of members.

Additionally, I have recently heard Bard (LL) plans to withdraw from the superpower United Volleyball Conference to become the 9th member of this league for MVB.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Aren't they also a big esports conference?

[Caz Bombers]

Aren't they also a big esports conference?

according to their website they have what looks like a hundred or more members. Unless and until esports comes under the auspices of the NCAA, however, the question is moot.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Aren't they also a big esports conference?

according to their website they have what looks like a hundred or more members. Unless and until esports comes under the auspices of the NCAA, however, the question is moot.

I just mean, if they're going to exist for that purpose and they have AQs in other sports, there's not a ton of reason to dissolve altogether.  They can remain a multi-sport conference by adding one field hockey team or two women's lacrosse programs.  If that status remains, you can always get the AQ back instantly in any other sport by getting back up to the required minimum.  No waiting period for existing conferences.

[Inkblot]

Hartford has been approved for reclassification. https://www.hartford.edu/news/press-releases/2022/03/ns-athletics-division3.aspx

[Ralph Turner]

Where do they land?

[Pat Coleman]

Where do they land?

Great question, and one we have debated on Hoopsville and such as well. Thumbnail sketch from my perspective:

I feel like the size of the school and such puts them in the Little East, but they are not a state school.
The GNAC is also a possibility -- I think this because there are some larger schools in the GNAC, such as Suffolk.
They are not a member of the AAU, so UAA membership would be out.
I do not know anything about Hartford's academic profile so as to know whether the NEWMAC might be an option. They don't look like a NESCAC school to me (but then of course, neither does Tufts).

[Baldini]

Where do they land?

Great question, and one we have debated on Hoopsville and such as well. Thumbnail sketch from my perspective:

I feel like the size of the school and such puts them in the Little East, but they are not a state school.
The GNAC is also a possibility -- I think this because there are some larger schools in the GNAC, such as Suffolk.
They are not a member of the AAU, so UAA membership would be out.
I do not know anything about Hartford's academic profile so as to know whether the NEWMAC might be an option. They don't look like a NESCAC school to me (but then of course, neither does Tufts).

I'll throw my two cents in here and say the Little East should be a easy choice. I get the state school thing, but the conference they are coming from is all state schools.

[Gregory Sager]

Where do they land?

Great question, and one we have debated on Hoopsville and such as well. Thumbnail sketch from my perspective:

I feel like the size of the school and such puts them in the Little East, but they are not a state school.
The GNAC is also a possibility -- I think this because there are some larger schools in the GNAC, such as Suffolk.
They are not a member of the AAU, so UAA membership would be out.
I do not know anything about Hartford's academic profile so as to know whether the NEWMAC might be an option. They don't look like a NESCAC school to me (but then of course, neither does Tufts).

How about the Skyline Conference?

[Pat Coleman]

Where do they land?

Great question, and one we have debated on Hoopsville and such as well. Thumbnail sketch from my perspective:

I feel like the size of the school and such puts them in the Little East, but they are not a state school.
The GNAC is also a possibility -- I think this because there are some larger schools in the GNAC, such as Suffolk.
They are not a member of the AAU, so UAA membership would be out.
I do not know anything about Hartford's academic profile so as to know whether the NEWMAC might be an option. They don't look like a NESCAC school to me (but then of course, neither does Tufts).

How about the Skyline Conference?

Not impossible either. They're currently all in the NYC area but West Hartford isn't super far.

[Caz Bombers]

I would have thought the CCC to be the best fit for Hartford. I don't see the Skyline or UHart having any mutual interest.

On another note, I just learned today that Utica is probably going Division II with men's and women's hockey headed to D1. Whoa.

[Pat Coleman]

Glad to see that the Utica news is getting some run. Dave and I talked about it on the same Hoopsville conversation.

[thebear]

Glad to see that the Utica news is getting some run. Dave and I talked about it on the same Hoopsville conversation.

Not the first time UC has done this.  Back in the '80's they hired NBA Hall of Famer Larry Costello as a coach and moved to D-I for about 8 years, during the time that Potsdam was one of the better programs in D-III.  That experiment ended in 87-88.  D-II will allow them to offer scholarships and there are a couple of D-II conferences NE10 and ECC that are a good fit.  They have been one of the better teams in D-III hockey, and hockey only has D-I and D-III championships, so that warrants the move to D-I for that sport.

[kiko]

They don't look like a NESCAC school to me (but then of course, neither does Tufts).

Can you elaborate on this?  As an unwashed Midwestern rube, it can be challenging to parse apart the nuances between some of the leafy small schools in the Northeast and I'm curious as to what might distinguish them from their conference mates.