Conference changes

[ziggy]

Penn State Brandywine will begin a D3 exploratory year next fall: https://www.psubrandywineathletics.com/general/2022-23/releases/20230222eakf4k

Seeing that they don't have, or at least aren't announcing, conference affiliation yet got me wondering if Bob Jones or Asbury are any closer to finding a landing spot. It's strange for those two to be as far along as they are while still being independent.

I'm thinking Asbury will have a conference home to announce soon, but I don't get the sense Bob Jones will.

Not sure on timing but the information we have suggests Asbury will be just fine. Stay tuned.

A change was adopted at the DIII convention a few weeks back that will require at least a conference invitation as part of the application process to DIII. I believe that goes into effect starting with the next round of applications so anything we see for next year should be tied to a conference.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Bob Jones has a lot of scheduling challenges, making it hard for conferences to bring them in.

They can go join the C2C because they don't play each other anyway.

I'm pretty sure they have some conference games in other sports.

[KnightSlappy]

Finlandia announced it will end operations and not enroll students for next school year.

https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/03/02/finlandia-university-end-operations-not-enroll-students-2023-2024-academic-year/

[KnightSlappy]

Provisional Pipeline for 2022-23
Full membership fall 2022: Pratt, University of St Thomas (Texas)
3rd year provisional members (full membership fall 2023): Bob Jones, Mississippi University for Women
2nd year provisional members: Asbury, Warren Wilson
1st year provisional members: Hartford, Lyon
Exploratory: Carlow

* Games against Year 3 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes

Conference Changes Starting in 2022-2023
Allegheny leaves the NCAC for the PAC
Averett leaves the USAC for the ODAC
Medaille leaves the AMCC for the Empire 8
Warren Wilson joins the C2C
Belhaven leaves the ASC for the Collegiate Conference of the South
Agnes Scott, Berea, Covenant, Huntingdon, LaGrange, Maryville, Piedmont, and Wesleyan (GA) leave the USAC for the Collegiate Conference of the South

Conference Changes Starting in 2023-2024
Carlow joins the AMCC
Cazenovia (NAC) closes
Eastern Nazarene leaves the NECC for the NAC
Finlandia (C2C) closes
Hartford joins the CCC
Lebanon Valley shifts from the MAC Commonwealth to the MAC Freedom
Lesley leaves the NECC for the NAC
Lycoming leaves the MAC Freedom for the Landmark
Lyon joins the SLIAC
Mississippi University for Women (MUW) joins the SLIAC
Mitchell leaves the NECC for the GNAC
Morrisville State leaves the UEC for the NAC
New England College leaves the NECC for the GNAC
Notre Dame (MD) adds men's sports and competes in the CSAC/UEC
Salve Regina leaves the CCC for the NEWMAC
Sul Ross State (ASC) begins reclassification period to D2, if accepted (would be ineligible for D3 postseason even if still in the ASC)
Wells leaves the UEC for the AMCC
Wilkes leaves the MAC Freedom for the Landmark
CSAC (Bryn Athyn, Cairn, Clarks Summit, Keystone, Notre Dame (MD), Rosemont, St. Elizabeth, Valley Forge, Wilson, plus Cedar Crest in women's sports) and UEC (Gallaudet, Lancaster Bible, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's (MD)) merge

Conference Changes Starting in 2024-2025
Johnson (NAC) leaves D3 for the USCAA
Johnson & Wales leaves the GNAC for the CCC
McMurry leaves the ASC for the SCAC

[CNU85]

Finlandia announced it will end operations and not enroll students for next school year.

https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/03/02/finlandia-university-end-operations-not-enroll-students-2023-2024-academic-year/

Two words....

Sad
Ouch

It's always sad to see an institution fail.
Ouch for the C2C as they try to keep as many AQs in play as possible.

[Caz Bombers]

Aww man, RIP Finlandia.

[Greek Tragedy]

I'll always cherish my FU Lions hat. Probably keep it for 25 years and sell it for a million dollars at a sports auction.

[Inkblot]

The Membership Committee report is out... https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/committees/d3/memb/Feb2023DMemb_Report.pdf

Penn State Brandywine is the only new exploratory member. Carlow has been approved to advance to provisional membership.

[KnightSlappy]

Trinity and Southwestern are leaving the SCAC for the SAA.

https://www.trinity.edu/news/trinity-university-athletics-moving-southern-athletic-association

Sounds like this will happen in 2025-26 for hoops?

[Pat Coleman]

Trinity and Southwestern are leaving the SCAC for the SAA.

https://www.trinity.edu/news/trinity-university-athletics-moving-southern-athletic-association

Sounds like this will happen in 2025-26 for hoops?

Yes, that's how it reads to me.

[Greek Tragedy]

So the CSAC and UEC are merging. Are they becoming a new conference, like the IIAC and the LMC a few years ago, where they lose the AQ for 4 years?

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

So the CSAC and UEC are merging. Are they becoming a new conference, like the IIAC and the LMC a few years ago, where they lose the AQ for 4 years?

It'd be only 2 years wouldn't it?
If they were smart they'd spin it as one expanding by accepting some teams then down the line they could make a conference name change.

[Greek Tragedy]

Also, Lycoming and Wilkes are joining the Landmark, making it 10 teams. Two divisions? Are they planning on playing an 18-game conference schedule?

[Gregory Sager]

So the CSAC and UEC are merging. Are they becoming a new conference, like the IIAC and the LMC a few years ago, where they lose the AQ for 4 years?

"A few years ago"? That was seventeen years ago.

Face it ... we're both getting old.

[ronk]

Also, Lycoming and Wilkes are joining the Landmark, making it 10 teams. Two divisions? Are they planning on playing an 18-game conference schedule?

18 game conference schedule; going from 11 nonconference games to 7 will put a premium on scheduling for SOS purposes.