Conference changes

[Pat Coleman]

I think so, and also the MIAC wouldn't generally be into having a state school in their league, either.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I bet the C2C would take them!

[KnightSlappy]

ASC might kick the tires as well 

[CNU85]

y'all have jokes! 

[KnightSlappy]

I'm not sure how many updates I missed while d3boards was slumbering.

Provisional Pipeline for 2023-24
Full membership fall 2023: MUW
3rd year provisional members (full membership fall 2024): Asbury, Warren Wilson
2nd year provisional members: Hartford, Lyon
1st year provisional members: Carlow
Exploratory: Penn State-Brandywine

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

Provisional Pipeline for 2024-25
Exploratory: Regent, Mayville State, Johnson and Wales (NC)

Conference Changes Starting in 2023-2024
Bryn Athyn leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Cairn leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Carlow joins the AMCC
Cazenovia (NAC) closes
Cedar Crest leaves the CSAC for the UEC (sponsor women's sports only)
Clarks Summit leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Eastern Nazarene leaves the NECC for the NAC
Finlandia (C2C) closes
Hartford joins the CCC
Keystone leaves the CSAC for the UEC
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
Medaille (E8) closes
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 UEC
Rosemont leaves the CSAC for the UEC
St. Elizabeth leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Salve Regina leaves the CCC for the NEWMAC
Sul Ross State (ASC) begins reclassification period to D2 (waiver allows them to count for primary criteria, ineligible for postseason)
Valley Forge leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Wells leaves the UEC for the AMCC
Wilkes leaves the MAC Freedom for the Landmark
Wilson leaves the CSAC for the UEC
NECC no longer a basketball conference due to losing all members (Pool A goes away)
CSAC dissolves (Pool A bid goes away)
Expecting 42 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 22 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2024-2025
Asbury joins the CCS
Berea leaves the CCS for the HCAC
Brockport leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
Cabrini (AEC) closes
Concordia (Texas) leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Defiance (HCAC) leaves D3 for NAIA.
Fontbonne athletics in limbo? (closing in 2025-26)
Johnson & Wales leaves the GNAC for the CCC
McMurry leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Morrisville State leaves the UEC for the SUNYAC
Penn State-Brandywine joins the UEC (provisional pending)
Pratt leaves the C2C for the AEC
SUNY Canton leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
SUNY Geneseo leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
SUNY Poly leaves the NAC for the E8
Texas-Dallas leaves the ASC for D2 (application process pending)
University of the Ozarks leaves the ASC for the SCAC
CCS expected to gain Pool A bid
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2025-2026
Anna Maria leaves GNAC for the MASCAC
Fontbonne (SLIAC) closes
John Carroll leaves the OAC for the NCAC
Southwestern leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Trinity (Texas) leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

[KnightSlappy]

Fontbonne is closing after the 2024-25 academic year. Updated above.

https://twitter.com/d3hoops/status/1767229013913657435

[Greek Tragedy]

This may have been discussed before, but I was going to ask what the draw of the SCAC is over the ASC (with 3 teams moving), but then I saw 2 SCAC teams moving to the SAA the following year. Geography?

[Pat Coleman]

The super short version:

-> There are athletic programs trying to get away from Mary Hardin-Baylor, hence leaving the ASC.
-> The SCAC has a reputation of having higher academic standards, which is attractive for schools.
-> However, the SCAC no longer really lives up to that reputation, so Trinity and Southwestern left for the SAA, which does generally feature schools with higher academic standards.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Lots of rumors floating around Fort Wayne about conference changes upcoming - I suspect we'll see shuffling over the summer, even if those moves don't take place until after 24-25.

[Ralph Turner]

The super short version:

-> There are athletic programs trying to get away from Mary Hardin-Baylor, hence leaving the ASC.
-> The SCAC has a reputation of having higher academic standards, which is attractive for schools.
-> However, the SCAC no longer really lives up to that reputation, so Trinity and Southwestern left for the SAA, which does generally feature schools with higher academic standards.

More background on the SAA...

Trinity and Southwestern have long been members of the Associated Colleges of the South. It is a mission and vision thing. Centenary was D-1 for the first two decades of that organization's existence.

https://www.acsouth.edu/

[CNU85]

Old news but now official

https://www.regent.edu/news/regent-university-accepted-into-ncaa-exploratory-year/#:~:text=VIRGINIA%20BEACH%2C%20VA%20(Mar.,of%20membership%20in%20Division%20III.

[KnightSlappy]

Bluffton is merging with University of Findlay. The plan is for the two schools to continue to operate separate athletics departments (pending NCAA approval). Bluffton at the D3 level and Findlay at the D2 level.

https://www.bluffton.edu/news/-2023-24/032024merger.aspx

[Inkblot]

Birmingham–Southern is closing. https://www.d3sports.com/notables/2024/03/birmingham-southern-to-close

[Inkblot]

Bump.

Provisional Pipeline for 2023-24
Full membership fall 2023: MUW
3rd year provisional members (full membership fall 2024): Asbury, Warren Wilson
2nd year provisional members: Hartford, Lyon
1st year provisional members: Carlow
Exploratory: Penn State-Brandywine

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

Provisional Pipeline for 2024-25
Exploratory: Regent, Mayville State, Johnson and Wales (NC)

Conference Changes Starting in 2023-2024
Bryn Athyn leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Cairn leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Carlow joins the AMCC
Cazenovia (NAC) closes
Cedar Crest leaves the CSAC for the UEC (sponsor women's sports only)
Clarks Summit leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Eastern Nazarene leaves the NECC for the NAC
Finlandia (C2C) closes
Hartford joins the CCC
Keystone leaves the CSAC for the UEC
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
Medaille (E8) closes
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 UEC
Rosemont leaves the CSAC for the UEC
St. Elizabeth leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Salve Regina leaves the CCC for the NEWMAC
Sul Ross State (ASC) begins reclassification period to D2 (waiver allows them to count for primary criteria, ineligible for postseason)
Valley Forge leaves the CSAC for the UEC
Wells leaves the UEC for the AMCC
Wilkes leaves the MAC Freedom for the Landmark
Wilson leaves the CSAC for the UEC
NECC no longer a basketball conference due to losing all members (Pool A goes away)
CSAC dissolves (Pool A bid goes away)
Expecting 42 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 22 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2024-2025
Asbury joins the CCS
Berea leaves the CCS for the HCAC
Birmingham-Southern (SAA) closes
Brockport leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
Cabrini (AEC) closes
Concordia (Texas) leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Defiance (HCAC) leaves D3 for NAIA.
Fontbonne athletics in limbo? (closing in 2025-26)
Johnson & Wales leaves the GNAC for the CCC
McMurry leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Morrisville State leaves the UEC for the SUNYAC
Penn State-Brandywine joins the UEC (provisional pending)
Pratt leaves the C2C for the AEC
SUNY Canton leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
SUNY Geneseo leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
SUNY Poly leaves the NAC for the E8
Texas-Dallas leaves the ASC for D2 (application process pending)
University of the Ozarks leaves the ASC for the SCAC
CCS expected to gain Pool A bid
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2025-2026
Anna Maria leaves GNAC for the MASCAC
Fontbonne (SLIAC) closes
John Carroll leaves the OAC for the NCAC
Southwestern leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Trinity (Texas) leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

[jeffconn]

Birmingham–Southern is closing. https://www.d3sports.com/notables/2024/03/birmingham-southern-to-close

The Southern Athletic Association will drop to 7 schools this fall, and rise to 9 in 2025. As far as i can tell, none of the team sports will drop below 6 participants.

Is it time for the SAA to talk to the 5 remaining members of the American Southwest Conference? They have to see the writing on the wall, with multiple small liberal colleges closing every year. In my opinion, all lower division conferences with small private colleges should be looking to boost their membership above 10 members, as a buffer against future school closings.