Conference changes

[Greek Tragedy]

Going back to the ACAA. I find it odd that Finlandia is a part of this. As mentioned, they are trying to get into the UMAC and their men's basketball schedule was already integrated into the conference schedule. Was there a bump in Finlandia's road to the UMAC?

[Pat Coleman]

Going back to the ACAA. I find it odd that Finlandia is a part of this. As mentioned, they are trying to get into the UMAC and their men's basketball schedule was already integrated into the conference schedule. Was there a bump in Finlandia's road to the UMAC?

If I'm Finlandia, I'm making sure I have multiple baskets. There is no guarantee the UMAC actually wants Finlandia, after all.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Going back to the ACAA. I find it odd that Finlandia is a part of this. As mentioned, they are trying to get into the UMAC and their men's basketball schedule was already integrated into the conference schedule. Was there a bump in Finlandia's road to the UMAC?

If I'm Finlandia, I'm making sure I have multiple baskets. There is no guarantee the UMAC actually wants Finlandia, after all.

From what I hear, every member of the ACAA is free to bolt if they get a better offer.  They're all trying to get into other conferences; the ACAA is just a way to cover their bases if they aren't successful.

[KnightSlappy]

The PAC announced that Thomas More will be leaving the conference following the 2017-18 academic year.

http://pacathletics.org/news/2017/5/31/general-thomas-more-to-withdraw-from-pac.aspx

[KnightSlappy]

It's been a few pages so I'm bringing this forward again for the 2017-18 season. Feel free to add anything I've missed.

Conference Changes Starting in 2017-2018
Alfred State joins the newly formed ACAA
Berea joins the USAC
Daniel Webster closes its doors
Finlandia joins the ACAA
Ithaca leaves the E8 for the LL
Maine-Presque Isle joins the ACAA
Pine Manor joins the ACAA
Regis leaves the NECC for the GNAC
Rust leaves Division III for the NAIA
Sage leaves the SKY for the E8
SUNY-Canton joins the ACAA
Valley Forge joins the ACAA
Pfeiffer joins the USAC (1st year provisional in 2017-18)

Provisional Pipeline for 2017-2018
First year full members: Berea**, Bryn Athyn**, Penn College**
*4th year provisional members:  Alfred State**, Illinois Tech**, Iowa Wesleyan**, McMurry (reclassifying)**
*3rd year provisional members: Belhaven**
2nd year provisional members: none
1st year provisional members: Brevard, Dean, Pfeiffer
Exploratory: SUNY-Delhi, Johnson and Wales (Col.)
*Games against Year 3 and 4 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes
** Assuming advancement as expected, I don't think we have confirmation yet.

Conference Changes Starting in 2018-2019
Castleton leaves the NAC for the LEC
Colby-Sawyer leaves the NAC for the GNAC
Eastern Nazarene leaves the CCC for the NECC
Illinois Tech joins the NACC
Thomas More leaves the PAC for ?

[Smitty Oom]

Thanks Knight Slappy!! What is your guys best guess for where Thomas More will end up?

[HOPEful]

Thanks Knight Slappy!! What is your guys best guess for where Thomas More will end up?

HCAC would make the most sense geographically. An in conference Catholic rivalry with Mount St. Joseph?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Thanks Knight Slappy!! What is your guys best guess for where Thomas More will end up?

HCAC would make the most sense geographically. An in conference Catholic rivalry with Mount St. Joseph?

Not really... don't think the Heartland wants anything to do with TMC. The imbalance would probably be as severe if not more than the PAC imbalance. If anything, maybe the OAC or NCAC... highly doubt there are any other suiters.

[HOPEful]

Thanks Knight Slappy!! What is your guys best guess for where Thomas More will end up?

HCAC would make the most sense geographically. An in conference Catholic rivalry with Mount St. Joseph?

Not really... don't think the Heartland wants anything to do with TMC. The imbalance would probably be as severe if not more than the PAC imbalance. If anything, maybe the OAC or NCAC... highly doubt there are any other suiters.

I said geographically. I agree with you, competitively, the OAC or NCAC make more sense.

[Pat Coleman]

The NCAC schools certainly wouldn't think that Thomas More fits their profile and the HCAC had a decade to accept Thomas More and did not do so.

I wonder about the possibility of Thomas More going to the OAC and Wilmington returning to the HCAC, where they have a chance to be more competitive.

[Gregory Sager]

One has to assume that Thomas More thought this out before exiting the PAC, but it's hard to fathom the school's motives. When a school moves from one conference to another, the exit is typically announced simultaneously with the entrance. All we got here, from both the PAC and Thomas More, was the exit. There wasn't even an advance notice included in the TMC press release that a follow-up announcement was imminent. Perhaps I'm just overthinking this, but it doesn't strike me as logical that TMC would simply leap off of a cliff without a parachute -- particularly since TMC isn't located in D3-saturated New England. There's a limited number of conference options available for a D3 school in northern Kentucky.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

One has to assume that Thomas More thought this out before exiting the PAC, but it's hard to fathom the school's motives. When a school moves from one conference to another, the exit is typically announced simultaneously with the entrance. All we got here, from both the PAC and Thomas More, was the exit. There wasn't even an advance notice included in the TMC press release that a follow-up announcement was imminent. Perhaps I'm just overthinking this, but it doesn't strike me as logical that TMC would simply leap off of a cliff without a parachute -- particularly since TMC isn't located in D3-saturated New England. There's a limited number of conference options available for a D3 school in northern Kentucky.

I am working to be able to say more... but let's just say there wasn't exactly a plan in the works.

[Gregory Sager]

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

One location that hasn't been mentioned yet... what about the SAA? It's a bit far to Hendrix and Millsaps but Centre is only 2 hours away if they need a travel partner.

Another possibility is a potential change in division... although they could have just remained in the conference until they moved.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm pretty sure I saw an approved 2017-2018 provisional list somewhere.  I couldn't find it again today, but I think everyone has progressed on schedule for next year.