New Paltz leaving the SUNYAC

[TIMBOSTEW]

Anyone have any idea what league New Paltz looking to jump too. I believe Brockport and Geneseo have left. What is going on with the SUNYAC?

[stlawus]

It won't be the Liberty League.  It looks like New Paltz is trying to have it both ways.  They cite travel and competitiveness/recruiting as reasons for leaving, but there are no conferences that can satisfy both.   If the Liberty League even took them there are still similar travel burdens compared to the SUNYAC.  The Skyline would completely tank competitiveness and recruiting.  Your only other somewhat realistic landing spots are the CCC and maybe NEWMAC, but there are still some long hauls to Boston, and that's if those conferences even accept them.

It does make one wonder how long Buff State and Fredonia will last in the SUNYAC, especially with Geneseo and Brockport leaving to due travel.  It's a longer trip for them to the North Country.  If they don't leave and the SUNYAC keeps adding the NAC SUNY schools you might start seeing divisions again like the old days.

West division: Fredonia, Buff State, Oswego, Cortland, Oneonta. 
East division: Potsdam, Plattsburgh, Canton, Delhi, Cobleskill, Morrisville. 

There is no perfect alignment obviously.

[TIMBOSTEW]

If the Liberty league went to an east west division format for basketball, like it has for  baseball, it would make sense. The east division teams are fairly close for New Paltz. It would dramatically decrease the mileage and hotel expenses for sure. I agree the Skyline Conference would not do anything for them as far as the competition is concerned. That is the only way I see them moving.