The Summit League is in the second day of its three-day annual June meetings near the league office in Chicago and so far, all is quiet on the membership front. Specifically, that would mean Oakland University.
Rumors of Oakland and the Horizon League hooking up have persisted for months with OU doing nothing to squelch them. Movement in the Horizon began when staple member Butler announced it was moving to the Atlantic 10 Conference beginning next year. When contacted Tuesday morning, NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor said, “Obviously membership is always a topic of conversation but there is nothing new other than to monitor it right now.”
Oral Roberts is leaving for the Southland Conference and Southern Utah found another home in the Big Sky Conference beginning next year. With Nebraksa-Omaha coming aboard, that will put the Summit at nine teams.
“Oakland is still in the league and we know we’re going to lose Oral Roberts and Southern Utah,” Taylor said.
Jeff, could you comment on any worries about losing qualifcation status for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament? Or any other tourneys for that matter?
So if that’s what they’re not talking about, what are they talking about?
My understanding is the six-schools-together-for-two-years stipulation for AQ status has been removed, mainly because of all the major conference shuffling. You need six schools, period, so if OU leaves, still no problem there. Now if IUPUI and IPFW go the Horizon route, then Summit is down to six with UNO still not at full D-1 membership status. Not sure how that would play out.
What other schools could join the Summit and be a good fit. The Big Sky is huge conference but what they do have going for them is a huge base and if one school leaves, the conference will still be strong. Also, any word on any conversation with Missouri Valley Conference being the future home of Bison athletics? I would think that with all the success NDSU has had in the Summit and the quality of the current and soon to be constructed facilities; NDSU would be an attractive choice. Right now I believe that the Valley has the number of schools they feel they want but with the ever changing landscape of conference movement, the Valley might want to bolster it’s number of members.
Good question Jeff. I think the Bison really need to get the Track facility and the Sanford Health Athletic Complex finished. With the way NDSU performed in the Summit League this year I think the Missouri Valley Conference has to be at least keeping an eye on the Bison. The new facilities will help but the Bison basketball teams have to step up in hoops. The men have been good but the women’s program needs to take some big steps forward this year. We are champs in football but the Missouri Valley is more interested in good basketball programs.
Last spoke with UNI AD Troy Dannen on that subject in February, told me that the MVC will NOT look at NDSU or any other school that’s “not consisently making or threatning NCAA Basketball Tournament.” Granted the landscape of college sports is changing by the minute, by the Valley despite all rumors, has not lost ONE school, they still sit at a perfect 10 right now. Might take a major earth-shattering move (Creighton leaving) for the Valley to want to act at this moment. Here’s the interview I did with Dannen, go 11 minutes in to hear his response on NDSU and the Valley: http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/59626/group/Sports/
The shac will renvigorate the fan base and bring in better players. Couple that with one of the top teams leaving in ORU and we have an opportunity to make some regular noise in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Get Minneapolis as a hosting site and then we can get a home court advantage.
Why interview uni guy? You do enough with und on wday/wdaz, now your interviewing ndsu’s real rival? My o my!! btw Vote no, Vote often on all measures
The MVC does seem solid. The Summit, on the other hand, is a revolving door and not highly regarded and never will be with the constant comings and goings.
Summit is average and not nearly as strong as the MVC but we actually have a good chance of dominating the summit. It will take years before we can compete regularly in the MVC but its a chance to seriously step up the level of play and build on some great rivalries in Indiana State. Southern Illinois. Northern Iowa, Illinois State, and Missouri State. Plus throw in Creighton, Wichita, and Bradley and were literally in a different league exposure and competition wide.
Und gets brought up on a bison blog because Dom mentions UNI AD? Congratulations on your unhealthy obsession. Anyone who votes no for the sole purpose of harming UND is ignorant and probably borderline psychopathic.
Or giving them what they so desperately wanted a year ago.
JR I was talking to wday/forum’ obsession with already including an out of town university other than their own.cities (NDSU)
Vote no because thats what they wanted, the flip floppers
If certain things happened the Summit league could coming crashing down. I hope it doesn’t come to that.
Hi.
Hi UND.