Basketball Move-Ups

[YoungFree]

So I know a lot of conference realignment has been based on football over the past decade but what about those DII schools looking to make the jump to DI basketball? I've done some research and created a super short list of schools that could make the jump if they can get the money for scholarships.

The schools below all meet the minimum numbers of sports to be classified a DI school, all have a student population above 11,000 are in towns with more than 10,000 people and within short driving distances of larger towns, and all average over 1,000 attendees to each home game (many current DI schools don't average above 1,000 attendees).

Take a gander at the resumes below and let me know what you think.

University of Central Missouri Mules (2014 & 1984 National Champions)
2012-2018 Record: 132-54 (0-6 vs. DI schools)
NCAA Tourney History:
2014-15: Lost in 2nd Round
2013-14: Won Championship
2012-13: Lost in 1st Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Missouri Valley or WAC

Ferris State University Bulldogs (2018 National Champions)
2012-2018 Record: 137-54 (2-7 vs. DI schools: beat Bowling Green & Illinois State)
NCAA Tourney History:
2017-18: Won Championship
2016-17: Lost in 2nd Round
2015-16: Lost in 3rd Round
2014-15: Lost in 1st Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Horizon, Missouri Valley, or Summit

Fort Hays State University Tigers (1996 National Champions)
2012-2018 Record: 115-63 (0-5 vs. DI schools)
NCAA Tourney History:
2015-16: Lost in NCAA 1st Round
2013-14: Lost in NCAA 1st Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Big Sky, Missouri Valley, Summit, or WAC

Minnesota State University Mavericks
2012-2018 Record: 149-48 (0-2 vs DI schools)
NCAA Tourney History:
2017-18: Lost in 3rd Round
2015-16: Lost in 2nd Round
2014-15: Lost in 1st Round
2013-14: Lost in 2nd Round
2012-13: Lost in 3rd Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Horizon or Summit

University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (1995 National Champions, 2004 & 1994 Runners Up)
2012-2018 Record: 131-49 (1-6 vs. DI schools: beat Eastern Illinois)
NCAA Tourney History:
2016-17: Lost in 1st Round
2013-14: Lost in 1st Round
2012-13: Lost in 2nd Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Conf USA, Horizon, Missouri Valley, or Ohio Valley

 

[YoungFree]

As a point of reference, California Baptist University will be moving up for the 2018-19 season in the WAC.

From 2013-2018 they were 132-29 and 1-1 vs. D1 schools with a win over Northern Arizona. Their NCAA History is:

17-18: Lost in Elite 8
16-17: Lost in 2nd Round
15-16: Lost in 2nd Round
14-15: Lost in 3rd Round
13-14: Lost in 1st Round

The student body is only 9,941 but the city does have over 324,000 people. Their newly built CBU Events Center sits over 5,000 folks but I haven't found their average attendance just yet.

 

[Fishy]

All of them definitely sound like real schools.

Past that, I don’t know what you’re asking for.

 

[UCHuskies08]

Man, you know you're really scraping the bottom of the conference realignment barrel at this point with these topics

 

[Purple Stein]

I think it's interesting to think about, but I think you need to put performance aside. It's not promotion/relegation -- moving up a level is more likely about $$ or the ambition of an institution, president, or board.

 

[YoungFree]

Man, you know you're really scraping the bottom of the conference realignment barrel at this point with these topics

Lol, yup. Just something to chat about.

 

[YoungFree]

I think it's interesting to think about, but I think you need to put performance aside. It's not promotion/relegation -- moving up a level is more likely about $$ or the ambition of an institution, president, or board.

Interesting you say promotion/relegation...is there a thread to discuss that?

 

[YoungFree]

All of them definitely sound like real schools.

Past that, I don’t know what you’re asking for.

Just seeing if I could gen up conversation. Breaking-up the eventful day at work yesterday.

 

[Guapo]

So I know a lot of conference realignment has been based on football over the past decade but what about those DII schools looking to make the jump to DI basketball? I've done some research and created a super short list of schools that could make the jump if they can get the money for scholarships.

The schools below all meet the minimum numbers of sports to be classified a DI school, all have a student population above 11,000 are in towns with more than 10,000 people and within short driving distances of larger towns, and all average over 1,000 attendees to each home game (many current DI schools don't average above 1,000 attendees).

Take a gander at the resumes below and let me know what you think.

University of Central Missouri Mules (2014 & 1984 National Champions)
2012-2018 Record: 132-54 (0-6 vs. DI schools)
NCAA Tourney History:
2014-15: Lost in 2nd Round
2013-14: Won Championship
2012-13: Lost in 1st Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Missouri Valley or WAC

Ferris State University Bulldogs (2018 National Champions)
2012-2018 Record: 137-54 (2-7 vs. DI schools: beat Bowling Green & Illinois State)
NCAA Tourney History:
2017-18: Won Championship
2016-17: Lost in 2nd Round
2015-16: Lost in 3rd Round
2014-15: Lost in 1st Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Horizon, Missouri Valley, or Summit

Fort Hays State University Tigers (1996 National Champions)
2012-2018 Record: 115-63 (0-5 vs. DI schools)
NCAA Tourney History:
2015-16: Lost in NCAA 1st Round
2013-14: Lost in NCAA 1st Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Big Sky, Missouri Valley, Summit, or WAC

Minnesota State University Mavericks
2012-2018 Record: 149-48 (0-2 vs DI schools)
NCAA Tourney History:
2017-18: Lost in 3rd Round
2015-16: Lost in 2nd Round
2014-15: Lost in 1st Round
2013-14: Lost in 2nd Round
2012-13: Lost in 3rd Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Horizon or Summit

University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (1995 National Champions, 2004 & 1994 Runners Up)
2012-2018 Record: 131-49 (1-6 vs. DI schools: beat Eastern Illinois)
NCAA Tourney History:
2016-17: Lost in 1st Round
2013-14: Lost in 1st Round
2012-13: Lost in 2nd Round
Future Conference Affiliation: Conf USA, Horizon, Missouri Valley, or Ohio Valley

FWIW I'm surprised Ferris State isn't already D1.

They have a good hockey program with a large fan base.

 

[YoungFree]

FWIW I'm surprised Ferris State isn't already D1.

They have a good hockey program with a large fan base.

I don't see Ferris State lasting in DII that much longer. They are consistently playing well and have at least beaten 2 DI teams.

 

[dayooper]

FWIW I'm surprised Ferris State isn't already D1.

They have a good hockey program with a large fan base.

I don't see Ferris State lasting in DII that much longer. They are consistently playing well and have at least beaten 2 DI teams.

As a resident of Michigan who played against Ferris St (20 years ago) and is a fan of the GLIAC, my fairly educated guess is they will stay right where they are. Ferris has many obstacles in going D1: money, support and location stand in the way. They have about 15000 students (9th largest in Michigan) and are in the middle of nowhere. Big Rapids has about 11,000 people, but the surrounding are is very sparse and, while the local support is very good, there just isn’t the population in Northern Lower Michigan to support another D1 school. The closest major airport is an hour away (Grand Rapids) and there is nothing in between.

Here’s the biggest issue, Ferris is not a basketball school. It’s a football/hockey school that has had an increadible run in basketball. Yes, they have been phenomenal in the past couple of years. That doesn’t mean they need to move up to D1. They will not push their football team down to go up to D1 basketball. Their Arena is tiny, only holds 2400 and is relatively new (1999).

This is Jim Wink Arena, their home. The Wink just isn’t a D1 arena. Sure they could play in Van Andle Arena in Grand Rapids could hold a D1 program, but it’s an hour away. The cost to build a new one is something that FSU just can’t afford right now.

Unless Ferris changes who they are (a regional technological/optometry/pharmacology school) and decides to go national, their really isn’t a reason for FSU to invest the money and resources to jump up to D1. Teams of the GLIAC are mostly regional (with Wayne St being the only very large somewhat national program) and provide a great service to the residents of Michigan in their education. In my humble opinion, going D1 is not something that Ferris is willing to do.

 

[YoungFree]

As a resident of Michigan who played against Ferris St (20 years ago) and is a fan of the GLIAC, my fairly educated guess is they will stay right where they are. Ferris has many obstacles in going D1: money, support and location stand in the way. They have about 15000 students (9th largest in Michigan) and are in the middle of nowhere. Big Rapids has about 11,000 people, but the surrounding are is very sparse and, while the local support is very good, there just isn’t the population in Northern Lower Michigan to support another D1 school. The closest major airport is an hour away (Grand Rapids) and there is nothing in between.

Here’s the biggest issue, Ferris is not a basketball school. It’s a football/hockey school that has had an increadible run in basketball. Yes, they have been phenomenal in the past couple of years. That doesn’t mean they need to move up to D1. They will not push their football team down to go up to D1 basketball. Their Arena is tiny, only holds 2400 and is relatively new (1999).

This is Jim Wink Arena, their home. The Wink just isn’t a D1 arena. Sure they could play in Van Andle Arena in Grand Rapids could hold a D1 program, but it’s an hour away. The cost to build a new one is something that FSU just can’t afford right now.

Unless Ferris changes who they are (a regional technological/optometry/pharmacology school) and decides to go national, their really isn’t a reason for FSU to invest the money and resources to jump up to D1. Teams of the GLIAC are mostly regional (with Wayne St being the only very large somewhat national program) and provide a great service to the residents of Michigan in their education. In my humble opinion, going D1 is not something that Ferris is willing to do.

I'm not arguing your stance or opinion as it is clearly more educated than mine but how is this not a D1 arena compared to say Bryant or Stony Brook?

 

[dayooper]

I'm not arguing your stance or opinion as it is clearly more educated than mine but how is this not a D1 arena compared to say Bryant or Stony Brook?

They shouldn’t be D1 arenas, in my opinion. Just because a school has a small arena doesn’t mean that becomes the norm.

 

[huskyrob1]

Lol, yup. Just something to chat about.

You should have retitled it...."If Kevin Ollie wants a job".

 

[huskyrob1]

I'm not arguing your stance or opinion as it is clearly more educated than mine but how is this not a D1 arena compared to say Bryant or Stony Brook?

Was Alumni Hall at Fairfield U a D1 arena before Bridgeport built Harbor Yard?

 

[billybud]

Ferris State averaged 1,074 in attendance last season....which is on a par with UMass Lowell, Abilene Christian, and Incarnate Word (teams transitioning to Div,I)

 

[YoungFree]

Was Alumni Hall at Fairfield U a D1 arena before Bridgeport built Harbor Yard?

Don't know...never visited those places. When I lived in CT you didn't go into Bridgeport unless you were desperate and we never went over to Fairfield except for high school basketball tournaments when my sister was a cheerleader.

 

[whaler11]

As a resident of Michigan who played against Ferris St (20 years ago) and is a fan of the GLIAC, my fairly educated guess is they will stay right where they are. Ferris has many obstacles in going D1: money, support and location stand in the way. They have about 15000 students (9th largest in Michigan) and are in the middle of nowhere. Big Rapids has about 11,000 people, but the surrounding are is very sparse and, while the local support is very good, there just isn’t the population in Northern Lower Michigan to support another D1 school. The closest major airport is an hour away (Grand Rapids) and there is nothing in between.

Here’s the biggest issue, Ferris is not a basketball school. It’s a football/hockey school that has had an increadible run in basketball. Yes, they have been phenomenal in the past couple of years. That doesn’t mean they need to move up to D1. They will not push their football team down to go up to D1 basketball. Their Arena is tiny, only holds 2400 and is relatively new (1999).

This is Jim Wink Arena, their home. The Wink just isn’t a D1 arena. Sure they could play in Van Andle Arena in Grand Rapids could hold a D1 program, but it’s an hour away. The cost to build a new one is something that FSU just can’t afford right now.

Unless Ferris changes who they are (a regional technological/optometry/pharmacology school) and decides to go national, their really isn’t a reason for FSU to invest the money and resources to jump up to D1. Teams of the GLIAC are mostly regional (with Wayne St being the only very large somewhat national program) and provide a great service to the residents of Michigan in their education. In my humble opinion, going D1 is not something that Ferris is willing to do.

That gym is better than half the NEC.

 

[dbmill]

Was Alumni Hall at Fairfield U a D1 arena before Bridgeport built Harbor Yard?

Yes.

 

[gioff23]

Wait - is Hayden Fox still coaching football at Minnesota State? If so, let’s add them to the AAC.

 

[huskymedic]

Wait - is Hayden Fox still coaching football at Minnesota State? If so, let’s add them to the AAC.

Nah... he retired and handed over the reins to Coach in Waiting Dauber.