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Message: [QUOTE="huskymedic, post: 5086093, member: 549"] [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.dnronline.com/sports/sun-belt-leaders-discussing-possible-texas-state-departure/article_8ca6a6a9-6a7a-5d77-bc78-0f736e8814ef.html[/URL] -> Western Kentucky would seem like a logical candidate. The Hilltoppers have been consistently solid in multiple sports, including football and men's basketball, and had been rumored within the past few years to have pursued a spot in the MAC along with rival Middle Tennessee State. WKU is also a geographic fit that would actually tighten the footprint of the Sun Belt’s West Division if it replaced Texas State. The Hilltoppers have an athletic budget around $40 million per year, which is on par with several Sun Belt members. Middle Tennessee checks some of the same boxes and is a mid-major power in women’s basketball, though has not been as successful recently in football or men’s basketball. Jacksonville State, Florida International and Sam Houston all also fit the Sun Belt footprint to varying degrees, though FIU would fit better in the East Division and Jacksonville State and Sam Houston are recent FCS callups. Then there are Liberty and Louisiana Tech, who are logical fits for the conference in some ways, but would likely get push back from some members and certainly from several Sun Belt fan bases. Liberty would give the Sun Belt three teams in Virginia and fit best in the East Division. It's also a private religious school that has dealt with multiple scandals in recent years while the current Sun Belt is all public schools. Louisiana Tech would be the third SBC school in Louisiana if it joined, and neighbors Louisiana-Monroe. But there has historically been bad blood between Louisiana Tech and several long-time SBC members, fueled in part by former Tech AD Tommy McClelland saying in 2020 his school was above membership in the Sun Belt. However, sources late Saturday night told the Daily News-Record that with new faces in charge at Louisiana Tech, there may not be significant pushback against the Bulldogs from Sun Belt West schools. Western Kentucky could likely get a recommendation from the conference commissioner’s office to the league presidents if a Sun Belt slot opens in the coming days. But Louisiana, with its Lafayette campus a 10-hour drive away from Bowling Green, Ky., may be among schools more likely to push for Louisiana Tech. <- [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach