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Message: [QUOTE="Travelman6, post: 3913864, member: 7597"] I don't think the BE should expand BUT in a perfect world, we could give Depaul the boot and add just about anyone to replace them. It is important to avoid a one, or even two-trick pony like Loyola, whose long-term success is not guaranteed. They seem attractive because of their last 4 years but will we say the same in even 5 years' time? Dayton, St. Louis, VCU are the closest to fitting the bill if we could give DePaul the boot, but I know that won't happen. So strictly hypothetical. Before the 2018 FF run, they really didn't do much, since 1985 when they were a one-trick pony S16 team. Maybe [B]if in ten years[/B], Loyola is known as the Gonzaga of the Midwest they would be good to scoop up but that would require consistent tourney appearances for the next decade, like 9 out of 10 times, and at least a few more E8/S16 trips. Seems unlikely, and their past 2 runs in the last 3 tourneys have been fun to watch, but can it be sustained? St. Louis - 5 tourney appearances since 2000 - 3 total wins. 6 seasons below .500, 15 seasons above .500. 7 seasons with 20+ wins (3 25+ win seasons). Dayton - 8 tourney appearances since 2000, one elite 8 run - 6 total wins. 2 seasons below .500, 19 seasons above .500. 15 seasons with 20+ wins (6 25+ win seasons). VCU - 12 tourney appearances since 2000 (actually 2004), one FF - 9 total wins. 21 seasons above .500. 14 seasons with 20+ wins (and 10 25+ win seasons). vs Depaul - 2 tourney appearances since 2000, one win. 15 seasons below .500, 1 at .500, 5 above .500. 3 seasons with 20+ wins, ZERO 25+ win seasons. All three of those schools would be a better replacement, VCU being the top. Dayton a close second. Ditch Depaul! Liberty does not move the needle too much, not even close to St. Louis, team 3 of 3 above. Liberty - 4 tourney appearances, 1 win, 12 seasons below .500, 1 at .500, 8 seasons above .500, 5 seasons with 20+ wins (3 25+ win seasons). Liberty is closer to DePaul over the past 20 years than VCU or Dayton or even St. Louis. Hard pass unless they can maintain a solid decade of success. 2016-2021 is a very good start. Some people mentioned Buffalo. They have had a very solid 6 years, making the tourney 4 times since 2016 and winning twice and, generally, being competitive, even scoring a 6 seed in 2019. Similar to Liberty and Loyola, let's see if they can have another decade of prolonged success. Can they become the 'Zags of the East"? They made the NIT this year so maybe they are slipping? Buffalo - 4 tourney appearances, 2 wins, 6 seasons below .500, 15 seasons above .500, 9 seasons with 20+ wins (2 25+ win seasons). Still, I have more faith in Loyola, Buffalo, and Liberty to be more consistently good than UMass or Rhode Island. [/QUOTE]

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