CAA Expansion

[EvanJ]

As for multiple NCAAT bids for a newly formed 12-team mid-major league, I'll believe it when I see it. How many at-large bids has the A10 received in recent years?

3 at-large in 2012, 4 in 2013, and 5 (tied for the second most) in 2014. Then down to 2 in 2015 to 2018, 1 in 2019, no tournament in 2020, and 1 in 2021. I attached a table with each conference's bids from 1985 to 2019.

[Jojogunne]

Thanks, Evan. You are the man!

So there is hope for at least two teams from the expanded CAA to make the NCAAT.

[stuball888]

So here is another issue we may have with the CAA expanding.
We will now be recruiting directly against SBU and Monmouth. Being the only NY area team may have had its advantage. Now we have three teams in the metro area. We cant use our location as an advantage anymore.

[triplec2195]

So here is another issue we may have with the CAA expanding.
We will now be recruiting directly against SBU and Monmouth. Being the only NY area team may have had its advantage. Now we have three teams in the metro area. We cant use our location as an advantage anymore.

I don't really see how expanding this conference benefits us in any way. Quite the opposite could be true watering down the conference with extra teams. Is it realistic that we could/would get another bid to the NCAA. I've seen local coverage of these teams joining the CAA and the upside is for the teams that have joined going into a better conference and getting better seeds in the tourneys,etc. and helping recruiting but where is the upside for the existing schools especially us?? Please someone enlighten me here.

[HUSID80]

Stronger conference, more and better local rivalries, increased media coverage, maybe the conference championship will be held in an area arena, UBS?
Better attendance, better tv deals.
Maybe even a second bid if we add more schools.
Area recruits will be more aware of the CAA and will be more receptive to attending Hofstra.
Just a few off the top of my head!

[Wags]

And of course the CAA tournament further north than DC seems to be a forgone conclusion now. Of course I am sure we all would love UBS or the coliseum but even something in Philadelphia would be better and is doable as a day trip.

We keep talking about geography relative to this, but the CAA wants to sell seats and wants to do so in an arena that wouldn't look mostly empty for the CAA tournament.

D.C. was attractive because of its more central location to all CAA teams vs. the more southern tourney locations in the past, but mainly because D.C. has a small arena that capacity-wise, works for the CAA. It's obviously not the 20,000+ seat arena where the Wizards play, it's the 4,200-seat arena where the Wizards practice and where the WNBA's Mystics play.

I don't see the likes of Stony Brook, Monmouth or Hampton making a tremendous difference, along with the other nine teams the CAA will have, in changing those seating needs. Although the league has ambitions, and we would love the tourney at the Colisuem or UBS, we and the CAA know what the league is. The conference doesn't want to put crowds of 3,000 - 4,000 (if it would even be that much) in Nassau Coliseum (14,500 capacity), UBS (18,000) or Philadelphia (20,000+) - if the Wells Fargo Center is being suggested here for that city. So, farther north than D.C. is not a forgone conclusion by any means unless there's an arena farther north that's a similar size and as nice an arena for that size as the Entertainment & Sports Arena in D.C. I don't think there are too many options in that regard.

[HofstraPride1]

And of course the CAA tournament further north than DC seems to be a forgone conclusion now. Of course I am sure we all would love UBS or the coliseum but even something in Philadelphia would be better and is doable as a day trip.

We keep talking about geography relative to this, but the CAA wants to sell seats and wants to do so in an arena that wouldn't look mostly empty for the CAA tournament.

D.C. was attractive because of its more central location to all CAA teams vs. the more southern tourney locations in the past, but mainly because D.C. has a small arena that capacity-wise, works for the CAA. It's obviously not the 20,000+ seat arena where the Wizards play, it's the 4,200-seat arena where the Wizards practice and where the WNBA's Mystics play.

I don't see the likes of Stony Brook, Monmouth or Hampton making a tremendous difference, along with the other nine teams the CAA will have, in changing those seating needs. Although the league has ambitions, and we would love the tourney at the Colisuem or UBS, we and the CAA know what the league is. The conference doesn't want to put crowds of 3,000 - 4,000 (if it would even be that much) in Nassau Coliseum (14,500 capacity), UBS (18,000) or Philadelphia (20,000+) - if the Wells Fargo Center is being suggested here for that city. So, farther north than D.C. is not a forgone conclusion by any means unless there's an arena farther north that's a similar size and as nice an arena for that size as the Entertainment & Sports Arena in D.C. I don't think there are too many options in that regard.

One possibility could be Atlantic City where the MAAC has held its tourney in past and whose arena seats 10,500. It used to be controversial to hold a college tourney in a casino city but def less so now with sports betting legalized and Atlantic City is also making efforts to expand its economy beyond gaming.

[HofstraPride1]

Another CAA expansion article from College of Charleston perspective https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/c ... 53226.html

[Polito]

This expansion sucks for HU, mark my words. This is only good for the CAA. And some need to wake up if you think this was about basketball. This was about FOOTBALL. And football only. This was about protecting football post JMU. That's it. You guys are duping yourselves if you believe this was to help hoops. What in the world about this expansion screams we are all in on hoops and want to significantly better our basketball presence?? Nada.

HUSID you are dreaming my friend, or lost, or sleeping. Not one of the things you mentioned will happen.

There is not a chance in hell the CAA gets a 2nd bid. The NCAA does not care one iota about this conf. What P5 team do you think they're leaving out for a CAA team? Monmouth couldn't even get one the year they beat like 7 P5/Major teams and national attention. What is this myth you keep promoting that being a bigger low to average mid major means you can get another bid? Please show that proof. Would love to see it. And this conf is nowhere near the A10, not sure why anyone is even looking at that. And even THEY don't always get multiple, this CAA has literally zero chance.

Increased media coverage? From who? The Daily Hawk or whatever their student paper is? 2 of the 3 teams are in the same tri state area lol - and Hampton is second fiddle at best to ODU in theirs.

The CAA conf tourney in the NY?! lol good gracious what are you smoking in FL? Based on what fanbase to pay for the overpriced location? HU and SBU couldn't sell out their own arenas even if they combined their average attendance lol

Better TV?!?! Holy cow, I nearly fell off my chair on this one. Expecting TV stations to be clamoring for the extra 1k eyeballs? And why in the world would recruiting uptick by adding those schools? What high end recruit gives one crap about those 3 teams?

I'm breaking chops here a bit, HUSID knows I have nothing but love for him, but I stand by every bit - this expansion is garbage.

The ONLY northeast teams worth a damn are Iona and Vermont. That's it. The only two that could even move the dial at all. And both would be out of their minds, certifiably insane, to leave their current situation and come to the CAA. Both of those programs run circles around the CAA, and are living the dream making the dance every year.

CAA has no shot at either of them. So they added 3 low majors. And they are possibly looking at more? lol good gracious. What the hell for? Teams will literally NEVER make the dance. And sadly HU is prob one of them.

And who keeps thinking Iona is only something because of Pitino?? We forgetting Cluess, who also ran circles around HU and the CAA putting his team in the dance more in his time their than HU has done in it's entire existence? How about Ruland before that? Iona has the success we literally DREAM about. And frankly so does Vermont. They are much more nationally recognized because of it too. Jealous.

If anything HOFSTRA should leave the CAA. To almost anywhere else. Way too much focus on sports that don't matter. It's football and basketball, that's it folks. May not like it, but the only two that matter in the NCAA. Softball, Lax, Wrestling, Soccer, I love em all too, but they don't mean squat. Football and Hoops pay the bills. And HU needs to start prioritizing the DANCE for once. Or fall off the oblivion cliff, which it's very close to doing.

[HUclassof19]

This expansion sucks for HU, mark my words. This is only good for the CAA. And some need to wake up if you think this was about basketball. This was about FOOTBALL. And football only. This was about protecting football post JMU. That's it. You guys are duping yourselves if you believe this was to help hoops. What in the world about this expansion screams we are all in on hoops and want to significantly better our basketball presence?? Nada.

HUSID you are dreaming my friend, or lost, or sleeping. Not one of the things you mentioned will happen.

There is not a chance in hell the CAA gets a 2nd bid. The NCAA does not care one iota about this conf. What P5 team do you think they're leaving out for a CAA team? Monmouth couldn't even get one the year they beat like 7 P5/Major teams and national attention. What is this myth you keep promoting that being a bigger low to average mid major means you can get another bid? Please show that proof. Would love to see it. And this conf is nowhere near the A10, not sure why anyone is even looking at that. And even THEY don't always get multiple, this CAA has literally zero chance.

Increased media coverage? From who? The Daily Hawk or whatever their student paper is? 2 of the 3 teams are in the same tri state area lol - and Hampton is second fiddle at best to ODU in theirs.

The CAA conf tourney in the NY?! lol good gracious what are you smoking in FL? Based on what fanbase to pay for the overpriced location? HU and SBU couldn't sell out their own arenas even if they combined their average attendance lol

Better TV?!?! Holy cow, I nearly fell off my chair on this one. Expecting TV stations to be clamoring for the extra 1k eyeballs? And why in the world would recruiting uptick by adding those schools? What high end recruit gives one crap about those 3 teams?

I'm breaking chops here a bit, HUSID knows I have nothing but love for him, but I stand by every bit - this expansion is garbage.

The ONLY northeast teams worth a damn are Iona and Vermont. That's it. The only two that could even move the dial at all. And both would be out of their minds, certifiably insane, to leave their current situation and come to the CAA. Both of those programs run circles around the CAA, and are living the dream making the dance every year.

CAA has no shot at either of them. So they added 3 low majors. And they are possibly looking at more? lol good gracious. What the hell for? Teams will literally NEVER make the dance. And sadly HU is prob one of them.

And who keeps thinking Iona is only something because of Pitino?? We forgetting Cluess, who also ran circles around HU and the CAA putting his team in the dance more in his time their than HU has done in it's entire existence? How about Ruland before that? Iona has the success we literally DREAM about. And frankly so does Vermont. They are much more nationally recognized because of it too. Jealous.

If anything HOFSTRA should leave the CAA. To almost anywhere else. Way too much focus on sports that don't matter. It's football and basketball, that's it folks. May not like it, but the only two that matter in the NCAA. Softball, Lax, Wrestling, Soccer, I love em all too, but they don't mean squat. Football and Hoops pay the bills. And HU needs to start prioritizing the DANCE for once. Or fall off the oblivion cliff, which it's very close to doing.

always the smartest guy in the room. no one elses opinion ever matters.

[HUSID80]

Polito luv you man but I think you got brain freeze from too much snow!

The name of the game is numbers…the CAA will try and go to 16 teams which will eventually lead to two divisions then ultimately a split leaving us in the north with a pretty solid mid major conference.

You must look beyond your nose and what’s right in front of you….adding more metro area teams will help raise our and the league’s profile in NY and the Monmouth rivalry can become a good one.

With more teams the CAA will get an ESPN deal, leaving Flo in the dust.

My man Pols get your head or arse out of that snow bank and think for a moment down the road for once!

[stuball888]

I think the reason for expansion is to lessen the pain if we have more defections. Say Delaware and Towson and W&M leave because of football.

[HUSID80]

I think the reason for expansion is to lessen the pain if we have more defections. Say Delaware and Towson and W&M leave because of football.

Part of it Stu but those schools are not leaving…more likely UNCW and Charleston.

[Polito]

HUSID, love ya friend

Forgive me classof19, we are buddies, so I'm sure to your youthful brain these messages get misinterpreted don't worry, all is well, he doesn't need you to come in and help him, he'll just text me!

All I'll say to you is... R E N T F R E E move along youngin. Mom's got food ready for ya, and the laundry done - go play outside in the snow. Will have some hot chocolate after, and pop on a family movie. I mean that's what I'm doing with my kids today too. LOL


Don't stress my posts or let them get to ya, they're passionate, and sometimes too 'extra' lol - but you know what's crazy?? They're right. <--


Anyhoo, MR SID, I actually don't mind the regional split that they'll be heading to - that part makes sense. Some fun local matchups, agree again. But a 16 team crappy low-mid major is silly. HU can't even win the conf it's in NOW, you want to make the road harder?? You actually want to see this team in the NCAAT again in your lifetime, or nah?

And helping you rival at this level is about the dumbest thing you can do as a mid major. The ONLY time that makes any sense is when you are a P5 program and it's a big benefit when your rival is a legit top 25 team. HU and SBU are obviously nowhere near that, so this move is about as moronic as it gets. HU will continue to split losses with a no name team, and one day get outshined with them in the dance, stealing all those recruits you think are going to be attracted to this league.

And if you think the CAA is going from Flosports to ESPN, as if they would be attracted to these chintzy added programs, you are high as kite perhaps try a more logical progression, say maybe a regional sports deal as a possible goal. Even that's a stretch. That will only happen if the CAA leadership has the brain and skill to pull it off, which they've proven they do not.

Long road and tough times ahead folks, prepare. Of course other more forward thinking programs will exit - the ones that have bigger aspirations to be something better and to focus on their hoops instead of floundering a conf that is focusing on football.

Hofstra should leave. ASAP. I mean that.

[HUSID80]

We are not going anywhere and watch…we will be on ESPN after this year, mark my words.

I’m not worried about Stony Brook, we NEED rivalries, makes both programs better…wish we had more.

[HofstraPride1]

We are not going anywhere and watch…we will be on ESPN after this year, mark my words.

I’m not worried about Stony Brook, we NEED rivalries, makes both programs better…wish we had more.

I'm with you on rivalries being good for Hofstra. Hopefully Monmouth also turns into a nice regional rivalry as well.

[HofstraMathew]

And of course the CAA tournament further north than DC seems to be a forgone conclusion now. Of course I am sure we all would love UBS or the coliseum but even something in Philadelphia would be better and is doable as a day trip.

We keep talking about geography relative to this, but the CAA wants to sell seats and wants to do so in an arena that wouldn't look mostly empty for the CAA tournament.

D.C. was attractive because of its more central location to all CAA teams vs. the more southern tourney locations in the past, but mainly because D.C. has a small arena that capacity-wise, works for the CAA. It's obviously not the 20,000+ seat arena where the Wizards play, it's the 4,200-seat arena where the Wizards practice and where the WNBA's Mystics play.

I don't see the likes of Stony Brook, Monmouth or Hampton making a tremendous difference, along with the other nine teams the CAA will have, in changing those seating needs. Although the league has ambitions, and we would love the tourney at the Colisuem or UBS, we and the CAA know what the league is. The conference doesn't want to put crowds of 3,000 - 4,000 (if it would even be that much) in Nassau Coliseum (14,500 capacity), UBS (18,000) or Philadelphia (20,000+) - if the Wells Fargo Center is being suggested here for that city. So, farther north than D.C. is not a forgone conclusion by any means unless there's an arena farther north that's a similar size and as nice an arena for that size as the Entertainment & Sports Arena in D.C. I don't think there are too many options in that regard.

One possibility could be Atlantic City where the MAAC has held its tourney in past and whose arena seats 10,500. It used to be controversial to hold a college tourney in a casino city but def less so now with sports betting legalized and Atlantic City is also making efforts to expand its economy beyond gaming.

I would love the conference tournament to be down in AC: any excuse to get down there is a good one for me lol. But in all seriousness I would definitely be able to get a few Hofstra alumni (that aren't even huge fans of the team) together to go down there for a weekend trip. It is something like that the conference needs; where the destination can be more than just going for the tournament to attract a solid crowd.

[Wags]

It is something like that the conference needs; where the destination can be more than just going for the tournament to attract a solid crowd.

That's why I liked Royal Farms Arena, which is walking distance from Baltimore Harbor (although even that is better in the summer than in early March).

[joeg1]

We are not going anywhere and watch…we will be on ESPN after this year, mark my words.

I’m not worried about Stony Brook, we NEED rivalries, makes both programs better…wish we had more.

I'm with you on rivalries being good for Hofstra. Hopefully Monmouth also turns into a nice regional rivalry as well.

Agree 100%.

[Wags]

Stony Brook got the same treatment today that JMU got. SBU ruled ineligible to compete for AE championships in any sport due to its upcoming defection to the CAA (SBU voted the same against Boston U. when that school was leaving the AE, so as with JMU's vote years ago, what goes around comes around).