Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho
There's a chance, but I don't that it's a "great" chance. Dayton is almost certainly one of the 2 expansion teams if they expand because of its ties to Xavier and it's traditional, consistent success and fan support. Then it comes down to one of the Richmond schools - either VCU or Richmond - vs. St. Louis for the final spot.
Richmond has the advantage of having much more historical success than SLU and has been a similar program recently (though SLU is "up" right now and Richmond is rebuilding).
VCU is not a catholic school, but it has MORE recent success than SLU, and has some national cachet because of it.
I think the new Big East is a major conference, and IF SLU gets in and IF SLU establishes itself as a consistent program in the Big East, maybe a series makes sense at that point. It is more attractive... but probably still not as attractive as using that spot to schedule a good team from another major conference.
Even if SLU gets in, it still falls pretty down the pecking order in that league in terms of setup for consistent success. SLU is looking at being the 10th-12th most attractive program in that league, long-term.
Missouri would be happy to play SLU in Columbia, and that game would be on the schedule next season if SLU would accept it without a return game. But there's the rub.
But you're exactly right about a home-and-home/playing in Scottrade already.
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SLU stopped playing us because Majerus wanted two straight games in Chaifetz. Our AD said no and Majerus went into a huff. Now that he's gone, I think MSU and SLU could restart their series. As for Mizzou, I don't expect MSU to ever play them again, in Columbia or elsewhere. Maybe the NCAA or NIT will force a game at some point...