Commissioner Tom Yeager, who declined to comment for this story, is targeting the SoCon's Davidson, College of Charleston and Appalachian State as replacements for his lost teams, according to a source.I'm not particularly sure why the CAA is targeting App State, but I'm pretty sure that's not where the Mountaineers are looking to jump.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
CAA Considering App State?
From SI.com ...
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Dominos of Conference Change Coming Soon
Well it was bound to happen eventually. Up until now, all of these shifts in conference alignment have happened with the big conferences only. But recently things are moving towards the mid-major conferences.
Before we get into the opinion portion of this post, let's first look at what has happened to cause us to get here ...
- In September of 2011, Pittsburgh and Syracuse announced they were leaving the Big East to join the ACC.
- In October, West Virginia left the Big East to join the Big XII Conference.
- In December of 2011, Houston, SMU and Central Florida departed Conference USA to join the Big East. Boise State and San Diego State also joined for football only. The Naval Academy was also added for football only.
- In February, Memphis left Conference USA for the Big East too.
- Earlier this month, Conference USA announced they were adding North Texas and Florida International from the Sun Belt Conference. They added A-10 member Charlotte as well. Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio left the WAC to join too.
- Eventually, Old Dominion chose to leave the CAA to become the 14th member of the new Conference USA.
- Also this month Bulter (from Horizon) and VCU (from the CAA) have left their conferences to join the Atlantic-10.
- Georgia State has announced they are leaving the CAA to join the Sun Belt Conference.
So, those are all of the actual moves that have been made up to this point. Still trying to figure out how this effects the SoCon? Well currently it doesn't and it may never effect it. But it seems very likely that there are big changes coming.
First, there's the report that the CAA is definitely interested in Charleston and Davidson. Davidson fields sports such as lacrosse and field hockey which currently don't have a true conference home. The CAA would give them that. It's also alluring that the CAA has been a multiple bid NCAA conference quite a few times lately. The Wildcats seem to have found themselves on the "gotta win the conference tourney" side of things several times in recent years. I'm sure they would like to have a better chance at the at-large. Will this watered down CAA really give them that chance is a completely different story.
The CAA would also like to pair up at least one southern school with UNC-Wilmington. College of Charleston would fit perfectly in that role. Plus, they would be a destination city for the rest of the conference. With their solid Olympic sports programs, baseball and basketball it seems like Charleston would be a great fit in the CAA.
Then there's the whole FBS football moves that other conference teams are looking to make. App State's AD Charlie Cobb has been all over the radio trying to convince the new look Conference USA to look at his Mountaineers. It seems likely his only move will be the Sun Belt Conference. App State may even be interested in starting it's own new regional conference. However based on NCAA restrictions, that seems like a pipe dream.
Also, Georgia Southern appears ready to make a move to new conference to play FBS football. Their choices appear to be on par the App State and it's likely they will go to the Sun Belt with the Mountaineers.
These are two very dominant FCS (1-AA) football powers that seem to be extremely likely to leave the SoCon very soon. With a looming new NCAA moratorium in FCS-FBS that appears to be coming soon, all of these programs that have higher aspirations are going to move quickly.
So, I guess the easiest way to sum this all up is there will be a conference shake up this coming summer. I just don't know how big. I do not believe that UNCG is on the short list of schools that the CAA is considering. I haven't received any confirmation of that, though. I will take a pure guess and say App State, Davidson and Georgia Southern all leave at some point soon.
I'll post some thoughts on new conference member possibilities over the coming weeks. Until then, keep an eye on the league meetings over the next two weeks.
Before we get into the opinion portion of this post, let's first look at what has happened to cause us to get here ...
- In September of 2011, Pittsburgh and Syracuse announced they were leaving the Big East to join the ACC.
- In October, West Virginia left the Big East to join the Big XII Conference.
- In December of 2011, Houston, SMU and Central Florida departed Conference USA to join the Big East. Boise State and San Diego State also joined for football only. The Naval Academy was also added for football only.
- In February, Memphis left Conference USA for the Big East too.
- Earlier this month, Conference USA announced they were adding North Texas and Florida International from the Sun Belt Conference. They added A-10 member Charlotte as well. Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio left the WAC to join too.
- Eventually, Old Dominion chose to leave the CAA to become the 14th member of the new Conference USA.
- Also this month Bulter (from Horizon) and VCU (from the CAA) have left their conferences to join the Atlantic-10.
- Georgia State has announced they are leaving the CAA to join the Sun Belt Conference.
So, those are all of the actual moves that have been made up to this point. Still trying to figure out how this effects the SoCon? Well currently it doesn't and it may never effect it. But it seems very likely that there are big changes coming.
First, there's the report that the CAA is definitely interested in Charleston and Davidson. Davidson fields sports such as lacrosse and field hockey which currently don't have a true conference home. The CAA would give them that. It's also alluring that the CAA has been a multiple bid NCAA conference quite a few times lately. The Wildcats seem to have found themselves on the "gotta win the conference tourney" side of things several times in recent years. I'm sure they would like to have a better chance at the at-large. Will this watered down CAA really give them that chance is a completely different story.
The CAA would also like to pair up at least one southern school with UNC-Wilmington. College of Charleston would fit perfectly in that role. Plus, they would be a destination city for the rest of the conference. With their solid Olympic sports programs, baseball and basketball it seems like Charleston would be a great fit in the CAA.
Then there's the whole FBS football moves that other conference teams are looking to make. App State's AD Charlie Cobb has been all over the radio trying to convince the new look Conference USA to look at his Mountaineers. It seems likely his only move will be the Sun Belt Conference. App State may even be interested in starting it's own new regional conference. However based on NCAA restrictions, that seems like a pipe dream.
Also, Georgia Southern appears ready to make a move to new conference to play FBS football. Their choices appear to be on par the App State and it's likely they will go to the Sun Belt with the Mountaineers.
These are two very dominant FCS (1-AA) football powers that seem to be extremely likely to leave the SoCon very soon. With a looming new NCAA moratorium in FCS-FBS that appears to be coming soon, all of these programs that have higher aspirations are going to move quickly.
So, I guess the easiest way to sum this all up is there will be a conference shake up this coming summer. I just don't know how big. I do not believe that UNCG is on the short list of schools that the CAA is considering. I haven't received any confirmation of that, though. I will take a pure guess and say App State, Davidson and Georgia Southern all leave at some point soon.
I'll post some thoughts on new conference member possibilities over the coming weeks. Until then, keep an eye on the league meetings over the next two weeks.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
SoCon Realignment?
I've got a long post to make about this issue sometime this weekend. Until then, feel free to post your thoughts about the recent conference shuffle in the comments section.
EDIT: Sorry, I wrote the most of the post but got busy with some work stuff this past weekend. It's coming though. I'm also waiting for some responses from some people who know more about this than I do.
EDIT: Sorry, I wrote the most of the post but got busy with some work stuff this past weekend. It's coming though. I'm also waiting for some responses from some people who know more about this than I do.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Former Sun Devil Coming to Greensboro
According to Dave Telep of ESPN Recruiting, Arizona State sophomore forward Kyle Cain (6'8" 210 lbs/Chicago, IL) is transferring to UNCG.
Last season, Cain averaged 7.5 pts and 5.5 rebounds per game. He was the 2nd leading rebounder for the Sun Devils.He tallied a season best 18 points at California on February 4 and he gathered 10+ rebounds 4 times. Cain was suspended for 2 games during the regular season for "unacceptable conduct". However, ASU coach Herb Sendek has a history of butting heads with players that dates all the way back to his time coaching NC State.
During his freshman campaign in Tempe, Cain appeared in all 31 games and started 23. He averaged 5.4 points and 5.5 rebounds. He grabbed a career best 18 rebounds against Houston Baptist on on 11/25/2010.
Previous to college, Kyle was an Illinios All-State selection in 2008-2009 at Thorton Fractional North HS near Chicago. He spent the 2009-2010 season at New Hampton (NH) Prep School. New Hampton is the Alma mater of rising UNCG sophomore Nick Paulos, as well as UNCG Head Coach Wes Miller and Associate Head Coach Mike Roberts. Cain originally signed with Rhode Island out of prep school. He was later granted his release and choose Arizona State.
Here is a YouTube highlight video of Cain at New Hampton.
Kyle will have to redshirt this season per NCAA rules. He will be eligible in 2013-2014 as a junior. UNCG athletics hasn't posted a story yet. I will attached an update when they do post an article.
Welcome to the Spartans, Kyle !!!
Last season, Cain averaged 7.5 pts and 5.5 rebounds per game. He was the 2nd leading rebounder for the Sun Devils.He tallied a season best 18 points at California on February 4 and he gathered 10+ rebounds 4 times. Cain was suspended for 2 games during the regular season for "unacceptable conduct". However, ASU coach Herb Sendek has a history of butting heads with players that dates all the way back to his time coaching NC State.
During his freshman campaign in Tempe, Cain appeared in all 31 games and started 23. He averaged 5.4 points and 5.5 rebounds. He grabbed a career best 18 rebounds against Houston Baptist on on 11/25/2010.
Previous to college, Kyle was an Illinios All-State selection in 2008-2009 at Thorton Fractional North HS near Chicago. He spent the 2009-2010 season at New Hampton (NH) Prep School. New Hampton is the Alma mater of rising UNCG sophomore Nick Paulos, as well as UNCG Head Coach Wes Miller and Associate Head Coach Mike Roberts. Cain originally signed with Rhode Island out of prep school. He was later granted his release and choose Arizona State.
Here is a YouTube highlight video of Cain at New Hampton.
Kyle will have to redshirt this season per NCAA rules. He will be eligible in 2013-2014 as a junior. UNCG athletics hasn't posted a story yet. I will attached an update when they do post an article.
Welcome to the Spartans, Kyle !!!
Monday, April 23, 2012
McNeil Transferring to UNCG
According to his Twitter page, Delaware senior Kelvin McNeil (6'8" PF Newport News, VA) has committed to spend his final season at UNCG. Kelvin will be eligible to play right away.
This past season, Kelvin averaged 2.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes for the Blue Hens. Delaware played in the post season CBI Tournament. McNeil pulled down a season best 9 rebounds against Villinova (11/18/11) and 13 points against Temple (12/30/11). Below are Youtube highlights of the Temple game, along with an interview.
McNeil had a solid first 2 seasons with the Blue Hens. He averaged 6 points and 6.2 rebounds (25.2 mins/game) his freshman season 5 points and 5 rebounds (19.8 mins/game) in his sophomore campaign. He missed 18 games during his freshman season with a knee injury. He redshirted during the 2008-2009seasson due to an injury in the preseason.
Below is a Youtube video of McNeil highlights from his sophomore campaign.
I'm still waiting to see official confirmation from UNCG. I'll post an update when that becomes available.
This past season, Kelvin averaged 2.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes for the Blue Hens. Delaware played in the post season CBI Tournament. McNeil pulled down a season best 9 rebounds against Villinova (11/18/11) and 13 points against Temple (12/30/11). Below are Youtube highlights of the Temple game, along with an interview.
McNeil had a solid first 2 seasons with the Blue Hens. He averaged 6 points and 6.2 rebounds (25.2 mins/game) his freshman season 5 points and 5 rebounds (19.8 mins/game) in his sophomore campaign. He missed 18 games during his freshman season with a knee injury. He redshirted during the 2008-2009seasson due to an injury in the preseason.
Below is a Youtube video of McNeil highlights from his sophomore campaign.
I'm still waiting to see official confirmation from UNCG. I'll post an update when that becomes available.
Randall to Central Michigan
From Twitter. Best of luck next season, Kyle !!!
Next year I will be a Central Michigan Chippewa! I can dig it
— Kyle Randall (@KRandy_12) April 21, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Jackie Manuel Named UNCG Assistant Coach
According to this article on the UNCG athletics web page, former UNC-Chapel Hill defensive standout Jackie Manuel has been name to Wes Miller's staff at UNCG. Manuel spent this past season as the Strength & Conditioning coach at UNC. He spent 5 years before his time at Carolina playing basketball professionally. Manuel played one season in Japan and four seasons in the NBA Development League.
As a player at North Carolina, Manuel excelled on the defensive end of the court. He was a two time member of the ACC All-Defensive team. Manuel was also one of the three captains of the UNC national championship team in 2005.
The Fayetville Observer posted an article about Manuel's hiring.
As a player at North Carolina, Manuel excelled on the defensive end of the court. He was a two time member of the ACC All-Defensive team. Manuel was also one of the three captains of the UNC national championship team in 2005.
The Fayetville Observer posted an article about Manuel's hiring.
"He is positive and energetic, and I am confident he will relate extremely well to our players and prospects," Miller said in a statement. "As one of his teammates in college, I know firsthand that Jackie Manuel is hard-working, team-orientated and a fiercely competitive winner. As he makes this transition to coaching, I expect him to impact our program immediately in the same way he has impacted all of the teams he played on."Manuel had this to say about working with former teammate and UNCG Head Coach Wes Miller ...
"It's a great honor, and I'm very thankful for Wes to think of me that highly," Manuel said in a statement. "I'm very appreciative and just blessed. It brings back old memories. It doesn't happen often, whether it's playing, coaching, whatever it is, that you get to be with a teammate again. It's going to be good. We know each other very well, so the transition should be real easy."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
