Memphis to join the big 12?

[Haverhill]

I'm pretty sure I was at the Knapp Center at a full capacity game as Drake spanked Iowa last season. That seems to happen at in state games.

I was at that game too. What colors were the people in the north side bleachers wearing?? I recall it was black and gold. As much as I hated it, Drake barely had 4,500 of their own fans in the building. Plus, the Hawkeyes and Cyclones are not necessarily stellar teams to say the least. Putting them in a conference with in-state teams that should stay D2 or D3 will only bring the Hawkeyes and Cyclones lower and lower and lower.

[brentblaze]

I was at that game too. What colors were the people in the north side bleachers wearing?? I recall it was black and gold. As much as I hated it, Drake barely had 4,500 of their own fans in the building. Plus, the Hawkeyes and Cyclones are not necessarily stellar teams to say the least. Putting them in a conference with in-state teams that should stay D2 or D3 will only bring the Hawkeyes and Cyclones lower and lower and lower.

I did enjoy watching the Hawkeye fans sulk out of the arena a few minutes early from my 4th row seat. It does work overseas though. Their countries are about the size of states. It creates some intense rivalries. Imagine showing up to the arena. The team that wins stays in the top division. The team that loses is going down. Talk about intense.

And again if Briar Cliff played their games at the Tyson Center I think you could make a case for them having a D1 basketball program. If the community will support it (with dollars) everything else will fall into place. Including a rise in talent level. But to justify doing it outside of from being a fan is difficult I'm sure. If a method was developed where the majority of the money went to the developed programs like ISU and Iowa maybe they can justify it financially. But again I'm not suggesting D1 games in a gym that seats 3k people in Indianola Iowa. I'm suggesting them in an arena that seats 10k.

[Haverhill]

I did enjoy watching the Hawkeye fans sulk out of the arena a few minutes early from my 4th row seat. It does work overseas though. Their countries are about the size of states. It creates some intense rivalries. Imagine showing up to the arena. The team that wins stays in the top division. The team that loses is going down. Talk about intense.

And again if Briar Cliff played their games at the Tyson Center I think you could make a case for them having a D1 basketball program. If the community will support it (with dollars) everything else will fall into place. Including a rise in talent level. But to justify doing it outside of from being a fan is difficult I'm sure. If a method was developed where the majority of the money went to the developed programs like ISU and Iowa maybe they can justify it financially. But again I'm not suggesting D1 games in a gym that seats 3k people in Indianola Iowa. I'm suggesting them in an arena that seats 10k.

Can you find population densities for France compared to Iowa? I can kind of see your plan working in states like California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, you get the point, but Iowa's 3 million people are not capable of supporting the number of Division 1 teams needed to make a conference.

[brentblaze]

Can you find population densities for France compared to Iowa? I can kind of see your plan working in states like California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, you get the point, but Iowa's 3 million people are not capable of supporting the number of Division 1 teams needed to make a conference.

Antibes, France (historically a great franchise in Pro basketball) has a population of 80,000. The greater metro area of Souix City is close to 150k. I believe that would put it at or near the top 15 cities in France by population. Outside of Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, and Nice all the cities are pretty small (not a whole lot larger than Souix City). The arena in Souix City will seat twice as many fans as the one in Antibes.

And its not like you'd have to switch overnight. Before the conference was created you could have a deal with the U of Dubuque and Briar Cliff where they get accepted into D1 and play a year as an independent.

[LeSchmick]

Your idea is not feasible and it would not work, nor would anyone be even remotely interested in participating or being a fan of it.

[isunorth]

Antibes, France (historically a great franchise in Pro basketball) has a population of 80,000. The greater metro area of Souix City is close to 150k. I believe that would put it at or near the top 15 cities in France by population. Outside of Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, and Nice all the cities are pretty small (not a whole lot larger than Souix City). The arena in Souix City will seat twice as many fans as the one in Antibes.

And its not like you'd have to switch overnight. Before the conference was created you could have a deal with the U of Dubuque and Briar Cliff where they get accepted into D1 and play a year as an independent.

Please go to France and stay there.

[brentblaze]

nor would anyone be even remotely interested in participating or being a fan of it.

I have nothing domestically to compare it to so I can't say if it would work. But I can say for certain the cities of Sioux City and Dubuque would be ecstatic.

[brentblaze]

Please go to France and stay there.

Well I do enjoy visiting anyways. Not sure they let Americans actually stay though (haha). I'm assuming telling me to go to France is an insult, yes? Have you ever been there?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKS0yISz6xQ"]YouTube - Bill Maher on France[/ame]

[Haverhill]

I have nothing domestically to compare it to so I can't say if it would work. But I can say for certain the cities of Sioux City and Dubuque would be ecstatic.

Ecstatic that they are bringing the two largest schools in their state to their level? France, since you love this example so much, has 65 million people... Iowa has 3 million people. You cannot draw fans from only the surrounding metropolitan area, but the larger area surrounding as well to draw fans. Iowa State plays in a great conference and Iowa plays in one that's better than you are proposing. Having all games being in-state rivalries only waters down the current in-state rivalries we have. Briar Cliff and Dubuque can play Iowa State in exhibition next year, but please be quiet and let the Cyclones play with the big boys while your French teams play with themselves.

[LeSchmick]

There is a reason why people around the world pay attention to the NBA. It is only 32 teams in the 3rd largest country with the 3rd largest population in the world. It consolidates the best talent from all over the world into 32 teams. Now, if we were to expand pro basketball to lets say one league per ten states (5 leagues just like your frenchies), that would mean all of that awesome talent is watered down with likes of Jeff Horner, Adam Emmenecker, and Curtis Stinson. There would be so many teams out of all five of those leagues that I would have a legitimate chance of making even the worst team and you can ask CyDude16 how good I am at playing. In conclusion (hopefully this novel I'm writing will put this to rest), when you expand the amount of teams, there are less fans to each team which means less attendance, which means smaller revenues (TV, radio, etc) which means the talent is watered down which makes for less exciting and ultimately a downgrade in the overall product. There is a reason why American basketball is the best in the world.

[brentblaze]

Ecstatic that they are bringing the two largest schools in their state to their level? France, since you love this example so much, has 65 million people... Iowa has 3 million people. You cannot draw fans from only the surrounding metropolitan area, but the larger area surrounding as well to draw fans. Iowa State plays in a great conference and Iowa plays in one that's better than you are proposing. Having all games being in-state rivalries only waters down the current in-state rivalries we have. Briar Cliff and Dubuque can play Iowa State in exhibition next year, but please be quiet and let the Cyclones play with the big boys while your French teams play with themselves.

Some good points. Basketball is the second most popular sport in the world. But the percentage of fans that really follow the sport and spend their money on it in france is a lot lower than in the USA. Plus France has 5 divisions (probably 100 teams) and I'm suggesting one conference of 6 teams.

Its only the conference games that would be instate rivals. Nothing would stop ISU from playing Memphis, Gonzaga, Texas, or anyone else during non conference games.

I just look at it backwards from most of you. I like the idea of an Iowa Conference for a few reasons. One reason is it gives colleges all over the state a reason to spend money and grow their school and athletic program. The prospects of being an independent D1 school aren't all that great. But if you could get into a conference they go way up. If you make a deal with all the colleges in the state of Iowa. get into D1 and play one year as an independent and we will let you in the Iowa Conference... that would have campuses everywhere in a competitive frenzy similar to how it works overseas.

Again definiately great for fans across the state. And ISU is still ISU. They can play anybody non conference to get the strength of schedule up

[Haverhill]

Some good points. Basketball is the second most popular sport in the world. But the percentage of fans that really follow the sport and spend their money on it in france is a lot lower than in the USA. Plus France has 5 divisions (probably 100 teams) and I'm suggesting one conference of 6 teams.

Its only the conference games that would be instate rivals. Nothing would stop ISU from playing Memphis, Gonzaga, Texas, or anyone else during non conference games.

I just look at it backwards from most of you. I like the idea of an Iowa Conference for a few reasons. One reason is it gives colleges all over the state a reason to spend money and grow their school and athletic program. The prospects of being an independent D1 school aren't all that great. But if you could get into a conference they go way up. If you make a deal with all the colleges in the state of Iowa. get into D1 and play one year as an independent and we will let you in the Iowa Conference... that would have campuses everywhere in a competitive frenzy similar to how it works overseas.

Again definiately great for fans across the state. And ISU is still ISU. They can play anybody non conference to get the strength of schedule up

Good Night, waste of my time

[brentblaze]

There is a reason why people around the world pay attention to the NBA. It is only 32 teams in the 3rd largest country with the 3rd largest population in the world. It consolidates the best talent from all over the world into 32 teams. Now, if we were to expand pro basketball to lets say one league per ten states (5 leagues just like your frenchies), that would mean all of that awesome talent is watered down with likes of Jeff Horner, Adam Emmenecker, and Curtis Stinson. There would be so many teams out of all five of those leagues that I would have a legitimate chance of making even the worst team and you can ask CyDude16 how good I am at playing. In conclusion (hopefully this novel I'm writing will put this to rest), when you expand the amount of teams, there are less fans to each team which means less attendance, which means smaller revenues (TV, radio, etc) which means the talent is watered down which makes for less exciting and ultimately a downgrade in the overall product. There is a reason why American basketball is the best in the world.

The NCAA lets new schools in D1 all the time. It would be up to them to let any school in. They'd have to meet the requirements. I just like the idea of a carrot to get some of them there.

At some point expansion will water down talent. I just haven't seen us hit that point yet when I look around the world. There are countries were we are just starting to develop the young kids in for the first time. China is going to develop a load of talent in the next couple of decades.

And speaking of the NBA they have problems of their own. Part of the problem is that they are in bed with the NCAA. Brandon Jennings will be the first of many Preps to Euro if the NBA doesn't fix the age rule.

The NBA used to have the NBA champion play teams in Europe. There is a reason they don't do that anymore.

The NBA is another issue all together and they need to watch it or Josh Childress will be the first of many jumping ship. I can only imagine what CSKA Moscow will offer NBA free agents in 2009 and 2010.

[isunorth]

The NCAA lets new schools in D1 all the time. It would be up to them to let any school in. They'd have to meet the requirements. I just like the idea of a carrot to get some of them there.

At some point expansion will water down talent. I just haven't seen us hit that point yet when I look around the world. There are countries were we are just starting to develop the young kids in for the first time. China is going to develop a load of talent in the next couple of decades.

And speaking of the NBA they have problems of their own. Part of the problem is that they are in bed with the NCAA. Brandon Jennings will be the first of many Preps to Euro if the NBA doesn't fix the age rule.

The NBA used to have the NBA champion play teams in Europe. There is a reason they don't do that anymore.

The NBA is another issue all together and they need to watch it or Josh Childress will be the first of many jumping ship. I can only imagine what CSKA Moscow will offer NBA free agents in 2009 and 2010.

Seriously, go to bed before you kill all of your credibility on this message board.

[brentblaze]

Seriously, go to bed before you kill all of your credibility on this message board.

NCAA fans hate me that's nothing new. You don't see me posting my article on the age rule here.