In what seems like a constant occurrence in college sports, yet more teams are on the move in today’s world of continual conference re-alignments.
On Friday, a reporter from the New York Post reported the surprising news that Colonial Conference powerhouses George Mason and VCU, along with Horizon League perennial contenders Butler, will be joining the Atlantic 10 Conference on May 1st.
In the past, officials from VCU and the Colonial Conference have flatly denied the impending move but probably must keep the news behind closed doors until an official announcement can be made. Administrators from the A-10 have reportedly made a statement on the move, saying “it’s a go.”
While most of the recent conference realignment has been fueled by football money, it looks like this impending move would be purely basketball related. If you remember, Temple University will be moving to the Big East in 2013 for basketball only, leaving a void in the A-10.
Adding 3 programs of VCU, GM, and Butler’s stature sure does bring immediate respectability to the A-10, considering the 3 mid-major programs have made 4 trips to the Final Four since 2006. VCU went in 2011, Butler had back-to-back appearances in 2010 and 2011, and of course, George Mason went on their Cinderella run back in 2006.
With recent re-alignment news of Syracuse and Pitt moving to the ACC, West Virginia going to the Big 12, Missouri joining the SEC, and SMU and Memphis coming to the Big East, it shouldn’t come to anyone’s surprise at just how much the college landscape is changing.
Remember Butler’s Gordon Hayward’s Missed Shot in the 2010 Title Game:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
