St Louis @ Xavier: The Last A10 Home Game?

[PMI]

Tailgating at a basketball game? No thanks.

Are you being serious? It was an awesome experience.

[PMI]

Thanks for the info, Smileyy. I suspected they would show that VCU does what it takes to have a successful program.

I think VCU would make a fine addition to the conference. They may not fit the mold of most teams in the conference - small, private schools - but they certainly have shown that they can compete with pretty much any school. But PMI is right about perception. VCU is traditionally perceived as a school that has had recent success but it's not sustainable. From all appearances it's just the opposite. I think they average more fans than Butler (I did see this on a thread started by the idiot Swampy on another site so who knows if it's accurate or not.)

As far as the whole Butler-VCU thing, my guess is that we know more about Butler and the A-10 programs because we see them. Butler, SLU and UD are known quantities and we know that by and large (except UD) they can at least compete with us. We never had much of a reason to closely look at VCU, and since they played in a lower conference than ours, people assumed that they were a lesser school - kind of what BCS schools do to us. But by any indication they're not. They have a good sized arena that is well attended. They put money into the program. They have a history of making good hires (although the AD responsible for them is gone), they win games, and they don't seem to do things that run afoul of the NCAA.

That is exactly right about them being perceived as a "lesser" program, when they are in fact not. Xavier fans, at least the ones my age and older should know better. We were long perceived as being less than what we are and still are to many who are ignorant of the facts. Yet many Xavier fans who are irritated by that show the same ignorance towards VCU. I just think more X fans should know that truth, especially since (for now) they are in our own conference.

[GoMuskies]

I like VCU and appreciate their success and fan support, but I can live without them. I think they'll be fine by staying in the A-10, too. We should give them our A-10 flagship mantle since we don't have any use for it anymore.

It will be fun watching them dominate Dayton for the next decade+.

[smileyy]

I think it is fair to say that VCU's track record is short, but has very positive signs to it. They've been able to attract quality young coaches and sustain a program through those transitions. Its not a guarantee to be successful with one coach, let alone 2 coaching changes. Sure, Capel didn't have a ton of direct success, but I'm assuming that some of Anthony Grant's success came on the foundation that Capel had laid, and likewise from Grant to Shaka Smart. And Shaka Smart has gotten a big raise and turned down high-profile jobs. Which doesn't mean he won't leave for Arizona when Sean Miller takes the Kentucky job, but I'd be shocked if there's not an assistant being groomed for a head coaching job, at either VCU or elsewhere if Smart decides to stay longer.

[SM#24]

Tailgating at a basketball game? No thanks.

Beer, food and sports anywhere is a great thing