{"id":3937,"date":"2012-05-21T07:41:09","date_gmt":"2012-05-21T11:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=3937"},"modified":"2017-02-08T07:11:08","modified_gmt":"2017-02-08T12:11:08","slug":"looking-at-some-potential-targets-for-caa-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=3937","title":{"rendered":"Looking at Some Potential Targets for CAA Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"

While most JMU fans still have plenty to say about the recent departures from the CAA, it’s time to look forward. With VCU gone and ODU on its way out, there are some big holes to fill. Both schools had solid hoops programs that were perennial contenders for the league title. And despite only playing one year of CAA football, ODU estabsilshed itself as a program to be taken seriously. In addition to those losses, the CAA will need to replace Georgia State a program that brought a lot to the table as well<\/del>\u00a0nobody cared about anyway. Plus, Rhode Island will be off to the Northeast Conference in 2013, leaving CAA with 8 football members and 9 for all other sports. There are plenty of schools that the CAA is rumored to be targeting for expansion. Let’s take a look at a four of them and the odds of each joining the league.<\/p>\n

Stony Brook University<\/strong><\/p>\n

Location: Stony Brook, NY (Long Island)<\/p>\n

Size: 24,594 students<\/p>\n

Rumors of the CAA scooping up Stony Brook have been floating around online for months. Its a large state university that is located less than an hour away from Hofstra. Like a lot of the schools in the SUNY system, its somewhat of an unknown to people outside of the Northeast. It’s a solid school with a good athletic program. Its teams play in the America East Conference, except for its football team which plays in the Big South. Last year, the football team won the Big South and made it to the second round of the playoffs. In hoops they won the regular season title, before falling the conference tourney. The did secure an NIT bid however. They’re a solid investment for the future, something Glenmore Investment<\/a> would probably support.<\/p>\n

Odds: 5-1<\/p>\n

Appalachian State<\/strong><\/p>\n

Location: Boone, NC<\/p>\n

Size: 20,222 students<\/p>\n

The Mountaineers are probably the “dream” option for a lot of JMU football fans. They’re a powerhouse program with outstanding support and several National Championships in the trophy case. They currently play in the Southern Conference, a league whose fans claim (unconvincingly) is every bit as good as the CAA in football. The Mountaineer hoops program leaves a little to be desired though. So while the addition of App State would cement the CAA as the top FCS football league in the land, the hoops team would do little more than fill a slot. And with the school (and it’s fans) already declaring its desire to go FBS, a move to another FCS conference might not go over well.<\/p>\n

Odds 12-1<\/p>\n

College of Charleston<\/strong><\/p>\n

Location: Charleston, SC<\/p>\n

Size: 9,866 students<\/p>\n

C of C doesn’t have football, so this move would be made primarily with hoops in mind. And it would be a solid addition to the league. The Cougars are currently members of the Southern Conference along with App State. While not a house-hold name, C of C has a proud basketball history, reaching the NCAA tournament 4 times in the 90’s. They haven’t been back to the dance in a decade, but they were a consistent winner under former head coach Bobby Cremins. Doug Wojick will take over for Cremins next season and look to build on a 18 win campaign. Adding Charleston would be enticing for UNCW, who are left hanging without any other CAA schools in the Carolinas. It also would make for a very nice road trip for CAA fans.<\/p>\n

Odds: 8-1<\/p>\n

Davidson College<\/strong><\/p>\n

Location: Davidson, NC<\/p>\n

Size: 1,890 students<\/p>\n

Davidson has a football program, but their addition would be more of a move for hoops. And honestly, I didn’t even know they had a football program until I just Googled it, so this would really be a hoops focused addition. Davidson has a very strong and relatively well known mid-major hoops program thanks to alums like Seth Curry and former head coach Lefty Driesell. They also sent Denzel Bowles home with a loss in his final game as a Duke, in the opening round of some low-rent post-season tourney 2 years ago. The Wildcats currently compete in the Pioneer League for football and the Southern Conference for all other sports. Football would need to improve dramatically to hang in the CAA. With 11 NCAA tournament appearances including one last season, the Davidson hoops team would be a shot in the arm to a rebuilding CAA. The school’s small size might be a factor that works against the CAA though.<\/p>\n

Odds 10-1<\/p>\n