@ektraynor: #atlantic10 just sent out a release: tomm. will be teleconference for "major" news about "league's future." Shades of vcu, butler anncmnts

 Nevermind...

@GMUWashPost: George Mason and Atlantic 10 both making major announcements at almost same time Monday. Not a coincidence. #masonmbb

 The absolute correct move by both parties. 

Agreed, good pickup for the conference. Poor CAA.

 finally

 This is going to be budget squeeze for GMU unless the A10 has made some concessions about some sports.

That will be a good local rivalry for us.  

 Is it likely they come for 2013-14? 

 http://boards.caazone.com/showthread.php?125575-A10-Bound!&s=7d412f0cb41575d0fc91eb08614bc8ec

Steven Goff further tweeted that the switch would be effective on July 1, presumably this year. 

 Guess there will be more to follow, as that would put the conference at 13.  Hope it is true about GMU.  

http://blogs.gwhatchet.com/courtside/2013/03/24/report-george-mason-to-join-atlantic-10/

I know I'm stupid, but why on earth did Charlotte go to the CAA?

Not going to CAA.  Charlotte went to CUSA for football.

good news, now just a few more holes to fill

Good. 

 Is it too early to talk about the Larsen/Copes matchup?

 According to AP, Mason will be in the conference for next season (and the "rivalry" with GW is mentioned). 

Will be interesting to see if either the A-10 or the new Big East will be adversely impacted by the firing of Howland at UCLA. Would think VCU is more at risk than Butler but based on little more than thought that A-10 defections make current VCU situation less attractive.

 I hope that UCLA goes after Stevens over Smart.  It would be a hard gig for Shaka to say no to.

I don't know if this is really good for the conference, but it'sdefinitely good for GW. Hopefully the Post and other local media will start paying more attention to the A-10 as a whole, so thatmaychups with the lines of the Bonnies and Sweet 16 LaSalle will be more attractive to fans.  

Battle of the Orange Line resumes!

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/12/battle_of_the_orange_line.html 

 Look forward to playing you guys.  I really liked the battle of the orange line campaign you started a few years back.  I think it's fair to say that Mason-GW is a rich man's Duke-UNC.  

 In not as good news, I was bsing with a Villanova coach today who is under the impression Dayton and SLU will go to their new conference by end of year.

GMU welcome to the A-10.  should be good local rivalry generating some good buzz and hopefully more asses in the seats.

Dayton and St. Louis leaving after next year has been pretty much a foregone conclusion as has GMU's entrance. What remains to be seen is whether Siena, Davidson, or several others will be joining the A-10 as well. Not quite what the conference was this year but solid enough to maintain first-rate, though probably not top tier, basketball. Could be a whole lot worse if not for strong proactive leadership in the conference and at GW.

Maybe SLU and Dayton are joining the new Big East next year, maybe they are not. I believe nothing is completely settled on that front yet.  If the leagues big new TV contract is already in place and not contingent on them adding Dayton and SLU, I guess the new league could just stand pat.  2 more programs is just 2 more ways to splt an already agreed apon TV contract.  Spitting it 10 ways is better than splitting it 12.  

And maybe they do want to add St Louis, but why Dayton?  Wichita State looks like a better program than Dayton right now.  It also expands the georgraphic outreach and gives Creighton a sister school.  If SLU and Dayon were so central to the new Big East plans, why aren't they in the league to start? 

Maybe we'll see where the A10 expands next as a sign.  If they don't know where DU an SLU will wind up, maybe they stay at 13 for 1 year and wait to see what happens. If DU and SLU look like they're not getting an offer - or just SLU gets it, the A10 would probably expand west: Bradley, Detroit, Cleveland St, Valpo.  If SLU and Dayton in fact to go, then add another eastern team: Siena, Charleston, Davidson.

Welcome Mason!

Like the Patriot Center; will like it even better with wins there.

Going to away league games will be no sweat.

Have to get rid of the A10 bottom feeders like LaSalle, or not. Didn't St. Bona go to the NCAA's last year? (Just citing the "old" A10 board.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/george-mason-to-join-atlantic-10-in-july-leaving-caa/2013/03/24/9b372df0-94e1-11e2-95ca-dd43e7ffee9c_story.html

I'll be impressed when Fordham has some post-season action.  

 So does Eric copes pull a Trey Davis and have his career game against us next year?  Or does be have two career games against us?

Bobo, Dayton and SLU were not invited this season because the 7 Catholic schools wanted gradual growth within the conference.  It has been widely reported in the media that SLU and Dayton will join in 2014-2015.  This would create a 2 division east/west conference with SLU joining Butler, Creighton, DePaul, and Marquette in a west division, along with either Dayton or Xavier or perhaps the 2 OH schools staying on the same side with Butler moving to the east.  So far, just about everything that has been reported in the media (not here, but in the actual media, including Mason to the A10)) has turned out to be the case so there's no reason to think that this won't happen too.

Will Copes' human-trafficking-lovin' Uncle be welcomed back to Foggy Bottom with open arms?

Bobo,

The appeal of Dayton is:

Great arena with tons of fan support, pretty strong tradition of basketball excellence, and it's a Catholic school.

BTW, St. Louis is a Catholic school as well (as are Xavier and Creighton)

One of the conditions no one seems to be talking about is the fact that Butler had to change their religious affiliation to receive an invite. 

I like it. GMU fits perfectly.

While I love VCU . . their fans are already annoying. Many of their fans appear to be completely freaking out over the addition of GMU. 

Went to GMU for grad school. Just received this email. Nothing groundbreaking. Just thought I'd share.

Dear Fellow Patriots,

I am very excited to announce that George Mason University is joining the Atlantic 10 Conference.
 
The move to the Atlantic 10 creates new and exciting opportunities for the entire George Mason community.  The new conference provides a remarkably good fit athletically, academically and geographically.  It will help us further showcase what Mason has to offer as an institution. It will provide exposure to new audiences in regions that are important for the university and will help broaden our reach in recruiting students.  It will allow us to reconnect with schools that have been our partners in the past, revive old rivalries and create new ones.
 
We have carefully thought through this decision, evaluated its implications from multiple perspectives, and concluded that it is the right move at the right time for Mason.
Very importantly, we have structured the transition financially in a way that will not impose any additional fees on students.  In fact we project that our new conference affiliation will generate additional resources for the athletic programs in addition to the invaluable boost in brand recognition for the entire university.
 
When we presented a new vision earlier this month, we assured our Board of Visitors that the vision would provide a framework for our strategic decisions. This decision clearly addresses our commitments to be an economic and cultural engine for our region, to increase engagement with our alumni and to strengthen the Mason brand.
 
As a founding member of the Colonial Athletic Association, we have a great appreciation for that league.  It's been a wonderful relationship, highlighted by the George Mason men’s basketball team’s memorable run to the NCAA Final Four in 2006 in addition to innumerable achievements across our multiple men’s and women’s sports.  We have been a major contributor to the conference in many ways, including our efforts to create and coordinate the Colonial Academic Alliance.  We thank our partners for the relationship we have developed over the years and recognize Commissioner Tom Yeager for his leadership.
George Mason University has achieved much in a short period of time: from delivering the first two Nobel laureates in Virginia, to becoming the state’s largest university, to being recognized among the top 200 research universities in the world.  A key to each of those achievements has been our enterprising spirit and our commitment to innovation.  We have always looked for new opportunities and ways to deliver in our mission and promote our work. The university's move to the Atlantic 10 is one more example.
 
Thank you for your support as we make this important transition.
 
Ángel Cabrera
President

 http://www.atlantic10.com/genrel/032513aaa.html

Angel Cabrera, GMU Prez? Angel Cabrera won the 2007 US Open and 2009 Masters!

They are nearly the same age too, newtman (43 and 45).

Some interesting quotes in this:

 http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/25/3305798/george-mason-makes-bittersweet.html

It's been widely reported about Dayton and SLU, yes.  But does that make it so? No.  It seems that many Dayton and SLU boosters on the A10 board are still nervous.  And there's still rumors that its Richmond instead of Dayton. I don't think anything's decided yet.  Why would a league lock themselves into a future agreement when they don't have to make a commitment? Where's Dayton or SLU going to go? They're at the C-7's mercy.

Maybe Georgetown, Providence, Marquette and the rest take another look at it next year. They see the Big TV Contract is already set and adding 2 more teams simply splits that money among 2 additional schools.  They think...why the fuck are we adding Dayton?  Because they sell out the Dayton Arena? How does that help Setan Hall? Because they've been to the NCAA 1 time in the last 9 years? BFD? Because they're Catholic? So what?  They'd be smarter to add some non-catholic schools.  Because the get to travel to the open pit that is Dayton, OH? Screw that. 

Maybe they take Dayton and maybe they decide don't.  Right now Wichita looks like a better program right now. Or just keep it at 10 and keep the extra cash. 

Bobo, the tv contract increases proportionately should the league take on two more schools.  In other words, each of the ten existing schools will make the same tv revenue regardless of whether the conference has 10 schools or 12.

MV, do you have a source on that language?  I have not read about that excellation clause in the article talking about the New Big East's TV deal.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/slu-left-behind-for-now-as-new-big-east-adds/article_25b153ae-80fe-5818-a24a-411965bce7ad.html

Article in St. Louis Post-Dispatch references the fact that this is "reportedly" the case.

It's possible but would a network really pay the same rate to add Dayton that it did to land Georgetown, St Johns and Vilanova? Bad business decisions.