“The 2 GLVC schools that will be transitioning over to NCAA D1 in the next couple of years goes as follows:
1. University of Southern Indiana
2. Lindenwood University
I was told that both schools have alot of money and unbelievable facilities to make the transition happen.”
Not surprised by USI since they either just completed a large arena or are about to maybe that is why Rodney retired a transition like that could be years of hard work take SIU E and how much they have struggled to transition
I wonder what USI going D1 will mean for UE and their crowds/support. Their allure to attract the big city crowd to their arena has always been the fact they’re D1 and attract D1 teams to town. If they’re no longer the only big show in town, that may be the nail in their coffin, especially if USI gets competitive quickly. Even though they’ve had a D1 head start on USI for decades, I’m not sure if this upcoming UE team could beat USI this season.
This is awesome! Any word on conference? I wouldn't mind USI replacing Evansville myself haha
Not surprising and good for the city of Evansville. UE, by and large, has been a competitive disappointment. USI potentially pushing them gives them a choice to either step up, or take a back seat.
--Insert something witty here--
This is awesome! Any word on conference? I wouldn't mind USI replacing Evansville myself haha
Horizon is what I saw
My guess is OVC or Big South or A Sun.....then if they have success maybe the Horizon. This was speculation from a tweet. With their new arena it makes perfect sense but to say USI is floating in cash isn't accurate. It adds an additional 2 million to the budget to go D1...thats a lot of cash. My guess is they are headed there sooner than later and the GLVC having lost KWU and Bellarmin in the past three or so years makes their league a lot weaker.
n kentucky was a big rival of usi. Their success gives usi a good chance to get into Horrizon L.
Rodney made sure usi had best facilties.
I hope the OVC doesn't add USI, at least until they have been D1 for a few years. The SIUE experiment has been a disaster so far, although they do have a nice campus. OVC is already at 12 so I doubt they expand anyways unless they think USI will pack the OVC Tourney or if someone leaves.
I hope the OVC doesn't add USI, at least until they have been D1 for a few years. The SIUE experiment has been a disaster so far, although they do have a nice campus. OVC is already at 12 so I doubt they expand anyways unless they think USI will pack the OVC Tourney or if someone leaves.
I would like to believe that USI could bring up attendance to the OVC tournament. If U of E wasn't a private school, I'd like to believe they would draw more local interest and have bigger crowds. I've lived in Evansville for the past couple of years, and most people I knew had the opinion that U of E "was for the rich kids." I hope they do go OVC and have some success, however I'd say that they probably won't.
Why?
“The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody has decided not to see.”
― Ayn Rand
Why?
EIU is my second favorite school to root for. I don't really want any more non-football members, especially ones moving straight up from D2. If USI had football and they were going to participate in OVC FB then I would be all for them. As of right now there are 9 FB schools and 3 non-fb (PFL doesn't count). Besides that having 12 teams is big enough. North Alabama wanted in the OVC, but I guess they were turned down which is unfortunate because they would have been the perfect add.
Not surprised by USI since they either just completed a large arena or are about to maybe that is why Rodney retired a transition like that could be years of hard work take SIU E and how much they have struggled to transition
Rodney Watson applied for the SIUe job when they were starting the transition to D1, I am sure he is tired of the constant stress of coaching, and I bet he took some of the Salukiway playbook to the USI Athletic director. and looks like they are in good shape to transition upwards.
The USI basketball facility looks better than most D2 schools- (SIUe has 4k seats, USI has 4800, Ford center Evansville holds 11k) (no posted capacity for JALC or Rendlake)
USI and SIUe can be good prep games along with SEMO for the valley.
new coach is a jalc alum. would be good if they become decent and we schedule them. it would be another fairly close road game. makes me wonder if rodney was helped in to retirement. he kept getting turned down for divison i jobs so why walk away from one?
Craving a McBride Special!
new coach is a jalc alum. would be good if they become decent and we schedule them. it would be another fairly close road game. makes me wonder if rodney was helped in to retirement. he kept getting turned down for division i jobs so why walk away from one?
If they are decent, or average (semo/SIUe decent) we likely will likely pick them up.
Watson was always a D1 assistant, had problems convincing people he could D1 head coach. (why they brought back Lowery, vs giving him the top coach position at SIU.) He is an AAGG, and could coach, while mentioned as the hot coach, he was never really considered the top 1/2 picks for a replacement.
Lowery could hand out a turd and tell you were as worthless as that,
Rodney could hand out that same turd and make you believe it was the best brownie, from a top baking company.
