Post by gmandakota on Nov 6, 2012 4:56:41 GMT -6
Just to make it clear, I bleed blue and yellow so you do not need to guess my devotion. However; that being said I am a person that looks at facts and attempts to be a realist.
Regarding the role SDSU had in the success of the Summit League Tournament, it was huge. The scorers table is hauled down from Brookings. The "officials - announcers" sitting at said table are SDSU.
Now that being said, the SF Sports Authority secured the corporate sponsors along with convincing Sioux Falls to buy into supporting the tournament. The large fan base from NDSU is a huge asset especially when NDSU has been in the opposite bracket of SDSU.
It truly has been a perfect marriage between SDSU and SFSA for the Summit League, and like all weddings it is that much better when a few of your friends (NDSU) can enjoy the ceremony. As the USD fans witnessed at Howard Wood Field, the NDSU fan base is very large and very faithful.
The future role of USD will expand as the tournament matures. Once the tournament roles into the T. Denny Sanford then one would assume SDSU will no longer need to bring down their scorers table, etc... However; do not underestimate the fact the attendance will need to literally double as the venue will be twice as large. The largest challenge will be to get the casual fan to attend the non-regional games. The USD fan base will need to be just as active as SDSU and NDSU in order for the tournament to be a huge success. In the end, those fan bases will need to be devoted to the tournament regardless of the teams playing.
Here are the standings of the Summit League since SDSU and NDSU joined the conference:
Regular Season Season
07-08 - M = ORU; W= SDSU
08-09 - M = NDSU; W = SDSU
09-10 - M = Oakland; W= ORU
10-11 - M = Oakland; W = ORU
11-12 - M = ORU; W = SDSU
Men Tournament Champs
07-08 In Tulsa - ORU over IUPUI (SDSU and NDSU not eligible)
08-09 In SF - NDSU over Oakland
09-10 In SF - Oakland over IUPUI
10-11 in SF - Oakland over ORU
11-12 in SF - SDSU over WIU
Woment Tournament Champs
07-08 In Tulsa - ORU over IUPUI (SDSU and NDSU not eligible)
08-09 In SF - SDSU over Oakland
09-10 In SF - SDSU over ORU
10-11 in SF - SDSU over Oakland
11-12 in SF - SDSU over UMKC
So looking at the Tournament Champions verus Regualar Season Champs, there were no huge surprises in the Tournament.
The Regular Season Champ in Men won the title in all the years except 2011-12. In 2011-12 the regular season champs (ORU) were not eliminated by SDSU or NDSU. The 2011-12 tournament was full of upsets and SDSU matured into a very good team by the end of the season. Did the crowd help, yes, but in the end the teams need to be talented enough to compete.
On the women side, it is no surprise that SDSU has won the tournament. SDSU would have dominated the tournament in Tulsa in 07-08 had they been eligible. Regardless of the crowd, SDSU WBB would have been considered a favorite in the tournament regardless of the venue. The reality is the SDSU WBB team raised the bar several feet for the Summit.
Losing ORU was a huge loss to the Summit League. ORU did bring national prominence to the League just as Oakland brings to the League. Losing Oakland would be a HUGE blow to the League. With all due respect to the NCC, we do not want to become the old NCC.
Did ORU leave due to the Summit being cemented in SF? This might have been a factor, but it was not the only factor. Baseball is essentially the football program for ORU. They were able to upgrade several steps in baseball by moving to the Southland along with eliminating the need to play baseball in the upper Midwest. Although the Southland is a step down in regards to basketball, it is a much better geographic fit. Do not underestimate baseball in the ORU decision to move to the Southland.
Will Oakland leave for a conference such as the Horizon? There are no loyalties when it comes to Division 1 conferences as evidenced by the recent conference reallignments. Who could blame Oakland should they have an opportunity to go to a Conference that provides a larger spotlight? It would not be any different if the Missouri Valley came calling to NDSU, SDSU, or USD.
Regarding the role SDSU had in the success of the Summit League Tournament, it was huge. The scorers table is hauled down from Brookings. The "officials - announcers" sitting at said table are SDSU.
Now that being said, the SF Sports Authority secured the corporate sponsors along with convincing Sioux Falls to buy into supporting the tournament. The large fan base from NDSU is a huge asset especially when NDSU has been in the opposite bracket of SDSU.
It truly has been a perfect marriage between SDSU and SFSA for the Summit League, and like all weddings it is that much better when a few of your friends (NDSU) can enjoy the ceremony. As the USD fans witnessed at Howard Wood Field, the NDSU fan base is very large and very faithful.
The future role of USD will expand as the tournament matures. Once the tournament roles into the T. Denny Sanford then one would assume SDSU will no longer need to bring down their scorers table, etc... However; do not underestimate the fact the attendance will need to literally double as the venue will be twice as large. The largest challenge will be to get the casual fan to attend the non-regional games. The USD fan base will need to be just as active as SDSU and NDSU in order for the tournament to be a huge success. In the end, those fan bases will need to be devoted to the tournament regardless of the teams playing.
Here are the standings of the Summit League since SDSU and NDSU joined the conference:
Regular Season Season
07-08 - M = ORU; W= SDSU
08-09 - M = NDSU; W = SDSU
09-10 - M = Oakland; W= ORU
10-11 - M = Oakland; W = ORU
11-12 - M = ORU; W = SDSU
Men Tournament Champs
07-08 In Tulsa - ORU over IUPUI (SDSU and NDSU not eligible)
08-09 In SF - NDSU over Oakland
09-10 In SF - Oakland over IUPUI
10-11 in SF - Oakland over ORU
11-12 in SF - SDSU over WIU
Woment Tournament Champs
07-08 In Tulsa - ORU over IUPUI (SDSU and NDSU not eligible)
08-09 In SF - SDSU over Oakland
09-10 In SF - SDSU over ORU
10-11 in SF - SDSU over Oakland
11-12 in SF - SDSU over UMKC
So looking at the Tournament Champions verus Regualar Season Champs, there were no huge surprises in the Tournament.
The Regular Season Champ in Men won the title in all the years except 2011-12. In 2011-12 the regular season champs (ORU) were not eliminated by SDSU or NDSU. The 2011-12 tournament was full of upsets and SDSU matured into a very good team by the end of the season. Did the crowd help, yes, but in the end the teams need to be talented enough to compete.
On the women side, it is no surprise that SDSU has won the tournament. SDSU would have dominated the tournament in Tulsa in 07-08 had they been eligible. Regardless of the crowd, SDSU WBB would have been considered a favorite in the tournament regardless of the venue. The reality is the SDSU WBB team raised the bar several feet for the Summit.
Losing ORU was a huge loss to the Summit League. ORU did bring national prominence to the League just as Oakland brings to the League. Losing Oakland would be a HUGE blow to the League. With all due respect to the NCC, we do not want to become the old NCC.
Did ORU leave due to the Summit being cemented in SF? This might have been a factor, but it was not the only factor. Baseball is essentially the football program for ORU. They were able to upgrade several steps in baseball by moving to the Southland along with eliminating the need to play baseball in the upper Midwest. Although the Southland is a step down in regards to basketball, it is a much better geographic fit. Do not underestimate baseball in the ORU decision to move to the Southland.
Will Oakland leave for a conference such as the Horizon? There are no loyalties when it comes to Division 1 conferences as evidenced by the recent conference reallignments. Who could blame Oakland should they have an opportunity to go to a Conference that provides a larger spotlight? It would not be any different if the Missouri Valley came calling to NDSU, SDSU, or USD.