Convention realignment tracker: Rating prime strikes for the upcoming 2022-2023 school basketball season

Future convention realignment took middle stage in school sports activities this week, when information Broke Thursday that USC and UCLA can be on their method to the Large Ten in 2024. The transfer marks the most recent shakeup in a sequence of adjustments sparked final yr by the announcement that Texas and Oklahoma will transition from the Large 12 to the SEC within the coming years.

Whereas the looming additions to the Large Ten and SEC are seismic adjustments and can have a very hanging influence on school soccer, they are going to change the basketball dynamics of these leagues as properly. However earlier than we look forward to theoretical weeknight basketball matchups between USC and Rutgers involving five-hour cross-country flights, there are many different convention strikes happening that can have an effect on school basketball even sooner.

With greater than 350 Division I basketball packages all vying for a similar nationwide title from 32 conferences — versus simply 10 leagues within the FBS stage of faculty soccer — the adjustments might be tough to trace. As we flip the web page from the 2021-22 hoops season to the 2022-23 marketing campaign, it’s possible you’ll discover some groups in new leagues, most of which grew to become official Friday with July being the beginning of the 2022-23 athletic calendar.

To simplify issues, here’s a rundown of essentially the most impactful convention adjustments in Division I school basketball for the 2022-23 season.

1. Ohio Valley loses manufacturers

The Ohio Valley Convention has been certainly one of school basketball’s most fascinating mid-major leagues for years, producing thrilling convention tournaments and NCAA Match darlings frequently. However a good portion of the league’s basketball braun is departing for the 2022-23 season as Austin Peay (Atlantic Solar), Belmont (Missouri Valley) and Murray State (Missouri Valley) every put together to affix new leagues after that trio mixed to win 16 of the league’s previous 17 regular-season titles. As for the groups left behind, Morehead State may very well be able to thrive because the Eagles have received 23 video games in consecutive seasons whereas making three NCAA Match appearances since 2009.

2. Division II squads make the leap

Among the many colleges getting into to switch the departing OVC packages are a few Division II packages in Southern Indiana and Lindenwood. As they transfer to Division I, SIU and Lindenwood will undergo the NCAA-mandated transition interval that can hold them from NCAA Match eligibility till 2027. The third incoming OVC member is Little Rockwhich joins from the Solar Belt.

Whereas a full division leap can appear daunting, Bellarmine‘s profitable transfer from Division II to the Atlantic Solar is proof that outcomes can come early. The Knights received the ASUN Match final season of their second yr as Division I members, however it was common season champion Jacksonville State which represented the league within the NCAA Match as a consequence of Bellarmine’s transition interval. The ASUN is getting yet one more Division II mover within the season forward as Queens College will be a part of the league. The opposite former Division II members transitioning to Division I this season are Stonehill (Northeast Convention) and Texas A&M Commerce (Southland).

3. MVC will get a shakeup

Whereas the departure of a banner program in Loyola Chicago for the Atlantic 10 is a tricky blow for the Missouri Valley, it rebounded properly. With Belmont and Murray State on the best way in from the OVC, the league is gaining a pair of robust basketball packages with an incredible teaching lineage and a observe document of aggressive play in early spherical NCAA Match video games. Additionally becoming a member of the MVC is Illinois-Chicago from the Horizon League. Whereas the Flames have not been to the Large Dance since 2004 and have by no means received an NCAA Match sport, their addition will get the Missouri Valley to a fair 12 members.

4. Solar Belt adjustments

Amid all of the football-fueled realignment of 2021 that started with Texas and Oklahoma’s departure from the Large 12 to the SEC, the ripple results resulted within the Solar Belt truly getting one of many earliest makeovers. The league can have Convention USA defectors Marshall, Southern Miss and Previous Dominion for the 2022-23 season and can be including James Madison from the CAA. The league misplaced Little Rock to the OVC and Texas-Arlington to the WAC however got here out fantastic from a basketball perspective.

5. WAC expands

The WAC has all the time been wacky and considerably of a revolving door, and it’ll proceed bolstering that id within the 2022-23 season. Southern Utah and Texas-Arlington are becoming a member of from the Large Sky and Solar Belt, respectively, for the upcoming season earlier than LamarNew Mexico State and Sam Houston go away the convention subsequent yr. Does the WAC even all the time know who’s within the WAC?

2022-23 convention adjustments

Future convention adjustments