OVC meetings recap

Thankfully, the Ohio Valley Conference does not have to deal with absurd economics, billion dollar television contracts or teams leaving six deep like we are seeing in college sports today, but that's another story. All in all, from what I a have read things went smoothly at the annual spring meetings in Nashville this week. There were a few subtle administrative decisions, and all in all they look to better the conference.

Perhaps the biggest change the OVC will see is in its men's basketball schedule. This directly affects SIUE, and will take affect in 2011-2012 when the Cougars are officially playing an OVC schedule. The OVC played a double round robin, home and home 20 game schedule from 2005 until 2008 and an 18 game slate the past two seasons. When SIUE arrives, that number will drop to 16.

Generally, I feel as though this is a good thing, although some would argue otherwise since conference season is the most important time on the college basketball calender (outside of conference tournaments, of course). It does mean there will be seasons where we will likely not see both Murray State and Morehead State or a newly developed rival (SEMO perhaps?)at the Vadalabene Center, but the non-conference possibilities make up for it.

With 16 conference games in a typical 28-30 game schedule it leaves the door open for more guarantee game money from power conference opponents, the possibility of in-season tournaments and regional opponents in teams like SIU Carbondale, Butler and Saint Louis University (you can cross your fingers.)

There may even be room for a non-Division-I team on the schedule later on, which is good for a win, but because it does not affect the RPI I wouldn't recommend it.

The new schedule only affects men's basketball, the women's schedule will be voted on at a later meeting. Dates and opponents have been approved as well, but not released to the public, or me for that matter. (DAMNIT!)

Down the road, I could envision the OVC adding a 12th team to capitalize on Divisional play, making a 16 game conference schedule a little less ridiculous, but that doens't seem to be in the cards right now amidst all the expansion going on in college sports.

The OVC also approved a request for a ticket buy-in policy, starting with next years tournament, in which schools will be required to buy tickets at face value to sell or give to their fans (the face value really shouldn't be too high anyways.)

This of course comes along with the new set-up for next year's conference tournament, with all 16 qualifying men's and women's teams advancing to the tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. I am not a huge fan of the new merit system with teams earning byes based on seeding, but it is what it is.

Other than that, a few names were approved, nothing too exciting with those and the OVC will be hosting an October in-person media day for basketball season in Nashville, which I am personally pretty stoked for.

A few more posts coming up soon.

-Allan

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