Big Ten to Expand Again!!!!

[xubrew]

Sort of...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-03/johns-hopkins-men-s-lacrosse-moving-to-big-ten-after-130-years.html

[Muskie]

So are they a "leader" or "legend"? (FYI: I realize they changed the names).

[Titanxman04]

This was expected. Hopkins saw that the writing was on the wall with fewer at-large teams in the tournament nowadays. They needed that AQ Bid to help them along. They didn't make the tournament this year for the first time in God knows how long. Joining an AQ conference gave them this advantage. Kind of sad but figured they would have gone patriot league instead.

[Muskie]

This was expected. Hopkins saw that the writing was on the wall with fewer at-large teams in the tournament nowadays. They needed that AQ Bid to help them along. They didn't make the tournament this year for the first time in God knows how long. Joining an AQ conference gave them this advantage. Kind of sad but figured they would have gone patriot league instead.

So is there like 6 Big Team teams now with Lacrosse?

[LA Muskie]

So is there like 6 Big Team teams now with Lacrosse?

Yes in Men's LAX: Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers and Johns Hopkins. Women's LAX adds Northwestern as well.

[LA Muskie]

This was expected. Hopkins saw that the writing was on the wall with fewer at-large teams in the tournament nowadays. They needed that AQ Bid to help them along. They didn't make the tournament this year for the first time in God knows how long. Joining an AQ conference gave them this advantage. Kind of sad but figured they would have gone patriot league instead.
If I recall correctly, this was actually announced several months ago (if not it was widely rumored).

[Titanxman04]

If I recall correctly, this was actually announced several months ago (if not it was widely rumored).

It was not announced where they would end up, just that they would join a conference.

[LA Muskie]

It was not announced where they would end up, just that they would join a conference.
Yeah, I don't remember that far back. But I know there were at least significant rumors that they would end up in the Big 10. Frankly, they were loud enough in LAX circles (of which I am on the periphery) that I just assumed it was official.

[DC Muskie]

Great move by Hopkins. Assures them a chance to get an AQ into the tournament. In a league that they should win more times than not, except this year of course.