Conference realignment tracker: Top moves in the rankings for the upcoming 2022-2023 college basketball season

Future conference realignment took center stage in college sports this week Broke on Thursday That USC And UCLA Will move to the Big Ten in 2024. The move marks the latest shock in a series of changes announced last year. Texas And Oklahoma The transition from the Big 12 to the SEC will take place in the coming years.

While the mergers of the Big Ten and the SEC will be seismic changes and have a particularly significant impact on college football, they will also change the basketball dynamics of those leagues. But before we look forward to the theoretical weeknight basketball matchups between USC and Rutgers Including five-hour cross-country flights, there are plenty of other conference moves that have an impact on college basketball.

With more than 350 Division I basketball programs all competing for a single national title from 32 conferences — versus 10 leagues at the FBS level of college football — the changes are difficult to track. As we turn the page from the 2021-22 hoops season to the 2022-23 campaign, you’ll notice a handful of teams in new leagues, most of which became official on Friday to mark the start of the July 2022-23 athletic calendar.

To simplify things, here’s a rundown of the conference changes that have the most impact on Division I college basketball for the 2022-23 season.

1. Ohio Valley loses brands

The Ohio Valley Conference has been one of college basketball’s most captivating mid-major leagues for years, producing exciting conference matchups and NCAA Tournament darlings on a regular basis. But a significant portion of the league’s basketball leaves for the 2022-23 season. Austin Bay (Atlantic Sun), Belmont (Missouri Valley) and Murray State (Missouri Valley) Each prepared to join new leagues, and the trio combined to win 16 of the league’s last 17 regular-season titles. For the underdogs, Morehead State The Eagles have won 23 games in consecutive seasons in three NCAA Tournament appearances since 2009 and could be in a position to thrive.

2. Division II teams make the leap

There are two Division II programs at entering schools that replace the departing OVC programs South Indiana and Lindenwood. In moving to Division I, SIU and Lindenwood will undergo an NCAA-mandated transition period that will keep them from NCAA Tournament eligibility until 2027. The third is an incoming OVC member Little RockIt joins from the Sun Belt.

While an entire divisional leap may seem daunting, BellarmineA successful move from Division II to Atlantic Sun is proof that results can come early. The Knights won the ASUN Tournament last season as Division I members, but were regular season champions. Jacksonville State Bellarmine represented the league in the NCAA Tournament due to his transition period. ASUN gains another Division II trio during the season as Queen’s University joins the league. Stonehill (Northeastern Conference) and other former Division II members who moved to Division I this season Texas A&M Trade (The Netherlands).

3. MVC gets a shake-up

When a banner project takes off Loyola Chicago The Atlantic 10 was a tough blow for Missouri Valley, which bounced back well. With Belmont and Murray State entering from the OVC, the league gets a pair of strong basketball programs with a great coaching pedigree and a record of competitive play in early-round NCAA Tournament games. Also joining MVC Illinois-Chicago From the Horizon League. Although the Flames haven’t been in the Big Dance since 2004 and haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game, the Missouri Valley is available for their addition of 12 members.

4. The sun belt changes

Amid all the football-fueled realignments of 2021 that began with the departure of Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12 to the SEC, the Sun Belt actually got one of the earliest makeovers as a result of the ripple effects. The league will consist of Conference USA leavers Marshall, Southern Miss And Old Dominion More are being added in the 2022-23 season James Madison From CAA. The league lost Little Rock to the OVC Texas-Arlington For the WAC but from a basketball perspective came out well.

5. WAC expands

The WAC has always been wacky and somewhat of a revolving door, and will continue to improve on that identity in the 2022-23 season. Southern Utah and Texas-Arlington, from the Big Sky and Sun Belt, respectively, join them this coming season. LamarState of New Mexico and Sam Houston Leave next year’s convention. Does VUC always know who is in VUC?

2022-23 Conference Changes

Changes to Future Conventions