Shakeups continue

BURN THE HORSE
The Big Sky Conference is expected to announce today that it is bringing in Southern Utah, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Why should you care?
In a round-about way it affects UALR.
All three were either in or expected to be part of the Summit League. After losing Centenary this past year, the Summit League looked like it would rebound by adding the other two Dakota schools (they've already got North Dakota State and South Dakota State). Now it appears they'll be down to eight schools (Oral Roberts, IP-Fort Wayne, IUPU-Indianapolis, UM-Kansas City, Oakland (Mich.), Western Illinois, North Dakota State and South Dakota State).
Will they stay at eight or try to make a play to get bigger. At one time, the Summit League was attempting to court UALR, New Orleans and South Alabama. UNO went away and USA started Division I football. UALR and Denver now remain the only non-football playing members of the Sun Belt. Denver has long sought another conference home, but has been unable to find one. If they are continued to be shut out by the West Coast Conference, they might be UALR's best bet to align with.
Adding UALR and Denver to the Summit League would be a great addition to that league. It would put UALR on a much lengthier travel schedule. But it would also put UALR in a conference that wants to push its basketball. Even without Denver, UALR would make for a nice addition.
The Sun Belt appears to remain UALR's preferred option, but it will be difficult to keep saying no to the Summit League when the Sun Belt appears more interested in football than basketball.