Updated: May 8, 2013, 11:41 a.m.
The Atlantic 10 will welcome Davidson – a consistent March Madness contender – to the conference for the 2014-2015 season, the college announced Wednesday.
Davidson’s signing is the second by the A-10 this off season, after regional rival George Mason agreed to join the A-10 in March for the 2013-14 season. The addition is a big get for a conference that recently lost powerhouses Xavier and Butler to the new Big East, Charlotte to Conference USA, and Temple to the American Athletic Conference.
“Once again the Atlantic 10 has shown its commitment to being a premier conference, and in the always changing landscape of conference realignment, the conference has proven to be proactive in adding quality universities that will augment our reputation and keep us thriving,” GW’s athletic director Patrick Nero said in a release Wednesday.
The deal not only makes up for one of the vacant slots, but could also entice other potential A-10 fleers like Saint Louis, Dayton, Richmond and VCU to stay in the basketball-heavy conference that is trying to gain prominence as conference realignment shakes up the college sports world.
Davidson, based in southern North Carolina, previously turned down an opportunity last year to leave the Southern Conference for the CAA, the conference that George Mason most recently left. The Wildcats have played in the Southern Conference for eight decades, and is one of its oldest members.
Last season, Davidson finished with a 26-8 record overall, and a 17-1 record in conference. They came up just a last second lay up short from defeating No.3 seed Marquette in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Since 2006, the team has moved onto March Madness five times.
