Dynamic Debuts: ORU Aspires to Become 2nd School to Win SLC in First Year
Oral Roberts, after winning the Summit League regular-season title last season in its conference swan song, is a favorite to achieve the same feat as a new member of the Southland Conference this year. An outsider might be unsure if it's a sufficiently charismatic request warranting inclusion at the on-campus 200-foot prayer tower. But it won't be a miracle if ORU reaches the NCAA playoffs in 2013.
ORU could become the fifth school in the last 30 years to capture a regular-season conference championship in their inaugural campaign as a member after joining an existing league following their departure from another DI alliance. Texas-San Antonio went unbeaten in the SLC in 1991-92 when it was one of four titlists as a league newcomer.
Arkansas is the only school in this category to capture a power conference title (1992 in SEC after winning SWC in 1991). Following is a chronological list of schools capturing a regular-season league crown in their initial year as a member after joining an existing conference following their departure from another loop:
Newcomer Titlist | Conference | First Season | League Previous Year | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
La Salle* | Metro Atlantic Athletic | 1983-84 | East Coast-East | T1st |
Arkansas | SEC-Western | 1991-92 | Southwest | 1st |
Delaware | North Atlantic | 1991-92 | East Coast | 2nd |
Louisiana Tech | Sun Belt | 1991-92 | American South | 3rd |
Texas-San Antonio | Southland | 1991-92 | Trans America Athletic | 1st |
Rider | Northeast | 1992-93 | East Coast | T2nd |
Towson State | Big South | 1992-93 | East Coast | T2nd |
Virginia Commonwealth | Colonial Athletic | 1995-96 | Metro | 7th |
Virginia Tech* | Atlantic 10-West | 1995-96 | Metro | T4th |
College of Charleston | Southern | 1998-99 | Trans America Athletic-East | 1st |
Maryland-Baltimore County | Northeast | 1998-99 | Big South | 3rd |
American University | Patriot League | 2001-02 | Colonial Athletic | 9th |
Louisiana-Monroe* | Sun Belt-West | 2006-07 | Southland | T8th |
*Tied for first place.