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http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2515444
Islanders ready to make Southland splashBy Brendan Murphy
Special to ESPN.com

Fantasy Island
Ronnie Arrow and the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi basketball team have proven to be a formidable foe for teams from college basketball's most elite conferences.

Since the Islanders joined Division I seven years ago, Arrow has guided them to a 108-84 record that has included wins over power-conference teams such as Florida State, Baylor, TCU and South Florida.

However, when Arrow and his staff recruited players they did so with a stigma attached to their program.....


...TAMU-CC hardly will be the only new blood in the Southland. The league is in the midst of a complete metamorphosis.

Northwestern State will lose most of its 2005 squad, which went 15-1 in conference. Gone from Lamar is coaching legend Billy Tubbs, one of five Southland head coaches to leave his position this offseason. Louisiana-Monroe's defection for the Sun Belt opened up a spot for Central Arkansas. UCA will enter its first season in Division I athletics in a transition period and will not be eligible for postseason play....

Things to watch
Central Arkansas: Although the Bears won't be eligible for postseason play next season, they will still get a few games against top-notch opponents. From Nov. 17-19, the Bears will play UConn, Ole Miss and Fairfield as part of the Hispanic College Fund Classic in the 16,000-seat Hartford Civic Center...

(also in the team logos, it looks like ESPN has decided Sam Houston wants to be a Gambling wannabe! )

but looking at it now, at least Sam Houston has a logo beside its name...

Just another example of the added pub that comes with the move. How many GSC stories did you ever read on ESPN?

(Yes, I understand it wasn't by an ESPN staff writer, but still.)