With Conference USA looking to replace departing members, Central Florida, Houston, Memphis and SMU, who are leaving for the Big East, the league has added six additional schools to give it 14 members by 2013. One of those six is Old Dominion, according to CBSSports.com's Brett McMurphy. An official announcement could come Friday.
Others joining Conference USA include Florida International, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, Texas San Antonio and Charlotte, creating two seven-team divisions, an east and a west. C-USA had previously been in talks with the Mountain West Conference to form a larger league, but that option is no longer on the table.
For ODU, the move appears to require the Monarchs' football program, which competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the Football Championship Subdivison and was reborn as recently as 2005, to move into the Football Bowl Subdivision, perhaps prematurely. Its basketball program, on the other hand, has been to the NCAA Tournament twice in the last three seasons.
To stay up to date on conference expansion throughout the region, follow this storystream. For more on the Old Dominion Monarchs football and basketball programs, stay tuned to SB Nation DC. And for all your college basketball news and notes be sure to check out SB Nation's NCAA hoops hub.