By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHILADELPHIA - Atlantic 10 Conference officials tried to direct media focus to its basketball players and coaches at media day Thursday, but undertones of expansion weighed heavily throughout the day.

Three hours after the event was over, the league finally announced what everyone already knew: that Conference USA's Charlotte and Saint Louis have officially been invited to join the Atlantic 10.

Charlotte has scheduled a press conference at 3 p.m. Monday to announce whether it will accept the invitation. Saint Louis spokesman Doug McIlhagga said his institution expects to decide in the next five to 10 days.

"We are not prepared at this point to make a formal acceptance," Charlotte athletic director Judy Rose said. "But we are thrilled have the invitation. We think it's a good fit, and we hope things work out."

It is believed the Atlantic 10 officials would not have extended invitations to the schools if they were not assured of getting acceptances.

"They are both two strong basketball programs," said Atlantic 10 commissioner Linda Bruno. "And they're also in two markets that we don't have, Charlotte and Saint Louis."

Xavier coach Thad Matta agreed that the additions of Charlotte and Saint Louis will help the Atlantic 10 keep pace with the ever-changing conference landscape.

"Those are two basketball schools that will enhance our league even more," Matta said. "The Atlantic 10 just got better."

Bruno said the league hasn't decided whether the Atlantic 10 will continue to play in East and West divisions or in one 14-team division in 2005.

"One of the things with this round of expansion is, it's not immediate," Bruno said. "You have some time."

The league also has not come to a decision how many teams will take part in the conference tournament in March 2006, which will be in its second year at U.S. Bank Arena. Currently, all 12 teams play in the league tournament, but 14 teams could pose a logistical problem.

Also at issue is keeping the league intact through the next wave of conference realignment, whenever it occurs. In order to keep teams from leaving, the conference may need to look at increasing the financial burden for moving to a different conference.

"We probably need to look at making a stiffer penalty," Bruno said. "That's something that will be on the table."

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com