I really don't think Winthrop would be interested in scheduling Newberry. The top four teams in the South Atlantic Conference (D2) each year could give ANY team in the Big South (D1) a run for their money. The SAC often gets three teams into D2 NCAA championships. The Big South advances only their conference tournament champion into the D1 NCAA championships, where they generally get hammered by an ACC school in Round 1.
Not as big of a "drop off" as you think.
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
