(04-10-2017 09:42 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(04-10-2017 09:31 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Power Conference designation should really just be reserved for Football. With FBS, it is tangible and established what a Power Conference is, and who the P5 are. The networks, TV deals and bowl agreements confirm that.

With basketball, it really doesn't matter. How many teams the American can get in is not affected by how many the B1G can get in. While the conference championship winners get into the NCAA Tournament via autobids, many at-large teams from the top 8 conferences will regularly get in. There are no set parameters on how many teams from the American could, conceivably, get in. It could be as low as one (unlikely) or as many as six/seven in a great year (also unlikely). I think the average, with the addition of Wichita State, will be around 4-5.

I generally concur. IMHO there are "high resource" basketball programs and then there are not. The high resource schools span most in the P5/P6 (but not all of them) and then about another 10-15 programs in other conferences (Gonzaga, New Mexico, BYU, UConn, Cincinnati, Wichita State, Memphis, Dayton, VCU and a few others).

Sadly, I think there are those in a position of power who like things the way there are. They want to ensure that the P5 schools get all the media revenue, all the tournament credits, all the exposure, etc. while schools in the other conferences wilt.

Yet the American is somewhat in "no-man's land". I don't think they will wither, but will constantly be questioning the value of the investment in football. The next contract will be telling. Keep in mind that the 3 Big East schools are finally facing a pay cut when the exit fees dwindle to 0, but the C-USA schools and Temple aren't, so their budgets are still based in expected growth.

For that reason I think the conference continues to stay in the nether world of not withering on the vine.