we all know the talking points about the ACC having to give the A-10 something in exchange for barclays. one of the reasons I think the ACC is even willing to do this is because it is to their benefit the A-10.

the A-10 is the biggest threat to the Big East. wouldn't it make sense for the ACC to help the A-10? what is good for the A-10 is bad for the Big East which is good for the ACC. Kinda like "The enemy of the enemy is my friend" sort of thing.....

Nah..This has ESPN written all over it.

The ACC worried about the old Big East because of football. I don't think they really feel threatened by the current version and is happy to coexist with them.

(03-14-2014 03:04 PM)prp Wrote:  The ACC worried about the old Big East because of football. I don't think they really feel threatened by the current version and is happy to coexist with them.

the BE has something the ACC wants
#MSG

(03-14-2014 02:30 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  Nah..This has ESPN written all over it.

The A-10 has little to do with ESPN. They've moved, largely to CBSS and to NBC's Sports Network.

(03-14-2014 03:47 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(03-14-2014 02:30 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  Nah..This has ESPN written all over it.

The A-10 has little to do with ESPN. They've moved, largely to CBSS and to NBC's Sports Network.

That said, it's still not a direct competitor like FS1 and the Big East. Hoping that scheduling agreement goes for a couple years.

(03-14-2014 03:47 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(03-14-2014 02:30 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  Nah..This has ESPN written all over it.

The A-10 has little to do with ESPN. They've moved, largely to CBSS and to NBC's Sports Network.

ESPN shows 14 A-10 men's games on TV and streamed through WATCHESPN. A short lived scheduling agreement increases the value of that product and gets the ACC into NY sooner which is what everyone wants.

If the ACC was concerned about the BE, helping the A10 overtake them would be counter productive. You have just changed the name of your competitor, not eliminated them.

How is the a-10 a threat to the Big East when 3 of its best properties were raided by the BE?

(03-14-2014 06:00 PM)S11 Wrote:  How is the a-10 a threat to the Big East when 3 of its best properties were raided by the BE?

because it is the only conference out there that can challenge the BE as the best "BB only" conference.

(03-14-2014 06:00 PM)S11 Wrote:  How is the a-10 a threat to the Big East when 3 of its best properties were raided by the BE?

Xavier was the only loss from the A-10 to the Big East. Butler was a joke in the A-10.

(03-14-2014 06:00 PM)S11 Wrote:  How is the a-10 a threat to the Big East when 3 of its best properties were raided by the BE?

Creighton wasn't in the A-10. Temple went to the AAC.

Xavier and Temple have a history of deep runs in the NCAA tournament and name identity nationally from 30 years of ESPN broadcasts.

Those were BIG losses for the A10. Butler is still thought of as a place for Indiana kids to play and was only in the league a short while.

VCU is in the category with UAB, Tulsa and WKU were people know they have a reputation but are maximized more when they are playing a name brand like Memphis. For example everyone knows Memphis vs. UAB is a big basketball game or Memphis vs. Tulsa. The A10 right now doesn't have any big national pulls. Dayton, VCU, UMass, SLU all need a bigger program to be involved to maximize interest.

Then you have the MVC and MAC teams which college basketball junkies respect on the talent side but nobody is interested in watching. Sometimes they are forced to watch them but nobody really wants to.

(03-15-2014 04:01 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Xavier and Temple have a history of deep runs in the NCAA tournament and name identity nationally from 30 years of ESPN broadcasts.

The A10 has been a revolving door since it was formed and has done a great job landing on its feet after repeated membership changes. Their flexible footprint, northeast, south, Midwest, lets them tap the best emerging schools from minor conferences as they get poached themselves.

(03-14-2014 06:00 PM)S11 Wrote:  How is the a-10 a threat to the Big East when 3 of its best properties were raided by the BE?

If ESPN was motivated to do so, they absolutely could promote the A10 to the point where any recruiting gap between the A10 and BE would be erased. They have that king-making ability, even more so in basketball where a single great player can make a larger impact than in football. Recruits watch ESPN. They do not watch Fox Sports much yet. A couple seasons of ESPN telling everyone who'll listen that the Big East is dying and that the A10 is the best basketball-centric conference would get it done, despite the BE's TV revenue advantage. It doesn't matter if it's not true. If ESPN kept saying it, it would eventually become reality. Too bad regular season college basketball isn't worth anything, and the tournament belongs to CBS. Otherwise if ESPN valued basketball games in the Big East's markets, they could just turn the A10 into the Big East at a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately they have plenty of other programming to put on their channels that's more valuable.

(03-15-2014 07:49 AM)orangefan Wrote:  

(03-15-2014 04:01 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Xavier and Temple have a history of deep runs in the NCAA tournament and name identity nationally from 30 years of ESPN broadcasts.

The A10 has been a revolving door since it was formed and has done a great job landing on its feet after repeated membership changes. Their flexible footprint, northeast, south, Midwest, lets them tap the best emerging schools from minor conferences as they get poached themselves.

Yeah, only three schools from the original conference are still in the league (GW, UMass, and Duquesne) but year after year they manage to be one of the better conferences. The other original members were PSU, Pitt, WVU, Rutgers, and Villanova. St Bonnie's, URI, and SJU have been in the league for a long time too though.

Temple was by far the biggest loss though, followed by Xavier, then Butler. Temple's rivalries with St Joe's and La Salle were a centerpiece of the league and they were the best program over the 30 years they were in the league. Xavier hurts too but not as much. Butler leaving was irrelevant.

(03-15-2014 09:35 AM)MKPitt Wrote:  

(03-15-2014 07:49 AM)orangefan Wrote:  

(03-15-2014 04:01 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Xavier and Temple have a history of deep runs in the NCAA tournament and name identity nationally from 30 years of ESPN broadcasts.

The A10 has been a revolving door since it was formed and has done a great job landing on its feet after repeated membership changes. Their flexible footprint, northeast, south, Midwest, lets them tap the best emerging schools from minor conferences as they get poached themselves.

Yeah, only three schools from the original conference are still in the league (GW, UMass, and Duquesne) but year after year they manage to be one of the better conferences. The other original members were PSU, Pitt, WVU, Rutgers, and Villanova. St Bonnie's, URI, and SJU have been in the league for a long time too though.

Temple was by far the biggest loss though, followed by Xavier, then Butler. Temple's rivalries with St Joe's and La Salle were a centerpiece of the league and they were the best program over the 30 years they were in the league. Xavier hurts too but not as much. Butler leaving was irrelevant.

Losing Temple hurt. Losing Xavier hurt too. But this year's results have helped quite a bit.

(03-15-2014 09:35 AM)MKPitt Wrote:  Temple was by far the biggest loss though, followed by Xavier, then Butler. Temple's rivalries with St Joe's and La Salle were a centerpiece of the league and they were the best program over the 30 years they were in the league. Xavier hurts too but not as much. Butler leaving was irrelevant.

Agreed on Temple and Xavier. Those were true hits for the A-10. Butler was in the league for a year, its like they were never there to begin with. It will be interesting to see how Butler fares long term without Brad Stevens at the helm. So far it isn't great.

As for the A-10's original membership, given the number of FBS schools (Pitt, PSU, RU, WVU and later on Temple) it was no shock that a basketball centric league that didn't even sponsor football wasn't going to hold on to them. 4 of the 5 are in power leagues at this point.

(03-15-2014 09:55 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(03-15-2014 09:35 AM)MKPitt Wrote:  

(03-15-2014 07:49 AM)orangefan Wrote:  

(03-15-2014 04:01 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Xavier and Temple have a history of deep runs in the NCAA tournament and name identity nationally from 30 years of ESPN broadcasts.

The A10 has been a revolving door since it was formed and has done a great job landing on its feet after repeated membership changes. Their flexible footprint, northeast, south, Midwest, lets them tap the best emerging schools from minor conferences as they get poached themselves.

Yeah, only three schools from the original conference are still in the league (GW, UMass, and Duquesne) but year after year they manage to be one of the better conferences. The other original members were PSU, Pitt, WVU, Rutgers, and Villanova. St Bonnie's, URI, and SJU have been in the league for a long time too though.

Temple was by far the biggest loss though, followed by Xavier, then Butler. Temple's rivalries with St Joe's and La Salle were a centerpiece of the league and they were the best program over the 30 years they were in the league. Xavier hurts too but not as much. Butler leaving was irrelevant.

Losing Temple hurt. Losing Xavier hurt too. But this year's results have helped quite a bit.

The A10 is still a league comprised of good basketball schools. Every single one of them has some tradition, though in some cases it may be way back.