Interesting article on what the Big 12 would be looking at if they rank programs by their basketball prowess.

It's a very similar 4 to the ones we've heard are the top candidates.

He ranks his top 4 as UConn, Memphis, Cincinnati, and BYU.

Could we assume that ESPN, if the Big 12 is going to expand, would prefer to add strong basketball programs so that at least they create more quality match-ups outside of football season? No one the Big 12 adds could really increase their football competitiveness by any great degree. They could add some decent basketball and at least get some of their money back by multiplying content in that area. ESPN invests a lot in their basketball coverage so I think it makes sense.

UConn definitely the top of this list and from day one would be the #2 basketball program in the Big 12 behind Kansas....even though UConn has actually managed to close the deal in the NCAA tournament for national titles a lot more than KU has in recent history.

Really with any of the teams that seem to be getting serious conversation you don't add a bad basketball program (we already did that when we added TCU...although hopefully that finally turns the corner with Dixon at the helm). Houston probably the worst from a current day perspective, but have great bb history (5 final 4s and 2 national title games) and with Sampson on board and a arena renovation on the horizon I think they turn the corner as well.

(08-25-2016 11:06 AM)tcufrog86 Wrote:  UConn definitely the top of this list and from day one would be the #2 basketball program in the Big 12 behind Kansas....even though UConn has actually managed to close the deal in the NCAA tournament for national titles a lot more than KU has in recent history.

Really with any of the teams that seem to be getting serious conversation you don't add a bad basketball program (we already did that when we added TCU...although hopefully that finally turns the corner with Dixon at the helm). Houston probably the worst from a current day perspective, but have great bb history (5 final 4s and 2 national title games) and with Sampson on board and a arena renovation on the horizon I think they turn the corner as well.

Yeah, I thought Dixon was a great hire. Should be able to put TCU on the map.

BTW, what is the quality of TX high school basketball? Good talent pool or do most of the Big 12 teams from that area recruit out of state?

(08-25-2016 12:11 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(08-25-2016 11:06 AM)tcufrog86 Wrote:  UConn definitely the top of this list and from day one would be the #2 basketball program in the Big 12 behind Kansas....even though UConn has actually managed to close the deal in the NCAA tournament for national titles a lot more than KU has in recent history.

Really with any of the teams that seem to be getting serious conversation you don't add a bad basketball program (we already did that when we added TCU...although hopefully that finally turns the corner with Dixon at the helm). Houston probably the worst from a current day perspective, but have great bb history (5 final 4s and 2 national title games) and with Sampson on board and a arena renovation on the horizon I think they turn the corner as well.

Yeah, I thought Dixon was a great hire. Should be able to put TCU on the map.

BTW, what is the quality of TX high school basketball? Good talent pool or do most of the Big 12 teams from that area recruit out of state?

Just based upon population alone the state produces a lot of D1 players, but i'm guessing per capita it isn't a top 10 state.

In terms of Big 12 schools in the 2016 recruiting classes
Baylor - 0 of 2 from Texas
TCU - 1 of 4 from Texas
Texas - 3 of 4 from Texas
Texas Tech - 0 of 2 from Texas

Of course this is based upon where they signed from, didn't take time to see if JUCO or prep school kids actually went to HS in Texas.

Looking forward to 2017, Dixon is gaining steam in Texas. TCU already has 2, 4-star Texas HS kids committed.

(08-25-2016 09:52 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  Interesting article on what the Big 12 would be looking at if they rank programs by their basketball prowess.

It's a very similar 4 to the ones we've heard are the top candidates.

He ranks his top 4 as UConn, Memphis, Cincinnati, and BYU.

Could we assume that ESPN, if the Big 12 is going to expand, would prefer to add strong basketball programs so that at least they create more quality match-ups outside of football season? No one the Big 12 adds could really increase their football competitiveness by any great degree. They could add some decent basketball and at least get some of their money back by multiplying content in that area. ESPN invests a lot in their basketball coverage so I think it makes sense.

If they do go with basketball as the driving force, I'd go with Connecticut, Memphis, Cincinnati, and Temple. Why not pick up four new markets in the same general region-ish with decent football? BYU is solid in football and usually pretty good in basketball, but I don't see the point going West with them to go that far east for Connecticut. Temple seems like a good option at that point.