(01-26-2017 05:02 PM)Banter Wrote:  

(01-26-2017 01:31 PM)marcuscan Wrote:  Forecasting what's going to happen in 2025 is a crazy thought experiment.

About the AAC - yes. It has already gotten better. Sure, it's going to be weighed down by programs like Tulane, however in the grand scheme of things that's not really relevant. The upper echelon teams are getting better, gaining prestige, and talent. Just look at the coaches it attracted this year. Forget the P6 moniker...but we it is true we're right in the middle of the P5 and everyone else.

When UC gets back on track it'll increase the number of quality programs in the conference. I don't see Houston falling off, Memphis seems to have found its legs, USF, TBD about Temple - tho as a UF fan i am a believer in Collins, and tulsa/ smu have a chance.

All that said, the conference could REALLY use an alpha dog program. A clear cut consistent team that's out there beating P5 teams on a regular basis.

mc

It will be hard for this conference to have an alpha dog. The fact is with all the coaching turnover the AAC will experience it will be hard to truly build that type of program without down years. That is one thing that killed the big east. On the flip side it is also easier to build a team up in 1-3 seasons in the AAC compared to a big conference

Yeah, thats the key. the school that can lucks up and gets someone like Chris Peterson who will build a program over years will have a major opportunity to repeatedly get to an Access Bowl, or even a Playoff. You'd think that would equate in to a pay raise that's on par with a lot of P5 teams.




mc

(01-26-2017 09:02 AM)Marcus Wrote:  The Pac 12 is a mess financially and their network is bleeding money big-time from what I understand. There is just a huge lack of interest in college sports out there. I can't imagine expansion being any kind of an option for them going forward.

I'd say 5 of those schools would be legit options for the AAC. WVU, Baylor, TCU, Iowa State and Kansas State.

Who knows what the ACC, B1G and SEC would do. The only options the SEC would consider would be Oklahoma, Kansas and Oklahoma State IMO. Texas would be B1G or ACC, it just depends on if they are insistent on being attached to Texas Tech. B1G would have no interest in going down that road, but the ACC might.

I wouldn't say that the Pac Twelve is a mess financially. They paid each of their members over $25 million last year. It has fallen behind the SEC, but that's hardly a mess. That being said, I don't really foresee them wanting to expand. I also don't foresee the Big 12 breaking up, although I know there are some scenarios that could lead to that. It's just that if I had to venture a guess I think it will ultimately end up staying together.

As far as the AAC getting better, it...well...should. I personally think it should be better than what it is, and that the answer to making it better is to make better use of what it has rather than adding more to it. For the most part, it consists of schools in big markets in rich recruiting areas with substantial alumni bases that are centrally located. Cincinnati, Memphis, Houston, Temple in Philly, UCF in Orlando, USF in Tampa, SMU in Dallas (I know it's a private school, but there's no other div1 school in Dallas), and so on. If the vast majority of the schools in the league could win the recruiting battles just within their own cities they should be able to compete on a national level in both football and basketball.

And, when a school is in a city, it's different. It isn't necessarily better or worse than the big land grant state schools, but it is different, and it can be different in a good way. I think SMU and Houston have kind of figured that out (again). When a school can tap in to the pulse of the city and get it behind them it's a very different flavor. UC has done this at times, so you should know. That's ESPECIALLY true with basketball. So, I can't help but think the league has enormous potential. Perhaps they just need the right leadership. Good teams in big markets opens the door for big media deals.

(01-27-2017 03:38 PM)Hoops HD David Wrote:  

(01-26-2017 09:02 AM)Marcus Wrote:  The Pac 12 is a mess financially and their network is bleeding money big-time from what I understand. There is just a huge lack of interest in college sports out there. I can't imagine expansion being any kind of an option for them going forward.

I'd say 5 of those schools would be legit options for the AAC. WVU, Baylor, TCU, Iowa State and Kansas State.

Who knows what the ACC, B1G and SEC would do. The only options the SEC would consider would be Oklahoma, Kansas and Oklahoma State IMO. Texas would be B1G or ACC, it just depends on if they are insistent on being attached to Texas Tech. B1G would have no interest in going down that road, but the ACC might.

I wouldn't say that the Pac Twelve is a mess financially. They paid each of their members over $25 million last year. It has fallen behind the SEC, but that's hardly a mess. That being said, I don't really foresee them wanting to expand. I also don't foresee the Big 12 breaking up, although I know there are some scenarios that could lead to that. It's just that if I had to venture a guess I think it will ultimately end up staying together.

As far as the AAC getting better, it...well...should. I personally think it should be better than what it is, and that the answer to making it better is to make better use of what it has rather than adding more to it. For the most part, it consists of schools in big markets in rich recruiting areas with substantial alumni bases that are centrally located. Cincinnati, Memphis, Houston, Temple in Philly, UCF in Orlando, USF in Tampa, SMU in Dallas (I know it's a private school, but there's no other div1 school in Dallas), and so on. If the vast majority of the schools in the league could win the recruiting battles just within their own cities they should be able to compete on a national level in both football and basketball.

And, when a school is in a city, it's different. It isn't necessarily better or worse than the big land grant state schools, but it is different, and it can be different in a good way. I think SMU and Houston have kind of figured that out (again). When a school can tap in to the pulse of the city and get it behind them it's a very different flavor. UC has done this at times, so you should know. That's ESPECIALLY true with basketball. So, I can't help but think the league has enormous potential. Perhaps they just need the right leadership. Good teams in big markets opens the door for big media deals.

Well said. I agree with pretty much everything you said.