(02-02-2017 10:26 AM)MemTGRS Wrote: (02-02-2017 08:02 AM)Ewglenn Wrote: I was wondering if y'all would be interested in VCU for the same thing y'all were talking about with Wichita St. It would expose the AAC to Virginia and a bigger metro.
Hi... we've discussed VCU a lot on here. I'd like to think I am in the majority would like to have them.
But I think they are non-starter --- I don't know that we (AAC) are yet a stronger hoops league than the A-10. Thus I doubt VCU would consider deprating a much more geographic friendly b'ball based conference for us.
As opposed to Wichita State -- no knock on the Missouri Valley, but we can offer more hoops strength. Plus, in spelling Navy's spot in the West Division, they are a perfect geographical fit to have two six-team divisions for non-revenue sports. Plus a strong ninth baseball program.
That's true THIS year... barely. The A-10 Is not exactly having a banner year themselves, either.
I think the ceiling for AAC programs is higher. UConn has won four of the past 18 national titles--tops in the nation. Memphis has been to multiple Final Fours and is about as popular locally as the city's own NBA franchise. Cincinnati is having another great year and is one of the dozen or so most reliable NCAA bids year-in-year-out. SKY is leveraging its location in Dallas to draw in impressive recruits. Temple is an NCAA team more often than not. UCF and Houston are improving under experienced coaches.
The A-10, meanwhile has more of an uphill battle. Fewer schools are "destination jobs," the way Memphis, UConn, or Cincy are. There is less exposure.
All that said, it still might be hard to pry VCU away. AAC may have better exposure, but it's questionable how much more the AAC would pay a non football school than the $400K/year the A-10 TV contract gives its members. Then there are A-10 exit fees and AAC entry fees to make such a move less enticing. It's not that the A-10, over the stretch of several years, is a better basketball league. It's that the AAC might not be able to offer enough to make a move worthwhile. Besides, the AAC has enough good programs. It just needs it's teams to have better luck (i.e., fewer injuries) and do better out of conference. Even without a VCU, or a Wichita State, the AAC may not be a top 2-3 league, but it should be competitive with the Pac-12, SEC, and some years the Big East.
Just my $0.02, from a guy whose basketball team hasn't made the NCAA' s since 2000.
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