Something that has been addressed, albeit when the future was more speculative, is the direction of the AAC if the Big 12 grabs (likely) Cincy, Memphis, UCF and/or Tulane.

If just Cincy and Memphis, does the AAC use the opportunity to reenforce its southern focus? The only northern schools will be Temple and UConn. Marginally Tulsa is a bit of a geographic outlier, but if the AAC can further penetrate the south, by enticing a Georgian school, or maybe another Florida one, I can't see the long term downside.

Assuming it's Cincy and Memphis, with the combinations of USF/UCF, Houston/SMU/Tulane, that is in the heart of demographic long term growth.

Maybe Southern Miss? Georgia State?

The southern schools won't want a UMass/Buffalo combo. They'll listen to what Uconn and Temple have to say, but at the end of the day, the south is king.

Villanova and St Johns

Georgia State, FAU, and FIU? Are you even a real person?

Aresco says we already have a "plan". Frankly, I hope its either a merger with the top 8 from the MW or we just stand pat.

(06-25-2015 01:38 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Villanova and St Johns

Nevermind, leapinggazelle is the Nova fan

the schools have already been deicded....aresco has always been open that he expects t lose 2...a plan is aleady laid out

I can see the conference folding if the Big 12 takes 4 of which Cinci and Memphis are 2/4.

Alternatively UConn, Temple, and maybe Navy break off and form a new Northeast-ish conference or go independant. Realistically, I do not see Uconn sticking around after another round of being passed over in realignment.

(06-25-2015 01:41 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  Georgia State, FAU, and FIU? Are you even a real person?

*pokes head in*

NIU


*flees*

(06-25-2015 01:43 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Aresco says we already have a "plan". Frankly, I hope its either a merger with the top 8 from the MW or we just stand pat.

This would be my guess. This conference could maintain with 10 and a round robin schedule, or you start talking about the Colorado States (or the basketball schools). I'm ok with those.

No need to add for the sake of adding. Whoever gets the ticket needs to bring something to the table. Frankly, I like a smaller conference.

I'd give Toledo a look at that point.

What's Tolefo's RPI? I'm missing why wed need a body.

(06-25-2015 01:43 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Aresco says we already have a "plan". Frankly, I hope its either a merger with the top 8 from the MW or we just stand pat.

This.

Aresco's last plan involved Tulsa and Tulane...maybe there is a #4 team in Kansas that we can give a look.

If AAC drops down to 10 you can start getting used to calling Rice and Southern Miss conference-mates.

(06-25-2015 02:51 PM)uconnwhaler Wrote:  Aresco's last plan involved Tulsa and Tulane...maybe there is a #4 team in Kansas that we can give a look.

One thing we can take from those additions is that academic viability is a primary consideration if we do expand. Tulsa was a pleasant surprise in basketball. Its good to see the coaches they've brought in. As for Tulane, they're my team to watch in hoops this season. That recruiting class was a start.

(06-25-2015 02:55 PM)ElectricCoogaloo Wrote:  If AAC drops down to 10 you can start getting used to calling Rice and Southern Miss conference-mates.

Doubt that. One has no market and the other is an overlap. Both would be a death sentence for our rpi. UMASS is ahead of them, and from what I hear UMASS isn't getting in.

I'm telling you, you all could be on the ground floor of something great with NIU

(06-25-2015 03:00 PM)DocAllentown Wrote:  

(06-25-2015 02:55 PM)ElectricCoogaloo Wrote:  If AAC drops down to 10 you can start getting used to calling Rice and Southern Miss conference-mates.

Doubt that. One has no market and the other is an overlap. Both would be a death sentence for our rpi.

If Houston leaves, Rice is not overlap.

Everyone left will also bring the death of your RPI.

Rice is intriguing. Great academics. Great baseball. Helps with the lucrative Texas market.

Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Southern Miss, FAU, FIU, there will be some pretty good schools to choose from. Long term, the southern schools will only get better.

I don't think NIU fits because of geography and demographic projections. Villanova won't want to invest in football, besides Temple would block them.