(03-08-2018 12:32 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  I usually fully type out traditional power conferences but occasionally don't feel like typing it.

Wouldn't "traditional" power conferences include the AAC as a descendant of the BCS-era AQ Big East?

I think, for now, it's more fair to apply it to the nBE, the non-football conference. Everything else is covered. The SWC has four teams in the old Big 8. Everything else still exists.

(03-08-2018 12:45 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  I think, for now, it's more fair to apply it to the nBE, the non-football conference. Everything else is covered. The SWC has four teams in the old Big 8. Everything else still exists.

They're both really skeletons of the former Big East Conference. It's just that Big East basketball has had more success than American football. IMO.

Regardless, it shouldn't be hard to figure out what is what.

As much as I hate BYU, they have an open invite to the MWC if they bring all sports. They belong here, we'll find a 14th football member, UTSA, UNT, Rice, UTEP, NMSU would easily get us a 14th.

Yes this is about Gonzaga joining us, but most of us see the WCC not being viable for BYU w/o Gonzaga. So either suck it up and give us your football team. Or stay in the WCC, join the BW, or join the MVC.

(03-08-2018 12:21 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:27 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:18 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 10:22 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 09:52 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  If no TPC (P5 to the masses) is available then I say they end up in the Valley should Gonzaga leave.

The Valley isn't really anywhere anymore so I doubt that.

It's better than the WCC with them in the Valley and Gonzaga gone. The Valley has had every member compete for at-large spots the last 12 years, the WCC just 3.

Try looking at a map with this one.

Which is why Houston and New Mexico State used to be Valley members, right? And that was decades ago, think of things now days and proposed coast-to-coast conferences and conferences that spread from New England to Texas and across numerous time zones.

BYU would bring a lot to any conference and I mean any conference, even the SEC and B1G. The biggest hold up is the baggage that comes with them. The Valley would be thrilled to add them if necessary.

NMSU and Houston are still east-2-west quite a lot closer to the MVC than Utah is.

If Creighton and Wichita were still in the MVC than it would be perhaps with a talk but in its current state I don't think so.

(03-08-2018 12:23 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  It's why I say Rice needs to make a choice. Fully embrace their academic profile and join some peers or enhance their overall profile with competent D-I athletics.

You mean like the University Athletic Association?

(03-08-2018 12:21 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:27 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:18 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 10:22 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 09:52 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  If no TPC (P5 to the masses) is available then I say they end up in the Valley should Gonzaga leave.

The Valley isn't really anywhere anymore so I doubt that.

It's better than the WCC with them in the Valley and Gonzaga gone. The Valley has had every member compete for at-large spots the last 12 years, the WCC just 3.

Try looking at a map with this one.

Which is why Houston and New Mexico State used to be Valley members, right? And that was decades ago, think of things now days and proposed coast-to-coast conferences and conferences that spread from New England to Texas and across numerous time zones.

BYU would bring a lot to any conference and I mean any conference, even the SEC and B1G. The biggest hold up is the baggage that comes with them. The Valley would be thrilled to add them if necessary.

The Valley was a University Division / Division I / Division I-A conference they were in constant turmoil in membership and went far afield to survive.

Even given western distances, NMSU is not all that more distant from the MVC core than BYU. BYU is not exactly particularly close to any WCC team as it is. The only other options would be the WAC, a major step down even farther than the WCC and the Big Sky. The good thing about the Big Sky is it would be a regular auto-bid each season should they ever choose that.

(03-08-2018 01:20 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Even given western distances, NMSU is not all that more distant from the MVC core than BYU. BYU is not exactly particularly close to any WCC team as it is. The only other options would be the WAC, a major step down even farther than the WCC and the Big Sky. The good thing about the Big Sky is it would be a regular auto-bid each season should they ever choose that.

How many teams from Utah or points west have been MVC members?

With the answer being zero that means Utah is beyond the MVC's established comfort level.

My guess BYU stays in a WCC w/ Seattle that has more competitive without one program in the conference final 21 straight years (zags). There just may not be a spot for the WCC on linear TV without Gonzaga. That is more of the problem than competitive level.

BYU will just make sure the WCC adds GCU. Lots of Mormons in Arizona as a bonus.

(03-08-2018 01:20 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Even given western distances, NMSU is not all that more distant from the MVC core than BYU. BYU is not exactly particularly close to any WCC team as it is. The only other options would be the WAC, a major step down even farther than the WCC and the Big Sky. The good thing about the Big Sky is it would be a regular auto-bid each season should they ever choose that.

In basketball, the Big Sky as a conference has never had a higher RPI than the WAC. I just don’t see how the WAC is a step down from the Big Sky. This season, the WCC is #13 in conference RPI ranking and the WAC is #14. The WAC is better than you think.

(03-08-2018 01:42 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:20 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Even given western distances, NMSU is not all that more distant from the MVC core than BYU. BYU is not exactly particularly close to any WCC team as it is. The only other options would be the WAC, a major step down even farther than the WCC and the Big Sky. The good thing about the Big Sky is it would be a regular auto-bid each season should they ever choose that.

In basketball, the Big Sky as a conference has never had a higher RPI than the WAC. I just don’t see how the WAC is a step down from the Big Sky. This season, the WCC is #13 in conference RPI ranking and the WAC is #14. The WAC is better than you think.

Or that any conference rated below #10 in the RPI is essentially garbage.

(03-08-2018 01:51 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:42 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:20 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Even given western distances, NMSU is not all that more distant from the MVC core than BYU. BYU is not exactly particularly close to any WCC team as it is. The only other options would be the WAC, a major step down even farther than the WCC and the Big Sky. The good thing about the Big Sky is it would be a regular auto-bid each season should they ever choose that.

In basketball, the Big Sky as a conference has never had a higher RPI than the WAC. I just don’t see how the WAC is a step down from the Big Sky. This season, the WCC is #13 in conference RPI ranking and the WAC is #14. The WAC is better than you think.

Or that any conference rated below #10 in the RPI is essentially garbage.

So 22 of the 32 D1 conferences (including the WCC) are essentially garbage?

Is Gonzaga (and maybe BYU) really coming to the Mountain West?
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/spor...story.html

(03-08-2018 01:42 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:20 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Even given western distances, NMSU is not all that more distant from the MVC core than BYU. BYU is not exactly particularly close to any WCC team as it is. The only other options would be the WAC, a major step down even farther than the WCC and the Big Sky. The good thing about the Big Sky is it would be a regular auto-bid each season should they ever choose that.

In basketball, the Big Sky as a conference has never had a higher RPI than the WAC. I just don’t see how the WAC is a step down from the Big Sky. This season, the WCC is #13 in conference RPI ranking and the WAC is #14. The WAC is better than you think.

Look at the teams in the WAC and the instability. If not for NMSU and Utah Valley, look out. This is also an example of why you don't add members to conferences just for the sake of adding. Aside from Chicago State and to a lesser extent UMKC, the WAC has no deadweight. Imagine if they had even another Portland State or Northern Arizona. The conference RPI would be even better.

(03-08-2018 01:51 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:42 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:20 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Even given western distances, NMSU is not all that more distant from the MVC core than BYU. BYU is not exactly particularly close to any WCC team as it is. The only other options would be the WAC, a major step down even farther than the WCC and the Big Sky. The good thing about the Big Sky is it would be a regular auto-bid each season should they ever choose that.

In basketball, the Big Sky as a conference has never had a higher RPI than the WAC. I just don’t see how the WAC is a step down from the Big Sky. This season, the WCC is #13 in conference RPI ranking and the WAC is #14. The WAC is better than you think.

Or that any conference rated below #10 in the RPI is essentially garbage.

Yeah, after the top 2 or 3 of most 1-bid leagues, the teams are more or less interchangeable. Who in the WAC after the top 2 are inherently better than the Big Sky? I don't mean that in a side-by-side comparison way either. Who long term would you take from the WAC would you take over anyone in the Big Sky outside NMSU? I wouldn't even put much stock in Utah Valley.

The WAC is just a patchwork of schools who otherwise wouldn't have a conference.

(03-08-2018 02:15 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:51 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:42 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:20 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Even given western distances, NMSU is not all that more distant from the MVC core than BYU. BYU is not exactly particularly close to any WCC team as it is. The only other options would be the WAC, a major step down even farther than the WCC and the Big Sky. The good thing about the Big Sky is it would be a regular auto-bid each season should they ever choose that.

In basketball, the Big Sky as a conference has never had a higher RPI than the WAC. I just don’t see how the WAC is a step down from the Big Sky. This season, the WCC is #13 in conference RPI ranking and the WAC is #14. The WAC is better than you think.

Or that any conference rated below #10 in the RPI is essentially garbage.

So 22 of the 32 D1 conferences (including the WCC) are essentially garbage?

The WCC is total garbage outside the top 3. It's like dropping off a cliff. Wait till Gonzaga and BYU leave, it really won't have anyone left, especially when Bennett leaves St. Mary's.

(03-08-2018 12:27 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  They have one of the smallest enrollments in FBS and play in a large pro sports dominated city. Nobody cares about Rice.

Yet they were one of the confirmed finalists for Big XII expansion.

(03-07-2018 11:37 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:04 PM)michael.stevens.3110 Wrote:  Rice U would be a great addition to the MW ...They have the potential to be the next TCU ... excellent academics .. excellent Baseball ..located in the Hotbed of a high School Football recruiting .. ALL. MW teams would LOVE to play at least once in a while in Texas ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah - UNLV, SDSU, and UNM are all dying to play in front of less than 10k in humid Houston for football and less than 1k in basketball!!!!!

New Mexico would, you’re damn right. The other Mountain Division programs as well. Why do people ignore printed facts? The MWC is attracted to playing in Texas.