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No News Is Very, Very Good News - rabidTU2 - 10-18-2016 01:22 PM
The Big12 voted not to expand. So Houston and some others in the league can concentrate on making this conference the best it can be.
What i'd like to see now is that long awaited invite to Wichita St for all things not FB and as a replacement for Navy in those "other" sports.
With strong MBB programs like we have now and the addtion of another strong one in Wichita, the league can grow bigger, better and stronger in the eyes of the nation. The AAC started out being a league that had great MBB and a growing conference for CFB. But one more great MBB program which also has a very good overall program in all sports (including a much needed quality baseball program) would be a godsend.
None of the other G5 leagues can touch the AAC now. Its almost like we are in a college athletic division all by ourselves and obviously are a P5 in waiting if there ever is a spot for a sixth "P". So lets just keep getting better. Step #1 is getting WSU in the AAC.
No News Is Very, Very Good News - goldenhurricane2 - 10-18-2016 02:51 PM
While in a logistical sense adding wsu wouldn't hurt anything. However, the AAC would almost have to have a guarantee in writing from ESPN/CBS regarding an increase in the payout we received.
In today's college sports landscape, teams will no be added to any conference unless it's out of pure necessity or an increase in revenue.
So, in the case of wsu, I'd be perfectly fine having them in the conference for hoops, but I don't see that happening unless ESPN/CBS give the AAC enough of a financial bump to make it worth the trouble.
RE: No News Is Very, Very Good News - rabidTU2 - 10-19-2016 06:34 AM
Thats part of my reasoning behind adding WSU. With their history and existing credits, the TV networks should look at this move positively. At least thats my prediction.
From a TU standpoint, it insures a MBB homegame with the Shockers every year as a league requirement and probable sellout at the Don. Wichita fits the AAC in that they are a metro city school, are in the west which replaces Navy (FB), and WSU has a history that rivals any in the league with their many NCAA bids and Final Fours. IMO its a no brainer. Geography, sports success, city team of almost 400,000 and the distance from Tulsa, Dallas, Memphis is minimal. A natural rival.
One reason why this hasn't happened was the AAC's possible breakup or realigning. Now that it won't happen, strike while the iron is hot. And I keep bringing up baseball because that is important to keep Houston in the league longterm. SMU and TU don't have it, but WSU does as do Memphis and Tulane bringing the AAC west to 4 baseball teams. Having four baseball teams in the west helps keep the Cougars in place. WSU has won a NC in baseball and would be the only AAC team to have done that and have one of the best venues for it in the country and would lead the league in baseball attendance.
They sell out every Mens basketball home game and have for years and they have those Koch brothers to underwrite their athletic dept.
One last thing is that we have some tradtionally poor MBB teams in the ACC such as UCF, USF, ECU, Tulane. So from a competitive atandpoint, WSU offsets some of that. Its a strength of schedule and conference perception plus for TU and the league.
IMO
No News Is Very, Very Good News - goldenhurricane2 - 10-19-2016 10:19 AM
I suppose it comes down to money. If they could increase the payout each teams receives by an amount that is (relatively) acceptable, it'll be an option. But if that turns out not to be the case - it will never happen.
RE: No News Is Very, Very Good News - rabidTU2 - 10-19-2016 02:56 PM
Yes. But its hard to tell. Everything is a bit of a gamble.
All I can say is that WSU should intitially improve our "conference worth" so to speak. I know that right now, they have a lot of credibility with the success they have achieved in the MVC. They certainly have more than some of the AAC teams I listed above in basketball and probably most other sports they (WSU) take seriously. They wouldn't be a drag on the league as long as they stay competitive and do well in the NCAA. They have been to the NCAA in MBB just about every year recently and won games in it. Their programs all seem to do well. For instance, when our AAC Championship softball team went to Norman in the NCAA regional, WSU actually was more competitive. So there is another program they are strong in even though both of us were eliminated by the Sooners who won the entire thing in OKC. On and on.
No News Is Very, Very Good News - goldenhurricane2 - 10-19-2016 06:13 PM
Like I said, I don't think anyone would dispute their athletic prowess in Olympic sports. It comes down to $$$ and if we all get a $500k bump per year for them being in the league, then it may just happen.
RE: No News Is Very, Very Good News - rabidTU2 - 10-21-2016 09:34 AM
Here is another stat for us to ponder on WSU's success.
Wichita St MBB total wins over the last 5 years equals 148. Compared to the best W-L record in the AAC, its much better as you can see in another thread. Cincy had the best at 120 in the AAC. Thats an average of more than 5 "extra" wins per year in comparison. And yes, of course, the MVC is probably not the strength equivilent of the AAC, but thats still a big number imo.
RE: No News Is Very, Very Good News - rabidTU2 - 10-24-2016 01:03 PM
What I'd like to see occur at some future point is this:
Expand the FINAL FOUR TO AN ELITE EIGHT with Champions of the P5 automatically IN with 2 at large teams and allow the AAC and MWC to have a play in game for a final spot. Or at least allow for inclusion from the highest ranked team outside the P5 - but include conference strength of schedule as part of the process. To me that would encourage growth in the sport at all DI levels. And it would eliminate a lot of this hogwash from teams thinking they can win the SEC or Big10 if they are just granted "equality"in a P5 league.
RE: No News Is Very, Very Good News - rabidTU2 - 10-29-2016 11:35 AM
With the thrashing of #22 Navy last night by USF, it is obvious that this league is both tough and balanced. For the most part, we have some very competitive football games (example - TU v Houston in Houston). So I look at that as meaning we are all capable of winning at the next (BCS) level or are building toward that end - at least we are moving in that direction.
Compared to our experiences in the MVC, WAC, CUSA, the AAC is by far the best we've been in. And we have had success, but just not in FB or MBB yet. That is the next hurdle. But it won't be easy folks.
IMO