(05-10-2013 10:44 AM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  

(05-10-2013 10:32 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(05-10-2013 10:23 AM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  If we could ever pry Ohio from the MAC.... Also there is NMST (not looking that great), TXST could be one of the best options out there, any chance in hell we could provide a geographic, competitive and financial mix to bring Memphis back? Once cincy and uconn bug out, the AAC is piss poor basketball. Their finances will not be good at all, and Memphis's closest rivals would be Tulsa, SMU. Houston, and Tulane... Not exactly the best set up for them...Memphis's basketball and media value would certainly help the conference.... I think it is possible one day real soon that memphis be a viable option to return. I would even wave their entrance fees....

The three you list are not viable. Ohio is in the heart of the MAC and has a great thing going (i.e. many members in very close proximity). NMSU...just , Texas St. would need to get through the 4 Texas members we already have [Rice, UTEP, UNT and UTSA], so no need there.

The only MAC schools that may be persuaded in leaving, and this would be years from now, would be N. Ill, Buffalo or UMass; because they now have BCS dollars flowing in from the NIU Orange Bowl game.

So clearly, if BB is being asked to model a 16 member conference, there are only two programs out there that fit the bill. ASU and UL-L (given La Tech's acquiescence), killing the Sun Belt for all intent and purpose.

I think it is very possible to pry ohio from the mac. they are actually on the fringe of the mac... while there are a lot of teams close by in ohio, they still have large travel gaps to umass buffalo all of michigan and illinois. Like i said, NMST does not appear to be in good shape, although i believe they have one of the larger budgets left on the board. I would take NMST over ASU any day of the week.

Is there anything wrong with another texas school? they bring a new market, a good school, with great facilities and are a land grant university. I like em. i would like to hear from a TX school on the matter.