(03-20-2017 11:03 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  AAC's problem isn't the lack of basketball programs, it's the emphasis on football those programs made at the expense of their basketball, or the inability to reconcile scheduling in the non-conference.

Like, I don't envy Temple's situation. I think, for them, to retain their basketball identity, they had to either drop more of the major games they could book (which Temple was fantastic at doing) or beef up their non-conference with as much of the A10 as possible, keeping in mind that four of their games are already set for them. That's just really difficult to pull off. I don't know if going to the AAC will ultimately be the best move they could have made for all of their athletics, but I think Temple basketball was more pronounced in the A10, and that they got more freedom in that old conference because they kind of had two extra non-conference games they now don't, with St. Joe's and La Salle. And, while it wasn't like everyone in the A10 was a monster program, I don't know how ECU, Tulane, and some of the others line up against Fordham, George Mason, or Duquesne. At least with the A10, your bottom was still a good regional tie for recruiting. I doubt Temple will be reaping recruits from the Carolinas, Florida and Texarkana.

Temple's current struggles are self-inflicted and started before they left the A10. Dunphy struggled with consistency in recruiting which is why McKie was added to the staff. Also, Dunphy's teams haven't won games when they've gotten to the tournament which has hurt recruiting and attendance.

Temple's OOC SOS hasn't been any different in the AAC than in the A10. Hard as it is to believe Temple had wins against WVU and FSU this season. As far as in-conference goes the A10 has had its share of 300+ rpi teams such as Fordham and Duquesne. Their bottom is no better than the AAC's. Temple's primary recruiting footprint hasn't changed and Temple has long brought in some players from beyond that area. They have two kids from NC in next year's class and Temple has recruited FL over the years, Will Cummings for example. Hopefully next season they'll have enough depth and talent to be able to get back on track and stay there.

You didnt mention this but I don't want to have to add a second quote.

The A10 has managed in-conference scheduling to limit the number of games the projected top teams play against the projected bottom teams in a given season. They also have long had, and most importantly enforced, OOC scheduling guidelines. It's worked well for the A10 and could work for the AAC too.