(02-21-2020 03:06 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I don't know...I would think UConn getting in would slam the door on UMass' chances.

A lot of what is said about SLU is also appropriate for UMass in terms of "what might have been." You talk about a program that fell asleep at the wheel, went so off the road, and never really came back...in all of this time when UMass could have been making a better case for themselves for the Big East or AAC, they did nothing. I mean, at least Saint Louis had their Majerus era during this realignment craze. If anything bugged me about SLU being considered for the C7-NBE, it was feeling cheated as an A10 fan for the years of bad performance in the conference. UMass, imo, is just the fumes of Calipari era at this point, and far worse than SLU. Not vitriol...just extreme disappointment.

Two programs really threw it away when they got too involved with football, imo...UMass was one, and Charlotte was the other. Two places that couldn't serve two masters. Honestly, if either "stayed in their lane," and didn't commit to FBS to focus on basketball...much higher ceilings, no doubt. Of course, it's easier to say that now as we're seeing basketball schools having more of a spot at the table, but, both of those programs are cautionary tales of what should have been avoided?

UMass had already dropped from being an elite basketball program for about ten years or so by the time they moved up in football.

I can’t see UConn slamming anything on UMass when the Minutemen scheduled the Huskies with open arms on the football field.

Funny thing I came across: Kraft offered up Foxboro to UMass in the mid-nineties for 1-A football. I think the top division of football has always been a target for UMass.