(05-08-2021 11:02 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I agree with the writer (David Cobb).

The AAC continues to underperform in men's hoops and it's troubling. A few more mediocre seasons and the "major" designation (and, yes, I view the AAC as a major conference in men's basketball) will be gone. As a long-time Cincinnati fan and Memphis fan, that concerns me.

It's worth noting that, with the exceptions of Houston and Memphis (NIT Championship), the conference has gone through a hellacious time over the past two seasons:

- The Gregg Marshall calamity

- Mick Cronin's departure and 1st replacement coach calamity

- Temple had their first back-to-back losing seasons in 45 years

- UCF and USF have been unable to get back on track since 2018-2019

- Tulsa and SMU haven't made the NCAA since 2016/2017.

- In addition, despite Memphis' encouraging NIT Championship season, it's been 7 years since they've played in the NCAA.

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This is what some would consider to be an example of "a perfect storm," when everything goes wrong or the bottom falls out at more or less the same time.

Even if these things hadn't happened, the AAC has never averaged more than 3 NCAA bids per season and has never sent 5 or more teams to the NCAA.

The American is a "Major 7" conference, but has rarely shown the potential to become a "Major 6" conference, and it isn't showing that potential now.

There only one way to do that - - by adding a NCAA-quality basketball school. The AAC has the opportunity to bring one aboard... ...but no...!

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With so many new and missing pieces, Cincinnati may need a year under their new coach before they'll be able to strive for a NCAA bid.

Temple's still at least a year away from developing NCAA tournament potential, if all of their top players return in 2022-23.

UCF just lost one of their key players to the transfer portal, another setback for them.

Tulsa seems to be "ever the bridesmaid;" never the bride.

SMU may be getting closer, but there are questions about whether their Head Coach can take them to the big dance.

Wichita's collapse at the end of the 2021-22 season raises questions about whether their Head Coach is ready to take them to the promised land.

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Although Houston and Memphis appear to be on the right track, 2021-22 might be another somewhat frustrating season for the rest of the conference.

Things might improve by 2022-23, but a lot of things will have to go right (at Wichita State, Cincy, Temple, SMU, Tulsa, and UCF) for the conference to send more than 3 teams to the NCAA per season before 2024 or 2025.

--Even then, it's not clear if an 11-team AAC will ever be able to send more than 4 teams to the tournament.

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