I have to think that maybe... just maybe... we would be better off in the OVC for basketball?

We would OWN the OVC. We had what about 4500 in Murphreesboro last year? We would send about 6-7k down the the GEC every year. Before you laugh me out of here... just think we could play next year's conference championship against South Alabama in MOBILE... or we could play next year's conference championship against a freakin ovc team in the GEC... which gives us a better chance to dance?

I know Topper fans will say NO WAY we are too good for the OVC. And OVC fans will say NO WAY you would dominate us (even though we've won like 10 straight against the OVC.)

The Sunbelt doesn't need 13 for basketball anyway... ;-)

No. The OVC is past history. No matter how bad everyone thinks the Sunbelt is for us, the OVC is worse. It is better to be competitive then it is to get to the dance every year. I realize that the Sunbelt is not the most competitive league, but it seems to always have two or three teams capable of beating the bottom feeders of the major conferences. I do not think OVC has that ability year to year.

I think our future in the Sunbelt depends on it becoming a stable conference of schools that continue to improve in Football and Basketball. Currently, it is a conference that has a revolving door, and you need a score card to see what schools are in the conference.

As far as WKU basketball is concerned, I did not expect much this year. We lost two or three quality seniors from last season. We had one star player coming back and some good role players. I always consider new recruits as questionable until they prove themselves. They have done well. So far this season has turned out better then I expected.(That is when I look at it from the prospective of last March.)

So what is the bottom line? WE MUST WIN THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT AND GET TO THE DANCE!!! For this year, nothing else matters. Even if we lose big in the first round, we must dance. WKU must appear in print along with 63 other teams as being worthy of competing for the championship. We must re-establish ourselves as THE TEAM to beat in the Sunbelt. The NIT is a joke. I went to the game in South Carolina last year. Their fans did not show up for the game, neither did ours. I think their attendance was less then 5000 for that game. I may be wrong, but it was unimpressive.

I think our chances of winning the Sunbelt tournament are good. We drew a good seed, and the teams that give us the most problems are in the other bracket, meaning we will not play them until the finial. However, we must come to play every game. We are not that much better then everyone else.

We need to hope the Sunbelt improves. We also need to continue to make ourselves more attractive to the better conferences in case someone becomes interested in us.

Welcome Hoss!

I haven't seen you post here before. Post often!

I may do some research later but I am curious to know what the rpi of the Sunbelt would look like without us and what the rpi of the OVC would look like with us.

At any rate its really a non starter since we have 1A football now.

I just think that the ovc is attractive in that we could easily travel to road games, the competition is less steep, and the tourney is in GEC every year. As with the Sunbelt our at large chances would depend on us, not the conference. The only difference I can see is that the tourney would be easier to win.

We have a lot better chance to win NCAA games if we get there. And beating three ovc teams in Nashville sounds like a much easier route to do it.

THE OVC SUCKS! END OF DISCUSSION! The SBC is where we need to be, if nothing else for football!

I agree we need to be in the Sunbelt for football, but those that think our basketball team and the conference we play in is better than the OVC are sadly mistaken. We would struggle to win the OVC much like we do the Sunbelt. Murray, Austin Peay, Tenn Tech, and EKU would beat us just like losing to Arkansas St. twice, North Texas twice, and FAU. Not to mention the attendance at all of the OVC games both home and away would be much better. Did you actually see how many fans were in attendance at the SBC tournament? Basketball in the SBC is a total joke and the WKU hoops program has become a joke with it considering we can't even win our damn division or the conference tourney 4 years in a row!

Big Money... I think that pride would have kept Topper fans from wanting the ovc (a feeling that we have moved on and returning there would be a step back.) But the reality is that they are both similar one bid leagues in basketball. And I really find it appealing that I would be able to travel to all the road games and have our conference tournament in Nashville every year. Just one man's opinion.

Greetings from an ETSU fan. I remember you guys from the old OVC days. Some great teams. I still hate Villanova. All of the OVC pulled for you guys in the NCAA tournament in those days

I envy your guys.

We have dropped football (it may return) and have been banished to the ASUN.

Now having said that I have always wondered if " moving up" is better for 1AAs. Lots of people knew WK during your OVC days. Mostly because of your cinderella like success. Not sure as many people know you as well now.

I am also familiar with Marshall from our SoCon days. The move up clearly looked better for them at first. Not so much this year.

Still all in all, I would trade places with you guys in a heartbeat. On further reflection, dont even think about dropping down.

I remember MTSU as well.

Was your "7" footers name something like McDaniel ?

Good luck to the Hilltoppersl. Love to see you guys make a deep NCAA run again in BB, just for ole times sake.

GO BUCS !

Welcome JWBUC!

Greetings from an ETSU fan. I remember you guys from the old OVC days. Some great teams. I still hate Villanova. All of the OVC pulled for you guys in the NCAA tournament in those days

Really? Suprising.

I envy your guys.

You mean our football players for going 1A?

We have dropped football (it may return) and have been banished to the ASUN.

I'm sorry to hear it. If I'm not mistaken the Sunbelt has picked up a couple of teams from there.

Now having said that I have always wondered if " moving up" is better for 1AAs. Lots of people knew WK during your OVC days. Mostly because of your cinderella like success. Not sure as many people know you as well now.

I am also familiar with Marshall from our SoCon days. The move up clearly looked better for them at first. Not so much this year.

Marshall did extrodinarily well in the MAC. I think USA will pan out for them sooner or later. But youre right. 1A is the ticket for long term success.

Still all in all, I would trade places with you guys in a heartbeat. On further reflection, dont even think about dropping down.

We are all very excited about the move. Can't wait till we have a couple of recruiting classes under us.

I remember MTSU as well.

They will instantly become our biggest rival. It will be very exciting having them over and playing them in front of a packed house. They are the best part of moving up to the Sunbelt IMHO.

Was your "7" footers name something like McDaniel ?

You bet! He was before my time, but I remember my dad telling me stories about him dunking and getting a technical foul for it and the crowd (we had REAL crowds back then) just went absolutely bezerk.

Good luck to the Hilltoppersl. Love to see you guys make a deep NCAA run again in BB, just for ole times sake.

Uh... you and us both! Good luck to the bucs as well!

THE OVC SUCKS! END OF DISCUSSION! The SBC is where we need to be, if nothing else for football!

No question that we need the SBC for football. That's a given. But the OVC as I see it has a lot of advantages for basketball. I think that our older fan base turns out better for the OVC games then they do for the Sunbelt games. We could still play non conference games agianst our favorite Sunbelt rivals... MTSU, LaLa, and the Arkansas schools.

But I don't think you can discount the extent to which WKU fans would travel to ovc schools. Would we have won at UALR or AR St. if we had 1500 fans there? Would we have played with more energy and not get down early and have to make a comeback? I think that could honestly make a difference in those close games. And we would have that many traveling to most all of the OVC road games.

And like I said... we would bring a TON of people to the GEC every year for the touney. Home court advantage = contender every year. And some of those years we are bound to punch through. As far as national recognition... nobody really cares if we win 25 games against Sunbelt teams or 25 games against OVC teams... we would be perceived to be just as good. But I really think it would be easier to do against OVC teams.

Is there anyone in the OVC like Monroe, Banks, or McCaleb? The Sunbelt teams are bigger, stronger, and more athletic. But they are perceived to be no better than the OVC. So why not take advantage of that perception? At least basketball is the priority for the OVC.

Anyway, it won't happen (and probably can't happen because of football) just my observations.