Attackcoog
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RE: What will happen to the AAC?
(07-21-2021 11:52 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote: (07-21-2021 11:42 PM)Attackcoog Wrote: (07-21-2021 11:27 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote: (07-21-2021 09:50 PM)BraveKnight Wrote: (07-21-2021 09:48 PM)Cyniclone Wrote: Navy might go back to being indy, though not if that means they have no reasonable path to a spot in a 12-team playoff
Wichita probably stays because even a compromised AAC is better than any options they have (unless the B12 adds them to reinforce hoops). Big East isn't calling, A10 is too far and they're not going back to the MVC
MWC might be an option for Wichita. An AAC with ECU, Tulane, usf, Tulsa, and Temple left is not very appealing.
It becomes both an issue with membership numbers with the AAC and a problem with geography.
If ECU, Tulane, USF, Tulsa and Temple were all in the same region it would help but they are all in different regions. They also do not have good basketball programs that would entice others to join up with.
The AAC right now is praying that it just loses 1 or 2 schools to the XII and continue on. P6 of course is DOA and the P5/G5 designation is going to retire out with the playoff. If they lose more than 2 they are going to be in really big trouble.
We don't know what else is going to happen yet. B1G/PAC/ACC might circle the XII like vultures and pick off remaining teams.
B1G (KU, ISU)
ACC (WVU, UC)
PAC (TT, OU)
XII (UH, SMU, Tulsa, Tulane, Memphis, UCF, USF)
That would leave just Temple, ECU and Navy to get placed into a conference.
Honestly, at that point those 3 could probably find lots of takers for a small custom built eastern conference. UMass, AppSt, UConn, Marshall, Liberty, ODU and they are good to go. Heck, Army might even join that.
For that to work you need schools that want to play together.
UConn thinks its a major independent.
Nobody wants Liberty in their conference.
ECU doesn't want to be reduced to playing in App's conference.
Navy I don't think wants to compete in a conference with some of the rag tags mentioned.
Navy, Army, UConn, ECU, USF could all commit to playing each other annually as independents.
Marshall and Temple could rejoin the MAC where they were previously.
Keep in mind the premise was that those were that ECU, Temple, and Navy were all thats left. That means they dont have many choices.
Now remember, they are sitting on a treasure chest of 80 million in exit fees and a 6 years worth of NCAA credits. So, they do have plenty of reasons to figure out something. ECU has always liked the regional conference concept---so they would be just fine with AppSt, ODU, and Marshall and so on. Navy might prefer indy---but their 27 million dollar share might keep them interested. USF would like the 27 million as well.
UConn would obviously be a football only. Pick 5 more from UMass, Marshall, ODU, Georgia St, Georgia Southern, App St, FIU, FAU, Charlott, and Liberty. You dont have to pick Liberty, but they have enough money to ensure they will field quality programs. There are plenty of programs over there that would likely be interested in helping ECU, Navy, and USF use the almost blank AAC canvas to create a small relatively tight eastern conference.
(This post was last modified: 07-22-2021 12:12 AM by Attackcoog.)
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