You'd have six top 50 all time programs (KU, KSU, Oklahoma State, WVU, Cincinnati, Temple) plus defending champ Baylor, 2019 runner up Texas Tech, Memphis, Houston, Wichita State and more.

(08-02-2021 07:22 AM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  You'd have six top 50 all time programs (KU, KSU, Oklahoma State, WVU, Cincinnati, Temple) plus defending champ Baylor, 2019 runner up Texas Tech, Memphis, Houston, Wichita State and more.

Doesn't matter because there is no possibility of a merger containing all those schools. Most likely Temple and Wichita get left behind at minimum.

If the Big 12 adds for BBall, you would think UC/Memphis and maybe Houston are top priority, and that should be a top 2-3 Bball conference every year barring no more defections. Or they could add UCF, and it's still basically the Big 12 minus UT/OU.

I personally would like to see a BBall conference merger with as many existing programs possible, but it doesn't appear likely because of greed.

If the AAC "absorbs" the Big 12, you would have 15 top 100 programs — of 19 total (those not being top 100 are East Carolina, Tulane, USF and UCF). That's a power hoops league with no question — as even the "bottom four" will then have the resources to be considered "major" programs (USF, UCF and Tulane are essentially major at this point in some ways). There are some years that league could rank No. 1 in the nation. But clearly top five/six every year.

Conversely, if the Big 12 does the raiding ... it will remain a power league.

The hoops trio of UH, UC and UM collectively is essentially equal (and some might say superior) to the hoops duo of OU and UT.

Similarly, BYU, if the Big 12 adds, is a major program by all metrics (attendance, budget, facility, etc.).

Clearly a P-level hoops conference. Maybe the best, no worse than third behind the B1G and ACC.