(10-06-2021 04:38 AM)Milwaukee Wrote: .
After it became clear that none of the MWC schools were going to join the AAC, Brett McMurphy wrote this story:
Mountain West Staves Off AAC, Keeps Boise State, San Diego State, Air Force & Colorado State In Conference
ACTIONNETWORK.COM
BRETT MCMURPHY - OCTOBER 1, 2022
"After weeks of discussions between the Mountain West’s top four schools and the American, the Mountain West managed to stave off the AAC and stay intact.
AAC commish Mike Aresco said his league “has not offered membership to any institution. Our process for considering potential members remains deliberate, strategic & focused on the continued proven success of our conference.”
After the exits of Cincinnati, UCF and Houston, the AAC will be down to eight members. Among its only options would be from Conference USA or the Sun Belt.
At the top of the list is UAB and, perhaps, Charlotte, with several other schools from both leagues in play once the AAC decides which path to proceed."
“We’re still determining who, and how many is still up in the air,” an AAC source said. “Anything from two to six schools seems possible.”
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This was the first time that anyone affiliated with the AAC made a statement suggesting that the conference might add as many as six schools.
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Thus, it would be of interest to discuss the total number of AAC FB and BB teams there will be if the AAC were to add six schools.
There are three possible scenarios that could involve adding six schools:
1) The AAC could add 6 full members increasing the number of FB and BB teams from 8 to 14.
2) The AAC could add 4 full members , 1 FB-only member, and 1 non-FB member.
3) The AAC could add 2 full members, 2 FB-only members, and 2 non-FB members.
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The floor is open for discussion.
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Anything is possible, but is it logical?
The AAC is going to seek schools that are good at both football and basketball. Memphis is probably not voting for you if your basketball program is going to hurt the conference, and they probably wouldn't be the only one.
That eliminates every Sun Belt school other than Georgia State, who has that league's only NCAA Tournament win in the last 8 years, but this s favorable for UAB, of course, and Marshall both who have beaten Top 25 -ranked teams in the NCAA Tournament in the last 6 years.
The AAC is going to look for someone, who could reasonably raise their budget up to or one that is already on par with AAC schools in the $50-60 Million range.
This one could potentially eliminate Louisiana Tech with an operating budget of $24 Million, which is the lowest in Conference USA. Louisiana state government isn't doing them any favors like they do for LSU.
Rice, Old Dominion, Liberty, Buffalo, and James Madison check the budget box with operating budgets all north of $45 Million although Rice and Liberty's are very likely much more. Private schools try to keep their wealth hidden from public eyes.
If high level academics is a criteria, Rice checks that box.
Anything is possible. 14 seems illogical for a league like the AAC.
According to the AAC source quoted there it is clear that the AAC is looking to add at least two, so UAB will not be the only one.
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