American Athletic Conference

[rrshock]

I've never really thought we would lose HCGM minus last year, but I'm fearful of it this year. Elgin, MVC and it's bs will cause it. Valley of even is gonna drg WSU back to the 90s.

[Mr. Obvious]

So what are you trying to say?

It's like dealing with you on this board.

[ShockerFever]

It's like dealing with you on this board.

I thought you were ignoring me? It's strange how they all come back..

Congrats on the NIT bid. Bama is gonna be a tough out.

[fansince80s]

Joe lunardi response on Twitter to a Monmouth fan of being snubbed.

"Better add D1 football if you want a fairer shake. Sadly, isolated misses are becoming a trend"

Sorry was a Bonaventure fan not Monmouth.

[ShockdaWorld]

Joe lunardi response on Twitter to a Monmouth fan of being snubbed.

"Better add D1 football if you want a fairer shake. Sadly, isolated misses are becoming a trend"

Sickening, but so true.

[WuShock16]

I've never really thought we would lose HCGM minus last year, but I'm fearful of it this year. Elgin, MVC and it's bs will cause it. Valley of even is gonna drg WSU back to the 90s.

Here is why you don't need to worry: what job will be open this spring that will pay Gregg over $4 million a year? This last pay raise really dropped the number of schools that could take Gregg away from WSU.

[Cdizzle]

Here is why you don't need to worry: what job will be open this spring that will pay Gregg over $4 million a year? This last pay raise really dropped the number of schools that could take Gregg away from WSU.

There are a lot of schools that could put up 2MM a year, and provide the opportunity to go 19-13 and get a similar seed to his WSU teams. And regardless of league, there ain't no Marshall team going no piddly 19-13 by his 3rd year.

When WSU proved they could pay Top 10 salary to Marshall, keeping him here was put outside of WSU's control. It is now up to conference bull-crap, and unfortunately, the relentless stupidity of the NCAA basketball selection committee.

[Tman87]

I have had this same thought throughout the year. I have this feeling this may be Marshall's final season at Wichita St. Certainly hope not but my gut tells me there's a better than 50% chance he feels its time to move on to a better league. I think Elgin wins this juvenille battle unless a new conference invites us like quick.

The thing is, Marshall has shown he is not going to pick any P5 school just to leave the Valley. He's had many opportunities to do that and has declined. His family is very rooted in Wichita and he values that over merely finding a P5 job. Add onto the fact that many schools can't afford Marshall now. Oklahoma State will have to pay Ford nearly two million dollars a year for the next 4 years, I can't imagine they would also be willing to pay basketball coach 4 million a year on top of that. That would be more than Gundy their football coach makes, and I doubt they would pay a new basketball coach more than a football coach that's been there a decade.

My point is don't sweat it until a real high-level job opens up. If Pitino steps down and the Lousiville job opens up, then maybe we should worry. That's a blue blood and they will out-bid WSU.

[Tman87]

There are a lot of schools that could put up 2MM a year, and provide the opportunity to go 19-13 and get a similar seed to his WSU teams. And regardless of league, there ain't no Marshall team going no piddly 19-13 by his 3rd year.

When WSU proved they could pay Top 10 salary to Marshall, keeping him here was put outside of WSU's control. It is now up to conference bull-crap, and unfortunately, the relentless stupidity of the NCAA basketball selection committee.

$ 4 million a year** not $2 million. And I don't think there are that many schools willing to dish out $4 million on a basketball coach. Football coach yes, but not a basketball coach. Most P5 schools are football first schools and will not pay a new basketball coach more than their football coach.

[ShockdaWorld]

The thing is, Marshall has shown he is not going to pick any P5 school just to leave the Valley. He's had many opportunities to do that and has declined. His family is very rooted in Wichita and he values that over merely finding a P5 job. Add onto the fact that many schools can't afford Marshall now. Oklahoma State will have to pay Ford nearly two million dollars a year for the next 4 years, I can't imagine they would also be willing to pay basketball coach 4 million a year on top of that. That would be more than Gundy their football coach makes, and I doubt they would pay a new basketball coach more than a football coach that's been there a decade.

My point is don't sweat it until a real high-level job opens up. If Pitino steps down and the Lousiville job opens up, then maybe we should worry. That's a blue blood and they will out-bid WSU.

Louisville is the only one I can think of that may be a concern right now. And I don't think he's going to want to go there while they're under investigation.

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

The number of schools that have the resources and willingness to pay a basketball coach the salary necessary to wrestle HCGM away from WSU can literally be counted on one hand. With that said, and to bring us back on topic, if/when we get into a better conference will be when I finally truly rest easy during the offseason, as frustration with the MVC is the only reason I think HCGM would leave for anything less than a blue blood.

[kochHead]

So what are you trying to say?

I just said it. It's an observation, not a conclusion.

[choida]

He ain't going anywhere yet... He has players with great potential coming in... My favorite is personally Austin Reaves and how he can mature with McDuffie, Shamet, Keyser, Hamilton... That with the upper classmen and Jucos to help fill the gaps

[Tman87]

Louisville is the only one I can think of that may be a concern right now. And I don't think he's going to want to go there while they're under investigation.

This is true. Did not think about that

[IndyTreeFan]

I would hate, HATE, to see you guys bolt out of the Valley. Not that I couldn't understand it, but I would HATE it. I've always been the type of person to try and fix problems, and so being an Indiana State basketball fan is about the most maddening thing in my life. The Valley schools need to decide what they want to be, and then fix what needs fixed to make it happen. And that includes getting proactive in conference expansion by adding QUALITY programs that can help the profile of the MVC.

I argue with my fellow board members at sycamorepride.com all the time because many of them would be just fine if WSU left because "we have no chance against WSU." What a load of crap. Fix our problems and become the next WSU. But there are a lot of fans out there that would rather have every other program drop to the pathetic level we're at, rather than us rise to the level of WSU (or Creighton before them, or Butler, or...).

The Illinois schools are toast for a while with their budget issues. The rest of the conference schools are simply making a choice. I'm sorry about the choice that ISU has made in the past, but there is hope on the horizon! Our new AD has publicly stated his goal of making us a Top 75 Learfield Cup school, and a serious MVC basketball championship competitor to WSU every year (not the typical Greg Lansing "...this is the deepest, most talented team I've had..." crap). He's (mostly) taking over athletic fundraising, and he has publicly stated that he will hold coaches accountable for lack of success. He is most certainly a breath of fresh air.

He has given me hope that the Big 3 of the Valley may soon be WSU, UNI, and ISU. I hope you all stay around for that. And that we find a way to poach some great basketball schools to beef up the conference.

Sorry for the rambling. Just know that there are other schools' fans who agree with you!!!