American Athletic Conference

[wufan]

I wonder if the MVC would make room for a couple more western teams? Patty Viverito might not like it that KU and KState would park their programs in the MVFC though.

No way. KU/KSU aren't located in Illinois.

[jdshock]

I wonder if the MVC would make room for a couple more western teams? Patty Viverito might not like it that KU and KState would park their programs in the MVFC though.

In seconds we would go from playing nobody to playing the toughest conference schedule anyone has ever been tasked with playing. I mean, how else would KU be able to explain their yearly road losses they would have at places like Evansville and Loyola?

[ShockingButTrue]

In seconds we would go from playing nobody to playing the toughest conference schedule anyone has ever been tasked with playing. I mean, how else would KU be able to explain their yearly road losses they would have at places like Evansville and Loyola?

Haven't you heard? The chickens would never lose to a Valley team!

[SHOCKvalue]

Haven't you heard? The chickens would never lose to a Valley team!

Except in the tournament, where they never beat Valley teams.

[RoyalShock]

One Atlantic 10 fan thinks it would be a good fit.

[60Shock]

Great fine, Royal. What's not to like the way this guy laid out the reasons the A-10 should snap up Wichita.

[Dave Stalwart]

One Atlantic 10 fan thinks it would be a good fit.

I like it. I'll take anything at this point. Can they maybe poach us and UNI and go to 16? :) I sure wouldn't mind to see UNI leave, too and have the MVC's attitude about football backfire. They said they wouldn't do anything to help facilitate WSU starting a program if WSU only intends to leave, so lets flip the tables, forget football and take the other best basketball program with us where ever we go next. They will still keep UNI in the MVFC football-only I'm sure. What else are they gonna do? Throw them out and bring in Drake's football team? That does sound like the MVC office to me...

[tropicalshox]

I've never been thrilled with the A-10 but at this point I might be OK with it.

[ShockTalk]

One Atlantic 10 fan thinks it would be a good fit.

Great fine, Royal. What's not to like the way this guy laid out the reasons the A-10 should snap up Wichita.

I like it. I'll take anything at this point. Can they maybe poach us and UNI and go to 16? :) I sure wouldn't mind to see UNI leave, too and have the MVC's attitude about football backfire. They said they wouldn't do anything to help facilitate WSU starting a program if WSU only intends to leave, so lets flip the tables, forget football and take the other best basketball program with us where ever we go next. They will still keep UNI in the MVFC football-only I'm sure. What else are they gonna do? Throw them out and bring in Drake's football team? That does sound like the MVC office to me...

I've never been thrilled with the A-10 but at this point I might be OK with it.

So the distance isn't a real problem for you with all of WSU's sports teams? The A-10 has one school inside the current MVC footprint. The next school is 100 miles outside that footprint with all the other schools 1,000 - 1,550 miles away. The farthest Valley school is around 700 miles with most of the A-10 schools being 1,200 miles and more.

There isn't even a reasonable "divisions" setup with so many schools on the east coast.

Not that the MWC is an option, but many here did not like them for their distance and time zones, but they have more schools closer to WSU than the A-10 and most of their schools are located places fans would like going to. I assume many who travel to see the Shocks are now going to have to fly almost always and due to the cost may want to make it a 2 or 3 day mini-vacation.

[RoyalShock]

I left a comment on that blog about the travel distance for the other team sports. To make that work the athletic dept would have to spring for commercial flights to destinations beyond a certain distance. Even then, those within that distance would still require significantly longer bus rides. Without a huge bump in TV revenue, I don't see how the A-10 would be a good fit unless it was for men's basketball only, and I don't see either the A-10 or MVC being very accommodating in that scenario.

I still think the AAC is the only reasonable option, and that's not happening without football. Ugh.

[wu_shizzle]

The only way I could see the A10 working is if they dropped a few of the "Little Sisters of the Poor" east coast teams and replaced them with stronger Midwest teams, setting up an East and West division.

[Play Angry]

The only way I could see the A10 working is if they dropped a few of the "Little Sisters of the Poor" east coast teams and replaced them with stronger Midwest teams, setting up an East and West division.

Yep. Fordham and Duquesne dropping down to the Patriot League while the A10 picks up WSU and Bradley would be a start, but it's hard to imagine an exodus much larger than that.

The Midwest has a handful of state schools that deserve better than their current conference, but nobody wants them because of geography. The East Coast has a great deal of schools that deserve far worse than their current conference, but their spots seem secure because of the public/private dichotomy and, again, geography.

Frustrating.

[ShockTalk]

Yep. Fordham and Duquesne dropping down to the Patriot League while the A10 picks up WSU and Bradley would be a start, but it's hard to imagine an exodus much larger than that.

The Midwest has a handful of state schools that deserve better than their current conference, but nobody wants them because of geography. The East Coast has a great deal of schools that deserve far worse than their current conference, but their spots seem secure because of the public/private dichotomy and, again, geography.

Frustrating.

If the A-10 wants to be real serious about improving their conference (and get WSU), they'll need to go to 16 teams with 2 divisions and cull out 2 or more current teams. This will allow the pick up of 4 or more schools that routinely have higher RPIs than their usual bottom feeders (if there are that many even out there).

Lastly, without the above happening, I'd still be a little concerned about the Big Least grabbing Dayton and St. Louis if they expand and want similar schools to themselves. I know St. Louis actually weakens them and Xavier may not want Dayton, but that would be totally disastrous for WSU if they joined, then these 2 left.

[Dave Stalwart]

that would be totally disastrous for WSU if they joined, then these 2 left.

but still not as disastrous as being in the MVC and playing Missouri State two or three times a year.

[ShockTalk]

but still not as disastrous as being in the MVC and playing Missouri State two or three times a year.

I'll hold you to your word that you are now back to joking around. :D