American Athletic Conference

[Dave Stalwart]

I will always want a strengthened MVC over anything else. Let's just require whatever investment Loyola had to make to win everyone over of all the rest of the MVC schools.

The MVC needs to draw a line in the sand about what kind of a conference it wants to be and what kind of conference/level it wants to compete with. If the MVC is willing to invest what is necessary to compete for the 4-8 conference ranking each year, then we are in the right place. That's what I want to see.

We were 10 or 11 this year as a conference. We could have been 8 if ONE of SIU, Bradley, MoST or Drake was a top 100 team instead of 250. We've got to get to a place where #200 is as low as anyone goes. That's all we actually need. I just don't see why the conference can't pull that off...

[wu_shizzle]

I'd rather stay in the Valley and rack up 25+ win seasons than go to the Mountain West.

How often do you watch Mountain West games on ESPN?

While the Mountain West has some good teams, they are always underrated because of a lack of coverage. Let's be honest, WSU gets media love because of our tournament run and our undefeated season. It matters little that we play in the Valley.

Give me the AAC and their major metropolitan areas, basketball programs with history and ESPN/SportsCenter friendly eastern and central time zone games.

[shocka khan]

Not to be off-topic, is it me or is it that Kansas.com is not offering very many 'free' articles any more. At one time it was about 10, now it looks like its less than 5.

It's just a pain to have to open up Chrome and go incognito. I'm kind of used to IE.

[Steeleshocker]

I'd rather stay in the Valley and rack up 25+ win seasons than go to the Mountain West.

How often do you watch Mountain West games on ESPN?

While the Mountain West has some good teams, they are always underrated because of a lack of coverage. Let's be honest, WSU gets media love because of our tournament run and our undefeated season. It matters little that we play in the Valley.

Give me the AAC and their major metropolitan areas, basketball programs with history and ESPN/SportsCenter friendly eastern and central time zone games.

You are a man after my own heart.

[jocoshock]

Not to be off-topic, is it me or is it that Kansas.com is not offering very many 'free' articles any more. At one time it was about 10, now it looks like its less than 5.

It's just a pain to have to open up Chrome and go incognito. I'm kind of used to IE.

Just clear your history and/or set you browser to clear history when you close it.

[ShockTalk]

I'd rather stay in the Valley and rack up 25+ win seasons than go to the Mountain West.

How often do you watch Mountain West games on ESPN?

While the Mountain West has some good teams, they are always underrated because of a lack of coverage. Let's be honest, WSU gets media love because of our tournament run and our undefeated season. It matters little that we play in the Valley.

Give me the AAC and their major metropolitan areas, basketball programs with history and ESPN/SportsCenter friendly eastern and central time zone games.

How often do you watch AAC, Atl-10, or even Big Least? :playful:

My concern about the AAC is it's stability. If they could, Memphis, Cincinnati, and UConn would bolt. I do like what could make up a western division if that went that way.

[Dave Stalwart]

Unless you see some more continuity, I'd be concerned about moving. The MWC is fairly stable, and I think the big priest will turn out to be very stable. I feel like the AAC is going to lose its firepower if the opportunity arises for them. I also think the A10 is about 2-4 departures away from being another C-USA (current version). When you look at who is in the A-10, it just isn't that eye popping.

I stand by the best scenario being the current MVC strengthening itself. This conference needs to be the one adding teams.

[wu_shizzle]

How often do you watch AAC, Atl-10, or even Big Least? :playful:

My concern about the AAC is it's stability. If they could, Memphis, Cincinnati, and UConn would bolt. I do like what could make up a western division if that went that way.

No one sees Big Least games so that's pretty much irrelevant. ;)

I've seen UCONN, Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulsa, Temple and SMU all play this year. I've seen Dayton, Davidson and VCU and I'd still take the AAC.

[InWuWeTrust]

Just clear your history and/or set you browser to clear history when you close it.

ipad on private browser

[Jhook89]

If I was the MVC I would be knocking on Murray States door right now. They would be a great add to the conference and geographically they fit in pretty well. Murray State is in far west Kentucky. You have to think Murray is looking for a conference to go where they won't get left out of the tourney after going 27-5. Another good add would be Stephen F Austin. They are located in northeast Texas, so geographically they are pretty close also. Their bball team seems ready to take the next step.

[SHOCKvalue]

If I was the MVC I would be knocking on Murray States door right now. They would be a great add to the conference and geographically they fit in pretty well. Murray State is in far west Kentucky. You have to think Murray is looking for a conference to go where they won't get left out of the tourney after going 27-5. Another good add would be Stephen F Austin. They are located in northeast Texas, so geographically they are pretty close also. Their bball team seems ready to take the next step.

Murray State was on the replacement list for Creighton, IIRC. The powers that be chose to toss a welfare bone to LOLoyola instead.

The Illinois/Indiana Athletic Conference... er, sorry MVC... would have never taken SFA, as the rental language for the 15 passenger vans most of the conference members use for team transport states that for that length of drive outside of normal service area would incur a $10/day surcharge, which would blow budgets up left and right.

[jocoshock]

If I was the MVC I would be knocking on Murray States door right now. They would be a great add to the conference and geographically they fit in pretty well. Murray State is in far west Kentucky. You have to think Murray is looking for a conference to go where they won't get left out of the tourney after going 27-5. Another good add would be Stephen F Austin. They are located in northeast Texas, so geographically they are pretty close also. Their bball team seems ready to take the next step.

Work with a guy from Kentucky. UK fan, but Murray State grad and MS fan first. Also a shocker fan. He says that Murray State has the same problem with UK and Louisville that we have with KU and KSU. The two schools will play every team in the state of Kentucky EXCEPT Murray State. He is looking forward to the potential Sunday game for us (and a UK rematch).

[jocoshock]

If I was the MVC I would be knocking on Murray States door right now. They would be a great add to the conference and geographically they fit in pretty well. Murray State is in far west Kentucky. You have to think Murray is looking for a conference to go where they won't get left out of the tourney after going 27-5. Another good add would be Stephen F Austin. They are located in northeast Texas, so geographically they are pretty close also. Their bball team seems ready to take the next step.

Underwood (SFA coach) should be #1 on Eric Sexton's break glass in case of emergency list in my opinion...

[TheDover1018]

I understand that the AAC is a risk, but it is a risk worth taking. Staying in the MVC also carries great risk. When you leave money in a savings account, you risk inflation outpacing you. Going to the AAC is like betting on a stock in this analogy.

[capnkirk]

The powers that be chose to toss a welfare bone to LOLoyola instead.

Speaking of Loyola, why did they send ONE cheerleader to the women's mvc tourney? I mean, it was a nice story line to read that the WSU cheer squad let her cheer with them, but where is this huge athletic budget Elgin and Loyola were bragging about? Thanks for the help on making the conference look even worse.... :/