American Athletic Conference

[Shock Top]

Now that WSU got 3Gs $$$$$, time to put him in a new conference!!!!

[Blackmag]

I think making the MVC stronger is our best bet and really about the only thing going since we have no football. We've been in the league for so long and seen good schools leave, adding a UAB would be a nice plus, they have had some really good teams in the past. UNI is keeping Jacobson happy, thats good and our nemisis ISUr should be really good next year. I think we could get two possibly 3 teams in next year. Hopefully with us keeping Marshall and with the team we have coming back, should keep the league relevant and maybe the otheirs will follow our example...hopefully

[UofMemphis]

I was bored, so I whipped up a spreadsheet laying out how WSU might fit into the AAC via various metrics. I'll spare everyone the minutia, and simmer it all down below:

(The assumption is that WSU makes the twelfth school in the totals below. AAC has 11 currently, plus Navy football.)


WSU Enrollment: 15,003 - 9th out of 12
Some big schools in the AAC, but many are just WSU on steroids (public commuter). WSU would be the smallest public. We're bigger than only Tulsa, SMU, and Tulane.


WSU Endowment: $259.7M - 9th out of 12
The bigger schools, and the private schools, push us down the list a bit. We do have a larger endowment than UCF, ECU, and Memphis.


Wichita TV Market (Wichita's Rank - Nielsen "TV Homes"): 65th - 441,760 - 12th out of 12
Dead last here, but actually not far behind Tulsa at 530,200 "TV Homes", and within reasonable distance of Memphis at 653,560 "TV Homes." Some pretty big cities in the AAC, although I'm not sure how closely those cities follow the sports of their ACC member.


WSU NCAA Tourney Total Appearances: 12 - 7th out of 12
Top third of the AAC has a lot of cred. Middle third is similar to us. Bottom third is like most of the MVC.


WSU NCAA Tourney Total Wins: 15 - 6th out of 12
Same as above. Top third of the AAC has a lot of cred. Middle third is similar to us. Bottom third is like most of the MVC.


WSU NCAA Tourney F4's: 2 - tied for 5th out of 12
Ranges from 6 to 0, with 5/12 schools having 0 F4's.


WSU NCAA Tourney E8's: 4 - 6th out of 12
Ranges from 11 to 0, with 4/12 schools having 0 E8's.


WSU NCAA Tourney S16's: 6 - 6th out of 12
Ranges from 16 to 0, with 4/12 schools having 0 S16's.


Koch Arena Capacity: 10,506 - 3rd or 4th out of 12, depending on how you handle UCONN's two site home arena arrangement
Only Memphis and UCONN's larger home arena are greatly larger than Koch. About half of the AAC has MVC sized arenas, surprisingly.


2013-2014 WSU Average Home Attendence (via NCAA): 10,732 - 2nd out of 12
SHOCKED at the weak attendance in the AAC. A lot of the schools would fit in quite well in the MVC in this regard. Also, as is already known by most, our attendance isn't an anomaly; our 10 year median attendance via NCAA figures sits at 10,410, or 99% capacity. When we sucked in the 90's Levitt Arena was still 3/4 full. AAC would assumedly be happy to have us from a butts-in-seats-on-TV context.


WSU Total Weeks Spent in AP Top 25: 128 - 5th out of 12
Kind of like the stats a few spots up. Top third of the AAC has a lot of cred. Middle third is similar to us. Bottom third pretty weak.


WSU Total Weeks Spent in AP Top 10: 128 - tied for 5th out of 12
Again... Top third of the AAC has a lot of cred. Middle third is similar to us. Bottom third pretty weak.


WSU MBB Revenues: $5.6M - 5th out of 12
Ranges from $9.5M to $2.8M.


WSU Total AD Revenues: $22.7M - 12 out of 12
Ranges from $71.2M to $24.1M. Both of those figures (high is UCONN, low is Cincy) are pretty decent outliers from the rest. The AAC median is $39.5, and considering these schools are spending anywhere from $10M to $25M on football, we conform quite well after adjustment.


In closing, the only AAC school that sort of sticks out like a sore thumb currently is UCONN. They are sort of WSU's equivalent in the AAC. Wouldn't be surprised at all if they find a better home, kind of like us hopefully. The rest of the conference trends together pretty well. Bottom third of the AAC would honestly fit in just fine in the MVC, speaking of basketball metrics. Not a very strong bottom third when it comes to AAC basketball.

^ that's why so many want WSU added to the AAC. Plus the proximity to Tulsa, SMU, Memphis, etc.

I disagree on UConn, though, football drives P5 realignment...and their football is years away from getting P5 interest.

[Shock Top]

^ that's why so many want WSU added to the AAC. Plus the proximity to Tulsa, SMU, Memphis, etc.

I disagree on UConn, though, football drives P5 realignment...and their football is years away from getting P5 interest.

You're our biggest advocate on the inside! Think you can hold a meeting with prominate AACers and get the deal done?

It sure worked out for WSU and Marshall :)

[UofMemphis]

You're our biggest advocate on the inside! Think you can hold a meeting with prominate AACers and get the deal done?

It sure worked out for WSU and Marshall :)

To me, it just makes too much sense to not do it...WSU to the AAC, and UAB to the MVC as a replacement team.

I really hope it works out for the AAC and WSU.

[SHOCKvalue]

Hopefully the insane salary bump we just gave 3G will be a signal to either the MWC or the AAC that we are more than ready to play with the big(er) boys as far as conference affiliation goes.

[1972Shocker]

Hopefully the insane salary bump we just gave 3G will be a signal to either the MWC or the AAC that we are more than ready to play with the big(er) boys as far as conference affiliation goes.

.

Or it will have the reverse effect of having the AAC members reject us because they don't want us driving up the compensation of their men's basketball coaches.

[_kai_]

I wonder if MWC officials will be in attendance for the UNLV game this coming December at Koch.

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7500&ATCLID=209997523

[Jhook89]

The only way the AAC add WSU is if they add a football only school. Seems unlikely.

[Shock Top]

The only way the AAC add WSU is if they add a football only school. Seems unlikely.

The 2015-16 season sees the U.S. Naval Academy join the ranks in football only.

[JayPak]

You guys might have an interest in this discussion about WSU to A-10.

http://holylandofhoops.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4435&sid=6959d6519549902504bdc3dff89a802a

[Jhook89]

The 2015-16 season sees the U.S. Naval Academy join the ranks in football only.

Haha just read that and was coming back to correct my self! Thank you. So it sounds like the AAC or the MWC make the most sense.

[Shockerman]

AAC or bust! Would be an upgrade for basketball and do wonders for a baseball program.

[Rosewood]

The AAC is such a good fit that it will never happen

[UofMemphis]

The 2015-16 season sees the U.S. Naval Academy join the ranks in football only.

:-)