American Athletic Conference

[SB Shock]

I was suprised in the pre-game show how Kennedy didn't seemed very excited about the AAC and was trying to make the case for staying in the MVC. If WSU was in the AAC this year - they would likely get 6 more Top 50 opportunities, another 4 top 100 opportunities.

[AZ Shocker]

I was suprised in the pre-game show how Kennedy didn't seemed very excited about the AAC and was trying to make the case for staying in the MVC. If WSU was in the AAC this year - they would likely get 6 more Top 50 opportunities, another 4 top 100 opportunities.

He's probably got many friends and colleagues within the Valley. And rightfully so. He's been around for decades. Could just be a "comfort zone" situation.

[pogo]

I think it could be a matter of not pooping in the bed you sleep in. But MK is a diplomatic guy and throws very few people under the bus.

[shocks02]

Jon Rothstein, who broke the news on FanRag last week, is this week's guest on the Talk Angry podcast. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/...790345952?mt=2

[Mr. Obvious]

Seth Davis wrote today Shocks should stay put.

[ShockdaWorld]

Anybody on the outside looking in that thinks we should stay put doesn't have WSU's best interests in mind.

[SHOCKvalue]

Seth Davis wrote today Shocks should stay put.

By the way, count me among those who think that leaving the Missouri Valley Conference would be a stupid move for Wichita State. Like, New Coke stupid.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/12/19/hoop-thoughts-first-five-weeks-of-season-amazing?xid=socialflow_twitter_si

I don't understand the "no" votes, per se.

Worst case scenario is a couple of the headliners leave and they're back-filled with Loyola-type moves. Bottom 3/4th of the AAC > bottom 3/4th of the MVC, times infinity.

Worst, worst case scenario is the entire conference nukes itself, and the MVC falls over itself welcoming us back.

[ShockdaWorld]

"It might not have caught too many people’s attention, but Oklahoma State notched maybe the most impressive road victory of the weekend when it shredded a really good Wichita State defense in Charles Koch Arena." --- nice research Seth.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Let's say UConn and Cincy were to leave the AAC. Here's a comparison of the remaining 9 AAC teams vs the 9 MVC teams WSU currently enjoys.

Last 5 = Average Pomeroy rank from 2012-2016
Last 10 = Average Pomeroy rank from 2007-2016

Team	Last 5			Team	Last 10
Memphis	49			Memphis	40
UNI	64			UNI	73
Temple	80			Temple	80
SMU	92			Tulsa	94
Illinois St	97			Illinois St	102
Tulsa	102			Houston	132
Evansville	119			Indiana St	139
Indiana St	135			Missouri St	140
Houston	155			SMU	142
UCF	171			Evansville	145
South Florida	179			South Florida	150
East Carolina	183			Southern Ill	150
Southern Ill	185			UCF	152
Missouri St	187			Drake	162
Drake	196			Bradley	177
Loyola	204			Loyola	188
Tulane	210			Tulane	194
Bradley	242			East Carolina	204

With UConn and Cincy, the AAC is a HUGE upgrade.
Without them, the AAC is still a small upgrade.
Some have commented that the bottom of the AAC is better than the bottom of the MVC. That doesn't appear to be true over the last 10 years, and is only marginally true over the last 5.
The top half of the AAC is where it gains a significant advantage over the MVC.

Conclusion: Let's do this!

[RoyalShock]

Great research, JH4P!

I want to play devil's advocate for a moment and point out that a few of the MVC dregs right now, ie. Bradley, SIU and even MSU, I believe have the potential, due to previous success, to rise to the top of the league again. Conversely, many of the lower-tier AAC schools (Tulane, ECU, UCF, USF) have very little historical success or reason to believe sustained success is on their horizons. Yes, we have DU, LU and UE. But it's not unreasonable to project a conference without UConn and Cinci could be largely indistinguishable from the MVC with an improved BU, SIU and MSU.

Butler was at it's highest point while dominating the Horizon. Time will tell if they even sniff that kind of success again in the bigeast. Gonzaga continues to be nationally relevant while mostly dominating the WCC with some help from St. Mary's (our UNI). I would even put Creighton in there. Yes, they are having a good year, but they aren't going to go to the NCAA's nearly every year like WSU can, as well as be a factor once into the field.

I'm personally in favor of making the move, but I also understand the logic behind staying.

[Shock Top]

Let's say UConn and Cincy were to leave the AAC. Here's a comparison of the remaining 9 AAC teams vs the 9 MVC teams WSU currently enjoys.

Last 5 = Average Pomeroy rank from 2012-2016
Last 10 = Average Pomeroy rank from 2007-2016

Team	Last 5			Team	Last 10
Memphis	49			Memphis	40
UNI	64			UNI	73
Temple	80			Temple	80
SMU	92			Tulsa	94
Illinois St	97			Illinois St	102
Tulsa	102			Houston	132
Evansville	119			Indiana St	139
Indiana St	135			Missouri St	140
Houston	155			SMU	142
UCF	171			Evansville	145
South Florida	179			South Florida	150
East Carolina	183			Southern Ill	150
Southern Ill	185			UCF	152
Missouri St	187			Drake	162
Drake	196			Bradley	177
Loyola	204			Loyola	188
Tulane	210			Tulane	194
Bradley	242			East Carolina	204

With UConn and Cincy, the AAC is a HUGE upgrade.
Without them, the AAC is still a small upgrade.
Some have commented that the bottom of the AAC is better than the bottom of the MVC. That doesn't appear to be true over the last 10 years, and is only marginally true over the last 5.
The top half of the AAC is where it gains a significant advantage over the MVC.

Conclusion: Let's do this!

Besides just the upgrade in basketball, however big or slight it may be, another YUGE upgrade the AAC has over the MVC is a much bigger footprint in much larger metropolitan areas. It could only help in getting more eyeballs and recruits to see WSU.

[Shock Top]

By the way, count me among those who think that leaving the Missouri Valley Conference would be a stupid move for Wichita State. Like, New Coke stupid.

The funny thing is, New Coke blind taste tested better than the Original Coca-Cola...

Also, I would love for him to explain to me how it was "stupid" for Cinci, Memphis, Tusla, SLU, Louisville, Houston, and Creighton to leave the Valley. Or how "stupid" it was for Butler and VCU to leave their conferences for the A-10.

Different times, Different moves, Different circumstances; granted. However, how come it's "stupid" the WSU is looking to position themselves in a better situation? Stick to you tired "time to feed the trolls" and your nobody-cares-about political tweets.

[ShockerPrez]

I would also love to know why we should stay in the Valley.

Just guessing that it would be along the lines of staying the big fish in the small pond. And thinking that moving to a better conference would diminish our beloved mid major Cinderella persona.

I also wouldn't doubt that a lot of critics still believe we couldn't go .500 in a 'real' conference and that our NCAA success, albeit fairly consistent is more of a fluke, feeding on middle tier power conference opponents, not the big guys...

No need to refute my statement with facts. I'm just trying to think like them, this is not my opinion.

[RoyalShock]

The funny thing is, New Coke blind taste tested better than the Original Coca-Cola...

Also, I would love for him to explain to me how it was "stupid" for Cinci, Memphis, Tusla, SLU, Louisville, Houston, and Creighton to leave the Valley. Or how "stupid" it was for Butler and VCU to leave their conferences for the A-10.

Different times, Different moves, Different circumstances; granted. However, how come it's "stupid" the WSU is looking to position themselves in a better situation? Stick to you tired "time to feed the trolls" and your nobody-cares-about political tweets.

I quit following Davis on twitter a couple of months ago due to his political tweets.

[Shock Top]

I quit following Davis on twitter a couple of months ago due to his political tweets.

Likewise