2021-22 Basketball happenings around the American Athletic!

[1972Shocker]

I'm not ready to say the Valley would be better .. I'm also not as hard fast that in 5 years that the valley WONT be better as I was a month ago.

The Valley would not be better in terms of athletic prowess. But it might be better from purely a financial standpoint. Wichita State faced significant financial challenges as a result of joining the AAC. The panic-demic has apparently exacerbated those financial challenges. The impact of realignment on the AAC is just throwing some additional logs on that fire.

I think the vast majority of fans would prefer not to have to go back to the Valley, if that is even an option, but ultimately it will boil down to what WSU's bottom line can support. It sounds like the key to that in terms of AAC membership is what ESPN is willing to do and at this point that's not looking all that promising.

[Shoxing Me Softly]

Traveling to Philly, East Carolina, Tampa was more than worth it to be in a basketball league with UConn, Cincinnati, Memphis, Houston. It doesn’t make sense without those teams anymore. (Memphis will be gone soon).

Tulsa and SMU are great but not worth the east coast travel without the others too.

[SubGod22]

The AAC can salvage basketball to some degree with additions of UAB and North Texas. I don't have a problem doubling up in DFW. Neither addition would be a killer to either of the main sports.

I have no idea what the ESPN deal will look like after Houston, Cincy and UCF leave. Memphis may or may not leave if the B12 takes two more. Both them and Boise are looked down upon in academics but that may or may not stop them. I'm not really sure where SDSU thinks it's going unless the B12 decides on them and Boise. I can't imagine the PAC letting them in as I'm sure USC and UCLA are both very against sharing another SoCal school and Arizona/ASU may or may not have issues with it as I'm assuming they recruit that area heavily for students and athletes.

The Valley would do nothing for us except kill momentum and probably some support/excitement. Nobody was excited to play those schools when we were in the Valley, they sure as hell aren't going to be if we go back.

The Big East is a long shot and I have no idea what they make per team, but that is even more travel than we have now. The A10 has a **** media deal and would be insane travel for non-revenue sports as well. They're a non-starter. Going west isn't exciting at all and may harm excitement around athletics, but it may not. But the MWC has a number of bad basketball schools right now. The bottom of the conference is definitely worse than the bottom of the AAC.

We'll see what ESPN has in mind for eastern teams. As stated, UAB seems to be a definite yes. Now the AAC just has to figure out how to balance basketball and football additions. Of the schools that might not kill both, you're looking at UAB, UNT, Marshall, Buffalo, Toledo, Liberty. And I'm not 100 on where Buffalo and Toledo currently stand. Maybe ODU?

No addition is going to excite anyone. But once again, that's generally how this works. I don't think most of the B12 fans are excited about Houston, Cincy or UCF. BYU might be the exception.

Again, both the MWC and AAC take a hit if Memphis and Boise do go. Obviously we get hit harder in basketball and they get hit harder in football. So from a money standpoint, you'd think they'd take it worse than we would. If the payouts are going to be about the same, there's no sense going west. Access to Texas is still huge for Wichita. And we'd still have closer travel with SMU, Tulsa and Tulane than just about anything we'd see in the MWC.

Regardless, the AAC isn't dropping below the MVC and probably stays ahead of the A10, as they have some real dregs in that conference as well. Much worse than USF, ECU or Tulane.

Like I said earlier, USF needs to get its **** together.

[proshox]

Our fan base has had this backwards since day one.

When it comes to the WSU Brand one fact remains constant - It is all about winning in the NCAA tournament. You do this long enough and build your non-conference to suit your financial and resume needs. Winning in NCAA must be the sole focus of any conference alignment discussion. Unfortunately for WSU the American was a bunch of misfit and geographically spread out institutions looking for a better landing spot.





Where can WSU men’s basketball thrive? If two conference options provide similar paths to the NCAA success we need to pick the one that is most cost efficient (travel offset by tv money).

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

Anyone advocating for going back to the Valley needs to step back from the cliff. That is absolutely one of the worst things that could happen and there is no need to panic to that level. My goodness.

[wichshock65]

Right now, we just need to concentrate on winning. Being a regular in the top 25, national tv audience and deep runs in March. Good things will happen if the state of the program remains high.

[Shock Top]

Big East or bust

[shockerfan]

I am not panicking....mainly cause it does no good.

But goodness....this sucks.

[OregonShocker]

Right now, we just need to concentrate on winning. Being a regular in the top 25, national tv audience and deep runs in March. Good things will happen if the state of the program remains high.

I'd like to think so, but I'm just not sure this is true. Remember, it's football driving this bus. whether you like it or not.

[wichshock65]

I'd like to think so, but I'm just not sure this is true. Remember, it's football driving this bus. whether you like it or not.

I would think some basketball only opportunities arise. And top tier BB only programs are few. At least ones willing to move. Idunno.

[SubGod22]

I'd like to think so, but I'm just not sure this is true. Remember, it's football driving this bus. whether you like it or not.

That's more true at the P5 levels than where we are. Football is still a leading role, but Aresco has been vocal about the importance of basketball. One reason I think App State is a long shot.

If I'm picking four right now, It's UAB, North Texas, Buffalo and Liberty. If Liberty is a no go for other reasons, you replace them with maybe ODU. I think this offers enough mid-level AAC competition in both sports with potential to improve and does the least amount of harm to both basketball and football. It would still be a relatively strong basketball conference with multiple bids.

I know I keep saying USF needs to get their **** together, but so does Temple. They've done very little since we've gotten here. They also have no options to leave without killing their football like UMass and as they currently sit aren't the least bit attractive to any power conference that might expand.

[ShockerFever]

According to Taylor, he doesn't believe even this will change Boatrights opinion on changing conferences.

Seriously .. how do we get him fired? He's just not trying.

Nowww you want him fired?

Where have you been the last 5 years?

[Dan]

Wyoming, Nevada and Utah State?

[ShockerFever]

Our fan base has had this backwards since day one.

When it comes to the WSU Brand one fact remains constant - It is all about winning in the NCAA tournament. You do this long enough and build your non-conference to suit your financial and resume needs. Winning in NCAA must be the sole focus of any conference alignment discussion. Unfortunately for WSU the American was a bunch of misfit and geographically spread out institutions looking for a better landing spot.





Where can WSU men’s basketball thrive? If two conference options provide similar paths to the NCAA success we need to pick the one that is most cost efficient (travel offset by tv money).

LMAO Nope.

[RoyalShock]

Anyone advocating for going back to the Valley needs to step back from the cliff. That is absolutely one of the worst things that could happen and there is no need to panic to that level. My goodness.

I can only speak for myself, but I'm not advocating for going back to the Valley as things currently stand. What I'm saying, is if the AAC loses Memphis, and then either or both of SMU or Tulsa to the MWC while WSU doesn't get invited to tag along, moving to the MVC might be better than whatever is left of the AAC. Hey, if the Big East comes calling or the A10 gets a better TV deal, then those could become options, but right now, those don't appear to be reasonable expectations.