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A thread was started on the Women's Sports forum to discuss the impact of the move to the AAC on Wichita State women's programs. Thought we would have the same discussion about WSU men's sports programs.
Obviously, it is a big step up from the Valley in Men's Basketball which is driving the entire situation. No need to really discuss that. So how will this impact XC and Track and Field, Baseball, Golf and Tennis.
Hard to know for sure in XC and Track and Field but I would expect the Shocks to field competitive teams and to continue to be a strong multi-event school. As far as league competition is concerned this boils down to 3 championship meets per year. The Shocks may or may not run across most of the other AAC schools in other meets. So with the exception of the Championship meets not much will change. Time will tell how competitive the Shocks will be but I sure don't expect this to be a step down in competition.
Shocker baseball obviously is in need of fixing. Currently 8 teams play baseball in the AAC. Same as the Valley. The Shocks will make that 9. At this point of the season WarrenNolan.com has the AAC at 5th in RPI and 5th in NPI. He has the Valley at 13th in RPI and 10th in NPI. So this would appear to be a step up in competition from the Valley. AAC schools playing baseball (and their current RPI's) include Houston (15), South Florida (19), East Carolina (49), UCF (72), Memphis (80), UConn (109), Cincy (131) and Tulane (258). The Shocks current RPI is (108).
It looks like all 11 AAC full members field men's golf teams. My expectation, with the number of warm weather locations in the AAC that golf will be more challenging in the AAC then it has been in the MVC.
Men's Tennis is on the endangered species list in the Valley. Only SIU, Drake, Illinois State and Wichita State are fielding teams this year and SIU is dropping its men's and women's tennis teams at the end of this year. In fact, the Valley no longer has enough teams to qualify for an auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament on its own. Looks like all 11 AAC full members play men's tennis. 4 AAC teams are currently ranked in the Top 50 ITA rankings. There are no Valley teams in the Top 50. A definite step up.
So as with the Women's sports it looks to me like a move the AAC for our men's sports overall is a definite step up. I don't think any of the men's sports would be consideered a step down.
Obviously, it is a big step up from the Valley in Men's Basketball which is driving the entire situation. No need to really discuss that. So how will this impact XC and Track and Field, Baseball, Golf and Tennis.
Hard to know for sure in XC and Track and Field but I would expect the Shocks to field competitive teams and to continue to be a strong multi-event school. As far as league competition is concerned this boils down to 3 championship meets per year. The Shocks may or may not run across most of the other AAC schools in other meets. So with the exception of the Championship meets not much will change. Time will tell how competitive the Shocks will be but I sure don't expect this to be a step down in competition.
Shocker baseball obviously is in need of fixing. Currently 8 teams play baseball in the AAC. Same as the Valley. The Shocks will make that 9. At this point of the season WarrenNolan.com has the AAC at 5th in RPI and 5th in NPI. He has the Valley at 13th in RPI and 10th in NPI. So this would appear to be a step up in competition from the Valley. AAC schools playing baseball (and their current RPI's) include Houston (15), South Florida (19), East Carolina (49), UCF (72), Memphis (80), UConn (109), Cincy (131) and Tulane (258). The Shocks current RPI is (108).
It looks like all 11 AAC full members field men's golf teams. My expectation, with the number of warm weather locations in the AAC that golf will be more challenging in the AAC then it has been in the MVC.
Men's Tennis is on the endangered species list in the Valley. Only SIU, Drake, Illinois State and Wichita State are fielding teams this year and SIU is dropping its men's and women's tennis teams at the end of this year. In fact, the Valley no longer has enough teams to qualify for an auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament on its own. Looks like all 11 AAC full members play men's tennis. 4 AAC teams are currently ranked in the Top 50 ITA rankings. There are no Valley teams in the Top 50. A definite step up.
So as with the Women's sports it looks to me like a move the AAC for our men's sports overall is a definite step up. I don't think any of the men's sports would be consideered a step down.
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