Red wrote:The Big 12 is going to add 2-4 teams and the AAC could get raided for 1 or more teams - Cincy, Houston, UCONN, UCF have all been mentioned. Does this change the game for WSU? If the AAC was potemtially the best fit for you guys, are they still?
I don't think it changes much. It will be interesting to see what the XII does and I do expect them to go with 4. Can they work things out with BYU? The Cougars want to be in a power conference so maybe things do work this time. Is Colorado State really a top candidate? No doubt the XII would like to get back into the Denver market. One or both of those softens the damage to the AAC.
Will Texas really support Houston being invited? I doubt this and only see Houston getting in if Texas leaves and goes somewhere else or independent. Some talk about Memphis but I don't see it. Cincy is pretty much a lock and makes too much sense. Despite UConn having great basketball, I'm not sure if the XII believes that they really give them access to NYC like some claim. If they don't bring enough there, the distance will keep them out. UCF/USF I think come as a pair if there are two open spots, although the recent academic allegations against the Bulls may hurt one or both of them getting a chance. Maybe the XII would bring in UCF alone, but I'm not sure as that would be yet another island, which is why both together makes more sense.
Some people throw in Tulane because of academics and market but that's crazy talk if you ask me. Some other "wild card" options would come from the MWC. New Mexico is a land grant university with good basketball but football not so much. But it's also a well respected research institution. San Diego State would love to get into a better conference and they've tried before, that is a large jump from the XII footprint but wouldn't be a bad get. Decent football and great basketball and opens up southern CA. UNLV is always a possibility because of its location, but football is horrid. Though the possibility of a new stadium may help them. Still think it's a long shot.
Anyway, I see Memphis and UConn still being in the AAC regardless of what happens and that there is a major attraction for basketball. They'll still have a Texas presence if Houston is there or not which is also attractive to Wichita. And I'd think that if they lost Houston, they may look at adding another Texas school. Tulsa helps. They may not be great but they don't suck and there's always some level of potential there. Temple also ups the basketball strength with a solid program.
In my view, even if they lost Cincy, UConn and Houston, it's still probably more beneficial for Wichita should the opportunity present itself. But that's me.
Posted: March 26th, 2016, 2:14 pm