AAC Basketball Expansion?

For Discussion of Conference & Conference Teams other than Tulane
User avatar
TU77CAL82
Coach Level
Posts: 2436
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:29 pm
Location: Broadmoor

AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by TU77CAL82 »

Presumably includes all non-football sports.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE LOOKING TO UPGRADE HOOPS
https://tmgcollegesports.com/2017/03/01 ... ade-hoops/
According to several sources throughout the league, the American Athletic Conference is looking for a way to upgrade its rankings in basketball with an expansion blueprint focused primarily on Wichita State, but also including other higher profile basketball schools such as Dayton and Virginia Commonwealth.
User avatar
gerryb323
Regent's Circle
Posts: 9660
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:18 am
Location: There's no place like home

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by gerryb323 »

TU77CAL82 wrote:Presumably includes all non-football sports.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE LOOKING TO UPGRADE HOOPS
https://tmgcollegesports.com/2017/03/01 ... ade-hoops/
According to several sources throughout the league, the American Athletic Conference is looking for a way to upgrade its rankings in basketball with an expansion blueprint focused primarily on Wichita State, but also including other higher profile basketball schools such as Dayton and Virginia Commonwealth.
I am fully on board with Wichita State. Talk here in town is they are going to be adding football.
Wandering around somewhere in a matchup zone
Baywave1
Emerald Circle
Posts: 12561
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:48 am

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by Baywave1 »

Interesting history here for those who think it can't get worse around here. For its last wins, WSU beat Tulane in Superdome in 1986 then Central Florida the next week (it was not Div 1A then if I recall.) Some weeks later it dropped football.

My memory is fuzzy but I think this is the game where Terrence Jones stretched to score a TD and fumbled ball through the end zone for a touchback. WSU won by one point so I always have bad flashbacks when I see a Tulane player try the same thing now.
Baywave1
Emerald Circle
Posts: 12561
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:48 am

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by Baywave1 »

Also internet rumor last year was WSU was romancing MWC. Obviously that's a better geographical fit for it but I guess there was no interest there. If Dayton is interested in AAC then that means its Catholic brethren in the Big East have said no room at the inn there.

Obviously all idle speculation.
User avatar
PeteRasche
Cornerstone
Posts: 30922
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:52 am
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by PeteRasche »

Baywave1 wrote:If Dayton is interested in AAC then that means its Catholic brethren in the Big East have said no room at the inn there.

Obviously all idle speculation.
Easy travel partner for Cincinnati, but would make Cincinnati fans want to vomit.
User avatar
FW
Cornerstone
Posts: 32783
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2004 8:24 am
Location: Chattanooga, TN

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by FW »

Better be for baseball too, or else that would be just plain dumb
User avatar
gerryb323
Regent's Circle
Posts: 9660
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:18 am
Location: There's no place like home

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by gerryb323 »

Baywave1 wrote:Also internet rumor last year was WSU was romancing MWC. Obviously that's a better geographical fit for it but I guess there was no interest there. If Dayton is interested in AAC then that means its Catholic brethren in the Big East have said no room at the inn there.

Obviously all idle speculation.
Tulsa is only like 3 hours from here. Dallas 6. How close are we to the other conference schools?
Wandering around somewhere in a matchup zone
User avatar
GretnaGrn
Regent's Circle
Posts: 8095
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:49 am
Location: Gretna, LA

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by GretnaGrn »

gerryb323 wrote:
Baywave1 wrote:Also internet rumor last year was WSU was romancing MWC. Obviously that's a better geographical fit for it but I guess there was no interest there. If Dayton is interested in AAC then that means its Catholic brethren in the Big East have said no room at the inn there.

Obviously all idle speculation.
Tulsa is only like 3 hours from here. Dallas 6. How close are we to the other conference schools?
If you're willing to embrace SMU to UConn, WSU and Dayton are both easy fits....
User avatar
WaveProf
Cornerstone
Posts: 25876
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:45 pm
Location: Irish Channel, New Orleans

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by WaveProf »

Individually, I like all three schools mentioned. But I worry about adding 3 more non-football schools. I like when a conference is MOSTLY all sport institutions.

If WSU would come in for all sports besides football, it would actually be a nice balance for Navy (and maybe we could do divisions for basketball to save on travel?). But three affiliate members sounds like a lot, especially when we already have Navy.
“We will expect success in all endeavors and be prepared to assess and hold ourselves accountable when we aren't successful. Tulane is a top 40 academic institution and it should expect nothing less from its athletic department.” --Troy Dannen 11.5.16
Baywave1
Emerald Circle
Posts: 12561
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:48 am

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by Baywave1 »

gerryb323 wrote:
Baywave1 wrote:Also internet rumor last year was WSU was romancing MWC. Obviously that's a better geographical fit for it but I guess there was no interest there. If Dayton is interested in AAC then that means its Catholic brethren in the Big East have said no room at the inn there.

Obviously all idle speculation.
Tulsa is only like 3 hours from here. Dallas 6. How close are we to the other conference schools?
Wichita was the launching point to the Wild and Wooly Cowboy West not the Plantation South nor the Yankee North and East. Wyatt Earp was not the Sheriff of Philadelphia. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Just having fun, friend. I'd be ok if WSU was in AAC but I'd bring in SLU before VCU. Dayton?? Who knows?
windywave
Emerald Circle
Posts: 23292
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 11:13 am
Location: Chicago

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by windywave »

Between the three I'd grab Wichita State and Dayton.
Using big words is not a personal attack
#cousins don't count
ml wave
Emerald Circle
Posts: 14419
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:19 pm

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by ml wave »

FW wrote:Better be for baseball too, or else that would be just plain dumb
Baseball should not be a factor in conference expansion, plus or minus.
User avatar
long green
Cornerstone
Posts: 29126
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:34 am
Location: New Orleans

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by long green »

No one should be added who does not have a 1-a football program. If Wichita State gets one I'll be intrigued with the possibilities. Until then, no. The quickest way to make this league better is to strengthen football.
And may our enemies, if they exist, be unconscious of our purpose. - From The Lady Vanishes
User avatar
waverider
Cornerstone
Posts: 32722
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 5:20 pm
Location: North Kenner

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by waverider »

long green wrote:No one should be added who does not have a 1-a football program. If Wichita State gets one I'll be intrigued with the possibilities. Until then, no. The quickest way to make this league better is to strengthen football.
I agree with this and Prof above. I'd prefer that any more additions have an already established football program (I think Navy should be in for all sports, but at least football is the one), but I don't mind if we have 1 or 2 schools (keep it even) that only add to the basketball resume.

As for Witchita, St, I don't know about their BBall because I don't follow basketball as much on a national level anymore (thanks in part to the "one and done" phenomenon) but I know they would add to baseball, though like ML said, that shouldn't be the reason they join.
Tulane Greenbackers

"If you want to win you have to have good players." Vince Gibson
windywave
Emerald Circle
Posts: 23292
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 11:13 am
Location: Chicago

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by windywave »

waverider wrote:
long green wrote:No one should be added who does not have a 1-a football program. If Wichita State gets one I'll be intrigued with the possibilities. Until then, no. The quickest way to make this league better is to strengthen football.
I agree with this and Prof above. I'd prefer that any more additions have an already established football program (I think Navy should be in for all sports, but at least football is the one), but I don't mind if we have 1 or 2 schools (keep it even) that only add to the basketball resume.

As for Witchita, St, I don't know about their BBall because I don't follow basketball as much on a national level anymore (thanks in part to the "one and done" phenomenon) but I know they would add to baseball, though like ML said, that shouldn't be the reason they join.
Um, they're usually pretty good, they'd probably be one of the top programs in our conference off the bat.
Using big words is not a personal attack
#cousins don't count
User avatar
sr
Regent's Circle
Posts: 8018
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:54 pm
Location: Dripping Springs

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by sr »

... and VCU was such a great road experience. :roll:
User avatar
BC Wave
Emerald Circle
Posts: 10553
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 2:57 pm
Location: Metairie

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by BC Wave »

I think UMass will be our next conference member.
User avatar
FW
Cornerstone
Posts: 32783
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2004 8:24 am
Location: Chattanooga, TN

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by FW »

Wichita State basketball since 2010

2011: 29-8 NIT Champions
2012: 27-6 NCAA First Round (#5 Seed)
2013: 30-9 NCAA Final Four (#9 Seed)
2014: 35-1 NCAA Second Round (#1 Seed)
2015: 30-5 NCAA Sweet 16 (#7 Seed)
2016: 26-9 NCAA Second Round (#11 Seed)
2017: 30-4 NCAA Tournament (TBD)

I think they'd do ok in the AAC
Baywave1
Emerald Circle
Posts: 12561
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:48 am

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by Baywave1 »

Also I have a vague recollection that someone mentioned that WSU coach might be paid more than any current AAC coach (especially now that Brown is gone.)

If UConn wants to go, AAC can make the trade and at least for MBB and baseball elevate the conference. I won't make argument for football that it will be addition by subtraction but there is that too. However I will miss Auriemma.

BTW I don't think UConn is going to BE. Just doing "what if" speculation.
User avatar
PeteRasche
Cornerstone
Posts: 30922
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:52 am
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by PeteRasche »

sr wrote:... and VCU was such a great road experience. :roll:
I loved playing there!
1. Nice arena, 2. we usually won, 3. hotel connected to the arena so we literally walked to shootaround and the game, 4. hotel also connected to a mall (something to do during down time!), 5. we always ate at an awesome all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant.
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
User avatar
sr
Regent's Circle
Posts: 8018
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:54 pm
Location: Dripping Springs

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by sr »

PeteRasche wrote:
sr wrote:... and VCU was such a great road experience. :roll:
I loved playing there!
1. Nice arena, 2. we usually won, 3. hotel connected to the arena so we literally walked to shootaround and the game, 4. hotel also connected to a mall (something to do during down time!), 5. we always ate at an awesome all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant.
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
From what I understood the crowd, students, whomever - weren't always civil in their remarks or comments to the team ...
User avatar
PeteRasche
Cornerstone
Posts: 30922
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:52 am
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by PeteRasche »

VCU? Their fans weren't that close to our bench... I can't speak to after I was done, maybe some crude comments were made which led to that rumor. But playing there was not tough in terms of a road crowd. Large arenas were always surprisingly quiet down on the floor, because the noise would get lost in the rafters. Freedom Hall was the biggest surprise - both because the place was so big and because they had a large contingent of the so-called "wine and cheese" crowd. It was really only hard to play there because it was a large arena (deep backdrop behind the basket) and because Louisville was always good.
User avatar
gerryb323
Regent's Circle
Posts: 9660
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:18 am
Location: There's no place like home

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by gerryb323 »

Local paper (Wichita) article about possibility of AAC adding Wichita State or another non-football school. Aresco seems to indicate we would not take more than one (if any).
http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wi ... 62268.html
Wandering around somewhere in a matchup zone
User avatar
WaveProf
Cornerstone
Posts: 25876
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:45 pm
Location: Irish Channel, New Orleans

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by WaveProf »

If we add Wichita state, can we choose to not take the MBB coach's wife?

http://www.nola.com/ncaa/index.ssf/2017 ... t_home_pop
“We will expect success in all endeavors and be prepared to assess and hold ourselves accountable when we aren't successful. Tulane is a top 40 academic institution and it should expect nothing less from its athletic department.” --Troy Dannen 11.5.16
User avatar
gerryb323
Regent's Circle
Posts: 9660
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:18 am
Location: There's no place like home

Re: AAC Basketball Expansion?

Post by gerryb323 »

WaveProf wrote:If we add Wichita state, can we choose to not take the MBB coach's wife?

http://www.nola.com/ncaa/index.ssf/2017 ... t_home_pop
It's ok, she'll be the Indiana coach's wife soon.
Wandering around somewhere in a matchup zone
Post Reply