(non-MVC) Realignment News

[VUGrad1314]

Looks like the AAC is close to a new media deal. The fact that this news has come so early may indicate a good deal and that TAS is right about UCONN staying put.

https://twitter.com/C_Austin_Cox/status ... 6072337408

[TheAsianSensation]

Makes sense. A new media deal for about 5-6 years would be perfect. ESPN locks up a reasonable sports package for a few years, AAC members get some security, everyone becomes a conference free agent at the same time (~2025).

[Red]

I hadn't seen this article on WSU/AAC finances but found it very interesting. And they paying Gregg 3.42M. Damn.

But while WSU men’s basketball benefited from the exposure of playing every conference game on national television in a more highly regarded conference, the Shockers’ media rights revenue dropped in 2017-18.

WSU generated a combined $779,512 in media rights and NCAA and conference distributions after bringing in at least $1.15 million the previous four years.

That’s because WSU will not receive shares from the AAC’s current TV deal, which expires after the 2019-20 season, for its first three seasons in the American because it was not a member school when the deal was constructed.

The Eagle learned through a source within the athletic department that WSU bypassed the American’s original offer to join the conference in the 2019-20 season and pay five installments of $500,000 over five years by paying the AAC a one-time, lump sum of $2.5 million last summer to join the conference before the 2017-18 school year.

Read more here: https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/w ... rylink=cpy

[VUGrad1314]

Doesn't sound like Metro State will be going to the WAC

https://msudenver.edu/early-bird/2019/0 ... date.shtml

https://www.mymetmedia.com/news/athleti ... ransition/

Though this interview with SL Commissioner Tom Douple seems to suggest some movement is possible involving (presumably) the HL Summit and WAC

Meanwhile NKU's beat writer has repeatedly angled for them to leave the HL possibly to the ASun

[VUGrad1314]

Metro State officially rejects WAC invite.

[BobCat]

What's been the relationship between U of Denver and the WAC? In a strictly basketball sense, it would seem like better geographical fits for Denver to join up (with WAC addition Dixie State, moving up to DI next year) and then UMKC and Chicago State switching from the WAC to the Summit. Better travel for those teams and no real drops in rankings.

[RacerJoeD]

The WAC is pre-WWI Ottoman Empire.

[VUGrad1314]

What's been the relationship between U of Denver and the WAC? In a strictly basketball sense, it would seem like better geographical fits for Denver to join up (with WAC addition Dixie State, moving up to DI next year) and then UMKC and Chicago State switching from the WAC to the Summit. Better travel for those teams and no real drops in rankings.

Denver was once a member of the WAC but left over objections to GCU's entry due to for profit status. Their target\dream conference is the WCC but that's never going to happen as long as Gonzaga has anything to say about the issue. Life in the Summit League hasn't been terribly kind to Denver so I do wonder if now that GCU is non-profit they will explore a return to the WAC. It does seem like a better fit.

[Red]

What's been the relationship between U of Denver and the WAC? In a strictly basketball sense, it would seem like better geographical fits for Denver to join up (with WAC addition Dixie State, moving up to DI next year) and then UMKC and Chicago State switching from the WAC to the Summit. Better travel for those teams and no real drops in rankings.

Denver was once a member of the WAC but left over objections to GCU's entry due to for profit status. Their target\dream conference is the WCC but that's never going to happen as long as Gonzaga has anything to say about the issue. Life in the Summit League hasn't been terribly kind to Denver so I do wonder if now that GCU is non-profit they will explore a return to the WAC. It does seem like a better fit.

Why would Gonzaga oppose Denver U? I am pretty sure it's also a Jesuit school and opening up a connection to a huge metro area like Denver would seem beneficial to Gonzaga as a university from a recruitment standpoint.

[IWokeUpLikeThis]

Southern Indiana debuts Screaming Eagles Arena
https://www.courierpress.com/videos/new ... 315212002/