Belmont to Missouri Valley

[VUGrad1314]

Why the AAC isn't pushing for New Mexico makes no sense to me. Major market, basketball tradition, lots of cash.

I think that Boise and Memphis both end up in the Big 12 which is a big ding to both the MW and AAC at the same time. NDSU ends up in the Mountain West which is fine for football but they don't bring much on the basketball side.

I still think we end up at 14. Arlington and Little Rock are about to be homeless and markets are just too attractive to not bring in. I think 14 comes down to Murray and a newly orphaned South Dakota State and, to me, I go South Dakota State simply because of the massive money they've put into facilities. Look at their new performance center and check out the arena renovation they're doing plus Sioux Falls brings more in terms of market than Murray/Paducah.

https://www.backthejacks.com/capital-pr ... allery-2-1

I doubt we see all of that because that upsets the Public\Private balance which is apparently a directive for any expansion decisions. Markets aren't everything. Performance matters. And if NDSU does end up in the Mountain West why wouldn't SDSU go with them? I'd love to add the Jackrabbits for their women's basketball program but I just can't see any further expansion beyond 12 that doesn't involve more private schools and the only options there are Oral Roberts St Thomas Detroit and Lipscomb. And I'd really only be even remotely interested in the first two on that list. I think Murray State is also investing in their facilities and has far more tradition\pedigree in men's basketball than SDSU or really any other potential addition. The only two that come remotely close are ORU and Little Rock if we talk tournament wins and SDSU if we talk consistent competitiveness in conference. Murray State by contrast brings both.

[letsgoAces]

Why the AAC isn't pushing for New Mexico makes no sense to me. Major market, basketball tradition, lots of cash.

I think that Boise and Memphis both end up in the Big 12 which is a big ding to both the MW and AAC at the same time. NDSU ends up in the Mountain West which is fine for football but they don't bring much on the basketball side.

I still think we end up at 14. Arlington and Little Rock are about to be homeless and markets are just too attractive to not bring in. I think 14 comes down to Murray and a newly orphaned South Dakota State and, to me, I go South Dakota State simply because of the massive money they've put into facilities. Look at their new performance center and check out the arena renovation they're doing plus Sioux Falls brings more in terms of market than Murray/Paducah.

https://www.backthejacks.com/capital-pr ... allery-2-1

To answer your question about New Mexico, the AAC is a conference that no one, except for Wichita State, wants to be there.

[TOPSTRAIGHT]

Just don't see the Valley going to fourteen. MURRAY is the logical add. Don't overthink it! Wish it could us--WKU- (in a perfect world)-- we could put our FBS football in a football only league if that option was profitable.

[VUGrad1314]

Why the AAC isn't pushing for New Mexico makes no sense to me. Major market, basketball tradition, lots of cash.

I think that Boise and Memphis both end up in the Big 12 which is a big ding to both the MW and AAC at the same time. NDSU ends up in the Mountain West which is fine for football but they don't bring much on the basketball side.

I still think we end up at 14. Arlington and Little Rock are about to be homeless and markets are just too attractive to not bring in. I think 14 comes down to Murray and a newly orphaned South Dakota State and, to me, I go South Dakota State simply because of the massive money they've put into facilities. Look at their new performance center and check out the arena renovation they're doing plus Sioux Falls brings more in terms of market than Murray/Paducah.

https://www.backthejacks.com/capital-pr ... allery-2-1

To answer your question about New Mexico, the AAC is a conference that no one, except for Wichita State, wants to be there.

That may not entirely be true. There is growing speculation that Colorado State and Air Force want to join with more MWC schools to possibly follow in the future. UAB looks like a candidate as well which would help them in basketball. Colorado State would too.

[agernes]

Some MWC members seem to be getting jumpy because they expect Boise to be brought into the Big 12 fold in the next 3-5 years, and maybe SDSU too.

Just wanted to add a quick note - whether we stay at 11, go to 12, or somehow find our way to 14, I'm not convinced we should play more than an 18-game schedule. Similar to the WCC, who has been playing a 16-game schedule at 10 teams, I think you want to protect the teams who have been playing better in recent years and give them less games against bottom feeders. It wouldn't be a perfect system, there would be some scuttlebutt I'm sure, but I think it would help NET ratings and at-large bids and all that in the end.

[BCPanther]

The AAC having an ESPN deal might just save them even it it's for far less money.

The Mountain West choosing CBS Sports Net and allowing FOX to stick a bunch of their games on FS2 was a bad, bad move.

[letsgoAces]

Why the AAC isn't pushing for New Mexico makes no sense to me. Major market, basketball tradition, lots of cash.

I think that Boise and Memphis both end up in the Big 12 which is a big ding to both the MW and AAC at the same time. NDSU ends up in the Mountain West which is fine for football but they don't bring much on the basketball side.

I still think we end up at 14. Arlington and Little Rock are about to be homeless and markets are just too attractive to not bring in. I think 14 comes down to Murray and a newly orphaned South Dakota State and, to me, I go South Dakota State simply because of the massive money they've put into facilities. Look at their new performance center and check out the arena renovation they're doing plus Sioux Falls brings more in terms of market than Murray/Paducah.

https://www.backthejacks.com/capital-pr ... allery-2-1

To answer your question about New Mexico, the AAC is a conference that no one, except for Wichita State, wants to be there.

That may not entirely be true. There is growing speculation that Colorado State and Air Force want to join with more MWC schools to possibly follow in the future. UAB looks like a candidate as well which would help them in basketball. Colorado State would too.

I have heard the same speculation. But truly, Memphis will jump ship at first opportunity, and Temple would probably like to head east if at all possible. I would see WSU possible to the MWC. What I think you might see is UAB and ALR go to AAC but I just don't know the level of trust any of those schools have with each other right now.

[squirrel]

What if Temple, UMass and UConn start a new FBS league altogether (or reboot A10 football), and what would that look like?

[VUGrad1314]

Sounds like there will be another move. We're not sure who it is. Hopefully it's Murray State. But this article also mentions Little Rock UT-Arlington Northern Kentucky Milwaukee Denver and others.

https://www.news-leader.com/story/sport ... 895062001/

I think calling Murray State a logical next step seems to suggest that they MIGHT be the first choice? I hope so.

[Dawgbit]

How many at large bids have the rest of the MVC teams received in the last decade?

How many at large bids has Murray EVER received? How many times has Murray EVER made it past the 2nd round? That 30 or so point A kicking that FL State put on y’all when you had your greatest player EVER did not move the needle much. At some point you have to walk the walk.