Another Expansion/Realignment Thread

[unipanther99]

But that aside the opportunity for visibility is higher in the American based on how the TV slots are given out. This season the Shocks will play on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU) at least 15 times and have a game at Memphis scheduled for a CBS broadcast.

That's not bad, but UNI is probably on ESPN/2/U eight times this year, and another four on CBS Sports Net.

WSU's TV exposure is definitely better, but it's not like a huge order of magnitude better.

[lurkingdog]

I would say UNI would be a hard no to adding more schools from Appalachia.

Everyone here knows that Appalachia and the South aren't quite the same thing...right?

The MVC has zero schools from Appalachia.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachi ... y_2023.svg

[oneNEIGHBOR]

But that aside the opportunity for visibility is higher in the American based on how the TV slots are given out. This season the Shocks will play on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU) at least 15 times and have a game at Memphis scheduled for a CBS broadcast.

That's not bad, but UNI is probably on ESPN/2/U eight times this year, and another four on CBS Sports Net.

WSU's TV exposure is definitely better, but it's not like a huge order of magnitude better.

I'll clarify that the CBS broadcast is on CBS, not Sports Net. Basically WSU got the 3rd best TV allocation in the AAC for this seasons games behind Memphis and FAU. Memphis gets 2 AAC CBS games.
I'm excited to see some Valley action this weekend vs SIU. Watched a bit of their game vs OSU and know Xavier Johnson is about to give us fits. & happy to see the Valley trending up overall this year, you all deserve it.

[unipanther99]

I would say UNI would be a hard no to adding more schools from Appalachia.

Everyone here knows that Appalachia and the South aren't quite the same thing...right?

The MVC has zero schools from Appalachia.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachi ... y_2023.svg

Okay, so Nashville is like one county over on the map you use. I will always contend that the Missouri Valley Conference should be a midwestern conference.

[tribecalledquest]

I would say UNI would be a hard no to adding more schools from Appalachia.

Everyone here knows that Appalachia and the South aren't quite the same thing...right?

The MVC has zero schools from Appalachia.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachi ... y_2023.svg

Okay, so Nashville is like one county over on the map you use. I will always contend that the Missouri Valley Conference should be a midwestern conference.

Depends on how far back in the history of the MVC you want to go. The MVC used to have Louisville. Memphis. North Texas.

In 1982 here were the teams in the MVC: Bradley, Drake, Indiana State, ISU, SIU, Wichita, Creighton, Tulsa, W. Texas State and New Mexico State.

[TylerDurden]

But that aside the opportunity for visibility is higher in the American based on how the TV slots are given out. This season the Shocks will play on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU) at least 15 times and have a game at Memphis scheduled for a CBS broadcast.

That's not bad, but UNI is probably on ESPN/2/U eight times this year, and another four on CBS Sports Net.

WSU's TV exposure is definitely better, but it's not like a huge order of magnitude better.

Please stop. The AAC TV deal is vastly superior by whatever magnitude you want to use.

If you want to compare basketball programs in each league, top-to-bottom, you can do that and have a much better argument. But the TV deal isn't close.

[VUGrad1314]

Yeah as long as WSU is pulling in $2million+ in revenue from media contracts they're not going anywhere. That's better than any other realistic league option they have except MAYBE if they're able to get into a reconfigured PAC\MW hybrid at its next media cycle but with the $5million exit fee from the AAC I doubt it's worth it for them to try even if that conference would be willing to take them. I think the A-10 makes like $500K and I'd be surprised if the MVC deal is much more than like $200-300K. $350K at the absolute most.

[BCPanther]

Yeah as long as WSU is pulling in $2million+ in revenue from media contracts they're not going anywhere. That's better than any other realistic league option they have except MAYBE if they're able to get into a reconfigured PAC\MW hybrid at its next media cycle but with the $5million exit fee from the AAC I doubt it's worth it for them to try even if that conference would be willing to take them. I think the A-10 makes like $500K and I'd be surprised if the MVC deal is much more than like $200-300K. $350K at the absolute most.

The conference media distribution last year was $286k. There are a few schools that also have Learfield deals that pay them some TV rights fees. I know UNI, Missouri State and Illinois State do and I don't recall anyone else doing any Learfield branded broadcasts.

Wichita isn't coming back unless the AAC implodes and, even then, it's hard to see a scenario where the Valley makes sense for them. They got completely screwed by Greggggggggg going into abusive asshole territory and I'm real broken up about it.

[Chuck A]

Wichita isn't coming back unless the AAC implodes and, even then, it's hard to see a scenario where the Valley makes sense for them. They got completely screwed by Greggggggggg going into abusive asshole territory and I'm real broken up about it.

Wait for it…
I just don’t see that league maintaining a P6-lite status of the past few years or so. It began to lose its profile with the leaving of UConn. Again, they’ve lost Houston, Cincy, UCF and SMU. Does anybody on this board really believe that FAU, UTSA, North Texas, Tulane and South Florida will be enough to lift the conference to top 6,7 or 8 status? Will the slightly above average play of those teams’ football programs make a difference?

And why is it hard to see a scenario where the Valley makes sense? Wichita has no football! That alone limits their options. The MWC/P2 are not going to deal with that, especially with the Shocker’s falling off a bit. I’m just not seeing what you guys are. Yeah, I get the money, but the American will never sniff $2 million again!

[VUGrad1314]

As long as the money and relative strength and prestige of the conferences remains similar, Wichita State will never return to the MVC. They get to play a national schedule with a healthy dose of regional rivals as well, that's a huge benefit to them institutionally I'm sure. Moreover, simple pride would probably preclude them from ever returning. Schools rarely return to conferences they have left. They and their fan base probably still believe that they are too good for the MVC and even if the AAC becomes a demonstrably worse league (jury's still out on whether that happens we have to wait to see how the new programs some of which have decent basketball tradition in the past (North Texas UAB Charlotte for example with FAU being a hot name recently) acclimate before anyone can definitively conclude anything about the future of the AAC. Granted, most of those programs will seek any way out they can get (Big XII ACC) so I expect more realignment and decline, but it's a big ask for them to return especially if the exit fees remain high. I do agree that the Mountain West is probably not an option unless they get back to being dominant again, simply because any non-FB slot in that league is going to go to Gonzaga first and foremost and there isn't a third program worth taking to balance the numbers even if the MWC wanted the Shockers too.

In a semi-related note since I brought up Gonzaga, with the news that Washington State and Oregon State are essentially going to eventually become full members of the MWC I fully expect Gonzaga to finally make the move. They have been wanting a conference upgrade for years and despite their best efforts leagues like the Big XII and Big East do not seem interested in taking them on. Meanwhile, adding the Cougars and the Beavers gives them some more close (or semi close at least) opponents to cut down on travel a bit more. Moreover, the MWC sits at #7 in the NET with 6 teams in the top 100 0 at 250+ 5 in the top 50 and 4 in the top 31 WITHOUT Gonzaga. They got 4 teams into the tournament last year and a 5th into the NIT and seem poised to repeat or at least approximate that success this year (although their overall lackluster performance last year save for San Diego State might hurt them come selection time). I think it's the best marriage for increased schedule strength\exposure and sensible travel.