uniftw wrote:TheAsianSensation wrote:Cdizzle wrote:Perhaps the Sun Belt realizes they would be the last resort choice when/if UAB has no where else to go.
In other words, if UAB has other choices, they will never choose the Sun Belt. So why not ream them if they end up with no other options.
I prefer the method of being friendly and welcoming to your new conference mate, instead of instantly trying to rob them of a few extra dollars. Heck, I'd be going opposite, charging nothing because that conference needs basketball pedigree, and a couple extra NCAA tourney units will make up for that 2M instantly.
The SBC is still only going to be a 1 bid conference. They were something like 21st out of 32 conference last season. UAB joining isn't going to make them a 2 bid league.
CUSA was 17th.
MVC was 10th
For 1.6 million dollars less than their fee to the SBC they get into a top 10 conference (a massive jump from where they are now), will get extra shares from what they have now, and will get more exposure (assuming the MVC can get a better TV deal.).
That damn TV deal is the biggest thing holding the MVC back right now. Then again, how many people actually watched AAC games on CBSSports last year? Does someone have those numbers?
I should've specified, I do think the SBC would still be a 1 bid league, but from the SBC's perspective, UAB is capable of winning games in the tourney as the lone rep, which still results in a lot more money for the league. That's where they make up the profit - having a team that can actually win a couple games once they're there.
It's pretty clear that the MVC is the best-case scenario for UAB with the obvious exception of geography.
The MVC TV deal isn't good, but what's more important is it's better than what anyone else below us has.