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.

Wichita’s interest in moving out of the Missouri Valley Conference first became public last fall when there was chatter about the Shockers contacting the American as a possible landing place for football if plans to revive the football program were instituted. The school discontinued the football program because of financial reasons in 1986.

The Wichita State basketball program has filled the gap, establishing itself as a perennial power in the MVC.

But in December published reports stated that the Wichita was the focus of the American’s interest in upgrading its basketball profile. American officials downplayed the reports as nothing more than chatter.

But offiicials at some member schools, including UConn, felt that the American needed to increase its basketball profile. Talks about adding affiliated members in basketball, but not football, continued, reportedly with discussions taking place at the Presidential level.

Make it so.

Good to see reports of UCONN pushing quality basketball adds.

I get it. Get basketball to same or higher level of football. This conference has made some noise in football, winning big games. Time to get basketball to doing that, this is a great way to it.

I've said it 1,000 times, but the AAC can absolutely compete with the PAC, B12, and BE in basketball, instead of being on the same level as the A-10.

There is ZERO reason why a league with Uconn, Cincy, Temple, Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, Houston, and even now UCF can't be a force in basketball. Meaning 4-5 bids a year and regular deep runs. There is too much history and momentum at those schools for the league to be a 2 bid league for 2 of the last 3 years. INEXCUSABLE!

If adding a perennial tournament team like WSU means now we have a 3-bid floor, then so be it, but it damn well better also mean that 6 bids would be a possibility more seasons than not, if and when Temple, Memphis, Houston, Tulsa, Uconn get on track.

We have 5 historically strong programs all down at the same time. This won't last.

I know football brings in money, but the ceiling for AAC football has probably already been reached (top 10 finishes, NY6 bowl wins, 2-3 teams in final rankings)...i don't see football being able to top that. Basketball, there is no limit.

I'd love to add 3 solid hoops teams.

I would support taking all 3. With that said...

As a former UCONN admin, I have a OTR buddy inside President Herbst's office. Change is being pushed...and likely coming.

Wichita State? OK.
VCU? OK.

Dayton... Uhhhhhh...

Look. I like Dayton (as a school). I just don't think they "fit" this conference. WSU and VCU "fit" the AAC. They are large, public/state Universities.

Dayton really is a fit for the Big East. That's not a knock on them and if we were to invite them, then so be it. But they wouldn't be my first choice.

id take all 3 lets go

Let's do this sooner than later please.

(03-01-2017 04:11 PM)LetsGoUC Wrote:  I've said it 1,000 times, but the AAC can absolutely compete with the PAC, B12, and BE in basketball, instead of being on the same level as the A-10.

There is ZERO reason why a league with Uconn, Cincy, Temple, Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, Houston, and even now UCF can't be a force in basketball. Meaning 4-5 bids a year and regular deep runs. There is too much history and momentum at those schools for the league to be a 2 bid league for 2 of the last 3 years. INEXCUSABLE!

If adding a perennial tournament team like WSU means now we have a 3-bid floor, then so be it, but it damn well better also mean that 6 bids would be a possibility more seasons than not, if and when Temple, Memphis, Houston, Tulsa, Uconn get on track.

We have 5 historically strong programs all down at the same time. This won't last.

I know football brings in money, but the ceiling for AAC football has probably already been reached (top 10 finishes, NY6 bowl wins, 2-3 teams in final rankings)...i don't see football being able to top that. Basketball, there is no limit.

A lot of this has to do with perception. You are right these schools have history and any given year are deserving on an NCAA bid however the media perception of the AAC just will not allow that. Conversely look at the ACC, with a conference record of 4-11 ESPN thinks Clemson is a bubble team, no team 7 games under .500 deserves an NCAA berth I don't care what conference you are in. This just more reason for me to believe that we won't be getting a pay raise when we renegotiate our contract.

Is this being reported anywhere else? Otherwise it looks too much like click bait.

(03-01-2017 04:39 PM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  Is this being reported anywhere else? Otherwise it looks too much like click bait.

The author is the originator of click bait

A. The "leaked" report of UCONN in talks with the Big East.

B. The "leaked" report of UCONN spearheading basketball expansion in the AAC.

UCONN playing "da" game. Color me not surprised.

(03-01-2017 04:27 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  Wichita State? OK.
VCU? OK.

Dayton... Uhhhhhh...

Look. I like Dayton (as a school). I just don't think they "fit" this conference. WSU and VCU "fit" the AAC. They are large, public/state Universities.

Dayton really is a fit for the Big East. That's not a knock on them and if we were to invite them, then so be it. But they wouldn't be my first choice.

Dayton feels like a program VCU had on their list of "must be added to get us"


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I am all in for improving AAC basketball... And if three said programs above COULD do that than let's make it happen.

I vote YES, although I still believe we're leaving another good hoops program on the table, Gonzaga

There are people on this board (like yours truly--among many others) that have literally been advocating this move since the AAC became a thing. If Wichita and VCU are willing, pull the trigger yesterday.

Yeah they wouldn't really fit , but I miss playing Dayton , which we did yearly until 2005 . 90 total meetings

A conference road game I can drive to without blinking ...sign me up.

If both UD and VCM would flip ,the A10 would be reduced to Rhode Island, Richmond and a bunch of meh, in other words a bunch of meh.

I'd add WSU, VCU, and St Louis.