UAZipster0305

I don't think the conference roulette will be totally settled until there are 4 or 5 super conferences with 16 members each. Hence, UC, UConn, UCF, and USF are ripe for the picking now, but they won't be in pergatory for very long.

A10 to add BE basketball schools?

So you recommend staying in the MAC until the end of time and just have us all accept that UA athletics won't even ever be a big deal in its own city? Thinking like that is exactly why we have the history that we do.

Yeah, imagine a new conference with NIU, SIU, Marshall, Cincy, UConn, UMass, Temple, UCF, USF, Memphis, Houston, Tulane, Akron, Ohio, Can't (sorry, they are worthy), and Toledo. 16 members with two divisions (North and South or East and West) from mostly mid-west and east coast schools and essentially the same status as the BCS mega-conferences. This is a win for all schools involved!

I know. Meaning there are going to be some high quality schools like UConn and Cincy looking for a new home.

I never said any of the moves were driven by basketball. I just stated that football wasn't the only thing that drives realignment. And I'm not talking about leaving the MAC to join the Big East. I'm talking about the best of the MAC and the Big East merging. And yes, that would be a tremendous upgrade! Can you imagine having UConn and Cincy visiting the JAR for conference basketball game or UConn vs. Akron in soccer?!

Tell that to Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke, and Arizona. And as the recent conference moves have demonstrated, media market is more important than on-field/court performance anyhow.

Even with football being as bad as it has been the past three seasons, I think we are still worthy to be included. Consider that we are the best in soccer and a national power, top-2 annually in basketball, MACC in tennis, nationally-ranked in rifle, and top of the league in track. Cross country, baseball, softball, golf, swimming, and WBB are all reasonably competitive. We have the best facilities in the MAC for most sports (not basketball or baseball), and a conference upgrade would likely only improve recruiting too.

+1 Agreed 100%. Nothing spells "irrelevant" to Joe Akron and non-alum local OSU honks more than directional Michigans, Buffalo, and BUGS all over our schedule. Take the top half of the MAC (with regard to overall sports performance and facilities) and the remaining Big East football schools, then you have something worth being a part of. It would likely be a drastic improvement for all parties involved as well.

Whoa! Get out the flint and kindling!

I don't think it matters. The Bracket Buster never served it's purpose anyhow. Seriously, how many mid-major teams that were on the NCAA bubble actually ended up getting an at-large selection as a result of winning their BB game (or vice versa)? It was nice to see the unusual and evenly matched OOC game and the return trip the following year. However, KD never really takes the OOC seriously enough, and I think the games can be a distraction to the MACC.

This is a terribly unfair argument against our coaching staff. Although we didn't win more games this year, the team went from being blown out in every game and completely demoralized and having given up under iCoach to being competitive, fun to watch, and always fighting under the new staff. With essentially the same talent on the field, what more could you ask for? All this in a year when the MAC was more competitive than probably any in its history. Coaches alone don't win games. Winning requires the combination of good coaching and talent on the field. This staff has the connections, name recognition, and ability to recruit top talent, but this doesn't happen overnight. However, I expect to see a steady increase in the number of wins from season-to-season. Be patient! There is plenty to be optimistic about.

Based on today's results, Kretzer. We'll see how his consistency and composure play out over the course of the season though. Overall, I'd prefer Walsh taking a shot than anyone else when the game is on the line. He is relatively consistent, keeps composure, one of our best shooters, and a senior leader.

Huge win!

A week later and I am still bitter about losing to Creighton. There is some small justice in knowing that UConn is out though. Amazing to me that the only remaining team worthy in the discussion about being the best team in the country is Maryland. ND, Akron, and UNC are all gone. Meanwhile inferior teams like IU and Creighton are in the Final Four. Quite unfortunate, but this is why the games are played. To me, experiences like this make our 2010 season and tournament run that much more impressive.

Stream the audio from 1350. I prefer to do that anyhow because it's Frenchy.

I agree with this. In the past five years, nearly all athletic setbacks have been related to the specific points that you refer to. Kudos.

I agree that there is probably no stopping MAC coaching turnover. However, I don't know that there are any administrative "guiding principles" that can (even partially) rectify the situation either. Did you have anything specific in mind?

I don't know why the NCAA bothers making rules anymore. They are only used as a convenient excuse to persecute smaller schools. When more majors schools benefit, the rules are modified. How convenient.

Anyone have insight as to why Can't is ranked so much higher than NIU? Both have lost only one game early in the season with otherwise similar schedules and wins over BCS programs. However, Can't's got blown out by a terrible UK team whereas NIU only lost by 1 to respectable Iowa. Both are Top 25 worthy, I just think their current rankings should be reversed going into the MACC. I think NIU wins this one in a game that is competitive into the last few minutes.

For anyone watching online from afar like I am, has your video feed gone out? This infuriates me!

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/...nce-sources-say The article projects that if Maryland goes to the Big Ten, UConn will fill their void in the ACC. Hence, the Big East is potentially losing yet another two schools. Where does this leave Cincinnati and Louisville? How much longer until this conference roulette starts affecting C-USA, Sun Belt, and MAC conferences?

This is a great discussion, but it's also very unfortunate that it has become necessary yet again. As I pointed out in a related thread, the RPI takes into account opponents' strength and W-L-T record. We were #2 in the RPI. End of story. Any argument based on these same factors that puts UConn and Georgetown ahead of us is illogical propaganda. If we had a 2, 3, or 4 seed, I wouldn't care. We'd still have home field up until the Final Four, and there is so much parity at the top with quality of opponents, I see little difference/advantage to the teams in one regional versus another. BUT WE GOT THE #5. Unacceptable!

Very insightful. Thanks for following-up, MDZip. What an exhausting and circular conversation this must be with the selection committee. The RPI takes into account opponents' strength and W-L-T record. We were #2 in the RPI. End of story. Any argument based on these same factors that puts UConn and Georgetown ahead of us is illogical propaganda.

The basketball and soccer teams are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum! Snubbed from the appropriate tournament or not, the basketball team loses most big games in the OOC and then lays an egg in the NIT, CIT, or CBI EVERY YEAR. If we made a run in any of those tournaments, we'd have a right to complain, but we don't. We also don't fair well in the Bracket Buster because KD de-emphasizes this game by saying the only thing that matters is winning the MAC Tournament. The basketball team's only distinction is in the MAC regular season and tournament. The soccer team is completely different. A perennial top-5 program that always wins the MACC regular and post-seasons and in down years makes runs into the NCAA round of sixteen. The recent National Championship and runner-up can also not be ignored nor our brutal OOC schedule, record against the Big Ten, and record against the Top 25.