Just Understand What You'll Hear 2

[Masterofreality]

ESPN is already on their campaign to legitimize the AAC since they, of course, have the paid rights to it's- sure to be- crappy basketball and football.

After Louisville leaves, that league will be no better than the Atlantic 10 was this year, but the A10 never got decent ESPN play. Rest assured that the four letter network will also do everything it can to downgrade the Big East now.

3-point shot: UConn, Cincy still*relevant
April, 23, 2013
By Dan Jung | ESPN.com

1. The ACC's commitment should hold off any major expansion or alignment issues, assuming the Big Ten doesn't see the need to raid a lesser conference. This doesn't mean the ACC won't decide independently to go to 16 schools and potentially add Connecticut and Cincinnati. This is still more than plausible since 16 is a more manageable number than 14. Neither makes sense for the Big Ten since that league already has the Cincinnati market with Ohio State and doesn't need Hartford-Storrs. So, if UConn and Cincinnati have to stay in the newly named American Conference they shouldn't be sentenced to purgatory. Having each other, Louisville for a year, and perennial NCAA teams Memphis and Temple will give the two former Big East programs at least three top 50 games every season. If these teams schedule right outside the league -- and they likely will -- then making the NCAA tournament shouldn't be an issue. For those who squabble about the lack of quality opponents in the conference season then remember this: All that matters is tournament access. And UConn and Cincinnati will have a legitimate shot every season to make the field.

[GoMuskies]

UConn and Cincy should be fine in basketball. That league doesn't hurt them too bad. It's football that's the problem.

[Masterofreality]

Football will be abjectly horrible and no chance of a BCS bowl bid.

ESPN will be cramming that garbage down the nation's throat on any day of the week- Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, whatever.

I won't be watching.

[DC Muskie]

UConn and Cincy should be fine in basketball. That league doesn't hurt them too bad. It's football that's the problem.

No doubt. Of course their football programs pretty much hurt any potential new conference.

[Masterofreality]

"If these teams schedule right outside the league -- and they likely will -- then making the NCAA tournament shouldn't be an issue"

Well, now. That certainly will be a new issue for the Jaundiced Leprechaun to deal with. An actual out of conference schedule.

BTW Memphis sucks. Pastner's true lousy coaching chops will be exposed when he has to actually play somebody.

[GoMuskies]

ESPN will be cramming that garbage down the nation's throat on any day of the week- Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, whatever.

I won't be watching.

Just like the MAC (and C-USA). Probably not Thursday nights so much, though, because the major conferences actually play on Thursday nights.

A lot of people gamble on college football, so a lot of people will watch AAC games. That's about the only reason most people will watch, though.

[xubrew]

3-point shot: UConn, Cincy still*relevant
April, 23, 2013
By Dan Jung | ESPN.com

1. The ACC's commitment should hold off any major expansion or alignment issues, assuming the Big Ten doesn't see the need to raid a lesser conference. This doesn't mean the ACC won't decide independently to go to 16 schools and potentially add Connecticut and Cincinnati. This is still more than plausible since 16 is a more manageable number than 14. Neither makes sense for the Big Ten since that league already has the Cincinnati market with Ohio State and doesn't need Hartford-Storrs. So, if UConn and Cincinnati have to stay in the newly named American Conference they shouldn't be sentenced to purgatory. Having each other, Louisville for a year, and perennial NCAA teams Memphis and Temple will give the two former Big East programs at least three top 50 games every season. If these teams schedule right outside the league -- and they likely will -- then making the NCAA tournament shouldn't be an issue. For those who squabble about the lack of quality opponents in the conference season then remember this: All that matters is tournament access. And UConn and Cincinnati will have a legitimate shot every season to make the field.

I actually agree with most of this. Well, everything except Cincinnati playing a tougher schedule. Memphis will, and UConn has already put together a gauntlet.

Cincinnati, Memphis, UConn and Temple are a good nucleus of teams. It isn't dominant like the old Big East was, but it is at least viable. I think it at least matches the Atlantic Ten, and probably exceeds it. Those teams will still be able to remain nationally relevant. UCF and USF have put a ton of emphasis into basketball, and have actually put together some decent teams.

As for Houston, SMU and Tulane....well.....the Atlantic Ten didn't like Fordham, Duquesne and (until this year) La Salle, but we managed alright.

[xubrew]

Football will be abjectly horrible and no chance of a BCS bowl bid.

ESPN will be cramming that garbage down the nation's throat on any day of the week- Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, whatever.

I won't be watching.

I find this dissapointing. I was looking forward to your takes on how bad the league was after every weeknight game that was played. ;)

[blueblob06]

"If these teams schedule right outside the league -- and they likely will -- then making the NCAA tournament shouldn't be an issue"

Well, now. That certainly will be a new issue for the Jaundiced Leprechaun to deal with. An actual out of conference schedule.

I can't wait to see how big Mick goes. Does keep his normal handful of bottom 50 RPI teams or trim a few? Or does he now move to schedule the tougher ~250 RPI teams? Or dare I say a few top 200 RPI teams???
If only the Shootout deal was a 1 year deal. It'd be comical to have UC calling to renew for this year and Xavier saying no thanks pal.

[LA Muskie]

I don't know what this AAC thing is. It sounds like a disease. But that ACC thing is going to be one hell of a basketball conference. And just imagine if they added UConn to make it 16...

[outsideobserver11]

Whats actually interesting is that in Mick's new contract extension there is a clause in it about scheduling so clearly the AD didn't agree with it either. These are games of note so far for next year.

Home- NC State, San Diego State, Wright State
Away- New Mexico
Neutral- Xavier, Jimmy V Classic

Not exactly a guantlet by any means but looks like a T-Bone steak compared to the steaming piles of years past.

[nuts4xu]

But that ACC thing is going to be one hell of a basketball conference. And just imagine if they added UConn to make it 16...

I am curious to see what the ACC will do. With 15 basketball teams (including ND) it doesn't make much sense to add both UConn and UC, and I agree it will be a sick basketball conference...especially with UConn.

Their football programs are average, but the ACC will be solid with the additions they have made.

[GoMuskies]

UConn is never getting invited to the ACC.

[paulxu]

UConn is never getting invited to the ACC.

Never count ESPN out. They may pay their entry/exit fees.

[Juice]

I actually agree with most of this. Well, everything except Cincinnati playing a tougher schedule. Memphis will, and UConn has already put together a gauntlet.

Cincinnati, Memphis, UConn and Temple are a good nucleus of teams. It isn't dominant like the old Big East was, but it is at least viable. I think it at least matches the Atlantic Ten, and probably exceeds it. Those teams will still be able to remain nationally relevant. UCF and USF have put a ton of emphasis into basketball, and have actually put together some decent teams.

As for Houston, SMU and Tulane....well.....the Atlantic Ten didn't like Fordham, Duquesne and (until this year) La Salle, but we managed alright.

Look at SMU's recruiting class. They may slowly be getting better.

[DC Muskie]

Look at SMU's recruiting class. They may slowly be getting better.

Until Larry Brown leaves, which could be tomorrow.

[bigdiggins]

Until Larry Brown dies, which could be tomorrow.

Fixed that for you

[X-band '01]

Never count ESPN out. They may pay their entry/exit fees.

That and hush money to make Boston College happy. You're underestimating how mad the BC folks are when UConn and other Big East schools threatened to sue BC for leaving the conference.

[LA Muskie]

That and hush money to make Boston College happy. You're underestimating how mad the BC folks are when UConn and other Big East schools threatened to sue BC for leaving the conference.

I can't imagine that BC carries much weight in the ACC. Syracuse and Pitt probably carry more already.

[GoMuskies]

I think BC has enough clout to keep UConn (who isn't particularly attractive anyway) out. New England is such a terrible college sports market that BC needs a monopoly to have a chance.

[LA Muskie]

I think BC has enough clout to keep UConn (who isn't particularly attractive anyway) out. New England is such a terrible college sports market that BC needs a monopoly to have a chance.
I see that. But with this move the ACC has basically decided that they are working toward being the premier college basketball conference. That being the case, it's hard to justify leaving UConn on the board if you have room.

[GoMuskies]

UConn is unnecessary to achieve that goal, though. It's done. And UConn may suck again now that their coach is not named Calhoun.

[LA Muskie]

UConn is unnecessary to achieve that goal, though. It's done. And UConn may suck again now that their coach is not named Calhoun.
UConn isn't going to suck any time soon. And if realignment has taught us anything, it is that the conferences view more of a good thing as a good thing.

[GoMuskies]

I just think UConn needs to bring a lot more to the table to justify the ACC pissing off BC to bring them in. UConn might just die on the vine in the AAC, which I'm sure would delight BC folks.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I just think UConn needs to bring a lot more to the table to justify the ACC pissing off BC to bring them in. UConn might just die on the vine in the AAC, which I'm sure would delight BC folks.

That would delight a lot of folks. Conference expansion, up until the Big East, has always been about football and available and not overlapping markets. If the ACC wants Cincinnati or New England they will go after UConn and UC. With ND, I would imagine the coverage there is enough to void Cincy and BC is enough to void NE. The quality of the sport played doesn't factor in the decision.

[paulxu]

If ESPN is funding a lot of this, and if they are pissed off at Fox for helping break up the BE, then I could see UConn in the ACC to round out the basketball with many of the old BE schools.
I'm impressed that Swofford kept them together. I thought the B1G would break them up.

[waggy]

I think it was Notre Dame more than anything that kept them together.