A10's Future

[xubrew]

I still like some of the programs in the Atlantic Ten. It still has it's drawbacks, mainly that it is more of a cluster than an actual conference. But, although it won't be a major conference, it is still viable enough to get the top teams into the dance, and not create a lot of deadweight if there is a breakout program. We were in the rankings and earning solid seeds to the NCAA Tournament in the old version of the Atlantic Ten, and I still think the league is viable enough to continue to enable a team like VCU to do that as well.

VCU, Richmond, La Salle (who continues to trend up), Saint Joe's, UMass (another team that looks to be trending up), SLU and Davidson (who just joined the league) are a decent nucleus of teams. (There is another certain team that I won't mention).

I'm not too big on George Mason. I think that had a lot to do with Larranaga and not the overall strength of the program. They may be very mediocre for a very long time. And they still have a bunch of dead weight crap in Fordham, Duquesne, GW (at least lately) and Fordham. Oh yeah, and Fordham. So, it isn't entirely strong from the top down, but for people who are general basketball fans, I still think it will be a fun league to follow.

To be fair, I should disclose that I enjoy following the leagues like the Summit League, so of course I'm still going to like watching the Atlantic Ten, but in all seriousness, it's about as good as it was before. I can see VCU being the new flagship, and that it will maintain the status of a viable non-BCS league.

[DC Muskie]

This is going to sound very flip, and I really don't mean it to, but since we moved on to the Big East, I have no idea who is remaining in the A10 and could really care less.

Anyone else feel this way? I have no idea who will be the favorite, who will suck because Fordham, and I don't care if LaSalle makes it back to the dance or who's ass Phil Martelli will now kiss while his teams get their's handed to them.

Sorry brew.

[PMI]

This is going to sound very flip, and I really don't mean it to, but since we moved on to the Big East, I have no idea who is remaining in the A10 and could really care less.

Anyone else feel this way? I have no idea who will be the favorite, who will suck because Fordham, and I don't care if LaSalle makes it back to the dance or who's ass Phil Martelli will now kiss while his teams get their's handed to them.

Sorry brew.

Yea, I sort of feel this way. I mean I am a big basketball fan, so I will probably check in on the standings occasionally and watch a game here or there, but I'm invested in a new league now. I do agree that VCU will be the top dog now (still wish they were in the Big East, they'd be an awesome basketball addition) and I disagree about the potential of George Mason, even though I am not a Hewitt fan. But in the end, I don't care all that much.

[GoMuskies]

I will care about the A-10 about as much as I care about every league not named the Big East (and as much as I cared about every league not named the A-10 previously). That is, some, but not all that much. It's still going to be a pretty good league even without us. A multi-bid league most years for sure.

[DC Muskie]

Is Temple not in next year? And they leave the same year Charlotte leaves too right?

VCU should kill that league year in and year out.

[GoMuskies]

Temple's in the AAC for all sports next year.

[coasterville95]

Yes, Temple joins the AAC next year as a full member. According to one article they are a front runner to host the AAC tournament - to be held at the Palestra. "They wanted to still hold the tournament in a historically relevant arena".

ETA: XU95 - you are right, I subconciously wrote ACC. I'm so used to ACC, and haven't really gotten used to AAC yet, it just comes out that way...

[xu95]

Yes, Temple joins the AAC next year as a full member. According to one article they are a front runner to host the ACC tournament - to be held at the Palestra. "They wanted to still hold the tournament in a historically relevant arena".

You are doing exactly what UC is hoping the media does and that is confuse them with the ACC. Bad, bad, coasterville.

[LA Muskie]

You are doing exactly what UC is hoping the media does and that is confuse them with the ACC. Bad, bad, coasterville.
There may be confusion in the acronym. There will be no confusion on the basketball court.

[xubrew]

Yes, Temple joins the AAC next year as a full member. According to one article they are a front runner to host the ACC tournament - to be held at the Palestra. "They wanted to still hold the tournament in a historically relevant arena".

Interesting. I believe the Palestra only seats about 8500. Louisville and UConn will be in the AAC next year. I would think they'd need a bigger place. II think it would be great, but I just can't see Memphis, Temple, UConn, Louisville and Cincinnati playing a tournament in the Palestra.

[xubrew]

This is going to sound very flip, and I really don't mean it to, but since we moved on to the Big East, I have no idea who is remaining in the A10 and could really care less.

Anyone else feel this way? I have no idea who will be the favorite, who will suck because Fordham, and I don't care if LaSalle makes it back to the dance or who's ass Phil Martelli will now kiss while his teams get their's handed to them.

Sorry brew.

Now that Xavier is not in the A10, I'll be caring a lot less about the things that always drove me nuts about it, and will probably actually end up liking it a lot more.

[GoMuskies]

Louisville's not taking more than a thousand or so fans. Who other than UConn is going to bring any fans to Philly for the AAC Tournament?!? I think 8,500 might be just right.

If they want to sell out a big arena, have it at the Yum! Center in Louisville. Fat chance they'd do that,though.

[LA Muskie]

Interesting. I believe the Palestra only seats about 8500. Louisville and UConn will be in the AAC next year. I would think they'd need a bigger place. II think it would be great, but I just can't see Memphis, Temple, UConn, Louisville and Cincinnati playing a tournament in the Palestra.

I honestly don't see anyone -- especially UConn -- being excited about the AAC Tournament next year. UConn doesn't even want to be in the damn conference.

[xubrew]

Louisville's not taking more than a thousand or so fans. Who other than UConn is going to bring any fans to Philly for the AAC Tournament?!? I think 8,500 might be just right.

If they want to sell out a big arena, have it at the Yum! Center in Louisville. Fat chance they'd do that,though.

I think the Yum Center would be an excellent choice. Granted, since Louisville is just in the league for one year it won't happen, but it's a nice venue that is centrally located with plenty of hotels in the vicinity. Cincinnati wouldn't be bad either, other than the fact that it would be at US Bank.


I honestly don't see anyone -- especially UConn -- being excited about the AAC Tournament next year. UConn doesn't even want to be in the damn conference.

I think that once everyone gets past the fact that it's not the old Big East, they'll be fine. Basketball-wise, the league is very formidable. Temple, Memphis, UConn and Cincinnati are all brand names that are no stranger to the top 25. UCF and USF are both trending up (albeit slowly in USF's case). Even Tulsa and East Carolina have the potential to not suck. Jeff Lebo has built ECU up from "complete suck" to "somewhat mediocre," and it looks as though they're continuing to improve. SMU, Houston and Tulane are the only programs that are complete dogshit.

It's not the Big East, but it's not the America East either. It's better than the old Atlantic Ten ever was, and probably better than what the Pac Twelve and SEC have been in recent years....which admittedly isn't saying much.

[coasterville95]

Besides the Palestra, they also mentioned the Mohegan Sun has a new 9,500 arena and would love to have the tourney. (with UConn as a sponsor) I'm not sure which one the U of ESPN would rather have.

Same article implied that the member schools are bidding for the right to hold the first tourney, like it may move around. They said UC is out of the running becuase they couldn't get the okay from US Bank Arena. (Something about the buidling already being booked for another event), but that UC would be trying to get it in future years.

US Bank though at least sounds better, - its more reasonable to Louisville, Memphis and UC, which could fill a lot of the 16,000 seats.

[LA Muskie]

I think that once everyone gets past the fact that it's not the old Big East, they'll be fine. Basketball-wise, the league is very formidable. Temple, Memphis, UConn and Cincinnati are all brand names that are no stranger to the top 25. UCF and USF are both trending up (albeit slowly in USF's case). Even Tulsa and East Carolina have the potential to not suck. Jeff Lebo has built ECU up from "complete suck" to "somewhat mediocre," and it looks as though they're continuing to improve. SMU, Houston and Tulane are the only programs that are complete dogshit.

It's not the Big East, but it's not the America East either. It's better than the old Atlantic Ten ever was, and probably better than what the Pac Twelve and SEC have been in recent years....which admittedly isn't saying much.
Don't get me wrong, I agree that any conference anchored by UConn that also has the likes of Memphis, Temple, and yes even UC has basketball chops. I didn't mean to infer otherwise. But I think there is a significant dearth of PRIDE in the AAC, that it will take quite a while for that to be built, and that it will be difficult to even begin the building process until the anchor (UConn) demonstrates commitment. Until then, while the product on the court may well be respectable, I don't see fans clamoring to attend the conference championship.

[SM#24]

Cincinnati wouldn't be bad either, other than the fact that it would be at US Bank.
Why not have it at the best basketball arena in town ? I think we could rent them Cintas for a tidy sum.

[ballyhoohoo]

I've heard the AAC will have its tournament at Mohican Sun

[GoMuskies]

I might go to the AAC Tournament if it was at the Mohegan Sun. I mean, I wouldn't actually go to the games, but I might go to the Mohegan Sun while the games are going on.

[paulxu]

I might go to the AAC Tournament if it was at the Mohegan Sun. I mean, I wouldn't actually go to the games, but I might go to the Mohegan Sun while the games are going on.

You'll use just about any excuse I've noticed to get out of Wichita.

[GoMuskies]

You'll use just about any excuse I've noticed to get out of Wichita.

No doubt. I'm so desperate to get away that I'm going to Bogota this weeekend. Bogota!

[pimpinthebox]

This is going to sound very flip, and I really don't mean it to, but since we moved on to the Big East, I have no idea who is remaining in the A10 and could really care less.

Anyone else feel this way? I have no idea who will be the favorite, who will suck because Fordham, and I don't care if LaSalle makes it back to the dance or who's ass Phil Martelli will now kiss while his teams get their's handed to them.

For some strange reason, I do care. Mainly because of Dayton due to how pathetic their program and fan base has been and continues to be.

By the way, I found it amusing that, in reading an article about the "A10's Future", Dayton was not mentioned or alluded to once in the first 21 posts.

[xubrew]

I could be wrong, but I think the venom for Dayton will quickly fade. Right now there is no team that moves the needle more than Dayton. In about a year, people just won't care anymore.

I think Dayton will continue to be what they have been. A snake pit at home, overall a middle of the pack most of the time, and occasionally a tournament caliber team.

I think VCU will be relevant in the same way that Xavier was. So, you're typical A10 year it will be two, three or four solid teams, with VCU almost always being one of them.

I think the league will be about as good as it was before, and maybe even slightly better.

[xubrew]

According to Dick Vitale's preseason top forty, which I guess he initially posts in the month of May, VCU is ranked higher than anyone from either the Atlantic Ten or the Big East. The fact that Dick Vitale has them ranked so high is making me question how good they're going to be. When you agree with Dick Vitale, there is a good chance you're wrong.

UMass and La Salle also crack his rankings.

For what it's worth (which I don't believe to be much), the Atlantic Ten has more Dick Vitale top forty teams in may than the New Big East, and the teams they have are ranked higher.

http://espn.go.com/espn/dickvitale/story/_/id/9234790/dick-vitale-preseason-top-40-2013-14

[El Shaqtus]

I am not sure what to think of the future of the A-10 to be honest with you. St. Louis media has pretty much written off the Big East talk (partially because the Blues, Cardinals, and Rams draft have all happened since the season ended). I think it'll be a pretty good league. If it isn't, well, stuff happens.

The Big East will be really good for you guys. Now go win it.

[Masterofreality]

According to Dick Vitale's preseason top forty, which I guess he initially posts in the month of May, VCU is ranked higher than anyone from either the Atlantic Ten or the Big East. The fact that Dick Vitale has them ranked so high is making me question how good they're going to be. When you agree with Dick Vitale, there is a good chance you're wrong.

UMass and La Salle also crack his rankings.

For what it's worth (which I don't believe to be much), the Atlantic Ten has more Dick Vitale top forty teams in may than the New Big East, and the teams they have are ranked higher.

http://espn.go.com/espn/dickvitale/story/_/id/9234790/dick-vitale-preseason-top-40-2013-14

Again, understand what you'll hear- from anyone connected with ESPN. No Big East TV contract, no pimping- especially when they are competing with Fox Sports 1.

ESPN will diss the hell out of the Big East now.

[El Shaqtus]

Again, understand what you'll hear- from anyone connected with ESPN. No Big East TV contract, no pimping- especially when they are competing with Fox Sports 1.

ESPN will diss the hell out of the Big East now.

The revenge of ESPN. They are going to do everything they can to hamper the Big East.