The idea that the NBE is "the highest level of hoop" is a complete fantasy. This past season UCF, Houston and Cincinnati were all as good if not better than ANY team in the NBE. Additionally, we and Memphis are on the rise, and Marshall will have Wichita St. much improved next season. There is no longer any real difference between the AAC and NBE in BB, and there's certainly no reason to take less TV payout money to make what would be a lateral move at best, and likely a downgrade long term. Just look at FOX's TV ratings for the NBE. They absolutely suck. It's a bunch of small catholic schools we never had much of anything in common with in the first place, other than geography. Even that's a thing of the distant past now that Xavier, Butler and Creighton joined the new league. Along with DePaul and Marquette, it's a half midwestern conference now.