there's something missing in this entire discussion that came to a head this week:
The largest attraction of the AAU for many schools, especially nonmembers, is prestige. Since the AAU's founding, it has "been a grouping of the elite in the American university world," and "[n]ew presidents of nonmember universities often list gaining admission to the AAU as a goal of their administration."
The NY Governor Kathy Hochul raised Stony Brook + Buffalo to the status of FLAGSHIP this week. You may think this has nothing to do with sports. But consider this ... the NYS legislature wouldn't allow SUNY schools to have athletic scholarships until 1988. Suddenly, you have this big state in the middle of all of us getting far more capital and emphasis. Both AAU for quite some time. And nobody was thrilled with little private Syracuse in the middle blowing their horn. Buffalo? An amazing transformation, above and beyond, in the last 10 years under the current president. Stony Brook? Access to NYC on LI with huge push on research funds.
Since I teach at a SUNY (UAlbany), I feel they have demoted Binghamton, Albany etc. But that clearly is not the statement this week. It is a statewide emphasis to raise 2 Universities in every way. Both will grow in enrollment and capital budgeting for decades. You can talk about Duquesne all you want. Today's hoop is certainly relevant. Sports is gonna be part of this NYS push.