Chief liked the old Big East but that conference doesn’t exist today. I think the AAC has more potential upside. For the poster who thinks Cincy and Memphis would give up football, there’s zero chance of that happening.
First off... NBE on FS1 and the real BE on ESPN are two different animals.
The country has changed since the early 80s. I'm of the opinion that its good to play teams from the Eastern HALF of the country, so you get a taste of those cultural conflicts. It's worked great in the professional sports, where you'll see the Mayor of Memphis bet BBQ against the Mayor of Philly cheesesteaks. It all ties in with the narratives that develop 365 days a year in different arenas of sport.
The great thing about stretching those conflicts across all-sports is PRECISELY that some teams are strong in FB, but they get their comeuppance in basketball or baseball, where they are more challenged. That's how it works in other conferences that actually play ALL the seasons. The AAC has done a good job of competing with the top conferences in all the sports.
In a sport like football (or baseball) it has given UConn a lifeline to the most fertile recruiting areas in the country, to compete in some nicer venues - in front of the better HS talent in the country. It has also made improvements like the new baseball complex necessary, because that's what our competitors also have.
It's why I've been patient with UConn football, because Kansas and Duke football haven't been worldbeaters either. They have plenty of empty seats in their stadiums on Saturday as well, regardless of who they're playing.
It's why UConn and Memphis basketball are so important to the overall narrative of the AAC. The commitment of the AAC toward growing this league in basketball has actually been good.
However, its needed its bellcow programs to recruit with the bluebloods, which they are doing now, and the programs underneath that to have solid classes to act in that challenger role. So everyone eats. At ECU, the new coaches, Joe Dooley and Mike Houston, will recruit better with the conferences successes in the NY6 and in March.
If there is one positive in UConn/Memphis early struggles, its that others have had the opportunity to carry some weight and build some equity in the conference basketball narrative.
I'm bullish on the conference because it has stayed with ESPN, and is now entering a point where it has had solid success in all-sports to get those narratives told more vigorously year round.
If that means not playing in MSG on Fox Sports 1, for one week out of the year, ok.
