Cincy, Houston, UCF and BYU

[UConnJim]

What did Benedict gain by jumping the gun?? The NBE was not going anywhere, since they are non-P5.

TBH, Benedict's biggest blunder was the Edsall hire. If he would've made a better hire there (and actually paid a decent wage to lure someone not on a bonus plan), UCONN still had time at that point to get respectable and make a case for P5.

The Big 12 is the best basketball league in the country. The new teams add more success than the teams that left.

Fran Fraschilla on Twitter: ".@Big12Conference Basketball just got better. @BYUMBB & 22,000 seat Marriott Center. The tradition of @UHCougarMBK & @GoBearcatsMBB & their new arenas will be huge. @UCF_MBB, a potential goldmine. https://post original url/aNkS5M7RB1" / Twitter

He had to jump when he did for these reasons:

1) Men's basketball was floundering and about to go into a tailspin staying in the AAC. No real rivals and the conference tournament was not going to be in desirable locations. The program has stabilized and recruiting has improved since the move to the BE.

2) Women's basketball in the AAC was a joke as there was no competition. When Geno eventually retires, the AAC would have doomed the program.

3) Football was dying in the AAC as fans really didn't care about the conference. I do blame the coaching hires, but I just don't think the AAC was a good fit.

4) Revenues and costs. The new AAC media contract was a joke with schools absorbing production costs. Benedict waited to see the contract and it didn't justify staying in the AAC. And, travel costs were an issue.

 

[Exit 4]

He had to jump when he did for these reasons:

1) Men's basketball was floundering and about to go into a tailspin staying in the AAC. No real rivals and the conference tournament was not going to be in desirable locations. The program has stabilized and recruiting has improved since the move to the BE.

2) Women's basketball in the AAC was a joke as there was no competition. When Geno eventually retires, the AAC would have doomed the program.

3) Football was dying in the AAC as fans really didn't care about the conference. I do blame the coaching hires, but I just don't think the AAC was a good fit.

4) Revenues and costs. The new AAC media contract was a joke with schools absorbing production costs. Benedict waited to see the contract and it didn't justify staying in the AAC. And, travel costs were an issue.

And #5, the AAC contract refused to parse out the WBB from the media deal....which means our standout WBB program was poised to subsidize the rest of the AAC. No way that could be allowed to happen.....it would have been a gross injustice.

 

[BapeKidd88]

I disagree. The AAC has actually been very good. It was the lack of success that affected attendance. "Lack of success" is on the AD.

That being said, FIVE AAC teams (half of the Originals) have now found P5 homes (between the ACC, B1G, and Big 12). That's crazy that half got promoted but UConn didn't squeeze into the plane. UConn got a spot on the planes wheel as it was lifting off.

 

[phillionaire]

I disagree. The AAC has actually been very good. It was the lack of success that affected attendance. "Lack of success" is on the AD.

That being said, FIVE AAC teams (half of the Originals) have now found P5 homes (between the ACC, B1G, and Big 12). That's crazy that half got promoted but UConn didn't squeeze into the plane. UConn got a spot on the planes wheel as it was lifting off.

You can’t seriously be including Louisville and Rutgers as members of the AAC that elevated themselves to P5. They played one zombie season in the AAC and then bolted, and that’s only because they couldn’t leave sooner.

 

[BapeKidd88]

And #5, the AAC contract refused to parse out the WBB from the media deal....which means our standout WBB program was poised to subsidize the rest of the AAC. No way that could be allowed to happen.....it would have been a gross injustice.

You gotta keep your eyes on the prize. That's all ticky-tack stuff next to riding the train to P5.

 

[BapeKidd88]

You can’t seriously be including Louisville and Rutgers as members of the AAC that elevated themselves to P5. They played one zombie season in the AAC and then bolted, and that’s only because they couldn’t leave sooner.

That was 100% the original group.

NO ONE expected the B1G to take Rutgers. They were always expected to be a staple.

 

[phillionaire]

That was 100% the original group.

NO ONE expected the B1G to take Rutgers. They were always expected to be a staple.

Rutgers got invited to join the big 10 in November 2012, a full year before a single game was played in the AAC.

 

[BapeKidd88]

Rutgers got invited to join the big 10 in November 2012, a full year before a single game was played in the AAC.

Aresco took his post long before that.

 

[phillionaire]

Aresco took his post long before that.

They were still playing in the Big East not the AAC when they were invited.

 

[BapeKidd88]

They were still playing in the Big East not the AAC when they were invited.

That Big East IS the AAC.

The AAC sold off that moniker.

 

[Exit 4]

You gotta keep your eyes on the prize. That's all ticky-tack stuff next to riding the train to P5.

No, actually it’s not. Not at all.

There is no train for UConn to board, there never was. BC, Syracuse and the bean counters in Bristol ensured that a long time ago.

 

[Exit 4]

They were still playing in the Big East not the AAC when they were invited.

It’s at this point we should realize we aren’t dealing with an adult.

 

[JMick]

TBH, Benedict's biggest blunder was the Edsall hire.

A few people "in the know" here said that Edsall was essentially hired by the boosters. We needed money for the Diaco buyout and apparently someone was willing to donate the money on the condition that Edsall was hired as the replacement.

Maybe that's not true. Idk. But let's say it is true. Do you take that deal and roll the dice with Edsall or keep Diaco around? In that scenario I think Edsall was a no-brainer. In hindsight it appears that we may have made a deal with the devil but I can't fault Dave if those were the two options.

 

[BapeKidd88]

It’s at this point we should realize we aren’t dealing with an adult.

As I said, half of the Original AAC roster are playing in 3 of the 5 autonomy leagues. HALF.

It's in the record books. 5 out of the original 10 teams. It's not like UConn didn't send in their resume those times either.

 

[uchusky32]

Cincy, Houston and UCF have already been valued in the league there in. Some here thought the AAC would lose money because UConn left. Now those same networks are going to pay them more because there playing in another league? They need to bring at least $15 mill to the table or the B12 will take a hit with them.

 

[Exit 4]

Cincy, Houston and UCF have already been valued in the league there in. Some here thought the AAC would lose money because UConn left. Now those same networks are going to pay them more because there playing in another league? They need to bring at least $15 mill to the table or the B12 will take a hit with them.

It seems the next contract has to include a big hit

 

[Pudge]

LET'S PLAY MIKE ARESCO ...

Poof ... poor guy, just a few weeks ago, some were saying he could pick up the B12 leftbehinds. WTF. Why> That conference still has a few years to go on their TV contract ... with OU and UT providing maybe 3 years of content. Once more: the AAC never has the leverage they blowhard their way around the media horn. I don't think they blow up once the 3 members leave. I think they grab 4 to be 12 again.

Rice for Houston? Florida Atlantic ... (USF needs a in-state battle). I'd say Old Dominion - since they just picked up Football. And Temple needs Buffalo. There 4. And the lesser G5 bring 4 more. (see this is how FBS grows)

David Benedict made the right call. The money that is fixed for the next 12 years ... can be reduced as the 3 leave. The Basketball - which some of us care about - gets reduced. In fact, if the hoop sucks ... why does Temple or Memphis stay?

I feel good for kobe our Cincy friend. It is an upgrade. I do feel that UCONN is marginally better ... because suddenly, we have a handful of eastern friends that will play us more readily - Navy, Temple, USF.

 

[Bongo Fury]

All may be true but why would a network pay more than they have to? Believe the Big 12 will be a second tier league regardless of how good the football teams are

 

[JMick]

Cincy, Houston and UCF have already been valued in the league there in. Some here thought the AAC would lose money because UConn left. Now those same networks are going to pay them more because there playing in another league? They need to bring at least $15 mill to the table or the B12 will take a hit with them.

no one thinks the Big XII is going to get the same amount of money after Texas and Oklahoma are officially gone

 

[JMick]

LET'S PLAY MIKE ARESCO ...

Poof ... poor guy, just a few weeks ago, some were saying he could pick up the B12 leftbehinds. . Why> That conference still has a few years to go on their TV contract ... with OU and UT providing maybe 3 years of content. Once more: the AAC never has the leverage they blowhard their way around the media horn. I don't think they blow up once the 3 members leave. I think they grab 4 to be 12 again.

Rice for Houston? Florida Atlantic ... (USF needs a in-state battle). I'd say Old Dominion - since they just picked up Football. And Temple needs Buffalo. There 4. And the lesser G5 bring 4 more. (see this is how FBS grows)

David Benedict made the right call. The money that is fixed for the next 12 years ... can be reduced as the 3 leave. The Basketball - which some of us care about - gets reduced. In fact, if the hoop sucks ... why does Temple or Memphis stay?

I feel good for kobe our Cincy friend. It is an upgrade. I do feel that UCONN is marginally better ... because suddenly, we have a handful of eastern friends that will play us more readily - Navy, Temple, USF.

I wouldn't be surprised if Navy goes back to being independent now. Which is great for us.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Remember when TCU was in the Big East?

 

[Adios]

I didn't want to post, but had to.

The Big 12 is going to be survive, easily. As long as they accept being Mormon holy land and a Mormon led version of the ACC. No one is poach Iowa State, Baylor, TCU, Cincinnati, BYU or UCF, at least.

 

[BlueDogs]

And that consideration, back in 2016, had almost zero to do with the football program. It had to do with the potential for the NYC media market should a Big12 Network be proposed, national championships in non-football sports (which add money for everyone in the conference), and academics.

There was only one favored choice: Cincy. Of the other two schools most mentioned, Houston created problems due to recruiting for the other Texas schools, and BYU created it's own set of non-PC behavioral issues.

I’m fascinated the lengths people go to justify what is the stupidity of tanking a major university to play basketball in a marginally relevant conference yielding $4 Million a year . Wow.

 

[Husky92]

I’m fascinated the lengths people go to justify what is the stupidity of tanking a major university to play basketball in a marginally relevant conference yielding $4 Million a year . Wow.

You REALLY wish we were still in the AAC? Wow. Just Wow.

 

[storrsroars]

I’m fascinated the lengths people go to justify what is the stupidity of tanking a major university to play basketball in a marginally relevant conference yielding $4 Million a year . Wow.

And I'm amazed at the football is everything crowd for missing the bigger picture.

Basketball put UConn on the map. It will do so again. And the next time some conference comes calling, or a new conference is being developed, it will be basketball that makes that happen. That we also have a football team is a convenience for scheduling and balance. If it's actually competitive, all the better. But that conference will never, ever, be one of the superconferences, because football just doesn't matter in Connecticut.

 

[uchusky32]

no one thinks the Big XII is going to get the same amount of money after Texas and Oklahoma are officially gone

I know. But if they are worth $15 mill per school without the 4 then adding 4 at $15 mill is another $60 mill. Those 4 schools have to pay for themselves or they pull the average down below $15 mill.

 

[huskymedic]

no one thinks the Big XII is going to get the same amount of money after Texas and Oklahoma are officially gone

I know. But if they are worth $15 mill per school without the 4 then adding 4 at $15 mill is another $60 mill. Those 4 schools have to pay for themselves or they pull the average down below $15 mill.

All educated guessing/wishing but…




-> For the four schools invited to the Big 12, the move would be a giant step revenue-wise. American schools currently average $7 million in media rights revenue annually. Big 12 schools currently average $37 million annually.

Industry sources tell CBS Sports that the Big 12 lost at least 40% of its value with the departure of Texas and Oklahoma. However, the reconfigured Big 12 with four additions could earn $20 million-$25 million per season, softening the financial blow.

"These are the four that will allow us to enter that future negotiation favorably," a source within the Big 12 said. "What we're trying to do will give us the best opportunity to retain our CFP status and our Power Five status." <-

 

[Redding Husky]

College sports is such a beating. No tradition or loyalty. No logic, no reason.

It’s only money. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[midtownHUSKY]

Being Indy, BYU has reasonably complete schedules out to 2028. Wonder how they handle that/might be an opportunity for us to pick up some interesting games?

 

[BlueDogs]

And I'm amazed at the football is everything crowd for missing the bigger picture.

Basketball put UConn on the map. It will do so again. And the next time some conference comes calling, or a new conference is being developed, it will be basketball that makes that happen. That we also have a football team is a convenience for scheduling and balance. If it's actually competitive, all the better. But that conference will never, ever, be one of the superconferences, because football just doesn't matter in Connecticut.

The market says football is everything. Basketball is great, but it has nominal influence on conference alignment and real dollar flow.