SMU v. Temple...AAC's future is bright

[Puckhead48E]

This rivalry over the past 2 years has been big. Whether the game in Philly last year that may have signaled the first chink in the armor that led to the NIT vice NCAA's, or the insane home and away this season with huge point and momentum swings throughout, these teams have played close and played hard against each other. One of the largest issues with the AAC is the concept of creating rivalries in a new conference that lacks geographical connections. Well, these games may signal the first honest AAC rivalry, and would provide that foundation to really help watch this conference bloom in the future.

This is also the reason why they should never again put the conference tournament in CT. Put it in a city within reach of at least a few conference schools, in an arena that seats no more than 10K, and make sure you get people to all the games...no matter what that takes.

[mrydel]

Don't know why this popped in my head, but Verizon Arena in Little Rock would be perfect.

[redpony]

if we win the tourney then they should have it in Moody. If they can have it in conn when uconn is champ last year then we should have it in Moody next year.

[gostangs]

how sweet would that be. Just make sure the students are in town.

[Pony_Law]

I think Tulsa is a more natural rival with us. Long history plenty of ties between dallas and Tulsa, and I hat their fans.

[Puckhead48E]

There are a large number of locations for the conference tournament that rate higher than Hartford. Dallas, Philly, Anchorage....all are closer to multiple AAC schools than Hartford.

[Hoop Fan]

its gonna be ugly empty seats in Orlando next year without much of an anchor team. Cincy deserved it before UCF.

[Pony_Law]

its gonna be ugly empty seats in Orlando next year without much of an anchor team. Cincy deserved it before UCF.

Orlando is easy to travel too and is a decent place for spring break.

[LA_Mustang]

There's no doubt I'd go if it was in Philly. That would be great.

[Hoop Fan]

its gonna be ugly empty seats in Orlando next year without much of an anchor team. Cincy deserved it before UCF.

Orlando is easy to travel too and is a decent place for spring break.

sounds good in theory but in reality very few people are willing to fly and make a vacation out of a conference bball tourney.

[Hoop Fan]

speaking of fans not traveling far for conf tourneys, anybody notice that there were extremely few Notre Dame fans in Greensboro last night against Duke.

[ojaipony]

This rivalry over the past 2 years has been big. Whether the game in Philly last year that may have signaled the first chink in the armor that led to the NIT vice NCAA's, or the insane home and away this season with huge point and momentum swings throughout, these teams have played close and played hard against each other. One of the largest issues with the AAC is the concept of creating rivalries in a new conference that lacks geographical connections. Well, these games may signal the first honest AAC rivalry, and would provide that foundation to really help watch this conference bloom in the future.

This is also the reason why they should never again put the conference tournament in CT. Put it in a city within reach of at least a few conference schools, in an arena that seats no more than 10K, and make sure you get people to all the games...no matter what that takes.

You definitely hit on the attendance issue. When Uconn isn't playing, that place is a tomb. Needs to be somewhere warm/vacation like. I think it should be in Orlando. (if not Dallas for obvious reasons).

[Digetydog]

its gonna be ugly empty seats in Orlando next year without much of an anchor team. Cincy deserved it before UCF.

It is very expensive to fly to Cinci (something about their airport causes it) and nobody wants to go to Cincinatti on vacation.

In contrast, I will gladly take my daughter to Orlando to avoid the snow.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

[It is very expensive to fly to Cinci (something about their airport causes it)

Delta monopoly.

Fly to Indy and drive the 1.5 hours.

But yeah, Cincinnati would not be the ideal place for the tournament.

I would think we would do Orlando and Tampa and tie it in with spring break. New Orleans as well.

[gostangs]

New Orleans is the only place all would travel to. maybe Dallas but only if Moody - which will never happen