Forbes- AAC/Big East Basketball Post Realignment

[ponyinNC]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidlariviere/2014/01/15/conference-realignment-strikes-blow-to-big-east-basketball/

"While obviously not wanting to criticize the Big East, Aresco said, “We’ve always believed having good football helps give you good basketball and, secondly, we’re very happy with our ESPN deal where all 90 of our games are being televised. The ratings are good and they’re happy with us.” The AAC’s inaugural football season concluded with Central Florida stunning heavily favored Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl and Louisville routing Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Conversely, the Big East teams don’t play top-tier football and its games are now aired on the nascent Fox Sports One network."

My $.02 - We can moan about the small $ figure of our contract, but you cannot argue that ESPN has been great for this league, great for SMU (so far) and has increased our BB profile/exposure by leaps and bounds. I have old friends text or call and tell me that they've watched SMU games on ESPN and love the team, the new Moody, Larry Brown, etc.

Meanwhile, I have yet to watch a Big East game on TV this year. I wouldn't know where to find Fox Sports 1.

[S....M....U]

^this


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[East Coast Mustang]

Yea, ESPN is very much to blame for a lot of things related to our situation, but at the end of the day I'd rather be in bed with them than outside in the cold. I wonder if Georgetown and Villanova are regretting their decision at all.

[gostangs]

I think I kicked around for suggesting this a few weeks ago - but the TV deal is everything. These kids want the exposure - and the Big east will fade fast if they aren't in the limelight -plus if they only put a couple of teams in the tourney and we put in 4 or 5 - that will be a big swing of money. Add to that the big east seems down this year - and I think you have a changing environment.

[Pony147]

I wonder if the AAC and the Big East would ever be interested in realigning for basketball. One 9-bid conference would be more attractive (and profitable) than a 5-bid and 4-bid separately

[Digetydog]

ESPN didn't become the 800lb gorilla by doing dumb things. When you are on their team, you are on their team.

They have two schools, Houston and SMU, located in major, growing media markets. You are paying chump change (for them) for the programming. Since we are on their team, they have an enormous incentive to promote our product.

[blackoutpony]

In a couple years, or hell, even next year, I would really love to see an AAC vs Big East Challenge in OOC. I think it would be really fun, but I highly doubt either side would want to do that for some time. No one wants to look like they lost

Would still be cool though.....

[PonyKai]

I've watched some hoops on Fox Sports...it's awful. Watched Providence/St. Johns last night and it was just...blech.

[EastStang]

There's a reason that Rutgers, Syracuse, BC, VT, Louisville, ND, WV, Pitt all left the BE Catholic schools. Football was a part, but also, they knew that the BE - 1AA schools were not as good as they thought they were. GT, Nova, Marquette would be fine in any conference. But Providence, St. Johns, Seton Hall, are just not as good as the teams in the AAC. You can always get a seat at a Georgetown game. They are not terribly hot seats (except when they played Syracuse or UConn) neither of whom remains in their conference. I do believe that the AAC this year is stronger than the BE. After we lose Louisville, it will be a push. Part of the reason is that SMU and UH knew they had to up their hoops game and did so. By next year, SMU may have the best hoops program in Texas (if not already).

[blackoutpony]

By next year, SMU may have the best hoops program in Texas (if not already).

That school down in Waco my beg to differ with you. That being said, I think the best way to find out would be to schedule a home and home with Baylor. I think that would be awesome

[CoxMustangFan]

By next year, SMU may have the best hoops program in Texas (if not already).

That school down in Waco my beg to differ with you. That being said, I think the best way to find out would be to schedule a home and home with Baylor. I think that would be awesome

Baylor's roster next year will be a massive dumpster fire (bottom 3 Big 12). SMU wins 99 out of 100.

[mustangxc]

Texas Tech might agree with him though!

[ojaipony]

Agree with all of this. Hurts to lose Louisville (and pick up garbage teams) next year but ESPN deal is definitely good for us. I, for one, am LOVING that I can find most of our games on ESPN and the new Moody looks AWESOME on TV (LOVE the HUGE "SMU" on the floor, great branding -- that floor was built for TV it's obvious . . . all around great job).

Now, if only we can get our Fball program that is a total mess fixed, I'll feel really good about our future.

[gostangs]

If Tulsa can pick it up a bit then we will remain pretty strong conference. I think UConn thought the Texas teams were dog meat, and they are singing a different tune now.

[ponyboy]

And there's no reason why we can't get the football team mess fixed. Wish it was a year sooner, but leave it June to shock us all in his last year next year. While I get the angst, I do believe greener pastures await us on the pigskin side of the equation.