MWC - conference on the decline

[stever20]

I think one thing that is pretty amazing is how quickly the MWC has fallen totally apart. Just was seeing the New Mexico coach is being looked at by USF for goodness sakes- after being there for 1 year.

Fisher won't be there for long- probably another 1-2 years. Saw on a basketball computer game website they had released the 1990 tournament and someone had linked the 2nd rd game with Michigan and Loyola Marymount(the one where LMU boatraced them in the 2nd half). Fisher coaching there- 25 years ago now just about.

(and that's just bball, with Peterson gone at Boise, football is going down as well).

[notkirkcameron]

It's tough to tell whether the Mountain West sold out for football or just plain panicked during realignment. The whole point of the formation of the Mountain West in 1999 was to gain more autonomy following the days of the 16-team WAC. But now, it's basically the same thing. The majority of the members of the 1998 WAC (9) are now in the Mountain West, despite the MWC losing 2 of its founding members. But I guess that's the superconference era for ya.

As for the MWC's expansion metamorphosis, they lost Utah, BYU, and perhaps mercifully, TCU.

But to replace them, they added:
Boise State: 0 NCAA Tournament wins in program history
Fresno State: 1 NCAA Tournament win since 1982
Nevada: 7 seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance
San Jose State: 0 NCAA Tournament wins and only 3 appearances in program history (most recently in 1996).
Utah State: 1 NCAA Tournament win since 1970

It's tough to see those as anything but SOLELY football-related moves that undeniably affected the quality of the competition.

[BillikensWin]

Football drove the moves.

And it's driving more and more conferences off a cliff.

[HoosierPal]

I think one thing that is pretty amazing is how quickly the MWC has fallen totally apart. Just was seeing the New Mexico coach is being looked at by USF for goodness sakes- after being there for 1 year.

Fisher won't be there for long- probably another 1-2 years. Saw on a basketball computer game website they had released the 1990 tournament and someone had linked the 2nd rd game with Michigan and Loyola Marymount(the one where LMU boatraced them in the 2nd half). Fisher coaching there- 25 years ago now just about.

(and that's just bball, with Peterson gone at Boise, football is going down as well).

The MWC is all about football. Granted, they are a BCS wannabe. With Fresno State and Boise State as anchors, they have a solid football foundation. Peterson was a good coach and will be missed, but with Harsin they will be fine. He was an assistant at Boise State and at Texas.

[senditinjerome]

I actually think that Utah State add was good add for hoops...good size arena, older coach that has been there for 10+ years and isn't going anywhere, 8 trips to the dance in the past 14 years. Other than maybe New Mexico State, I don't think there were/are any other MW expansion candidates in the geographic footprint with these hoops credentials.

[stever20]

its just weird how MWC went in 1 year from being about where the A10 is this year down to being brutal...

Very important year for Boise in football. Fresno I think has been way overrated quite frankly....

Utah St I think was a good add for hoops. Boise as well. But the other 3 aren't good(SJSU is one of the worst teams in the country).

[senditinjerome]

right when the old big east broke up, there were a few articles (obviously just speculation) that the big east leftovers (UConn, Cincy & USF) were contemplating forming a coast-to-coast all-sports league with the best of the Mountain West.

the proposed line-up was something like this:

"East"
UConn
Cincy
USF
Temple
Memphis
UCF (possibility)

"West"
Boise
UNLV
New Mexico
SDSU
BYU (possibility)

That would have been quite a formidable hoops league, but a travel nightmare for all involved.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basket ... onnecticut

[Jet915]

What's happening to the MWC is what is gonna happen to the AAC IMO although to a lesser extent. Next year, the AAC will not have Louisville and add Tulane, ECU and Tulsa. Over the next 3-4 years, their basketball will start to degrade. Recruits from UCONN/Cincy will not want to be traveling to Texas, Carolinas, Oklahoma, Louisiana to play crap basketball.

[stever20]

What's happening to the MWC is what is gonna happen to the AAC IMO although to a lesser extent. Next year, the AAC will not have Louisville and add Tulane, ECU and Tulsa. Over the next 3-4 years, their basketball will start to degrade. Recruits from UCONN/Cincy will not want to be traveling to Texas, Carolinas, Oklahoma, Louisiana to play crap basketball.

Totally disagree. UConn/Cincy/Memphis/Temple are light years ahead of anything historically in the MWC. Tulsa just made the tourney this year. If any blue blood program had what SMU has coming back next year and coming in, they would be mentioned as a national title contender. Also, AAC recruits a lot better than the MWC(right now MWC with 2 top 150 recruits for 2015, and both are at New Mexico- who's coach may leave for USF).

[Jet915]

What's happening to the MWC is what is gonna happen to the AAC IMO although to a lesser extent. Next year, the AAC will not have Louisville and add Tulane, ECU and Tulsa. Over the next 3-4 years, their basketball will start to degrade. Recruits from UCONN/Cincy will not want to be traveling to Texas, Carolinas, Oklahoma, Louisiana to play crap basketball.

Totally disagree. UConn/Cincy/Memphis/Temple are light years ahead of anything historically in the MWC. Tulsa just made the tourney this year. If any blue blood program had what SMU has coming back next year and coming in, they would be mentioned as a national title contender. Also, AAC recruits a lot better than the MWC(right now MWC with 2 top 150 recruits for 2015, and both are at New Mexico- who's coach may leave for USF).

You honestly think the AAC will be better 3-4 years from now than this year?????