CUSA change puts Tulsa in tough position

[Harry]

Memphis announced Wednesday its intention to move to the Big East Conference, the fourth C-USA member to leave for the Big East in the past four months.

It leaves TU in a watered-down Conference USA with seven other members, linked only by the need for a conference home.

Conference USA seems on the verge of an all-sports merger with the Mountain West, another league that has been decimated by teams leaving for the Big East, Big 12, Pac-12 and independence.

Where that leaves Tulsa, in some sort of patchwork league with a shaky future, is not good for the Golden Hurricane.

Still, TU athletic director Ross Parmley said recently, "We're excited about the prospects of the merger with the Mountain West. I think there will be some exciting opportunities for us."

That is certainly true. There are potential attractive football and basketball opponents in the Mountain West.

However, the loss of Memphis is devastating to what was left of Conference USA.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=203&articleid=20120209_203_B1_TLAOCg303358

[shaft]

Is a 16-team merger really that bad for Tulsa?

8 Team Divisions:

Play 7 division games + 2 conference games (1 home/1 away) against the other divion

East

Marshall

ECU

UAB

S Miss

Tulane

Rice

Tulsa

UTEP

West

Hawaii

Fresno

UNLV

Nevada

Wyoming

Co St

Air Force

New Mexico

4 Division Format

Play 3 division games + 6 conference games (1 home, 1 away) against each of the other 3divisions

West

Hawaii

Fresno

UNLV

Nevada

Mtn

Wyoming

Co St

Air Force

New Mexico

Central

UTEP

Tulsa

Rice

Tulane

East

Marshall

ECU

UAB

S Miss