Questions for new MWC and C-USA league

Harry · February 15, 2012

The 2013 membership isn't expected to stay as is since there is hope of expanding.

As it stands now, the 16 teams in football would be: 1. Fresno State; 2. Nevada; 3. UNLV; 4. New Mexico; 5. Hawaii; 6. Air Force; 7. Colorado State; 8. Wyoming; 9. Tulsa; 10. UAB; 11. Rice; 12. Southern Miss; 13. Marshall; 14. East Carolina; 15. Tulane; 16. UTEP.

Hawaii will join the Big West in 2012-13 in all other sports, leaving the league with 15 basketball-playing schools in the fall of 2013.

One complaint already levied Tuesday by one school was that there are only two members in the Eastern time zone: Marshall and East Carolina.

The news release from C-USA and the MWC discussed raising the membership to 18 to 24 schools. And already programs are jockeying for position to join this league.

There are a number of options, none of which may move the meter in ratings or command a higher dollar fee in television rights. But there is potential to improve the basketball power rating if this occurs.

According to multiple sources, the candidates include Charlotte (A-10), which is about to start playing football; Florida International (Sun Belt); North Texas (Sun Belt); UT-San Antonio (WAC); Louisiana Tech (WAC); Middle Tennessee State (Sun Belt); Western Kentucky (Sun Belt), if the Hilltoppers want to bump up the football program; Old Dominion (CAA), if the Monarchs bump up football as well; and UMass and Temple (both would be coming from MAC in football, A-10 in other sports).

The West doesn't need to be shored up, but there are obvious candidates -- New Mexico State, Utah State and San Jose State are all possibilities -- if this league wanted to raid the WAC.

There are plenty of rich basketball-playing schools this group could pluck to add to the competitive nature of the league. Temple is atop the list, and if the Big East doesn't grab the Owls, they are ready to be taken (if they deem this a better fit than their current state).

Read more: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/7577605/plenty-questions-remain-new-mwc-c-usa-league-college-basketball

GangGreen · February 15, 2012

WKU doesn't need to bump up football. Umass is not in the MAC in football.

UNT Five&Dime · February 15, 2012

WKU doesn't need to bump up football. Umass is not in the MAC in football.

UMass begins play in the MAC in 2012.

Edited February 15, 2012 by UNT Five&Dime

Arkstfan · February 15, 2012

FWIW, I've been told that ECU and Marshall are pushing hard for Old Dominion and Charlotte with UTEP going west and UAB is leaning toward supporting them for the sake of basketball. By my math that still leaves them 9 votes short of acceptance if they require a 3/4ths vote, which is what most leagues require.

I think ECU, Marshall and UAB would advocate most any plan that send UTEP west.