It should not be the “Big 6” in college basketball because the Atlantic 10 is clearly a major conference.
FACT: There are 7 programs in Division 1 basketball history that have 1,600 wins. Here are the conferences that those seven teams represent:
-ACC (2)
-Big East (2)
-SEC
-Big XII
-Atlantic 10
FACT: Since 1995-96, only two conferences in the nation has produced at least THREE national players of the year: The ACC and the Atlantic 10. In fact, the Big East, Big Ten, Pac 10, and SEC have all combined for ZERO over that stretch–a period of time when the A-10 has had three!
Yes, all that is history, but what about today?
FACTS:
-Dayton is ranked #20 in the current AP poll. The Flyers are 12-1, including a 5-point road win at then-ranked #11 Louisville and a 80-55 shellacking of #6 Pittsburgh.
-Rhode Island is ranked #24 in the current AP poll. The Rams are 14-1, including a 17-point home win over Providence and road wins over UAB and Syracuse.
-Xavier is unranked, but many believe is the best team in the conference. They are 10-3, with their only losses coming at Miami (OH), at Arizona State and a neutral site loss against #12 Tennessee. They also can boast a 15-point win over #8 Indiana.
-UMass is 11-2. Duquesne is 10-3. And, Charlotte, St. Louis, St. Joe’s and Richmond are all teams with good programs and solid 2007-08 teams. Temple and George Washington may be down, but still very dangerous. Fordham is improving. LaSalle and St. Bonaventure are no longer complete doormats. This league is solid from top to bottom.
Look, I will not dare make the claim that the A-10 is any better than the 7th best conference in the country. My only big issue is where you draw the line between “major” and “mid-major.” Maybe it belongs in its own category because it does not really hold up to any of the Big 6, but with multiple bids nearly every year, 3 national POYs in the last 11 seasons (more than any other conference) and solid programs top to bottom, this conference is not the MAC, it is not the Horizon and it is not even the heralded Missouri Valley or Colonial Conferences. Though, I am a huge proponent of the “little guys” in college hoops, the A-10 is, in my opinion, clearly MUCH closer to the #6 conference than the #8 conference, and should, therefore, not be considered “mid-major.”
Tell me I’m crazy…
Hmmm…interesting stuff. I think the potential problem with your arguments is the 2 facts that you use. Winningest programs does not mean top competition. Obviously, the Atlantic 10 is geographically positioned to contain a bunch of long time schools, so that really doesn’t cut it. The POY stuff is ok. Sure, they have had their share of darn good players and some really darn good coaches.
As for this year, the A10 is having a great year and looks to definitely belong. The problem lies in the inconsistency in the conference. There are years where there truly isn’t a Top 15 team in the conference. The Big 6 have at least one Top 15 just about every year. Usually more than one.
I think the A10 and the Missouri Valley right now can claim their spots as better than mid major, but not top tier. The MVC has had a ton of tourney success as well.
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I just read in Sports Illustrated that Michael Beasley had originally committed to Charlotte because his mentor was an assistant coach there, but then Huggins hired the coach on his K-State staff (obviously with Beasley in mind), and Beasley switched to K-State. That would have been another potential POY in the A-10. Too bad it didn’t happen.
Also, great picture of Camby rejecting Keith Booth. I loved that Maryland team, with Joe Smith and Exree Hipp (one of the best all-time names) also on that team.
I was wondering if you ever thgouht of adjusting the design of your site? Its very well written; I enjoy what you have got to say. But maybe you can include a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two photos. Maybe you could space it out better?