You're going to need a source for that. While the Pac-12 is pathetic, I'd be hard pressed to believe that they would be so desperate as to push to add Memphis. That just wouldn't have made any sense.
Memphis trying to buy their way into B12
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Last: 7 mo ago by Redbrickbear
Yes, Memphis. I traveled there many times and never felt safe. Met some nice people there but our conversations always ended with a warning about traveling around the city. Crime rates seemed extremely high and even the local citizens seemed worried. Not a city I would want to go visit to watch a game. Let's pass.
guadalupeoso said:
I think the Big 12's best move at this point is just to bide it's time for the inevitable collapse/breakdown of the ACC and just see who we can scoop up from that fallout. Would much rather have some combination of VT, Louisville, Wake, UVA, NC State, NC, Duke, Miami, GT, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, etc. (assuming Clemson and FSU go SEC or B1G, but I would gladly take either of them), than jumping the gun and adding Memphis or Boise State or UConn.
We have built a position of strength relative to where we could have ended up and are in a somewhat stable position. Time to ride that out until chaos takes over once again and be poised to take advantage.
If we were to add any ACC schools I would definitely want Pitt.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
Psalm 119:36
PartyBear said:
There is no need whatsoever to expand right now. If the ACC falls apart then it is time to expand, it isn't clear if there are actual ACC members who are real candidates for the Big 2 at this time to trigger that. Part time member ND, is but I'm not sure that ND alone leaving for the B10 would trigger an ACC collapse.
ND is not going anywhere. They have made it very clear repeatedly for years that they do NOT want to join a conference. Their half membership in the ACC is probably as far as they will ever go.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
Psalm 119:36
I would expect an "elite at basketball" program to have made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament at least once since 2014.Robert Wilson said:
We are making a mistake not taking Memphis.
That is an incredibly talent rich area. Continuous exposure there would be great for the B12 and eat into a significant SEC recruiting territory.
Memphis has been elite at basketball and darn good at football for runs without being affiliated with a major conference.
Decent-sized metro market, and significant financial backers.
Penny wise, pound foolish snobbery on our part, IMO.
Space Cutter said:
Yes, Memphis. I traveled there many times and never felt safe. Met some nice people there but our conversations always ended with a warning about traveling around the city. Crime rates seemed extremely high and even the local citizens seemed worried. Not a city I would want to go visit to watch a game. Let's pass.
Our church does a yearly mission trip there…. parts of the city are very Third World
I'm not really sure how adding Memphis gains us access to some sort of recruiting treasure trove in the modern pay for play era when we were already located in one of the better recruiting areas in the country. People said that about adding UCF, and I don't see us focusing heavily on Florida (which is a better recruiting area than Tennessee or whatever)
historian said:PartyBear said:
There is no need whatsoever to expand right now. If the ACC falls apart then it is time to expand, it isn't clear if there are actual ACC members who are real candidates for the Big 2 at this time to trigger that. Part time member ND, is but I'm not sure that ND alone leaving for the B10 would trigger an ACC collapse.
ND is not going anywhere. They have made it very clear repeatedly for years that they do NOT want to join a conference. Their half membership in the ACC is probably as far as they will ever go.
I said they may be the only real potential Big2 in the ACC. I'm not saying they are leaving. My point is that I'm really not sure that the ACC is going to collapse. I personally think everything is stable now and probably it is for a long time for the first time in a while. I don't think the XII or ACC should be expanding at this time with only G6s available.
Should have gone after Boise when the opportunity was there.LTBear19 said:IowaBear said:
Memphis is more deserving than frigging Utah… no idea why Yormack brought in Utah. They add nothing to the league. Unless whiny *****es is something Yormack desired
Whether you like 'em or not, at the time, they brought some much needed street cred to the table, as they were arguably the top team in the Pac 12 prior to its collapse.
Plus, they were clearly going to be sought after more than a 'Group of 5' school at that point.
The question now becomes this: If the Big 12 does add a G5 school in the foreseeable future, who do they go with?
I'd argue that UNLV would be a better addition than Memphis and most other schools, given its potential.
BearlyBeloved said:
Memphis is home of FedEx.
Maybe they think they can be admitted quickly? Like overnight?
Absolutely
Positively
boognish_bear said:Dia del DougO said:
There are at least a couple of current B12 programs I would have traded for Memphis.
Hello Coug High
I like having Houston in the Big 12. Wish SMU was as well.
I've never gotten the idea of celebrating additions of schools that mean literally nothing to the fan bases in the league. Give me more in-state rivals and regional matchups and less games against teams we have no history with whatsoever.
CaliBear00 said:
You're going to need a source for that. While the Pac-12 is pathetic, I'd be hard pressed to believe that they would be so desperate as to push to add Memphis. That just wouldn't have made any sense.
Memphis is by far the best G5 brand remaining outside of a traditional Power 5 conference. The PAC was going hard after them. This is common knowledge. But here's a link detailing the decision anyway.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/memphis-among-four-schools-re-affirm-commitment-aac-will-not-join-pac-12-1958287
Mitch Henessey said:Robert Wilson said:
We are making a mistake not taking Memphis.
That is an incredibly talent rich area. Continuous exposure there would be great for the B12 and eat into a significant SEC recruiting territory.
Memphis has been elite at basketball and darn good at football for runs without being affiliated with a major conference.
Decent-sized metro market, and significant financial backers.
Penny wise, pound foolish snobbery on our part, IMO.
I would expect an "elite at basketball" program to have made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament at least once since 2014.
That program is not elite. But it has been very good for a long time -- across a number of different coaches. And their commitment to hoops success matches that of the programs currently in the Big 12.
Youre a clown said:Space Cutter said:
Yes, Memphis. I traveled there many times and never felt safe. Met some nice people there but our conversations always ended with a warning about traveling around the city. Crime rates seemed extremely high and even the local citizens seemed worried. Not a city I would want to go visit to watch a game. Let's pass.
Our church does a yearly mission trip there…. parts of the city are very Third World
I'm not really sure how adding Memphis gains us access to some sort of recruiting treasure trove in the modern pay for play era when we were already located in one of the better recruiting areas in the country. People said that about adding UCF, and I don't see us focusing heavily on Florida (which is a better recruiting area than Tennessee or whatever)
Adding UCF will help programs like West Virginia and Cincinnati more than it would programs like ours, which do almost all of their recruiting in-state.
The same would be true of Memphis. it would help the other Big 12 programs in the eastern part of the league more than those in Texas.
PartyBear said:historian said:PartyBear said:
There is no need whatsoever to expand right now. If the ACC falls apart then it is time to expand, it isn't clear if there are actual ACC members who are real candidates for the Big 2 at this time to trigger that. Part time member ND, is but I'm not sure that ND alone leaving for the B10 would trigger an ACC collapse.
ND is not going anywhere. They have made it very clear repeatedly for years that they do NOT want to join a conference. Their half membership in the ACC is probably as far as they will ever go.
I said they may be the only real potential Big2 in the ACC. I'm not saying they are leaving. My point is that I'm really not sure that the ACC is going to collapse. I personally think everything is stable now and probably it is for a long time for the first time in a while. I don't think the XII or ACC should be expanding at this time with only G6s available.
I hope it stays stable. The Big 12 is much better off with a healthy peer conference than it is as the clear No. 3 in a Power 2 landscape.
A thriving ACC gives us an important ally to help balance the scales against a complete Power 2 takeover. We need to be smart enough to recognize that, lest we become the American -- bragging about Power 3 status in a Power 2 world.
bear2be2 said:CaliBear00 said:
You're going to need a source for that. While the Pac-12 is pathetic, I'd be hard pressed to believe that they would be so desperate as to push to add Memphis. That just wouldn't have made any sense.
Memphis is by far the best G5 brand remaining outside of a traditional Power 5 conference. The PAC was going hard after them. This is common knowledge. But here's a link detailing the decision anyway.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/memphis-among-four-schools-re-affirm-commitment-aac-will-not-join-pac-12-1958287
I think that could be debated. I could think of a few others that might be better brands.
Make them pay in BBQ and blues.
Valid point. ACC collapse is very speculative and quite possibly not happening. We probably won't know for a few years until the next round of negotiations for media rights. Also, much depends on the willingness of FSU & Clemson to remain. If one or both leaves, collapse seems much more likely.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
Psalm 119:36
cowboycwr said:bear2be2 said:CaliBear00 said:
You're going to need a source for that. While the Pac-12 is pathetic, I'd be hard pressed to believe that they would be so desperate as to push to add Memphis. That just wouldn't have made any sense.
Memphis is by far the best G5 brand remaining outside of a traditional Power 5 conference. The PAC was going hard after them. This is common knowledge. But here's a link detailing the decision anyway.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/memphis-among-four-schools-re-affirm-commitment-aac-will-not-join-pac-12-1958287
I think that could be debated. I could think of a few others that might be better brands.
I'm including those in the current PAC among those inside a traditional Power 5 conference, so a school like Boise or Fresno wouldn't count.
Memphis is IMO the best brand in any of the Group of 5 leagues. UConn would have a claim if it hadn't completely divested from its football program.
Yogi said:
Make them pay in BBQ and blues.
Memphis ribs are legit. Made a trip there a few years ago and got a great recommendation from a cool homeless dude.
My cousin is a bodyguard for the Fed Ex execs. While I think Memphis's chances of getting in are very low, would it be wrong to hit my cousin up for tickets when Baylor plays in the Liberty Bowl.
Here's a fun fact. UTSA's Downtown Campus is closer to the Alamodome than Memphis is to Liberty Stadium. pic.twitter.com/B4DPteLJ3c
— Javi Cardenas (@BirdsUpJavi) July 22, 2025
That is curious. If I'm not mistaken, the UTSA downtown campus consists of a few academic buildings with no dorms or other major campus facilities to speak of. At least that's what it was in the past. It might hand grown significantly in recent years. If this is still the case proximity won't mean as much.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
Psalm 119:36
Mitch Henessey said:I would expect an "elite at basketball" program to have made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament at least once since 2014.Robert Wilson said:
We are making a mistake not taking Memphis.
That is an incredibly talent rich area. Continuous exposure there would be great for the B12 and eat into a significant SEC recruiting territory.
Memphis has been elite at basketball and darn good at football for runs without being affiliated with a major conference.
Decent-sized metro market, and significant financial backers.
Penny wise, pound foolish snobbery on our part, IMO.
I said they have been elite. And they have been at times. Been to the national championship game twice, lost to Kansas in OT in 2008. Long time winning history with many tournament appearances. I did not say they are elite right now. But they clearly have the capacity to be very good in basketball over the long-term.
historian said:
That is curious. If I'm not mistaken, the UTSA downtown campus consists of a few academic buildings with no dorms or other major campus facilities to speak of. At least that's what it was in the past. It might hand grown significantly in recent years. If this is still the case proximity won't mean as much.
i would assume its grown, because i believe UTSA has around over 35,000 students.. most are probably commuters, but they'd have to have more than a few building to house all the classrooms and dorms for that many students
Here's a fun fact (or a tragic one, depending on your point of view): the kids we're recruiting weren't even alive when Memphis played in that title game. As far as they're concerned, lump Memphis in with UTEP in the "was at one point in time elite" camp. UTEP actually won their title game, too.Robert Wilson said:Mitch Henessey said:I would expect an "elite at basketball" program to have made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament at least once since 2014.Robert Wilson said:
We are making a mistake not taking Memphis.
That is an incredibly talent rich area. Continuous exposure there would be great for the B12 and eat into a significant SEC recruiting territory.
Memphis has been elite at basketball and darn good at football for runs without being affiliated with a major conference.
Decent-sized metro market, and significant financial backers.
Penny wise, pound foolish snobbery on our part, IMO.
I said they have been elite. And they have been at times. Been to the national championship game twice, lost to Kansas in OT in 2008. Long time winning history with many tournament appearances. I did not say they are elite right now. But they clearly have the capacity to be very good in basketball over the long-term.
Mitch Henessey said:Robert Wilson said:Mitch Henessey said:Robert Wilson said:
We are making a mistake not taking Memphis.
That is an incredibly talent rich area. Continuous exposure there would be great for the B12 and eat into a significant SEC recruiting territory.
Memphis has been elite at basketball and darn good at football for runs without being affiliated with a major conference.
Decent-sized metro market, and significant financial backers.
Penny wise, pound foolish snobbery on our part, IMO.
I would expect an "elite at basketball" program to have made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament at least once since 2014.
I said they have been elite. And they have been at times. Been to the national championship game twice, lost to Kansas in OT in 2008. Long time winning history with many tournament appearances. I did not say they are elite right now. But they clearly have the capacity to be very good in basketball over the long-term.
Here's a fun fact (or a tragic one, depending on your point of view): the kids we're recruiting weren't even alive when Memphis played in that title game. As far as they're concerned, lump Memphis in with UTEP in the "was at one point in time elite" camp. UTEP actually won their title game, too.
You could add Loyola of Chicago and City College of New York to that camp as well.
No, just no. Memphis isn't a a good brand. The literally offer nothing, they're a net negative. Not even their basketball programs bring much to the table. Memphis is the school people go to when they couldn't get into UT or Vanderbilt.
CaliBear00 said:
No, just no. Memphis isn't a a good brand. The literally offer nothing, they're a net negative. Not even their basketball programs bring much to the table. Memphis is the school people go to when they couldn't get into Mississippi St or Middle Tennessee.
FIFY
Mitch Henessey said:Here's a fun fact (or a tragic one, depending on your point of view): the kids we're recruiting weren't even alive when Memphis played in that title game. As far as they're concerned, lump Memphis in with UTEP in the "was at one point in time elite" camp. UTEP actually won their title game, too.Robert Wilson said:Mitch Henessey said:I would expect an "elite at basketball" program to have made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament at least once since 2014.Robert Wilson said:
We are making a mistake not taking Memphis.
That is an incredibly talent rich area. Continuous exposure there would be great for the B12 and eat into a significant SEC recruiting territory.
Memphis has been elite at basketball and darn good at football for runs without being affiliated with a major conference.
Decent-sized metro market, and significant financial backers.
Penny wise, pound foolish snobbery on our part, IMO.
I said they have been elite. And they have been at times. Been to the national championship game twice, lost to Kansas in OT in 2008. Long time winning history with many tournament appearances. I did not say they are elite right now. But they clearly have the capacity to be very good in basketball over the long-term.
Uh huh. Why did Utep have that little run 60 years ago?
Related - you think Memphis and UTEP have the same current potential in basketball. What do you know about the demographics of El Paso / Juarez vs the Mississippi Delta?
whitetrash said:CaliBear00 said:
No, just no. Memphis isn't a a good brand. The literally offer nothing, they're a net negative. Not even their basketball programs bring much to the table. Memphis is the school people go to when they couldn't get into Mississippi St or Middle Tennessee.
FIFY
Ouch, very ouch.
CaliBear00 said:
No, just no. Memphis isn't a a good brand. The literally offer nothing, they're a net negative. Not even their basketball programs bring much to the table. Memphis is the school people go to when they couldn't get into UT or Vanderbilt.
Baylor is the school people go to when they can't get into Texas, A&M, or Rice.
They wind up at a different top 100 university? My, how tragic!
You didn't think this through very well. I'm guessing you went to UTSA.
You didn't think this through very well. I'm guessing you went to UTSA.
CaliBear00 said:
They wind up at a different top 100 university? My, how tragic!
You didn't think this through very well. I'm guessing you went to UTSA.
I went to Baylor, but I got into all the other three. That makes me quite rare among people who went to Baylor.
Robert Wilson said:CaliBear00 said:
They wind up at a different top 100 university? My, how tragic!
You didn't think this through very well. I'm guessing you went to UTSA.
I went to Baylor, but I got into all the other three. That makes me quite rare among people who went to Baylor.
[citation needed]
CaliBear00 said:Robert Wilson said:CaliBear00 said:
They wind up at a different top 100 university? My, how tragic!
You didn't think this through very well. I'm guessing you went to UTSA.
[citation needed]
I went to Baylor, but I got into all the other three. That makes me quite rare among people who went to Baylor.
?
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