The Future of Kansas Basketball

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Prescott

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Jun 8, 2010 12:58 PM
With all of this talk of conference realignments involving the PAC-10, the Big 10 , and select Big 12 schools what will happen to Kansas? College football controls the alignments because college football brings in the money.If Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas leave the Big 12 where would Kansas go?

Obviously, the Jayhawks are a premier basketball program, but basketball alone isn't enough to make a school attractive to other conferences.Will the Big 12 cease to exist after realignments?? If so, what does Kansas do?
Jun 8, 2010 12:58pm
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Emmett Brown

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Jun 9, 2010 1:18 PM
If 6 teams leave for the Pac 10 and two to the Big 10, the four remaining teams will merge with the Mountain West and Boise St which will make it a 14 team conference. This would not affect the basketball team at all as we saw last year the MWC is a good basketball conference. It would also help the football conference and secure an automatic bid to the BCS. Kansas has nothing to worry about because as we saw in Memphis even a mid-major can still get a #1 seed and win a title (or almost). And I would not call the MWC a mid major if your adding KSU and KU.
Jun 9, 2010 1:18pm
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Prescott

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Jun 9, 2010 2:00 PM
I disagree. I think Kansas would lose a little luster if they are forced to move to the Mountain West.The Big 12 has performed reasonably well in the NCAA basketball tournament the past few years.Moving from a major conference will hurt Kansas recruiting.
Jun 9, 2010 2:00pm
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SportsAndLady

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Jun 9, 2010 2:04 PM
Andy Katz made a great point today on SC...if the ACC decided to drop Duke because of their football performance, the school would still find a great place, simply becuase of how marketable their basketball program is. Kansas is in the same boat, and I would argue in even a better position because their football team at least went (and won) to a BCS game a few years ago.

KU fans should not worry..with the state the basketball team is in, they will undoubtedly land on their feet. Even if it comes to playing in a "Mid major" conference, Memphis proved that can be done.
Jun 9, 2010 2:04pm
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SportsAndLady

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Jun 9, 2010 2:06 PM
Prescott;384372 wrote:Moving from a major conference will hurt Kansas recruiting.

Not with how the rules are with the NBA draft. Memphis, again, has proved that you can recruit the best from a mid major conference because these top notch recruits only want in for a year, maybe two. If this were football, yes, I would argue recruiting would take a hit. But not basketball, where top recruits do not care about what conference you are in, as long as they can get some PT to show off for the pro scouts.
Jun 9, 2010 2:06pm
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jordo212000

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Jun 9, 2010 4:14 PM
Why does the Big 12 have to die? I keep hearing that, but wouldn't it be possible for the Big 12 orphans to invite some of the Mountain West teams to the Big 12? They could choose the best of the best and then also invite some of the C-USA teams to join too if they didn't want the San Diego States of the world.

Mountain West teams would get AQ status automatically and the TV contract would conceivably still exist right?

However, I can't imagine Kansas playing in the Mountain West. Wow. That would be one tough pill to swallow. I'd say they might be try to weasel their way into the ACC or Big East
Jun 9, 2010 4:14pm
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SportsAndLady

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Jun 9, 2010 5:36 PM
If the Big Twelve does split up (neb and mizz to the big 10; big 12 south to the pac 10) the Big 12 could still add some MWC teams and Boise State, which would make a great football conference...and basketball would be what the Big 12 is today...Kansas and Kansas State are good, and a bunch of average teams under them. No matter where Kansas goes, they will still be able to get recruits, maintain their dominance, and compete for national titles.
Jun 9, 2010 5:36pm
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Prescott

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Jun 9, 2010 7:47 PM
Memphis, again, has proved that you can recruit the best from a mid major conference because these top notch recruits only want in for a year,
I don't consider Kansas to be on the same level as a program like Memphis. Will Kansas do whatever is necessary to stay relevant? I think Kansas could be hurt in a big way if the Big 12 folds and Kansas has no invitation from a power conference.
Jun 9, 2010 7:47pm
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SportsAndLady

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Jun 9, 2010 8:26 PM
Prescott;384790 wrote:I don't consider Kansas to be on the same level as a program like Memphis.

Lol what?? Kansas is arguably the best program in the country..at the very worst, top 5. And they aren't on the same level as Memphis?? Remind me what Memphis has ever accomplished again?
Jun 9, 2010 8:26pm
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Prescott

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Jun 9, 2010 9:10 PM
Kansas is arguably the best program in the country..
You took my comment completely wrong. I consider Kansas to be a Rolls Royce and Memphis to be a Corvair.
Jun 9, 2010 9:10pm
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SportsAndLady

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Jun 9, 2010 10:52 PM
Oh okay haha the way you said it made it seem like you were saying Memphis>>Kansas

In all honesty, I think KU would still be the same KU if you put them in virtually any scenario.
Jun 9, 2010 10:52pm
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wildcats20

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Jun 9, 2010 11:09 PM
^^I agree.

Kansas will be Kansas no matter where they are.
Jun 9, 2010 11:09pm
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Prescott

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Jun 9, 2010 11:57 PM
We will agree to disagree. Hopefully. KU lands on their feet in a conference that does not dampen he Jayhawks' rep.
Jun 9, 2010 11:57pm
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slingshot4ever

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Jun 10, 2010 12:10 AM
Iam nervous to see how this could affect the KU basketball program.
Jun 10, 2010 12:10am
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enigmaax

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Jun 10, 2010 8:15 AM
Emmett Brown;384296 wrote:Kansas has nothing to worry about because as we saw in Memphis even a mid-major can still get a #1 seed and win a title (or almost).

The thing is, Memphis has had a few years at/near the top and its been sporadic throughout their history. The same with just about any other mid-major. Is there any mid-major who has had the sustained national success that teams like Duke, Kansas, UNC, etc. have enjoyed. Sure they pop up from time to time and have a nice run here and there, but their down years are much worse and even their best years come off seeming like anomalies.

Gonzaga may be recognized as the top mid-major program of the last decade - how many final fours did they make?

I'm with Prescott on this one. The exposure isn't going to be nearly the same nationally and while they may get by on name recognition for a few years, eventually the competition surrounding them is going to affect them.
Jun 10, 2010 8:15am
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Prescott

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Jun 10, 2010 9:26 AM
The exposure isn't going to be nearly the same nationally and while they may get by on name recognition for a few years, eventually the competition surrounding them is going to affect them.

Agreed....
Jun 10, 2010 9:26am
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fan_from_texas

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Jun 10, 2010 11:14 AM
Prescott;384790 wrote:I don't consider Kansas to be on the same level as a program like Memphis. Will Kansas do whatever is necessary to stay relevant? I think Kansas could be hurt in a big way if the Big 12 folds and Kansas has no invitation from a power conference.

I agree with this. Kansas is going to be in a rough spot. They might be better off going independent than moving to the MWC. Being in a mid-major conference will kill them over the long run, even if they are Kansas. There are plenty of schools that were dominant in years past that have been dragged down by college affiliations. San Francisco, anyone?
Jun 10, 2010 11:14am
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Laley23

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Jun 10, 2010 2:17 PM
Kansas would be Kansas for a period after a switch to say the MWC. BUT, in the long run I would fully expect the program to fall a little bit because of the competition they play.
Jun 10, 2010 2:17pm
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SportsAndLady

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Jun 10, 2010 2:59 PM
enigmaax;385245 wrote:The thing is, Memphis has had a few years at/near the top and its been sporadic throughout their history. The same with just about any other mid-major. Is there any mid-major who has had the sustained national success that teams like Duke, Kansas, UNC, etc. have enjoyed. Sure they pop up from time to time and have a nice run here and there, but their down years are much worse and even their best years come off seeming like anomalies.

Gonzaga may be recognized as the top mid-major program of the last decade - how many final fours did they make?

I'm with Prescott on this one. The exposure isn't going to be nearly the same nationally and while they may get by on name recognition for a few years, eventually the competition surrounding them is going to affect them.

So Memphis and Gonzaga have the same tradition and success as Kansas has had? Okay, gotcha....
Jun 10, 2010 2:59pm
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enigmaax

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Jun 10, 2010 3:17 PM
SportsAndLady;385698 wrote:So Memphis and Gonzaga have the same tradition and success as Kansas has had? Okay, gotcha....

Ummm, no. I said that in the quote - there is no mid-major who has had the sustained national success that teams like Duke, Kansas......

That is the point. If Kansas goes to a mid-major conference, they'll eventually get the same limited exposure and opportunities that other mid-majors get. And even the most successful mid-major programs don't succeed at the highest level or for an extended period of time.

I do not believe, in the long run, the name "Kansas" will be enough to overcome the conditions if they end up playing in a second rate conference.
Jun 10, 2010 3:17pm
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hoops23

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Jun 10, 2010 3:43 PM
Where is hank? Haven't seen him around.
Jun 10, 2010 3:43pm
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wildcats20

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Jun 10, 2010 4:34 PM
Is it possible for Kansas to go independent in basketball?? Kind of like Notre Dame in football. And just play anyone they feel like for 30+ games?? I'm not sure how that would work with the NCAA; but if it's an option, I would look into it.
Jun 10, 2010 4:34pm
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SportsAndLady

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Jun 10, 2010 7:10 PM
enigmaax;385722 wrote:Ummm, no. I said that in the quote - there is no mid-major who has had the sustained national success that teams like Duke, Kansas......

That is the point. If Kansas goes to a mid-major conference, they'll eventually get the same limited exposure and opportunities that other mid-majors get. And even the most successful mid-major programs don't succeed at the highest level or for an extended period of time.

I do not believe, in the long run, the name "Kansas" will be enough to overcome the conditions if they end up playing in a second rate conference.

As long as the rules about the NBA draft are the same as they are now, Kansas will always be able to recruit well, no matter the conference.

Top recruits will be able to say "I want to go to Kansas because they will get me to the NBA, and they are always in the hunt for the national title" Notice how the schedule isn't involved? No one cares about what conference or what your SOS is, these recruits just want to be seen. You will always be seen at a place like Kansas.

You keep saying "well there hasn't been a mid major program achieve long run success" well yeah, but what I am saying is you have never seen a mid major with the tradition and rich history as Kansas.

We can agree to disagree...I just don't ever see a program like Kansas NOT be where they are now.
Jun 10, 2010 7:10pm
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SportsAndLady

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Jun 10, 2010 7:13 PM
wildcats20;385912 wrote:Is it possible for Kansas to go independent in basketball?? Kind of like Notre Dame in football. And just play anyone they feel like for 30+ games?? I'm not sure how that would work with the NCAA; but if it's an option, I would look into it.

That would never work in basketball. It could work in football trying to schedule 12 games...but trying to schedule THIRTY games would be near impossible. No teams would agree to play KU, especially not in Allen Fieldhouse.

Not to mention all the lost revenue from not having a TV contract.
Jun 10, 2010 7:13pm
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centralbucksfan

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5,111 posts
Jun 10, 2010 8:53 PM
Conferences give teams exposure and $$$. Don't sell being in a conference short. ND is a prime example of that IMO. Get away with it in football (not anymore IMO), but in basketball, they are in a conference for a reason.
Now, I honestly don't know how it will affect Kansas basketball. I don't think it will much in the short term...but as mentioned, I could certainly see it affecting things in the long run. You just don't see a major program without a conference. And there is a reason for that.
Jun 10, 2010 8:53pm