PAC 12

[forgetful]

This reminds me - has anyone else seen the ad where the American Conference proclaims itself a P-6 conference? I saw it while watching a Cincy game and wondered, who do they think they are ahead of?  Although now I realize they could be referring to football.

That is an AAC thing.  They are in the midst of TV re-negotiations. They are trying to market themselves as part of the P5 (P6). The schools fully believe that the P5 will split off from the NCAA, at the very least for football, and want to be part of that party.  That is why they continue to run unimaginably massive deficits trying to prop up their football programs. 

They are hoping they can get at least 8-10M for their next TV contract, otherwise their economic situations may become untenable. 

[Eye]

Had zero expectations for U of A this year for the first in the 30 years they've been my 2nd favorite team. Been OK I guess. Beat Iowa State in Maui and won at UConn. Lost to Baylor at home. Lost a 50-50 game at Bama. Lost as expected to Auburn and Gonzaga in Maui. Probably need to get to 10-8 in the Pac 10 absolute minimum to have a shot, but probably need to go something like 13-5 to feel safe. Could be back to closer to normal U of A next year. Reminds me of the year after the year where they pummeled Duke in the Sweet 16, then Jamelle Horne missed a shot against UConn to send them to the Final 4. That year they were pretty nonchalant non-conference, finished 12-6 in the league, lost a grinder in the tourney title game and still missed it, then had zero interest in the NIT home game and got beat.

[Skip Intro]

Alford gone.  No surprise, perhaps aside from the timing. 

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/25651854/ucla-bruins-fire-coach-steve-alford-woeful-start-season

I wonder if there's an advantage (or disadvantage) from a transfer perspective by firing him at this point?  Obviously you are first in line for potentially interested coaches (a la the Packers), but it might work the same way for transfers, both in and out. 

[GGGG]

From a recruiting standpoint, it's awful.  That being said, their early signees weren't much special.  One top 100 guy.

[Mr. Nielsen]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/pac12/2018/12/31/ucla-basketball-steve-alford-fired/2448541002/

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Had zero expectations for U of A this year for the first in the 30 years they've been my 2nd favorite team. Been OK I guess. Beat Iowa State in Maui and won at UConn. Lost to Baylor at home. Lost a 50-50 game at Bama. Lost as expected to Auburn and Gonzaga in Maui. Probably need to get to 10-8 in the Pac 10 absolute minimum to have a shot, but probably need to go something like 13-5 to feel safe. Could be back to closer to normal U of A next year. Reminds me of the year after the year where they pummeled Duke in the Sweet 16, then Jamelle Horne missed a shot against UConn to send them to the Final 4. That year they were pretty nonchalant non-conference, finished 12-6 in the league, lost a grinder in the tourney title game and still missed it, then had zero interest in the NIT home game and got beat.

Really? How can u remain a fan  of that program and the black eye they willingly gave the game we love?

[Eye]

As stated, as little interest as I've had in U of A basketball in 30 years. What happened off the floor definitely part of it.

[SaveOD238]

This reminds me - has anyone else seen the ad where the American Conference proclaims itself a P-6 conference? I saw it while watching a Cincy game and wondered, who do they think they are ahead of?  Although now I realize they could be referring to football.

Well...if we look at Ken Pom rankings...

American
Cincinnati- 27
Houston- 32
UCF- 38
Temple- 74
UConn- 87
SMU- 89
Memphis- 103
Wichita St- 117
Tulsa- 125
USF- 174
East Carolina- 252
Tulane- 269

PAC-12
Oregon- 39
Arizona St- 49
Washington- 52
Arizona- 54
Colorado- 76
Oregon St- 77
UCLA- 80
USC- 88
Stanford- 112
Utah- 141
Washington St- 171
California- 207

Outside of those two massive weights at the bottom for the American, the conferences are roughly the same in terms of KenPom rankings.  The top three American teams are better than anything the PAC-12 has to offer.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Alford gone.  No surprise, perhaps aside from the timing. 

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/25651854/ucla-bruins-fire-coach-steve-alford-woeful-start-season

I wonder if there's an advantage (or disadvantage) from a transfer perspective by firing him at this point?  Obviously you are first in line for potentially interested coaches (a la the Packers), but it might work the same way for transfers, both in and out.

Hope he never gets another coaching gig again. Good riddance.

[GooooMarquette]

Hope he never gets another coaching gig again. Good riddance.

Some desperate smaller school will give him a chance. Look at Kelvin Sampson....

[Cheeks]

Very interesting idea from PAC 12, I'm not sure it passes legal muster with NCAA or whether I back it, but intriguing nonetheless.

Private equity ownership of a conference....coming soon?


https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/2018/12/want-to-buy-a-stake-in-the-pac-12-conference-its-exploring-taking-on-private-equity-partners.html

[M S]

Some desperate smaller school will give him a chance. Look at Kelvin Sampson....

Sampson is an excellent coach though.

[GGGG]

If he could have kept it clean, Sampson would have been at IU for years.  You are right that he can coach.

Alford will end up at a place like UNLV.

[hdog1017]

Wojo to UCLA

[dbwarriors]

Wojo to UCLA

Heard the same from my sources

[WhiteTrash]

Heard the same from my sources

Me too. And Steve Kerr to MU.

[dbwarriors]

Me too. And Steve Kerr to MU.

Hoiberg

[Silkk the Shaka]

Hoiberg

Actually Hoiberg to UCLA makes all the sense in the world

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Actually Hoiberg to UCLA makes all the sense in the world

Forgot about him. He's certainly available.

[Herman Cain]

Luke Walton to UCLA.  Better for him  to take the long term contract now than wait and get fired by Lebron.

[Marcus92]

LaVar Ball to UCLA. If you asked him, he could make Bruins fans forget John Wooden.

[79Warrior]

Luke Walton to UCLA.  Better for him  to take the long term contract now than wait and get fired by Lebron.

He played at Arizona and is a big supporter of the program. I doubt he would coach the Bruins.

[GooooMarquette]

Sampson is an excellent coach though.

Sampson's winning percentage as a college coach is .649
Alford's winning percentage as a college coach is .663

So there's that....

[Mr. Nielsen]

LaVar Ball to UCLA. If you asked him, he could make Bruins fans forget John Wooden.

I totally hear his voice in my head saying that.

[Cheeks]

Sampson's winning percentage as a college coach is .649
Alford's winning percentage as a college coach is .663

So there's that....

Alford has only had to do one rebuild and that's generous in my opinion...he's also always been at schools with some basketball support.  Sampson has had to do several, plus worked at Washington State for 7 years, which is a nightmare historically to sustain success at in basketball (6 NCAA bids in nearly 80 years).