All the talk about baseline prestige and conference rpi got me wandering which 12 teams I would put into a 7th "BCS" conference. This is going off real life (of course) and is throwing geography out the window. Base it off historical and current factors. Make it North, South, East, West, or whatever kind of divisions. Who would you pick if you were suddenly given the power by Nyles Grande? I apologize in advance for leaving out someone obvious. Here are my 12:

The PPNURI Conference

East
Temple
Rhode Island
UMASS
Xavier
St Josephs
Princeton

West
Memphis
Gonzaga
Utah
BYU
UNLV
Western Kentucky

Last 4 out: Charlotte, Creighton, UTEP, and Butler

Mostly the A10 and Mt West. No real surprise there I guess. Now some Football for the hell of it!

FDBCS:

Mormons, Military, and a vacation:
Utah, Army, Navy, BYU, Air Force, Hawaii

Tumbleweed, Taters, and Rudy:
Notre Dame, Boise St, TCU, Fresno St, Houston, Tulsa

I'd think Marquette should be in there.

I would have to find a place for Houston. Who can forget Phi Slamma Jamma ?!

Quote: Originally Posted By acn24 on 1/31/2010I'd think Marquette should be in there

Marquette's already there, as a member of the Big East

Phi Slamma Jamma was 30 years ago. 2 great recruits (3 if you count Michael Young). That's all.

I think I'd put Dayton in ahead of Rhode Island

Quote: Originally Posted By alblack56 on 1/31/2010

Quote: Originally Posted By acn24 on 1/31/2010
I'd think Marquette should be in there.

Marquette's already there, as a member of the Big East

Except they're not in the BE in HD.

Maybe Depaul in the east instead of Princeton.

Temple, URI, Umass, Princeton, and UNLV have not been top level teams for a while. And St. Joe's had one great year and have since been average. Creighton has not even been one of the top teams in the MVC, you would have to put UNI, SIU, and Witchita St in over them.

I think you would have a hard time putting together 12 teams for a second BCS because it is too hard for them to stay on top of their current leagues for an extended period of time. You could give a spot to Memphis and Gonzaga, but outside of that who is reallya perennial powerhouse that you can say has a legit shot to get out of round 1 year in and year out.

The better questions might be who should be dropped from their current BCS conference?

Personally I think you could have a better 10 team conference like the Pac 10 has. Also then every team can play each other 2 times.

EAST:
Temple
UMASS
Xavier
Memphis
Butler

WEST:
Gonzaga
Utah
BYU
Western Kentucky
Northern Iowa

I don't know how you can knock out Butler or Northern Iowa really. Some of those teams are stretches while those two have been mid-major powers for a few years now. Plus if your going to include Creighton on the first ones out Northern Iowa should easily be ahead of them.

One other thing people are starting to overlook was that Memphis has been held up by there coach for quite a few years and even missed the NT a few times.

We will see what the new guy does but so far he hasn't won a game worth mentioning. I have a feeling Memphis is falling back to the pack in the CUSA.

IMO Memphis will be back as a legit top 10-20 team within a season.

You have to realize this past season they lost an entire recruiting class when Cal . There are many that have their 2010-11 class ranked #1.

Quote: Originally posted by Iguana1 on 1/31/2010IMO Memphis will be back as a legit top 10-20 team within a season.  You have to realize this past season they lost an entire recruiting class when Cal .  There are many that have their 2010-11 class ranked #1.

Notre Dame Football has had the #1 recruiting class like 2 times with Weis there didn't they?

Also, they need a great recruiting class since they did loose about everyone. We shall see but I think they are going to fall back into the being good one or two years then having a year or two off that most mid-majors have.

Quote: Originally Posted By nbstowman on 1/31/2010
Phi Slamma Jamma was 30 years ago. 2 great recruits (3 if you count Michael Young). That's all.

say what? sure, Hakeem and Clyde went on to HOF NBA careers, but there were some damned good players other than them on those teams

Larry Micheaux, Benny Anders, Alvin Franklin, Reid Gettys, Ricky Winslow, Cadillac Anderson, Dave Rose, Rob Williams, etc

Quote: Originally Posted By schroedess26 on 1/31/2010

Notre Dame Football has had the #1 recruiting class like 2 times with Weis there didn't they?

Also, they need a great recruiting class since they did loose about everyone. We shall see but I think they are going to fall back into the being good one or two years then having a year or two off that most mid-majors have.

Football recruiting classes really can't be compared to basketball recruiting classes. How many freshman players come in and turn around the football program their first seasons? Football classes are best judged 3-4 years down the road.

But in basketball a single stud recruit can turn a team around. And Memphis does have three top 20's coming in next year. I think it comes down to can Pastner continue to bring in players if a couple of these guys are one-and-dones like some expect. Remember he would be running the Arizona team if they hadn't messed the whole thing up with Lute.

Or if Pastner can continually bring in top recruits, does Memphis have enough to offer to prevent him from leaving if a big name program (ie.. Texas) comes calling?