(10-28-2019 09:24 AM)Soobahk40050 Wrote:  "The SEC has one in KY."

This is an intriguing dynamic of conference realignment/expansion to me. For a long time, FSU for instance was the football power of a basketball conference. They got big because of that dynamic, and in the same way KY was the basketball power in a football conference. For a while FL was the up and coming competitor in basketball, and now, as long as Barnes stays, I hope TN can be that power.

So inviting KS seems great in terms of rivalries, etc., and the conference tournament finals between KS-KY would be fantastic, but does that expansion take away from KY at all? I would think at this point the answer would be no - both brands are well established, and having both in the same conference would be good for all involved.

I'm not as big a fan of Texas Tech, but even their basketball is up and coming if it hasn't arrived yet.

Adding Kansas would be a good thing. I don't think it takes away from Kentucky but adds to the basketball profile of the conference. Losing to Kentucky and Kansas does not hurt a school's chances to make the tournament. In fact, having a close game or even beating them only helps that school. It doesn't really hurt either Kentucky or Kansas. They lose games every year but they still remain on the 1 or 2 line for regionals. I thought Missouri was a weird add but bringing in Kansas would "round it out." Texas Tech is not a bad addition if with Texas or Oklahoma. I don't think they've "arrived" due to 1 or 2 seasons but they're a known quantity with a history in football.


Oklahoma and Texas are the jewels but one or the other with Kansas or Texas Tech works well.