(01-16-2020 09:18 AM)MUsince96 Wrote:  

(01-15-2020 05:11 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  IWokeUpLikeThis makes an excellent point by posting this:

"Dayton is a power-program in a non-power-conference."

Power is about resources/money or (for the ultimate "power") a combo of resources AND results.

Dayton can afford to pay its coach $1 million or more annually. It can average 10,000 fans or more per game. It has won lots of NCAA and NIT games. It is more so a "power program" than many programs in the so-called football P5.

Gonzaga, VCU, BYU, Memphis, Cincy, Wichita, Houston, Temple ... these are "power" (or "high-major" if you prefer) programs that are not members of power leagues.

This is a concept that some college sports fans fail to grasp. I recall when Xavier was a member of the A10 and was often "ranked" in some so-called Mid-Major Poll. X fans took exception — as they should have, as I did, too. XU has long been a power/high-major program that now happens to be in a power league (defined, in large part, by all of its members being high-major programs).

When Memphis, Cincy, Louisville, DePaul and Marquette were in the old C-USA ... they were considered high-major programs — and rightly so — by people who "get it."

It continues to baffle me that some folks who follow sports don't understand this basic concept.

I loathe the term "power" or "power 5" in hoops. But I largely agree with your point.

I consider the A10 a major conference. As well as the AAC and the MWC.

Big East, SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac 12 are "high majors".

However, these labels can be fluid. For example, last year the AAC was better than the Pac 12.

The AAC in basketball has far surpassed the A10 and MWC. The AAC is closer to the ACC this year than they are the A10.