From Orlando Sentinel...
Next week could mark the end or start of more Big 12 expansion talks as the league prepares for its annual spring meeting in Texas where leaders are expected to make a decision about adding two additional teams.
Either way, American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco says he isn't worried as teams like UCF, Houston and Memphis have seen their names circulated among expansion chatter.
"I think it will be good for everyone to have some clarity," Aresco told the Orlando Sentinel. "What I said in the past is basically, we’re going to keep a close eye out and we’ll monitor the situation but we don’t know what’s gonna happen. I don’t think anybody does. Our conference is, regardless of what happens, is going to remain strong. We have a good core group of schools."
Aresco added that seeing several of his schools mentioned among the Big 12 expansion talks only proves how strong the league has become since it was rebranded as the American from the Big East in 2013.
UConn, again, dominated for women's basketball capturing its fourth consecutive title.
The AAC finished as the top group of five conference last season so losing a marquee team or possibly two would be a blow for the young league fighting to consistently recognized as the sixth power conference.
But Aresco has seen worse days. For now, he's focusing on maintaining the league's growth.
"It’s coincidental that their [Big 12] meeting happens to be the same time as our meeting so certainly there will be some news reports and things you can’t really avoid that," Aresco said about next week. "We basically just stay poised and make as few comments about it as possible. There’s speculation everyday and we try to tune a lot of that out."
Next week could mark the end or start of more Big 12 expansion talks as the league prepares for its annual spring meeting in Texas where leaders are expected to make a decision about adding two additional teams.
Either way, American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco says he isn't worried as teams like UCF, Houston and Memphis have seen their names circulated among expansion chatter.
"I think it will be good for everyone to have some clarity," Aresco told the Orlando Sentinel. "What I said in the past is basically, we’re going to keep a close eye out and we’ll monitor the situation but we don’t know what’s gonna happen. I don’t think anybody does. Our conference is, regardless of what happens, is going to remain strong. We have a good core group of schools."
Aresco added that seeing several of his schools mentioned among the Big 12 expansion talks only proves how strong the league has become since it was rebranded as the American from the Big East in 2013.
UConn, again, dominated for women's basketball capturing its fourth consecutive title.
The AAC finished as the top group of five conference last season so losing a marquee team or possibly two would be a blow for the young league fighting to consistently recognized as the sixth power conference.
But Aresco has seen worse days. For now, he's focusing on maintaining the league's growth.
"It’s coincidental that their [Big 12] meeting happens to be the same time as our meeting so certainly there will be some news reports and things you can’t really avoid that," Aresco said about next week. "We basically just stay poised and make as few comments about it as possible. There’s speculation everyday and we try to tune a lot of that out."
