Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which is surging toward the postseason, which is wedding season. It’ll keep me away the next three Fridays, so let’s enjoy it while we can. Sort of like round robin schedules.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, it’s good to make changes.

Karl said:

“Imagine the first time the Texas and Oklahoma blue bloods get a look at Nippert.” I’ve read that a few times here. Might their reaction be, “this place reminds me of Folsom Field at Colorado?” At least on TV, they seem a lot alike.

Been to both — humblebrag! — and I never made that connection, but I just googled some photos and, yeah, it looks similar enough. They’re both plunked in the middle of campus, and I’ve always liked  that. But Folsom is something else, just tucked between the mountains for fantastic scenery. I’m not sure that matters to the aforementioned, but I’m seeing People talk a lot about stadium sizes, and Folsom is significantly bigger. 

The 25314 said:

Folsom Field seats 18,000 more people than Nippert. It’s also not in a bad part of town. And most importantly, the fans at CU games are Buffs fans, not Ohio State fans.

Ah, forgot about that. Colorado State fans aren’t filling Folsom … and Lubick Field seats 32,000, by the way.

DaninNJ said:

Karl – It does have a resemblance to Folsom Field (minus the nice view of the mountains).
I think in the end the blue bloods from Oklahoma and Texas would thumb their noses at Cincinnati because of the thought of having to travel so far an additional time (our trip being the other). They would use Cincy’s facilities as an excuse and then turn around and talk up adding the University of Houston which has the same size stadium capacity but doesn’t look as nice….but more importantly to them, it’s a much shorter trip.
Then there is the cultural aspect. A 10-0 Texas may be able to live with getting its first loss from Houston…..I don’t know how well it would sit with them if they went up to Nippert Stadium and lost to “those people.”

I think the issues Texas would have with Houston include and go beyond that, though. Texas welcomed TCU — and probably secured some clout along the way — and look how that’s gone.

tls62pa said:

Do you think they want Houston as another Big XII team to have to fight for recruits?

Nope. Nope.

Mack said:

While I think this kind of talk will always occur with respect to the Big 12, I think in a lot of ways it’s stable because I think it’s still in the best interest of Texas and Oklahoma to stay. I don’t think Texas wants to leave its Texas-centric conference to join the Pac 12. I could see it as a possibility that it would want to join the SEC; however, I think Texas peeps would prefer to be a bigger fish in a Texas conference than join the SEC. Maybe I’m wrong.

I don’t think Oklahoma – at this point – has the power to join another conference on its own. The Big 10 cares more about TV markets (Rutgers) than football strength. The Pac 12 and SEC probably don’t benefit enough from adding Oklahoma, but maybe I’m wrong.

Let’s face it. WVU, TCU, Baylor, Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Kansas probably aren’t going anywhere. Not that they wouldn’t jump… but the other conferences probably aren’t looking to add any of them.

The big conferences make sense when it comes to the money… however, that’s still a lot of teams/schools that can have differences with one another and want out. There’s still the chance that those bigger conferences – after a few years – break up because of issues within the conferences themselves.

From a fan’s perspective, I really think the Big 12 is the best conference in all of college sports because it doesn’t have the dead weight at the bottom of the conference.

Having said all that, if they brought in USF, I’d be fine with it because Tampa.

Texas is interesting. We all assume they will act and react in certain ways, and those are generally negative or counterproductive measures. But the leadership is entirely new. Also, the Big Ten would take Oklahoma. Geographically, it makes no sense, but that’s really no longer a factor. Their athletic department is very good, as many in the Big Ten are, and that makes for good programming.

Loopy Hoopy said:

My concern as a season ticket holder is a weaker conference home schedule year in and year out. Playing a Cincy or CSU or Memphis instead of Okla and Texas just doesn’t have the draw. It feels as though expansion or a complete dismantling of the Big 12 is inevitable, staying like it is, isn’t going to happen. Just hope WVU finds a home that isn’t the Pac 12. Also, does WVU look any better in the ACC/Big Ten eyes now that they are a “R1” research school? I thought that was a big reason why the ACC didn’t want WVU before.

And yet, WVU is (we have been made to believe) in favor of expansion. We’re so far from a conclusion that this feels misplaced, but if expansion does happen and the football and basketball schedules are watered down — we’re calling it that, right? — it won’t be easy for the school to ask for more. When the Mountaineers went to the Big 12? Sure, it made sense. But when the Big 12 grows and, presumably, lessens the fan experience? They’ll have to work hard to convince people.

The 25314 said:

If the Big 12 takes Cincinnati and UConn, that adds legitimacy to those schools, so when the Big 12 inevitably falls apart, they are more attractive to be scooped up by the other Power Conferences, possibly at the expense of WVU.

Legitimate concern. And here’s the fascinating subplot that gets no attention: Every Big 12 president, chancellor and AD, as well as their counterparts at the schools trying to get into the conference, as simultaneously planning for their best interests when the New Big 12 fails or expires and the other four leagues look for new blood. How do you trust anyone or commit to anything?

Clarence Oveur said:

Whenever expansion pops up, I’m reminded of the Big East’s hypocritical “woe is us” stance.

They were burned in football in the same manner they burned everyone else in basketball. Karma. That sucks, man.

If you’re the commissioner of the Pac-12, SEC, ACC or Big Ten or an administrator at one of their schools, you’re trying to figure out a way to raid the Big 12, aren’t you? You’re talking to the networks and your lawyers and picking apart the grant of rights, no? We know the history.

Barblo Escobar said:

Is there anyone else who could not be less excited with any of the “possible candidates?” Or am I alone? I feel like the Big East all over again raiding Conference USA just to stay alive. 2 steps behind again. I say go big or go broke. Because if we don’t go big and steal at least one or two teams from the ACC or another Power Five then I foresee history repeating itself with the only difference being inserting the Big 12’s name in place of the Big East’s name.

DaninNJ said:

Expanding and getting a CCG is the smart move. The pickings may seem slim, but as I remember it we weren’t considered to be a very big get (we went down to the wire with Louisville). It was also assumed that once we were in the Big 12 that our recruiting would improve because of the conference we were playing in (kids would start choosing us that wouldn’t have in the past because we weren’t playing the Big East schedule anymore). And I think that our recruiting has gotten a boost from being in the Big 12, so shouldn’t the same be assumed for a schools like Cincinnati and Memphis?

Good theory, and the Big 12 would boost any of the mentioned schools. If those schools make prudent and proper moves, it works. But that makes the current members wary. They just did that with TCU and WVU, and look at TCU football or WVU’s bank account and subsequent expenses. How many times can the other eight be made to open their arms and allow others to improve while just assuming it’s going to be good for them? And remember, we’re sort of working on a clock here. The television deal/grant of rights runs through 2024-25. Can new schools turn the corner and turn a profit in time?

philip said:

digging the recruiting updates. nice way to extend our reach — or at least give the impression of such.

Remember when we asked why WVU would post its whereabouts, when secrecy is something recruiting folks treasure? Got a pretty good answer when I had a chance to ask: Accuracy. It lets recruits know where coaches are and doesn’t let reports or rivals get things twisted. Example: Let’s assume WVU isn’t sharing its travel plans and is recruiting a hot shot receiver from Atlanta. School U wants the receiver, too. School U tells the receiver WVU is coming to town Monday, but the reality is WVU has no plans to be in Atlanta that day. Suppose a reporter gets bad information, reports WVU will be in Atlanta Monday and adds the Mountaineers are probably going there to visit the receiver. Well, none of that happens, and the receiver is probably bent out of shape. This controls that.

Mack said:

“I think we’ve showed right now we’re as good as anybody.”

Shouldn’t they get to the NCAA tournament one single time before they start talking about how great they are? I mean, if this were basketball, how hard would we be laughing at anyone who says they’re “as good as anybody” having never gone to the NCAA tournament?

I’m quite sure Mazey meant “as good as anybody” in the Big 12. Not sure there should be a prohibition on when a team gets to talk about what it achieves.

Rugger said:

My B.A. Psychology from WVU tells me that Mazey is trying to get his young team to believe. It will be interesting to see how they respond to success.

They’re playing six or seven freshmen, and that doesn’t count pitchers. Psychology matters.

Hersh said:

It’s not basketball and it’s not the NCAA Tournament. It’s baseball and momentum is probably more important there than in any other sport. If you’re winning 60% of your games, you’re pretty good. If you’re winning 2/3 of your games, you’re very good. Besides, you don’t have to take it THAT literally or be offended by it. This is a young team and being a baseball coach requires a minor in psychology.

Better words than mine.

Neil Cohen said:

I calculate the WVU RPI will be too low to make the tournament strictly by RPI. Hopefully, the selectors will go by more than RPI. From we must ignite this couch:

ncohen wrote:
WVU may have a shot at the NCAA tournament. If RPI is proportionate to winning percentage and they can finish with only two more losses (presumably Texas Tech), then they’ll rise to 45th or so in RPI. (they’re currently 91st and were over 100 before the Texas series)

This wasn’t right. If WVU finishes with 2 more losses (presumably vs Tech), their RPI will be in the 70s, assuming SOS remains roughly the same. The winning percentage will be .6111 and the SOS .5109. Currently, that’s similar to Marshall (.6136 and .5154) and high point (.6170 and .5196). They’re 77th and 70th. As the comparison with marshall shows, RPI is not a very reliable ranking system. WVU is way better than Marshall.

It was written!

mikus said:

Wondering who was the lead recruiter bringing KJ to WVU? His rise to a 1st rounder is certainly a great story. His spectacular play in the first 4 games last year really changed his future.

David Lockwood. He got K.J. Dillon, too. Joe DeForest locked them up after the coaching changes, but Lockwood got them to commit before he left for Arizona.

hoot said:

Gotta admit, there’s a lot to like there. Nice form on the jumper with a quick release, nifty little runners, and he can finish. Tell me can play D and I’m sold.

Maciej Bender. I think his jumper looks wonky — weird hands — but it works, and it is quick. I’ve not heard much about his defense, which probably means there isn’t much there if no one’s bragged about it. 

Karl said:

Whoa, this dude looks good. Like a Pittsnoggle who can dunk and dribble

Yeah, I thought the same. More all-around offensive skills, and Bender will come in as big as Pittsnogle was when he left.

MontanaEer said:

Catches the ball over his head and keeps it there, especially inside. Nice.

Who’s over post players taking the unnecessary dribble?

SheikYbuti said:

Can’t wait to hear the first time John Sanders exclaims, “Bending, bending . . . Bender!”

Enjoy the weekend!