Don't let the Door Hit Ya

Big news broke out of the constant reshuffling of the conference realignment game this week. Just a couple weeks after my previous post about the problems Grand Canyon University brings to the Western Athletic Conference, they, along with Seattle University, accepted an invitations to the West Coast Conference, made notable by Gonzaga's domination the last couple of decades. There's a lot to unpack here and with everything else in conference realignment, the end result depends on other factors outside the WAC's and UT Arlington's control.

My first reaction was ecstatic, but it left me a little confused. I'm a firm believer that GCU is a cancer within the conference. As I detailed in the last post, their funding model cannot be replicated and they shovel a lot of money to athletics from online degrees. They outspend everyone overall but California Baptist in the WAC. Similar to an inflation adjuster, CBU spends more just by being in California and would spend dollar for dollar less than GCU were they in Arizona, or get more bang for their buck if spending was the same. However, in men's basketball, GCU almost doubles second-place CBU and is nearly 500 percent higher than last place MBB budget. 

Now I've taken flack on social media because I'm told the real reason I dislike GCU is because UTA just can't compete. The reality is that their funding mechanism creates a competitive unbalance where UTA's only shot is to win is via an upset (made even harder by the perceived officiating issues). I said it last post and I'll say it again, I don't believe GCU was the better team last year. When UTA couldn't get past Georgia State while in the Sun Belt Conference, I never despised the Panthers like I do GCU.

 But that's all the WCC's issue after next athletic year, even if I don't understand why they were selected over CBU. 

Men's Basketball Wrap

The nice thing about having a fan blog that is purely a hobby is the lack of a hard deadline or need to post something to meet a monetary goal. After the UT Arlington Mavericks played in a travesty of a Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament championship game, I was defeated. I've never been so embarrassed to be a part of a conference before, and I'll bring some receipts in a bit. Also, not long after, my Dad had a stroke, there's been some work milestones that needed to be met and the kids are in full on spring sports season.

I don't like posting about officials, particularly in basketball as that is a game where officials have a big impact and get a lot of attention. I usually feel they do their best and like any other job, there are those good at what they do and those that are not. I usually feel UTA plays against the other team and win or lose based on those merits. Sure a call in a close game draws attention, but was every shot made before that, every assignment kept or no blown defensive adjustments?

But after this year's basketball season, I've never been so disgusted before. It is also not related to the outcome, as when I watched California Baptist beat the women counterparts, I left feeling the ladies had a good season and went up to a team that was just better. They gave it their best shot but came up short and a better team won. After watching the Grand Canyon game in Arlington in person and the conference final on TV, I don't feel Grand Canyon was markedly better and I don't feel the Mavericks will have a fair shot in the WAC.