[font=comic sans ms][size=2]I decided to do a bit of research to spark a conversation. Are our expectations of the program now unrealistic due to our conference affiliation? Is a Charlotte program in the current CUSA an attractive destination for coaches and recruits?[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]The overall competitiveness of the conference is pretty weak and we have clearly been part of the problem, however our program has at least prioritized OOC scheduling to give try to achieve some sort of revelance and chance at an at-large bid within a truly awful conference. The same can’t be said about other teams in the league.[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]That being said, I wanted to collect data on NCAA Tournament Appearances for all the teams in the conference and it is pretty brutal.[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]Western Kentucky has the most appearances (by far) with 32, but their recent appearances have both been as 16 seeds.[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]UTEP and UAB come in 2nd and 3rd with 17 and 14 appearances respectively. Both teams have had the fortune to receive At-Large bids in the Memphis dominated CUSA.[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]Charlotte and ODU are tied with the 4th amount of appearances (11), with the 49ers having appearances in 2004 and 2005 with At-Large bids. ODU in 2010 and 2011 both as Colonial Champs.[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]The rest of the group is rather pathetic, with only 1 At-Large bid on record (So Miss 2012).[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]The highest seeding in each teams last 2 appearances (if they had 2 me looking at FIA and FAU) by teams in the conference is Charlotte with a 7 seed in 2005.[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]Given all of this, what makes this job so attractive? Why would a young up and coming coach want to leave an improved MAC school for Charlotte (other than the weather)? The MAC has a lot more recent success in basketball than the current CUSA.[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]What should our expectations be? Any post season is ultimately better than no postseason, but is it realistic to think that this conference could be a 2 or 3 bid league? It was able to achieve that when its overall strength was better than the current group of teams and it had Memphis to carry the banner. I don’t see any programs in the conference having that ability.[/size][/font]
[font=comic sans ms][size=2]We are in a tough spot. Our only hope is getting a bump up in conference the next time there is a round of conference musical chairs, but I don’t think we are that attractive right now for that and if we can’t convince a new coach that we are I think you can stick a fork in Charlotte basketball for good.[/size][/font]