(05-09-2017 03:42 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  More on the MVC expansion.
http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/...-addition/

Can't help but feel like it won't matter how much time until the next statement on the subject will be...the news will not be good for Murray.

(05-09-2017 03:51 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(05-09-2017 03:42 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  More on the MVC expansion.
http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/...-addition/

Can't help but feel like it won't matter how much time until the next statement on the subject will be...the news will not be good for Murray.

Valpo had a visit last time but didn't get picked. The MVFC needs Murray St, just not right now, and Murray St bb is probably the best pick. The article states that further expansion to 12 is possible.

(05-09-2017 03:51 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(05-09-2017 03:42 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  More on the MVC expansion.
http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/...-addition/

Can't help but feel like it won't matter how much time until the next statement on the subject will be...the news will not be good for Murray.

Murray State just seems to be a classic case of a school that fans like much more than university presidents. Remember that university presidents are looking at the attributes beyond basketball. One can debate whether Murray State is a better basketball program than Valpo. However, virtually all of the off-the-court issues that matter to university presidents in realignment (location, TV market, academics) favored Valpo. Those off-the-court attributes also generally favor schools like UNO, UWM (and UIC and others further down the line).

As a former valley member, I think this was the best choice. Adding Milwaukee and Murray wouldn't have been bad either, knock the MAC down a couple notches. Either way, tough situation for Elgin, so glad we are in the Big East....

(05-09-2017 03:42 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  More on the MVC expansion.
http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/...-addition/

Definitely sounds like they want to push to 12. They picked Valpo because it was the safest choice at the moment.

Could St. Louis be reconsidering now that its clear the BE is keeping a light on for UConn and 11 for the 20 game schedule instead of 12?

Would a MAC school consider the MVC? Akron is in financial trouble and has never won more than 8 games in 25 years. They just cut baseball and could move down to save money. They are willing to spend on basketball coaches. Too far down the food chain in MAC football recruiting, always losing players to Toledo, BGSU and Ohio.

Maybe they want some time to study the Dakota schools?

MVC West: SDSU, UNO, UNI, Drake, Missouri St, Loyola
MVC East: Illinois St, Bradley, SIU, Valpo, Indiana St, Evansville

Or take a Meatball & Wings approach with UNO and Akron...

MVC West: UNO, UNI, Drake, Missouri St, Loyola, Bradley
MVC East: Illinois St, SIU, Valpo, Indiana St, Evansville, Akron

This way the travel stays balanced for each division.

MAC then at 11 teams can move to a 20 game schedule and keep everyone happy there. Most fans want a return to true home-home schedule. Take a FB only school as a 12th (Army, Umass, ODU). ODU could rejoin the CAA and stick football in the MAC to save travel costs while a better TV deal for football.

(05-09-2017 04:24 PM)Jet915 Wrote:  As a former valley member, I think this was the best choice. Adding Milwaukee and Murray wouldn't have been bad either, knock the MAC down a couple notches. Either way, tough situation for Elgin, so glad we are in the Big East....

You've adjusted so well to the Big East it's hard to believe you were ever in The Valley.

Like Notre Dame's stint in the Horizon. Very few are aware of it.

Well probably not that extreme but still.

(05-09-2017 04:47 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(05-09-2017 03:42 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  More on the MVC expansion.
http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/...-addition/

Definitely sounds like they want to push to 12. They picked Valpo because it was the safest choice at the moment.

Could St. Louis be reconsidering now that its clear the BE is keeping a light on for UConn and 11 for the 20 game schedule instead of 12?

Would a MAC school consider the MVC? Akron is in financial trouble and has never won more than 8 games in 25 years. They just cut baseball and could move down to save money. They are willing to spend on basketball coaches. Too far down the food chain in MAC football recruiting, always losing players to Toledo, BGSU and Ohio.

With CBS reporting that the MVC wants to stay at 10 and insisting everyone is happy, yet the Mo St president wanting 12, obviously there are deep divides here. Strange how the Mo St President took to the media right away to express his displeasure with 10. He's not happy with the result and it's view of Mo St's desires.

(05-09-2017 04:24 PM)Jet915 Wrote:  As a former valley member, I think this was the best choice. Adding Milwaukee and Murray wouldn't have been bad either, knock the MAC down a couple notches. Either way, tough situation for Elgin, so glad we are in the Big East....

As are we, Jet!

I guess the real question is can Missouri State find a buddy with whom they can go FBS. Southern Illinois is really the only other MVC school in the Sun Belt footprint. Texas-Arlington would not be realisitic in the short term, and Little Rock is not realistic in any term. I doubt the Sun Belt would be interested in UTRGV, not that they would be any further ahead of UTA in the process anyway. We obviously know what happened to Eastern Kentucky and New Mexico State.

(05-09-2017 04:47 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(05-09-2017 03:42 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  More on the MVC expansion.
http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/...-addition/

Definitely sounds like they want to push to 12. They picked Valpo because it was the safest choice at the moment.

Could St. Louis be reconsidering now that its clear the BE is keeping a light on for UConn and 11 for the 20 game schedule instead of 12?

Would a MAC school consider the MVC? Akron is in financial trouble and has never won more than 8 games in 25 years. They just cut baseball and could move down to save money. They are willing to spend on basketball coaches. Too far down the food chain in MAC football recruiting, always losing players to Toledo, BGSU and Ohio.

UConn isn't coming back to the Big East. Saint Louis is on-deck for membership once its time to renegotiate our next TV deal. Travis Ford is recruiting well and I expect them to be much improved next year. Once he gets them back near the top of the A-10, the invite will come. There is too much Saint Louis has in common with the current Big East membership for them not to be included for long. Once basketball gets straightened out, which inevitably fell off after Majerus' passing, it will a perfect match.

Losing Wichita State hurts for the MVC, but I think they back-filled with a great school. Valpo is a great basketball program and really balances out the membership in the conference. Good fit for both sides.

NoDak,

where did you see MSU wants 12? I believe this is a complete fiction on your part. It was a unanimous vote to go to 10 with Valparaiso only.

(05-09-2017 06:19 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  NoDak,

where did you see MSU wants 12? I believe this is a complete fiction on your part. It was a unanimous vote to go to 10 with Valparaiso only.

The ozarkssportszone article clearly says that and in interview with the Mo St president he stated he'd chair an expansion committee to find two more schools that are acceptable. Murray St almost can't join on short notice because of football schedules. Conferences will say something is unanimous even though it clearly was other conditions. Stop taking the entirety of press releases as facts, as they are PR releases.

f'n idiots on wiki undoing my Valpo edits. "they were only invited not accepted" Fing morons!

(05-09-2017 04:47 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(05-09-2017 03:42 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  More on the MVC expansion.
http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/...-addition/

Definitely sounds like they want to push to 12. They picked Valpo because it was the safest choice at the moment.

Could St. Louis be reconsidering now that its clear the BE is keeping a light on for UConn and 11 for the 20 game schedule instead of 12?

Would a MAC school consider the MVC? Akron is in financial trouble and has never won more than 8 games in 25 years. They just cut baseball and could move down to save money. They are willing to spend on basketball coaches. Too far down the food chain in MAC football recruiting, always losing players to Toledo, BGSU and Ohio.

I really don't think that Akron would ever consider moving down so long as Kent is in FBS. That would be a telling blow. I also do not think Kent would move down while schools like Akron and BGSU (if not other traditional MAC foes as well) are still in FBS so they are all likely stuck in FBS (though honestly I do not think any of those schools are seriously considering moving down Kent for instance is too busy endowing all of its athletic programs to make its long term even more bright).

Some a-hole from Emporia St. reported me for changing the wiki page to Valpo as a future member of the MVC w/ a link and they also erased that WSU will be leaving the MVC.

So if someone else wants to pound them into submission, here's the links.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_V...Conference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizon_League

(05-09-2017 07:57 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(05-09-2017 04:47 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(05-09-2017 03:42 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  More on the MVC expansion.
http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/...-addition/

Definitely sounds like they want to push to 12. They picked Valpo because it was the safest choice at the moment.

Could St. Louis be reconsidering now that its clear the BE is keeping a light on for UConn and 11 for the 20 game schedule instead of 12?

Would a MAC school consider the MVC? Akron is in financial trouble and has never won more than 8 games in 25 years. They just cut baseball and could move down to save money. They are willing to spend on basketball coaches. Too far down the food chain in MAC football recruiting, always losing players to Toledo, BGSU and Ohio.

I really don't think that Akron would ever consider moving down so long as Kent is in FBS. That would be a telling blow. I also do not think Kent would move down while schools like Akron and BGSU (if not other traditional MAC foes as well) are still in FBS so they are all likely stuck in FBS (though honestly I do not think any of those schools are seriously considering moving down Kent for instance is too busy endowing all of its athletic programs to make its long term even more bright).

Depends if there is an opportunity for Akron.

I don't think what Kent's doing makes a difference to Akron. It might for alumni but then again it might not since nobody is showing up for the football games.

There are 100,000 alumni in Stark county and Akron barely has 7,000 for the football games. They should be able to put 30,000 in the stands easy.

Ohio has 15,000 alumni in the 20 county region of SE Ohio and pulls 25,000 for football games playing the likes of Akron, Kent, BG who bring at most 100 opposing fans.

Akron may want to move down where it can compete. Ohio is a decent G5 team but not a great one and we've defeated them 9 straight years because they can't recruit effectively outside of the Akron/Canton area. It was a school that like Youngstown State belonged in FCS and never should have moved up.

Valpo...meh, seems like an odd fit. They should have visited and added UIC to double up in Chicago. That'd bring more exposure and be better for recruiting.

(05-09-2017 08:32 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  Valpo...meh, seems like an odd fit. They should have visited and added UIC to double up in Chicago. That'd bring more exposure and be better for recruiting.

UIC should've been picked before Loyola, but past is past. MVC would be stupid to double down (and bypass Valpo/Murray) as Loyola's done nothing for them in Chicago.

Valparaiso's 5-year KenPom is 2nd in MVC and 10-year KenPom is 3rd. That's the best fit the MVC could've gotten not named Murray St.

That conference lives and dies on hoops success. Not being a ghost in big cities.

Now the MVC would be writing its own death certificate if it stayed at 10 permanently and/or shunned Murray. But judging by Clif Smart's comments/interview, I'm assuming they're going to 12 with Murray and TBD next March.

Maybe doubling down in Chicago for #12 as their roll of the dice to pair with a reliable choice in Murray would be smart.