Or just NDSU. If Creighton bolts, there will be an opening. Plus the mvfc schools could have crossover rivalries in bball/fball that would be sweet!

I know some are wanting to see it, but if CU leaves, they will add a private school in either Belmont or ORU. Possibly Valpo. I hope Belmont.

Now, if they decide to go to 12, there will be some talk about the two XDSU schools. I'm not sure the votes will be there though. I guess it depends if you could get votes from all the football schools for the add.

But, if we go to 12, the private that isn't chosen to get to 10 will be considered as well as Murray State, Milwaukee, Wright State and others. It would be interesting to see how that would all play out.

Personally, if CU leaves and we add one, I hope it's Belmont. If we go to 12 and they want to keep a private/public balance (4/6), ORU and probably Milwaukee/Wright State. If Evansville leaves (I'd be happy), another private is added in Valpo.

IF there's no concern for the private/public balance, the XDSUs have a better shot, but I still think they're on the outside looking in. Basketball is the top priority in the MVC and the XDSUs are hard to read because of their short time in D1. That's where Belmont and ORU would have advantages as they've both been pretty solid in what we see as weaker conferences for a good period. The XDSUs have been D1 for seven years and have each had 2 good seasons I believe. A lot more risk there for the Valley. And I know nothing about baseball or volleyball or women's basketball. Not top priorities, but things that could be considered if schools are deemed to be close in consideration.

The XDSU schools have some interesting things to offer. They are the premier universities in their states and are strong academic schools. In ND there is oil money and one would assume that eventually that would lead to even a stronger academic profile.

On the negative side, when conferences just below the big 6 have expanded they have looked at markets. This is from Wikipedia: "North Dakota is the 19th most extensive but the 3rd least populous and the 4th least densely populated of the 50 United States." I don't think additional oil well workers is going to do much to change that.

I know subgod doesn't like UALR but the metro are of Little Rock is larger than the entire population of North Dakota. On a larger scale Belmont brings Nashville, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee brings Milwaukee whose metro area dwarfs North Dakota's population, and Valparaiso brings a heavily populated NW Indiana and even some interest in the Chicago market. We can go on with other examples but these 3 are but examples of what others would bring.

So while North Dakota as a state will have a nice chunk of oil money, that doesn't translate into the money they could help bring into a conference. I'm not opposed to the Dakotas as they are fellow football schools in the MVFC and I like their academics but I don't think they will ever be admitted to The Valley.

I don't hate Little Rock and I believe there may be potential there. I've actually spent some time chatting with them on their board here and they're good people who would love to get into the MVC. But even they admit that they have things to work on and commit to before that happens. Perhaps they could promise to invest more with an invite and find a way to get in? I wouldn't rule them out, but I'd think that above them for sure are Belmont, ORU, Valpo, Murray and Wright. At least on the surface. Once we get into the nitty gritty of the athletic departments and investment and whatever, maybe things change.

If we're looking at markets, Murray gets thrown out but Belmont stays. ORU isn't bad being in Tulsa and Wright State is still in Dayton. And this is where Milwaukee could gain some traction. Little Rock could get consideration though here. Expanding to 12 and adding Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee isn't horrible. If UE left then we could look at Valpo, still in Indiana or Wright State to get us into Ohio.

No offense to the XDSUs, but to me at least, those look more attractive. Plus ORU I know brings good basetball. I'm not sure of the minor sports at the others. I know Murray plays football, but I don't think the others do.

NDSU has been to ncaas in every sport and are a very complete program. Basketball arena built will help

(02-16-2013 10:44 AM)lakesbison Wrote:  NDSU has been to ncaas in every sport and are a very complete program. Basketball arena built will help

What kind of arena do u all have or what are u building??
I definitely respect the Bisons passion...much more so then Evansville and Drake

(02-16-2013 11:04 AM)BirdFan 4Life Wrote:  

(02-16-2013 10:44 AM)lakesbison Wrote:  NDSU has been to ncaas in every sport and are a very complete program. Basketball arena built will help

What kind of arena do u all have or what are u building??
I definitely respect the Bisons passion...much more so then Evansville and Drake

We are just about to undergo a massive renovation of our current arena
and a new basketball practice facility addition. Here are the some pics...

http://photos.bisonillustrated.com/Bison...&k=CXwcXSz

(02-17-2013 03:09 AM)FargoBison Wrote:  

(02-16-2013 11:04 AM)BirdFan 4Life Wrote:  

(02-16-2013 10:44 AM)lakesbison Wrote:  NDSU has been to ncaas in every sport and are a very complete program. Basketball arena built will help

What kind of arena do u all have or what are u building??
I definitely respect the Bisons passion...much more so then Evansville and Drake

We are just about to undergo a massive renovation of our current arena
and a new basketball practice facility addition. Here are the some pics...

http://photos.bisonillustrated.com/Bison...&k=CXwcXSz

Well done! This arena will be a really nice asset for NDSU. Keep us posted on the progress.

Also, last I saw NDSU was tied with Alabama for the Capital One Cup.

Well done.

(02-12-2013 11:33 AM)SubGod22 Wrote:  I don't hate Little Rock and I believe there may be potential there. I've actually spent some time chatting with them on their board here and they're good people who would love to get into the MVC. But even they admit that they have things to work on and commit to before that happens. Perhaps they could promise to invest more with an invite and find a way to get in? I wouldn't rule them out, but I'd think that above them for sure are Belmont, ORU, Valpo, Murray and Wright. At least on the surface. Once we get into the nitty gritty of the athletic departments and investment and whatever, maybe things change.

If we're looking at markets, Murray gets thrown out but Belmont stays. ORU isn't bad being in Tulsa and Wright State is still in Dayton. And this is where Milwaukee could gain some traction. Little Rock could get consideration though here. Expanding to 12 and adding Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee isn't horrible. If UE left then we could look at Valpo, still in Indiana or Wright State to get us into Ohio.

No offense to the XDSUs, but to me at least, those look more attractive. Plus ORU I know brings good basetball. I'm not sure of the minor sports at the others. I know Murray plays football, but I don't think the others do.

UALR would have a hard time competing in basketball imo. I like the thinned out sbc. We just dont get the recruits that wku gets.

We would do well in the other sports. Baseball is pretty good.

Part of me would love the invite but the other part of me sees the sbc ad a 3 horse race after the schools going to cusa leave. Wku, stAte, and ualr. I like those odds.

(02-21-2013 02:43 PM)insideualr Wrote:  

(02-12-2013 11:33 AM)SubGod22 Wrote:  I don't hate Little Rock and I believe there may be potential there. I've actually spent some time chatting with them on their board here and they're good people who would love to get into the MVC. But even they admit that they have things to work on and commit to before that happens. Perhaps they could promise to invest more with an invite and find a way to get in? I wouldn't rule them out, but I'd think that above them for sure are Belmont, ORU, Valpo, Murray and Wright. At least on the surface. Once we get into the nitty gritty of the athletic departments and investment and whatever, maybe things change.

If we're looking at markets, Murray gets thrown out but Belmont stays. ORU isn't bad being in Tulsa and Wright State is still in Dayton. And this is where Milwaukee could gain some traction. Little Rock could get consideration though here. Expanding to 12 and adding Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee isn't horrible. If UE left then we could look at Valpo, still in Indiana or Wright State to get us into Ohio.

No offense to the XDSUs, but to me at least, those look more attractive. Plus ORU I know brings good basetball. I'm not sure of the minor sports at the others. I know Murray plays football, but I don't think the others do.

UALR would have a hard time competing in basketball imo. I like the thinned out sbc. We just dont get the recruits that wku gets.

We would do well in the other sports. Baseball is pretty good.

Part of me would love the invite but the other part of me sees the sbc ad a 3 horse race after the schools going to cusa leave. Wku, stAte, and ualr. I like those odds.

Thanks for the info. I'm keeping an eye on you guys either way as I've enjoyed your fans here. I'd love to see you guys continue to improve and find a place at the top of the Belt. Not having football makes you a school that will always at least get a look if the MVC is looking to add.

NDSU v AKRON tonight, ESPN 2 6pm hope to see a bracket busting job by NDSU !

NDSU not looking good. Down 42-23 a couple minutes into the 2nd half.

10-0 run by NDSU cuts lead to 10 with 8:45 left.