SIU's market seems to be ESPN3...how much are we getting paid for TV?
I believe we receive $100,000 from ESPN streaming. I don't know what the league receives from Bally's, CBS, etc.
We are a basketball conference! If we don't add Murray, that's just dumb!
I get that Murray doesn't want to be wo a football conference. I don't think they're any worse than WIU or Indiana State. Joining the MVFC would give them a boost too. They finished 6 - 5 and their freshman QB was OVC Freshman of the Year. Beat SEMO and EIU twice!
It's not about being smart or dumb. The President's Council looks at more than men's basketball in making their determination. The first thing the commissioner is going to have to take them is some way to replace the millions of potential TV viewers we lose in Chicago. Again, the end goal is to add potential TV eyeballs in order to get the bigger TV contracts. Murray simply does not do that.
That's not the only consideration. Academics, facilities, and travel all play a role, too. Murray is not on solid footing there either. Does all of that mean that they won't be invited? No, but it doesn't help them. They are not a lock, and I think the Valley would take a marginal team in a large market over Murray.
Not sure Texas Arlington in the Dallas-Ft Worth market would bring in many (or any) watchers. Be a long time before they could make a dent in the local interest in SMU, TCU, or North Texas. They just have no history or tradition in athletics.
On the other hand, Murray is a solid-as-a-rock basketball program that can and does get national recognition at times. Ja Morant is a young NBA star that is giving them recognition every time he plays. MVC would be adding another team with NCAA at-large potential. Also would add some great rivalries and short trips for a lot of MVC schools. Yes it's a bit out of the way:
but so is Carbondale.
Facilities? Have you seen Valpo?
UIC should absolutely be a target too. No MVFC football issues there. Strong baseball program and could be a strong basketball program if they really wanted it to be.
Northern Iowa moves to 2-5 with a loss to Richmond. Valpo beats Western Michigan. Drake only up 5 against St. Thomas in the 2nd half.
what is going on in Frostbite Falls?
@capncat could address that question best.
Northern Iowa moves to 2-5 with a loss to Richmond. Valpo beats Western Michigan. Drake only up 5 against St. Thomas in the 2nd half.
what is going on in Frostbite Falls?
@capncat could address that question best.
I watched UNI at Arkansas. Shot the lights out but defensively-challenged.
Added Belmont (43) and Murray State (64) who would slot in #2 and #3. Hopefully Murray is added soon, things wouldn't be looking good right now if Belmont wasn't waiting in the wings.
Who, besides the Redturds, haha, has Murray State beaten this year? Take a look at their schedule, they have really been mopping up on the non-D1 teams. Only non-home games aside from Illinois State were in a tournament where they finished 5th. Let’s see how they do at Memphis this weekend.
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Missouri Valley Conference games for Tuesday, December 7th:
East-West University @ #214 Valparaiso 6:00 PM ESPN+
Valpo gets a good one against USCAA East-West University of Chicago. Honestly didn't even know you were allowed to play schools lower than NAIA and D3.
#185 Bradley @ #119 Toledo 6:00 PM ESPN+ (Toledo favored by 4.5)
Bradley gets a good test at 6-2 Toledo. The Rockets were picked 3rd in the MAC preseason poll.
Roosevelt @ #28 Loyola Chicago 7:00 PM ESPN3
Loyola gets NAIA Roosevelt from Chicago. Roosevelt is 7-3 against NAIA competition.
Not sure Texas Arlington in the Dallas-Ft Worth market would bring in many (or any) watchers. Be a long time before they could make a dent in the local interest in SMU, TCU, or North Texas. They just have no history or tradition in athletics.
On the other hand, Murray is a solid-as-a-rock basketball program that can and does get national recognition at times. Ja Morant is a young NBA star that is giving them recognition every time he plays. MVC would be adding another team with NCAA at-large potential. Also would add some great rivalries and short trips for a lot of MVC schools. Yes it's a bit out of the way:
but so is Carbondale.
Facilities? Have you seen Valpo?
UIC should absolutely be a target too. No MVFC football issues there. Strong baseball program and could be a strong basketball program if they really wanted it to be.
Agree. I really don't see UTA adding much, and UIC is preferable to Murray in my book if they can make a commitment to invest in basketball.
I remember lots of people were upset about Loyola being added . . .
(Inflammatory political snark)
I've never heard of the USCAA, nor East-West. I don't think any Valley school should be scheduling that level of school.
Not sure Texas Arlington in the Dallas-Ft Worth market would bring in many (or any) watchers. Be a long time before they could make a dent in the local interest in SMU, TCU, or North Texas. They just have no history or tradition in athletics.
On the other hand, Murray is a solid-as-a-rock basketball program that can and does get national recognition at times. Ja Morant is a young NBA star that is giving them recognition every time he plays. MVC would be adding another team with NCAA at-large potential. Also would add some great rivalries and short trips for a lot of MVC schools. Yes it's a bit out of the way:
but so is Carbondale.
Facilities? Have you seen Valpo?
UIC should absolutely be a target too. No MVFC football issues there. Strong baseball program and could be a strong basketball program if they really wanted it to be.
Agree. I really don't see UTA adding much, and UIC is preferable to Murray in my book if they can make a commitment to invest in basketball.
I remember lots of people were upset about Loyola being added . . .
I'm OK with adding UIC at this point as I do think having a Chicago presence is good for the MVC, but Loyola's rise, at least this far and this fast, was quite a longshot that I wouldn't count on being replicated. And I wonder if Loyola's success will make it harder for UIC in that they'd be one additional peg down the city pecking order with Loyola having transformed its program, along with DePaul and Northwestern.
I pretty much hate the expansion game and all the conference volatility in general, but if they're going to add the likes of UT-Arlington, UIC, etc., you might as well also grab Murray, much more of a sure thing on the basketball front.
Yes, I've heard all the market size and economics talk, but I'd prefer for the MVC, a purported basketball-centric league, not to suck at basketball.
i'm often wrong but i don't think loyola's recent success is sustainable.
i'm often wrong but i don't think loyola's recent success is sustainable.
Depends on Valentine as a coach. Loyola has a national brand now and a brand new practice facility with a ton of money to spend in a great city.
i'm often wrong but i don't think loyola's recent success is sustainable.
Depends on Valentine as a coach. Loyola has a national brand now and a brand new practice facility with a ton of money to spend in a great city.
I know what you're saying.
I can't imagine it will be easy selling midwest kids on playing most of their games in places like UMass, Rhodey, LaSalle etc.
I think that is what has capped the billukuns success.
one misstep and it is over. Being in Chicago never helped them previously. I'm not sure how it will keep them relevant once the slide starts
Bradley falls 67-65 at Toledo. Good effort from the Braves, think they're figuring things out. Terry Roberts with 21 points.
Missouri Valley Conference games for Wednesday, December 8th:
#79 Missouri State @ #300 Little Rock 6:30 PM ESPN+ (Missouri St favored by 12)
Missouri State travels to Little Rock to fulfill their home and home with them from 2 years ago where they lost to the Trojans to open their 2019-20 season. Little Rock has been hampered by injuries since we saw them in the first game of the season, 4 of their players have missed games since the first game of the season including Nikola Maric. Other than SIU, Northern Illinois is the only D-1 team Little Rock has beaten this year.
#229 Evansville @ #287 Southeast Missouri 6:30 PM ESPN+ (Evansville favored by 1)
The Purple Aces travel to Cape Girardeau to face SIU's next opponent after Tulsa. SEMO has struggled since their opening night win over Missouri State winning just one other D-1 game against #355 Incarnate Word.
#70 Drake @ #334 Nebraska Omaha 8:00 PM Online streaming (Drake favored by 20)
Drake heads to Omaha to face a Mavericks team that has no D-1 wins this year and lost by 10 to SIUe. Guessing this game is for Ayo Akinwole who spent 4 years at Nebraska Omaha before transferring to Drake this season.
