Ok I am not advocating any of this. I just am having some fun and starting a discussion.
A lot of people are saying another huge round of realignment is coming. How or will it affect the Valley? Let’s take a look.
Loyola: If the A-10 adds anybody the Chicago TV market will be huge. I can’t see Loyola saying no and I don’t blame them. I hope they stay but I doubt it.
Indiana state: I have seen rumbles of the Trees moving down to the OVC. Again I hope not but it makes a lot of sense. A much better home for their football and basketball would be very competitive. I don’t pretend to know the $’s involved.
Evansville: there have been whispers of them dropping to D-2 for years. I never thought they would but I am usually wrong.
Bradley: We can all hope they just go away never to be heard from again. They could always join the Illinois penal league. (Ok this one I am on board with)
I don’t see anybody else leaving.
Does the Valley go to 12,14,16 teams ? I love the 10 team round robin schedule so I really don’t like this.money talks though so I guess it is possible
Teams to be added ?
realistic options to replace or add.
Belmont: make them say no again
Oral Robert’s: Loyola leaves and this is another private school with a good TV market
UMKC: really brings nothing but a TV market
Omaha: see above
Denver: only on the list because 69 lives in Colorado 😁
Murray State: I have been and will be supportive of this one. Not much of a tv market though.
South Dakota State: solid program long Distance
North Dakota State: I believe their goal long term is BCS football and the mountain west.
north and South Dakota: both are trending up and could be solid. Like SDSU it’s a rough flight in January or February
St.Louis and DePaul are not realistic and never will be.
I know there are others who do you guys like ?
Ok I am not advocating any of this. I just am having some fun and starting a discussion.
A lot of people are saying another huge round of realignment is coming. How or will it affect the Valley? Let’s take a look.
Loyola: If the A-10 adds anybody the Chicago TV market will be huge. I can’t see Loyola saying no and I don’t blame them. I hope they stay but I doubt it.
Indiana state: I have seen rumbles of the Trees moving down to the OVC. Again I hope not but it makes a lot of sense. A much better home for their football and basketball would be very competitive. I don’t pretend to know the $’s involved.
Evansville: there have been whispers of them dropping to D-2 for years. I never thought they would but I am usually wrong.
Bradley: We can all hope they just go away never to be heard from again. They could always join the Illinois penal league. (Ok this one I am on board with)
I don’t see anybody else leaving.
Does the Valley go to 12,14,16 teams ? I love the 10 team round robin schedule so I really don’t like this.money talks though so I guess it is possible
Teams to be added ?
realistic options to replace or add.
Belmont: make them say no again
Oral Robert’s: Loyola leaves and this is another private school with a good TV market
UMKC: really brings nothing but a TV market
Omaha: see above
Denver: only on the list because 69 lives in Colorado 😁
Murray State: I have been and will be supportive of this one. Not much of a tv market though.
South Dakota State: solid program long Distance
North Dakota State: I believe their goal long term is BCS football and the mountain west.
north and South Dakota: both are trending up and could be solid. Like SDSU it’s a rough flight in January or February
St.Louis and DePaul are not realistic and never will be.
I know there are others who do you guys like ?
I fear the next round of changes that impact the Valley. I’m not sure there are many good hands left to be played, and the league already has been watered down considerably be realignment over the past decade, despite Loyola exceeding all reasonable expectations.
In general, Loyola (which has invested heavily) and Valpo (which has not) points to the importance of programs with the commitment and financial wherewithal to invest in coaches and facilities.
I’d be OK with Murray and/or Belmont but none of the other realistic options are especially promising. The best path to success in the foreseeable future is keeping Loyola, hoping Drake can build on its recent momentum and having some of the traditional powers (the overdue Salukis, UNI, even the disliked central Illinois foes) bring something to the table.
I think Murray St and Belmont are the best possible schools to add. Also adding onto your list, Milwaukee. Would add a nice TV market and is within decent distance of all the current schools except Missouri State. They have decent history with a Sweet 16 in 2005 and possibly might add a 5 star recruit since his dad is the coach:
Oh I agree but I think you are selling South Dakota State short. They are investing. Like NDSU though their long term goal my be BCS football
I think Murray St and Belmont are the best possible schools to add. Also adding onto your list, Milwaukee. Would add a nice TV market and is within decent distance of all the current schools except Missouri State. They have decent history with a Sweet 16 in 2005 and possibly might add a 5 star recruit since his dad is the coach:
AhhhhhI knew I was forgetting somebody. Yes a better option than most on the list
Also, if Loyola were to make it a short stay (again, hopefully not), I’m sure adding UIC to keep a foothold in Chicago would at least be considered. I know they were considered when Loyola was added.
Like I said then they bring nothing but the TV market. Of course I said that about Loyola so there is that
If Loyola leaves I think they add another Private school anyway.
Oh I agree but I think you are selling South Dakota State short. They are investing. Like NDSU though their long term goal my be BCS football
My short list would be: Belmont, Murray St or South Dakota State.
Ok I am not advocating any of this. I just am having some fun and starting a discussion.
A lot of people are saying another huge round of realignment is coming. How or will it affect the Valley? Let’s take a look.
Loyola: If the A-10 adds anybody the Chicago TV market will be huge. I can’t see Loyola saying no and I don’t blame them. I hope they stay but I doubt it.
Indiana state: I have seen rumbles of the Trees moving down to the OVC. Again I hope not but it makes a lot of sense. A much better home for their football and basketball would be very competitive. I don’t pretend to know the $’s involved.
Evansville: there have been whispers of them dropping to D-2 for years. I never thought they would but I am usually wrong.
Bradley: We can all hope they just go away never to be heard from again. They could always join the Illinois penal league. (Ok this one I am on board with)
I don’t see anybody else leaving.
Does the Valley go to 12,14,16 teams ? I love the 10 team round robin schedule so I really don’t like this.money talks though so I guess it is possible
Teams to be added ?
realistic options to replace or add.
Belmont: make them say no again
Oral Robert’s: Loyola leaves and this is another private school with a good TV market
UMKC: really brings nothing but a TV market
Omaha: see above
Denver: only on the list because 69 lives in Colorado 😁
Murray State: I have been and will be supportive of this one. Not much of a tv market though.
South Dakota State: solid program long Distance
North Dakota State: I believe their goal long term is BCS football and the mountain west.
north and South Dakota: both are trending up and could be solid. Like SDSU it’s a rough flight in January or February
St.Louis and DePaul are not realistic and never will be.
I know there are others who do you guys like ?
What about SIU leaving the Valley? There was some talk about SIU going to the OVC mostly for football. Certainly not advocating it. I am sure that SIU wasn’t thrilled with the MVFC adding the Dakota schools and the travel expenses that came with them. So is it possible that SIU finds a different conference for football? Or can a new conference be formed ?
First of all this is all just speculation on my part and maybe I should clarify my post. Since the MVFC is basically a separate conference from the MVC basketball side. I could only see SIU leaving the MVFC . I have heard that SIU would not leave the Valley in basketball 🏀 but football I am not so sure about . The problem would be where would football go ? Maybe form a new conference with current basketball members and try and add a few others ?
Would be smart for football to move down to the OVC. The Dakotas aren't going away anytime soon and getting better and you have Missouri State ready to be a force for awhile. SIU is likely going to sit on the wrong side of the bubble for awhile. In the OVC, they can easily compete for football championships and give some value to the stadium they spent a lot of money on. And of course you have Illinois St and Western Illinois screwing them over this year.
I'd be a fan of the conference moving to 12 teams ONLY if we added quality programs like Murray, Belmont, South Dakota State, or SLU (which like Barkeep pointed out, won't happen).
I like Murray State and Belmont and after that I have thought Northern Kentucky would be decent. I know the coach who had them winning a lot moved on but they could be a good addition in good market. Distance might be an issue. Milwaukee would be decent. Hoping Loyola doesn't leave. I think with the current coaches for the most part the MVC is improving and will continue to. I would think we are at point hopefully where we are attractive for consideration by some quality schools. The Dakota schools could be good additions. For football I think we are going to be able to complete pretty well going forward. Nick has us poised to be in the upper half consistently going forward I hope.
I guess this discussion has reached Twitter.
Adding Northern Kentucky, Dallas Baptist( if they go D-1 in basketball),Ut Arlington and SF Austin to the list .?
