Wichita State leaving MVC?

[Muskie]

Link (http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article139945788.html)

They would head to the AAC, apparently.

[GoMuskies]

That's been all the talk around town.

[Muskie]

What do you think of the proposed move?

[GoMuskies]

What fo you think of the proposed move?

It's fantastic for Wichita State if they can pull it off. I mean, there are still some shitty teams in the AAC, but they also get Memphis, UConn and Cincinnati coming here to play home games. Those would be the three best programs to play at Koch Arena....maybe ever. And Houston and SMU are/can be pretty good programs, too.

On the baseball side, it's enormous, too, with schools like Houston, Tulane and East Carolina in the league. Granted, Wichita State has been godawful in baseball for about five years. But the fans are always still dreaming of returning to their former perennial national power days that started in the late '80s and lasted almost 20 years.

[xubrew]

I know that Wichita has been looking at adding football, and has been extensively reviewing all their options from bringing it in at the Pioneer League level, to FCS, to FBS, to FCS with the intent of moving it up to the FBS. I guess this would certainly open the door of playing football at the FBS level as well.

[GoMuskies]

I think football is (happily) dead at WSU. Costs too much with not enough willing money to support it.

[GoMuskies]

Interesting UConn spin from Hartford: Wichita State joining the AAC could be the impetus to push UConn to the Big East. That would be cool.

http://www.courant.com/sports/basketball/hc-aac-wichita-state-0323-20170322-story.html

[Snipe]

UConn doesn't do a think for me. I want 18 conference games and a true round robin. We already have the perfect conference. We got 7 teams in.

[Masterofreality]

The AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC sucks.

All that will happen if Wichita joins is it will be dragged down to the latrine sewer level of the rest of those dregs. Good F-ing luck.

[GoMuskies]

The Valley makes the AAC look like the NBA Western Conference.

(And that's not really meant as a compliment to the AAC).

[xubrew]

I think football is (happily) dead at WSU. Costs too much with not enough willing money to support it.

Interesting. They seemed pretty serious about it. At least from a distance. As recently as this summer I would have predicted that they were going to go through with it. You're at a much closer distance than I am, though.

The last I heard was that they anticipated a start up cost of about $49 million to come in at the FBS level, which is no small amount. I hadn't heard that they had completely shelved the idea, though, or shelved the possibility at starting it at the FCS level, perhaps even in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

[waggy]

Interesting UConn spin from Hartford: Wichita State joining the AAC could be the impetus to push UConn to the Big East. That would be cool.

http://www.courant.com/sports/basketball/hc-aac-wichita-state-0323-20170322-story.html


See this makes me think UConn wants to go to the BE, and Wichita is the replacement to prevent a meltdown.

[xu82]

The BE is just fine as is, thank you!

I want to move into this amazing house in Buckhead I recently toured, but I was never invited to live there.

[GoMuskies]

Andy Katz with the scoop of the day: Wichita State would leave the Valley if invited to the AAC. Uh, duh. The actual news, I guess, is that the AAC will make a decision "soon".

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/18983243/american-athletic-conference-make-decision-adding-wichita-sate-shockers

[muskiefan82]

No brainer for the AAC! if Wichita State wants in.

[blueblob06]

So long as nothing changes in the Big East!

Hey Mick will at least get to finally to play a home-and-home with a top program since he said no one will schedule against UC.

[OH.X.MI]

Cronin and Marshall are an inferiority complex matchup made in heaven.

[GoMuskies]

Cronin and Marshall are an inferiority complex matchup made in heaven.

I don't really see that with Marshall. But even if so, Marshall can at least actually coach.

[muskiefan82]

Do you think the AAC! would take DePaul too? We can take UCONN and they can have the Blue Demons.

[GoMuskies]

Do you think the AAC! would take DePaul too? We can take UCONN and they can have the Blue Demons.

Now THAT would be a nice trade. But even the AAC has standards, I think.

[xubrew]

Do you think the AAC! would take DePaul too? We can take UCONN and they can have the Blue Demons.

Hell, they don't even have to give us UConn! If they just take DePaul and I'd be happy!!

[muskiefan82]

There is truth in that Brew.

[GoMuskies]

Looks like this is happening for the 2017-18 season. That's going to be good news for everyone. WSU is going to be loaded next year.

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/19042825/wichita-state-shockers-eyes-2017-move-american-athletic-conference

[xubrew]

Looks like this is happening for the 2017-18 season. That's going to be good news for everyone. WSU is going to be loaded next year.

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/19042825/wichita-state-shockers-eyes-2017-move-american-athletic-conference

Wichita State is possibly a top ten team next year. I hope they're able to put together an OOC schedule that enables them to prove that.

[GoMuskies]

Wichita State is possibly a top ten team next year. I hope they're able to put together an OOC schedule that enables them to prove that.

If they're in the AAC, they won't need too difficult an OOC schedule. They ARE playing in Mau (Michigan, ND, VCU, Marquette)i. And go to Oklahoma State. And Oklahoma is coming to Wichita. That's probably it for high profile non-conference games.

[RyanblockXU]

This could really help out the AAC. This could turn the league into a 4 or 5 bid league every year with SMU, UC, WSU, UCONN and then Memphis if Tubby can right the ship.

The middle of the league wouldn't be good but it also wouldn't be terrible: Temple, Tulsa UCF & Houston


But man those bottom 3 below in low major conferences; Tulane, ECU and USF all suck bad and will be RPI drags on any team that plays them

[XUMIOH12]

I hope they stay in the MVC

[xubrew]

I hope they stay in the MVC

Why?

I'd rather see them play against teams like SMU, Houston (who should be better), Cincinnati, Memphis (who should also be better), etc than play against Drake, Indiana State, and the like. There are five or six teams in the AAC that it would be fun to watch Wichita play against. There's virtually zero in the Missouri Valley.

[Ohionite_X]

SMU seems destined to take a dive. I liken them to Saint Louis when Rick Majerus passed away and Tim Crews took over. 0% chance Tim Jankovich continues the type of recruiting that Larry Brown did.

[GoMuskies]

Unless the AAC changes their collective minds, they're not staying in the Valley, so it's a moot point.

[muskiefan82]

They need to find a way to make @ UC their first conference game so they can come to the Cintas first before that game. @ Xavier Wed/Thurs; @ UC Saturday

[casualfan]

SMU seems destined to take a dive. I liken them to Saint Louis when Rick Majerus passed away and Tim Crews took over. 0% chance Tim Jankovich continues the type of recruiting that Larry Brown did.

They have two of the best transfers in the country sitting out this year.

Jankovich recruited both.

[Juice]

SMU seems destined to take a dive. I liken them to Saint Louis when Rick Majerus passed away and Tim Crews took over. 0% chance Tim Jankovich continues the type of recruiting that Larry Brown did.

You do realize Jankovic was the one running the show these last few years? Larry was a figure head. Jankovic left his head coaching job to be the coach in waiting at SMU.

[casualfan]

You do realize Jankovic was the one running the show these last few years? Larry was a figure head. Jankovic left his head coaching job to be the coach in waiting at SMU.

This is spot on.

I am a hoops junkie and SMU is one of my teams (about 4 years ago when i really got into college hoops I picked a random team in each of the top 6 or 7 conferences to follow).

If you look at their current roster Jankovich was solely responsible for guys like Ben Moore, Sterling Brown, and Jarrey Foster.

He was also the guy who recruited both Jimmy Whitt and Jahmal McMurray.

I was a big proponent of Illinois hiring him although I never saw the Underwood hire coming.

Here are my teams since I know it's coming:

A10- Rhode Island
BE- Xavier
AAC- SMU
BIG- Wisconsin
Pac12- USC
SEC- Alabama
Big 12- Iowa State
ACC- Virginia Tech

[XUMIOH12]

Why?

I'd rather see them play against teams like SMU, Houston (who should be better), Cincinnati, Memphis (who should also be better), etc than play against Drake, Indiana State, and the like. There are five or six teams in the AAC that it would be fun to watch Wichita play against. There's virtually zero in the Missouri Valley.

No particular reason, I just would rather see them stay in the MVC. Them leaving would pretty much kill the MVC as a basketball conference, and I would rather see the AAC be as shitty as possible.

[xubrew]

The MVC would still have enough going for it that it wouldn't suck too terribly bad. Hell, more often than not they'd probably have a team inside the bubble.

[Ohionite_X]

Both transfers are shooting guards from what I gathered, which is kind of the last thing that team needs. They have a decent looking 6ft PG coming in along with a 3 star big man and 2 unranked recruits. SMU's entire lineup, which will go about 6 deep btw, will all be 6'6' and under assuming the freshman big man isn't ready for big minutes.

You guys can't deny that the name Larry Brown had to have attracted a majority of these guys even if he didn't do the actual recruiting.

This lineup can work for the AAC but that won't win games in the NCAA tournament. I like Shake Milton a lot but once he graduates that program will take a step back. You can buy stock on them if you want, I'm selling.

[GoMuskies]

SMU won't be this good forever, it's true, but you can be damned sure Memphis and UConn won't stay down.

[Masterofreality]

SMU won't be this good forever, it's true, but you can be damned sure Memphis and UConn won't stay down.

Different world for UConn. They're losing people because of A) No Calhoun B) No recruiting synergy in the Northeast with the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC. Too many teams in the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC in the Sunbelt away from NYC...and they know it.

Memphis just sucks as a city and school. Nothing attractive.

[GoMuskies]

Very objective and balanced take on the AAC as usual, MOR. :)

The AAC is the old A-10. It's plenty good, and you can get to the Final Four from there. But it's clearly NOTHING compared to where we find ourselves now.

[Masterofreality]

Very objective and balanced take on the AAC as usual, MOR. :)

The AAC is the old A-10. It's plenty good, and you can get to the Final Four from there. But it's clearly NOTHING compared to where we find ourselves now.

The only way any A10 team would make a Final Four.....is if Xavier was still in it.

Look how Temple, UConn, Memphis have declined in the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC. YOU JUST CAN't get any traction with players when you're playing Tulane & Central Florida. Wichita may help....but not with recruiting big time players in the Big Cities.

[GoMuskies]

That league is fine. The programs in that league will continue to get good players, have good teams and have plenty of success. I wish them and the A-10 well (other than Dayton and UC, of coure), and I certainly welcome all success any of them have against the "P5" conferences.

[Masterofreality]

That league is fine. The programs in that league will continue to get good players, have good teams and have plenty of success. I wish them and the A-10 well (other than Dayton and UC, of coure), and I certainly welcome all success any of them have against the "P5" conferences.

I want the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC to choke on its own vomit.

[GoMuskies]

Mike Decoursey claims Wichita State will regret leaving the Valley. My God that guy is a dolt.

[casualfan]

Mike Decoursey claims Wichita State will regret leaving the Valley. My God that guy is a dolt.

I saw that and initially disagreed, but his explanation does make some sense at least.

He expanded on his initial post to say that when the realignment engine fires back up in 4-5 years that they may end up in a league that is on par with the MVC but is terrible for them geographically.

It's the worst kept secret in the world that once Texas and OU leave the Big12 they will raid the AAC so i see where he's coming from.

I still think if I were Wichita i'd make the move, but after seeing his explanation i at least understand where he is coming from.

[Juice]

I saw that and initially disagreed, but his explanation does make some sense at least.

He expanded on his initial post to say that when the realignment engine fires back up in 4-5 years that they may end up in a league that is on par with the MVC but is terrible for them geographically.

It's the worst kept secret in the world that once Texas and OU leave the Big12 they will raid the AAC so i see where he's coming from.

I still think if I were Wichita i'd make the move, but after seeing his explanation i at least understand where he is coming from.

I think they're making a drastic decision based on a down year in the MVC. They can schedule better and solve most of their problems. Now if they're leaving solely for a money upgrade then I get it.

[GoMuskies]

No, he's an idiot. Those programs that want to leave have no where else to go. If the AAC gets hollowed out, WSU will likely be one of the best programs and will be one of the ones leaving for greener pastures, too.

Oh by the way, the Valley would take them right on back in the worst case.

[GoMuskies]

I think they're making a drastic decision based on a down year in the MVC.

The Valley has been dead since Creighton left. This is a complete no brainer.

[casualfan]

I think they're making a drastic decision based on a down year in the MVC. They can schedule better and solve most of their problems. Now if they're leaving solely for a money upgrade then I get it.

I don't necessarily agree with this.

Two years in a row they have had top 15 kenpom teams and have been given a double digit seed. This year got the pub, but last year theywere 13 in kenpom and got an 11 seed.

Hell even in 2015 they were 13 in kenpom and got a 7.

That's three straight years of being ridiculously underseeded.

The AAC isn't going to totally solve that problem, but it will help more then the MVC ever would.

[GoMuskies]

Honestly, WSU turning down the AAC to stay in the Valley would be akin to Xavier turning down the A-10 to stay in the MCC back in 1994.

[xubrew]

Honestly, WSU turning down the AAC to stay in the Valley would be akin to Xavier turning down the A-10 to stay in the MCC back in 1994.

Or Butler opting to stay in the Horizon League.

Mike DeCoursey has lead in his house. That's the only explanation.

[MADXSTER]

I have always been a supporter of WSU becoming a member of the BE. They have great fan support, have a strong program, would give Creighton a natural rival. They just need a better league to play in.

[JTG]

Ugh....no, nothing in common with rest of BE.

[MADXSTER]

Their arena holds 10,500. Their average attendance was 10,800. They've sold out 41 consecutive home games. For every reason you can find for not taking WSU into the BE you could find for Xavier not being admitted into the BE. IMO.

[JTG]

Xavier attendance is probably 2nd in BE except for Creighton.

[bleedXblue]

Joining a league in which the premier schools are trying to leave for something better is generally not a sound strategy.

UC, UCONN, Temple and Memphis would all leave today for a better opportunity

[xubrew]

All 351 schools would leave their leagues today for a better opportunity. Xavier would leave the Big East in a second if the Big Ten or ACC wanted them. I suppose it's possible that all four of those schools will have opportunities to leave, but it's also very realistic to think that they won't have those opportunities. No matter how it plays out, Wichita will be in a league that is, at worst, still better than the current MVC with a bigger piece of media revenue.

[bleedXblue]

All 351 schools would leave their leagues today for a better opportunity. Xavier would leave the Big East in a second if the Big Ten or ACC wanted them. I suppose it's possible that all four of those schools will have opportunities to leave, but it's also very realistic to think that they won't have those opportunities. No matter how it plays out, Wichita will be in a league that is, at worst, still better than the current MVC with a bigger piece of media revenue.

Yeah....no.

There are schools that really like their conference and situation and there are those that are actively working to find a better situation.

I don't disagree that the "current AAC" may in the short term be better for WSU. But will it be in 5 years?

[GoMuskies]

Even if all those schools left (for where?), the AAC would be at worst equivalent to the Valley. There is literally no downside.

[xubrew]

Yeah....no.

There are schools that really like their conference and situation and there are those that are actively working to find a better situation.

I don't disagree that the "current AAC" may in the short term be better for WSU. But will it be in 5 years?

Yeah, I think it would be better for them in five years. What's the worst that could happen?? They end up in a league where there are typically only one or two NIT caliber teams at the top, and everyone else is 150 or worse?? That's where they're at now.

[muskienick]

No, he's an idiot. Those programs that want to leave have no where else to go. If the AAC gets hollowed out, WSU will likely be one of the best programs and will be one of the ones leaving for greener pastures, too.

Oh by the way, the Valley would take them right on back in the worst case.

I heartily agree with your last sentence, but I don't think you gave enough thought to your second-last sentence. To what "greener pastures" would WSU go without a D-1 football team?

[GoMuskies]

I heartily agree with your last sentence, but I don't think you gave enough thought to your second-last sentence. To what "greener pastures" would WSU go without a D-1 football team?

I have no idea, but no one expected them in the AAC with no football team, either.

[GIMMFD]

I saw that and initially disagreed, but his explanation does make some sense at least.

He expanded on his initial post to say that when the realignment engine fires back up in 4-5 years that they may end up in a league that is on par with the MVC but is terrible for them geographically.

It's the worst kept secret in the world that once Texas and OU leave the Big12 they will raid the AAC so i see where he's coming from.

I still think if I were Wichita i'd make the move, but after seeing his explanation i at least understand where he is coming from.

OU to the Big Ten and Texas to the SEC is what I'm thinking, the Big 12 ends up taking the old Big East members (Cincinnati, UCONN, probably UCF/USF) to open up the Florida market, while making travel for WVU a little easier, that conference would be garbage though. I'd feel for WVU, because they already got rejected once by the ACC for academics, and I don't see them moving to the ACC regardless of the success of football and basketball.

[xubrew]

So, my next curiosity is does the Valley look to add a team or do they just stay at 9? If they do want to replace them, then I would have to think that Valpo is very high on the list of candidates. Or they could go after an A10 school. I mean...the A10 media deal is so bad that the Valley currently gets close to twice as much per school as the A10 does.

On the second thought, please let it be an A10 school!!! Just imagine the hilarity!!

[GoMuskies]

I can't imagine why Valpo would leave the Horizon for the Valley at this point. I think you're looking at the low majors at this point. Murray State would be a good add. I've seen speculation that it could be North Dakota State since they already play football in the Valley.

[xubrew]

I can't imagine why Valpo would leave the Horizon for the Valley at this point. I think you're looking at the low majors at this point. Murray State would be a good add. I've seen speculation that it could be North Dakota State since they already play football in the Valley.

North Dakota State does play football in the Valley (sort of).

The Missouri Valley Football Conference is technically a completely different conference with the same name. It's a football only conference with its own bylaws, and league office, and schedule makers, etc. It's actually the old Gateway Conference. It just changed its name.

So with that in mind, I think I'd stay put if I were NDSU.

I still think of the Valley as being a step up from the HL. Maybe without Wichita State that's more my perception than it is the reality, though.

[X-band '01]

So, my next curiosity is does the Valley look to add a team or do they just stay at 9? If they do want to replace them, then I would have to think that Valpo is very high on the list of candidates. Or they could go after an A10 school. I mean...the A10 media deal is so bad that the Valley currently gets close to twice as much per school as the A10 does.

On the second thought, please let it be an A10 school!!! Just imagine the hilarity!!

Paging Saint Louis...

[GoMuskies]

http://www.kake.com/story/35069813/source-wichita-state-to-join-american-athletic-conference?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_KAKEnews

[GoMuskies]

The AAC unanimously voted to add Wichita State this morning. So it's official now. The Shockers will be coming to Cincinnati next season.

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/04/07/aac-conference-adds-wichita-state-shockers

[xubrew]

The AAC unanimously voted to add Wichita State this morning. So it's official now. The Shockers will be coming to Cincinnati next season.

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/04/07/aac-conference-adds-wichita-state-shockers

It is extremely rare that I feel this way, but I think this is a great move for both Wichita and the AAC. They've essentially added a top 25 caliber program to basketball, and are now able to balance out the schedule somewhat, and Navy remains the 12th football affiliate, which is a good program to have as a football affiliate if you're going to have one.

I also happen to think Wichita is a top 15 team next year. Maybe even top 10. They're going to be VERY damn good, and they need to be in a conference where 80 percent of the teams are not outside the RPI top 100.

I know you always mention it, and I agree. Xavier should play Wichita.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier should play Wichita.

In Wichita, peferably

[Muskie]

Done Deal (Link (http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article143288204.html))

[sirthought]

This move makes the AAC stronger, but I'd rather see some of their current members figure things out and find success. I don't see UCONN jumping ship soon, as some have speculated.

[GoMuskies]

UConn would leave yesterday if they could. But no one wants them.

Now that Wichita State is moving to the AAC, I would LOVE to see Murray State take their place in the MVC. Unfortunately, I think it makes too much sense, so it will never happen.

[xubrew]

UConn would leave yesterday if they could. But no one wants them.

Now that Wichita State is moving to the AAC, I would LOVE to see Murray State take their place in the MVC. Unfortunately, I think it makes too much sense, so it will never happen.

There is the issue of Murray State's football team. I don't see them staying in the OVC, and the Missouri Valley Football Conference is an independent entity that has nothing to do with the MVC. It's actually the old Gateway Conference. They just changed the name because they wanted to confuse people. They already have ten members and I can see them not wanting to add Murray State. There's no real reason to.

[Masterofreality]

UConn would leave yesterday if they could. But no one wants them.

Now that Wichita State is moving to the AAC, I would LOVE to see Murray State take their place in the MVC. Unfortunately, I think it makes too much sense, so it will never happen.

Actually Valparaiso would be a better choice.

[GoMuskies]

Actually Valparaiso would be a better choice.

But why would Valpo bother making that move? Lateral at best.

[Juice]

Bit why would Valpo bother making that move? Lateral at best.

Good. It would help NKU.

[X-band '01]

Oakland will still be a hurdle (and maybe a bigger one) for NKU in the near future.

[Juice]

Oakland will still be a hurdle (and maybe a bigger one) for NKU in the near future.

No argument with that but Valpo and Oakland are clearly the tops of the conference.

[xubrew]

No argument with that but Valpo and Oakland are clearly the tops of the conference.

Probalby not next year. I think NKU is the best team. They have four starters back and their entire bench back, and the blew through the second half of conference play. I think they finished 12-1 or something like that. I think they're gonna be like Valpo was the last two years where they're flirting with the bubble. Hopefully they don't fall short of making the dance like Valpo did.

[Juice]

Probalby not next year. I think NKU is the best team. They have four starters back and their entire bench back, and the blew through the second half of conference play. I think they finished 12-1 or something like that. I think they're gonna be like Valpo was the last two years where they're flirting with the bubble. Hopefully they don't fall short of making the dance like Valpo did.

I'm not really talking about next year specifically. I'm just talking about them being the top two programs in the conference that NKU would have to compete with each year as NKU improves as a program.

[xu95]

UMKC is trying to get an invite to replace Wichita State.

[X-band '01]

UMKC is trying to get an invite to replace Wichita State.

Now THAT is an April Fool's gag that's well timed.

[xubrew]

Well, I guess the Roos make geographic sense.

[GoMuskies]

Murray State to the Valley talk is heating up. Crossing my fingers. Murray says they don't have an invite yet.

http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/35203718/murray-state-ad-still-no-invite-to-join-missouri-valley-conference

[xubrew]

Murray State to the Valley talk is heating up. Crossing my fingers. Murray says they don't have an invite yet.

http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/35203718/murray-state-ad-still-no-invite-to-join-missouri-valley-conference

What would become of Murray State football?

[GoMuskies]

What would become of Murray State football?

Drop it? Convince the MVC to take Murray State football (since they're not COMPLETELY independent of the other MVC given membership and administrative overlap)?

[xubrew]

Drop it? Convince the MVC to take Murray State football (since they're not COMPLETELY independent of the other MVC given membership and administrative overlap)?

I don't think they'll drop it. The problem with the MVFC is that it's kind of full as it is, but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't take them. By FCS football standards that's almost as big of a score as moving to the MVC in basketball. They'd get absolutely creamed, but they'd be in a much better league.

But, I think they'd take it down to the Pioneer League before they'd cut it completely.

[GoMuskies]

I read that they have body bag games set up with Louisville, Kentucky and Georgia, and apparently those are far too valuable to give up. So I guess closing up shop isn't an option until they've made sure their next three teams worth of kids get the hell beat out of them (well, maybe not by Kentucky).

[xubrew]

I read that they have body bag games set up with Louisville, Kentucky and Georgia, and apparently those are far too valuable to give up. So I guess closing up shop isn't an option until they've made sure their next three teams worth of kids get the hell beat out of them (well, maybe not by Kentucky).

Yeah, the going rate for a buy game against an FBS team is about a million bucks these days. They're probably getting close to $500k for each of those games, which is a lot if you're Murray State

[GoMuskies]

Dave Reynolds @DaveReynolds2

Sources have told me that Valley officials visited Murray State Monday, are at Valparaiso today and have visits set for Milwaukee and Omaha.


If the Valley adds Murray, Valpo and UW-Milwaukee, that would be a very solid mid-major league.

[xubrew]

Dave Reynolds @DaveReynolds2

Sources have told me that Valley officials visited Murray State Monday, are at Valparaiso today and have visits set for Milwaukee and Omaha.


If the Valley adds Murray, Valpo and UW-Milwaukee, that would be a very solid mid-major league.

I think they're only going to pick one. Murray State is by far the best candidate out of that group. I know Valpo is strong overall, and has been much better the last two years, but I still think Murray is the best long term pick. The question still remains what happens with Murray's football team.

[XUMIOH12]

Dave Reynolds @DaveReynolds2

Sources have told me that Valley officials visited Murray State Monday, are at Valparaiso today and have visits set for Milwaukee and Omaha.


If the Valley adds Murray, Valpo and UW-Milwaukee, that would be a very solid mid-major league.

i don't really get the sentiment for the MVC to add Milwaukee

[xubrew]

i don't really get the sentiment for the MVC to add Milwaukee

The market. I agree that it's not a good pick, but that's the (perhaps flawed) reason.

[dnnrobert]

i don't really get the sentiment for the MVC to add Milwaukee

Nice market, nice arena, okay basketball. They would be foolish to not add at least 3 teams. You can't replace Wichita State with any one program outside the major conferences. I think they should talk to these 5 schools and add at least 3 of them:

Murray State
Valparaiso
Oakland
Milwaukee
Northern Kentucky

All of those schools have either great facilities, good markets, or a good basketball tradition. And I think all of them have the potential to be pretty good in the MVC.

[xubrew]

Nice market, nice arena, okay basketball. They would be foolish to not add at least 3 teams. You can't replace Wichita State with any one program outside the major conferences. I think they should talk to these 5 schools and add at least 3 of them:

Murray State
Valparaiso
Oakland
Milwaukee
Northern Kentucky

All of those schools have either great facilities, good markets, or a good basketball tradition. And I think all of them have the potential to be pretty good in the MVC.

If they had more than seven full members with baseball teams I'm not so sure they'd be adding anyone, much less adding three schools.

[xubrew]

Rumor has it that the MVC is adding Valpo, and that it is the only team they intend to add.

[GoMuskies]

Rumor has it that the MVC is adding Valpo, and that it is the only team they intend to add.

That sucks.

[X-band '01]

Guessing Murray State's football situation may be preventing the move if that's the case.

[BMoreX]

MVC adding Valpo

[muskiefan82]

MVC adding Valpo

Shocker.

[waggy]

I don't know, seems the Horizon has as much potential as the MVC.

[X-band '01]

Wonder if the Horizon decides to invite either IUPUI or Fort Wayne to retain a presence in Indiana (or both, perhaps). They're both becoming more outlier programs in the Summit.

[xubrew]

Bellarmine has been talking about going div1. They need to jump on this if they're serious because they may not get another opportunity like this.

[XUMIOH12]

Shocker.

pun intended?

[muskiefan82]

Yes

[xubrew]

Wonder if the Horizon decides to invite either IUPUI or Fort Wayne to retain a presence in Indiana (or both, perhaps). They're both becoming more outlier programs in the Summit.

I sometimes think that all of the basketball centric leagues should realign and/or do more to work together when it comes to political issues within the NCAA.

Well, the Big East is doing pretty good, I guess, but the other leagues that don't play football at any level (A10, MVC, ASun, HL, WAC, WCC, AEast, Summit, and Big West) would have a much louder voice and probably do better for themselves if they did more to work together, including realigning some of the leagues, and perhaps even forming an additional league or two. You're talking about close to 100 schools in those leagues that can focus entirely on basketball as the only revenue sport.

[xubrew]

If they had more than seven full members with baseball teams I'm not so sure they'd be adding anyone, much less adding three schools.

There have been times where I've been certain about something, and then turned out to be wrong. I was CERTAIN that a conference needed seven teams in a sport in order to be eligible for an automatic bid. A conference only needs six teams. Apparently that changed when the American was formed.

Nevertheless, the Horizon League still has six baseball teams and doesn't have to add another one if they don't want to.

With that being said, I'm also hearing that they're looking at Robert Morris (no baseball), IUPUI (no baseball), IPFW, SIU Edwardsville, and.....Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon has a great athletic department, but to say they are a geographic outlier is an understatement. The travel costs alone should disqualify them.

I guess adding Bellarmine isn't in the cards. I think they'd be an excellent choice, and since I'm always right about these kinds of things I think the league and Bellarmine are missing out on a great opportunity.

But, in all seriousness, if I'm the HL I'm not so sure I want to add anybody. Why share all the revenue with a tenth school if you don't have to? There is no one that they could realistically add that would elevate the conference, much less elevate it to the point to where they're routinely anything more than a one bid league in virtually all sports. So, why add anyone?? When Butler and Loyola Chicago left they needed to add someone (Oakland, NKU) so they wouldn't lose their baseball AQ. Now that the rules have changed, they don't need another baseball team. Play two more OOC games, make a little more money, and go from there.

[Masterofreality]

There have been times where I've been certain about something, and then turned out to be wrong. I was CERTAIN that a conference needed seven teams in a sport in order to be eligible for an automatic bid. A conference only needs six teams. Apparently that changed when the American was formed.

Nevertheless, the Horizon League still has six baseball teams and doesn't have to add another one if they don't want to.

With that being said, I'm also hearing that they're looking at Robert Morris (no baseball), IUPUI (no baseball), IPFW, SIU Edwardsville, and.....Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon has a great athletic department, but to say they are a geographic outlier is an understatement. The travel costs alone should disqualify them.

I guess adding Bellarmine isn't in the cards. I think they'd be an excellent choice, and since I'm always right about these kinds of things I think the league and Bellarmine are missing out on a great opportunity.

But, in all seriousness, if I'm the HL I'm not so sure I want to add anybody. Why share all the revenue with a tenth school if you don't have to? There is no one that they could realistically add that would elevate the conference, much less elevate it to the point to where they're routinely anything more than a one bid league in virtually all sports. So, why add anyone?? When Butler and Loyola Chicago left they needed to add someone (Oakland, NKU) so they wouldn't lose their baseball AQ. Now that the rules have changed, they don't need another baseball team. Play two more OOC games, make a little more money, and go from there.

How would you feel if your were a U of Detroit grad? Seeing all this movement up by old MCC members and you're stuck in the same old muck, with worse neighbors?

[xubrew]

How would you feel if your were a U of Detroit grad? Seeing all this movement up by old MCC members and you're stuck in the same old muck, with worse neighbors?

I'd feel like I needed to start finishing in the top half of the league on a regular basis before I was allowed to feel anything else.