Would you support trying to add St. Thomas?

[BCPanther]

We also need to recognize that we're in the same rankings area we've always been in. There hasn't been a noticeable drop off and losing Missouri State is going to be a boost on it's own.

We’re top-10 2 years in a row which is right where we were in the early 2010s with WSU/Creighton and better than the mid-2010s with WSU and late 2010s/early 2020s with Loyola.

Yet no one ever mentions it.

EXACTLY! People want to get back to the '04-'07 timeframe but that's never going to happen. As a league, we're never getting the opportunities to play those games again and the financial gap has exploded.

We're in a great spot and I really dislike that people can't recognize that or take it for granted.

[tribecalledquest]

We also need to recognize that we're in the same rankings area we've always been in. There hasn't been a noticeable drop off and losing Missouri State is going to be a boost on it's own.

There's absolutely no way CUSA repeats this and the bottom is about to fall out of the WCC.

We're in great shape where we're at and there is no urgency to do anything.

It's almost like the more things change, the more they stay the same. Sure, it stinks to not have guys for four years and follow them like we used to - but the Valley will continue to be the 9th-11th ranked league like it as been for the last 40 years. Outside of the WCC (thanks to Gonzaga) has there ever been any REAL consistent conference movement in the power structure over the years?

[ReZyNeZy]

We also need to recognize that we're in the same rankings area we've always been in. There hasn't been a noticeable drop off and losing Missouri State is going to be a boost on it's own.

We’re top-10 2 years in a row which is right where we were in the early 2010s with WSU/Creighton and better than the mid-2010s with WSU and late 2010s/early 2020s with Loyola.

Yet no one ever mentions it.

This this this this. Exactly why I don't believe St T's is another mouth to feed. They actually bump the league up as it stands with trading them for MO St. The only reason I think the BE will ever come calling is if UCONN ever decides to leave. And they have considered it 1 too many times for it to be a nonfactor

[pafan]

I'm not quite there on St. Thomas. I keep thinking about another D1 transition team who had a tremendous start in D1, then imploded. That was Bellarmine.

Bellermine was a team people on here talked about adding to the MVC a couple years ago. Bellarmine is currently winless in the ASUN and in the bottom tier of D1 MBB, along such powerhouses at Northern Illinois and Chicago St.

Sometimes one outstanding season is just one season.

[racernation]

BCPanther is spot on. St .Thomas isn't going anywhere. The league needs to wait until 2030-31 once all these media contracts expires, unless an opportunity presents itself that can't be passed up.

[IllinoisState]

I'm not quite there on St. Thomas. I keep thinking about another D1 transition team who had a tremendous start in D1, then imploded. That was Bellarmine.

Bellermine was a team people on here talked about adding to the MVC a couple years ago. Bellarmine is currently winless in the ASUN and in the bottom tier of D1 MBB, along such powerhouses at Northern Illinois and Chicago St.

Sometimes one outstanding season is just one season.

Bellarmine had two good seasons and each season has been worse than the last. St Thomas on the other hand is on their third good season with each season better than the last.

St. Thomas also has an endowment that is over 10x that of Bellarmine's and indicates their willingness to spend.

I would like the MVC to reach out to them soon, but I don't think they need to be added now.

[pafan]

Bellarmine had two good seasons and each season has been worse than the last. St Thomas on the other hand is on their third good season with each season better than the last.

I can't agree with that. St. Thomas finished middle of the pack in the Summit League the last two seasons.

2024: 4th place in a 9 team league
2023: 4th place in a 10 team league

That doesn't scream a program that is ready to move up a couple notches in the conference pecking order. This year? Maybe. But it's one year.

[tribecalledquest]

St. Thomas and Bellarmine are on different levels as universities and athletic departments.

St. Thomas has 10x the endowment of Bellarmine and double the student body - just for starters.

[TylerDurden]

Bellarmine had two good seasons and each season has been worse than the last. St Thomas on the other hand is on their third good season with each season better than the last.

I can't agree with that. St. Thomas finished middle of the pack in the Summit League the last two seasons.

2024: 4th place in a 9 team league
2023: 4th place in a 10 team league

That doesn't scream a program that is ready to move up a couple notches in the conference pecking order. This year? Maybe. But it's one year.

On-court results are a consideration, but that really isn't the key indicator of the ability to have success in a better league. You need infrastructure (administrative, facilities - the on-campus stuff) and the capacity to ramp up your investment. St. Thomas seems to have that, plus the ambition to succeed.

That doesn't mean they will dominate whenever they move up, but they're already in a better place than some Valley schools to be competitive in short order.

I don't personally think there should be any rush to add them (or anyone else) simply to replace Missouri State. But I'm also not opposed to adding a well-resourced school that has ambition. We have more than enough that are treading water or are in over their heads.

[FunchessonPopcorn]

I am generally very wary of hockey schools, because that is expensive, and I want confidence or assurance in times of scarcity or struggles that basketball is king. I still voted yes to St. Thomas here, just because they seem fiscally solid enough to mitigate those fears. Wouldn’t be opposed to waiting it out a little longer to make sure, and to see if some other football schools start chasing the dreams of some sweet MACtion, and revisit whether you are at 10, need to get to 10, have someone else catch your eye to go to 12, etc.