MVC Expansion Candidate Deep Dive

[Old School MVC]

Adding two more 250+ teams (possibly 4 more 250+ games) isn't going to help.


I think it would be prudent for the MVC to add UIC as Chicago is a near must have for MVC teams from a market standpoint.

Here is the crux of the bet the MVC would be making by adding Arlington, UIC, Omaha, KC, whoever for market reasons. You would be betting that these branch public schools who in most cases have no history of success or real support would be able to do what Loyola, a private school with a history of success and support, was able to do by switching conferences, has done. That isn't a good bet.

At the very least it implies that UIC, Omaha, KC have, at their disposal the resources to be successful and have made the choice, for decades in some cases, not to. What makes anyone think that if they then decided to be more successful athletically, that in the future they could choose to become mediocre again?

If however, their lack of success hasn't been a choice, then what makes anyone believe that by adding them to the MVC, that the circumstances of their lack of success for decades has fundamentally changed? If conference affiliation was enough to ensure success, why has Evansville struggled (sorry Aces fans, not trying to throw you guys under the bus. You all are basketball fans and I respect that.)

I think the issue here is that as a college basketball fan, I have sat by and watched as really good college basketball conferences have been sacrificed on the altar of mediocre at best college football. That never really affected my team, as we aren't a football school, though we have had success at times. Now, Im looking at a premier college basketball conference seemingly making decisions that will make their flagship sport worse on a bad bet.

It does rile up the Racer fans to see it, because we have seen it before. At one point, the OVC was a very good college basketball conference. Then non basketball stuff got in the way, and it has been a negative outcome for all the member schools, whether they would admit it or not. Programs were added because of their market instead of their quality. Programs were added for football, making the flagship sport worse.

Its like watching a car sliding down a hill on ice towards a busy intersection. We are stuck on the sidelines while the driver of the car locks up the wheels and closes his eyes.


The ultimate question for the presidents, but hopefully with the input of their athletic directors (if they have them), is this; What is the Missouri Valley Conference going to be? If the answer is a top tier basketball conference that is nationally respected in non revenue sports, that will mean adding one type of program. If the answer is the Missouri Valley Conference is a hail mary desperation heave to try to reverse enrollment issues caused by massive increases in post secondary education costs and nationwide demographic changes, you add a different kind of program.

I assert that the only way you can get both is choose a successful program that ensures that your conference gets games on national television regularly, building on national brand recognition year over year. I also assert that the other choice gets you neither.


But you all are aware of my bias.

Well said. I can not believe we are passing on Murray State...again!

[Murraygrad05]

Comparing the OVC to the MVC at any point in history is ludicrous.

So far it has not been comparative. And that’s why I haven’t compared the current state of the conferences but apparently we aren’t worthy to sit on the golden toilet that is the MVC according to some of you even though the OVC has held its own against MVC competition this season.

What I’m actually saying is that this is eerily how the downfall of the OVC started and if we do in fact get to join we don’t want to be stuck in the same situation 10-15 years down the road.

[BEARZ77]

If by whining you mean proving our points with facts then yep, we are whining. We just don’t want to see the MVC make the same mistakes of our dying conference. We’ve played this game before. And we are also tired of being jerked around so hence the hostility.

First off, I've repeatedly said if we [MVC} expand, then I'm in favor of Murray St being added, so my points have nothing to do with that issue. Whining to me is when you keep saying the same thing , take a victims stance, and keep blaming others for your status. There's a reason neither the MVC or similar conferences haven't swept Murray St up till now; while most on this board have no clue what that is [ me included] it's there as is obvious by the same decision being made multiple times by multiple groups. That's on Murray St to figure out. I hope they do, but I'm tired of hearing about all the short comings of the MVC from those who aren't members but profess they want to be. If Murray didn't have issues, or had solutions for those issues , then obviously they would be in demand because there are conferences desperate to add. Clearly Murray has been unable or unwilling to do so to the satisfaction of those doing the buying; I hope they do, I'd like to add them. I'm just tired of hearing how it's everyone else's failing that they don't.

[unipanther99]

Comparing the OVC to the MVC at any point in history is ludicrous.

So far it has not been comparative. And that’s why I haven’t compared the current state of the conferences but apparently we aren’t worthy to sit on the golden toilet that is the MVC according to some of you even though the OVC has held its own against MVC competition this season.

What I’m actually saying is that this is eerily how the downfall of the OVC started and if we do in fact get to join we don’t want to be stuck in the same situation 10-15 years down the road.

I don't think many (maybe any) of us are saying Murray isn't worthy of the MVC. The program is on par or better than many MVC programs. Great fans. Proud tradition.

But there are other factors at play here. Travel, football, and geographic balance are important. It's not that we can't afford the travel. We can. But it puts us at a competitive disadvantage with a bunch of our fellow conference members who just gained another bus ride game.

If something was offered to sweeten the pot (travel sharing, etc.), maybe it would make more sense for UNI, Drake and others. But when you weigh all of the different factors together, it makes the big market schools look more appealing.

We don't want to be an outlier in an otherwise small, compact geographic conference. I think the conference needs to look west and expand our footprint, not contract.

[mvfcfan]

I will say this. Everytime I drive through Nashville (usually at least once a month), I see Belmont stickers on people's cars. Even more so than Vandy stickers actually. I think Belmont has great potential to draw in fan support. The only downside is that Tennessee is a southern state in SEC country and the only thing people in Tennessee seem to care about is football, specifically Vols and Titans in that order.

Kentucky is a basketball crazy state similar to Indiana. Everytime I'm in western Kentucky I see Murray State stickers on people's vehicles. I also see plenty of Hilltopper stuff as well.

The only team people care about in Arlington, TX is the Dallas Cowgirls. I wouldn't even know where Arlington was if it wasn't for the NFL. I've been to DFW a lot and I've never once seen a UTA sticker or even a mention of them being there. Same goes for Kansas City and UIC.

I wish we'd just add Murray State and reevaluate who we want to add as the 12th school. I can't believe they've had an expansion committee working on this for 4 years and that UTA, UMKC, UIC, and Omaha are the best options they can come up with. That sounds like a list the Horizon League might come up with if they were expanding. I would think that at a minimum ORU and NKU would get more serious looks than UMKC or UNO.

I suppose UIC might be worth a chance, but Valpo literally is in the Chicago metro area and was historically the best mid major in that area, until Loyola's recent rise. UMKC was a horrible idea 8 years ago and still is. Omaha was also a horrible idea 4 years ago and still is. Arlington makes sense in a lot of ways except that they are in Texas which doesn't even border a Valley state.

As most can tell I'm not exactly too excited about what's going to happen. Nevertheless I will congratulate whoever gets chosen.

[smidge34]

.....There's a reason neither the MVC or similar conferences haven't swept Murray St up till now; while most on this board have no clue what that is [ me included] it's there as is obvious by the same decision being made multiple times by multiple groups. That's on Murray St to figure out. I hope they do, but I'm tired of hearing about all the short comings of the MVC....

Please do tell when and who the “same decision being made multiple times by multiple groups are”. That’s a new one on this several decades long Racer fan lmao. I’m tired of reading low basketball IQ ramblings but here we are.

[IllinoisState]

.....There's a reason neither the MVC or similar conferences haven't swept Murray St up till now; while most on this board have no clue what that is [ me included] it's there as is obvious by the same decision being made multiple times by multiple groups. That's on Murray St to figure out. I hope they do, but I'm tired of hearing about all the short comings of the MVC....

Please do tell when and who the “same decision being made multiple times by multiple groups are”. That’s a new one on this several decades long Racer fan lmao. I’m tired of reading low basketball IQ ramblings but here we are.

If you're so tired then there's no need to post.

This is the MVC board, not the OVC board. This is for fans of MVC teams to discuss. You don't go to another school's/conference's board and start being rude if you don't like what you're reading.

[UICJohn]

Greetings all as a new poster and a loyal UIC fan.

Been following along on all this talk and speculation and just wanted to chime in on a few things

*Us UIC fans are very excited about a possible MVC move. We know that an acceptance right now would be due to our location and not at all to our recent basketball success (or lack thereof). But we really believe a move would be a nice start and move the program out of some stagnant position they’ve been in for a while.
*Our President took over a few years back and came from an SEC school (I apologize - I forget which) and has vowed to take an interest in sports especially soccer, baseball, and basketball. The first two we have had success - pretty traditionally - in. Basketball not so much. However, we did hire Coach Yaklich who some MVC members are familiar with and I’m still very hopeful we have success coming with him. We also have wonderful baseball facilities and a new soccer stadium being built for next season (although I know those sports don’t carry the importance of basketball)
*1 out of every 10 college graduates in Chicago is a UIC graduate. So right away should have more support locally. I do agree but isn’t at this time. UIC is still a pretty young school but with more and more students on campus I really think a winning team would garner some real attention. The key of course - winning.

Anyways, just wanted to chime in and share excitement at least on our end of a possible move. Hope to hear something sooner than later and hope to be a more frequent visitor in the board as well.

[mvfcfan]

.....There's a reason neither the MVC or similar conferences haven't swept Murray St up till now; while most on this board have no clue what that is [ me included] it's there as is obvious by the same decision being made multiple times by multiple groups. That's on Murray St to figure out. I hope they do, but I'm tired of hearing about all the short comings of the MVC....

Please do tell when and who the “same decision being made multiple times by multiple groups are”. That’s a new one on this several decades long Racer fan lmao. I’m tired of reading low basketball IQ ramblings but here we are.

If you read the individual message boards for schools in the Valley most fans, public or private, want Murray State and are mixed on who the 12th team should be. A lot of Valley fans don't mess with this board anymore tbh. As you can see on the polls, even on this site, most people want Murray State. The issue is people don't want jumped by trolls who want to tell people how stupid they are for not wanting to fly the volleyball team to Dallas freaking Texas, even though only 14 people are okay with them being added according to the poll; compared to 61 okay with Murray and 42 okay with UIC.

[BEARZ77]

Please do tell when and who the “same decision being made multiple times by multiple groups are”. That’s a new one on this several decades long Racer fan lmao. I’m tired of reading low basketball IQ ramblings but here we are.

Post less and don't read your own and that'll stop you from reading low IQ ramblings. Seems like the Valley has added teams 3 times recently and is considering more, and has had multiple expansion committees involved over those additions, and to date Murray hasn't made the cut; and it seems to me several other like conferences have added and expanded in the past year or two and again, haven't seen Murray added by any of those. To the non reading impaired that would be " same decision, multiple times, multiple groups". Also just trace back and you'll see it's Murray posters saying they are tired of getting the run around and passed over; so your own fans are complaining about the same thing.

I want Murray St in; said it repeatedly. But that doesn't mean I'll sit by and listen to your bs on our board. I would think a knowledgeable Murray St fan would be able to discuss some of the reasons they might be failing the interview process while schools like Valpo, Loyola, Belmont have all found their way thru it, instead of whining like a beach and blaming everyone else.