Conference Realignment - where will we be in 5 yrs?

[FeartheQ]

Good stuff sub

[SubGod22]

Good stuff sub

Thanks. Some days I have a lot of down time and I like numbers and basketball. I'm not sure what range we should limit it to for looking. There are always other things that can be considered, but strength of basketball is the main thing. Expanding the brand could also be a factor. Media markets play a role, even if it isn't to the same extent as the BcS conferences. I'd like to think if we were to add someone, it would be someone with an RPI average less than 125 or so. We need more Top 100 types as I've said elsewhere, so adding teams that won't contribute to that is pointless. Even if we can't grab a Butler or Dayton type, we need to target the next tier that can still have success and help the top of the conference instead of drag it down.

[Coogles]

RPI is interesting to look at, but honestly it's pretty irrelevant when it comes to looking at what programs should or shouldn't be considered for league expansion. A team is one good coach and few decent recruiting classes from having a stellar RPI, but it could still be a very medicore program. Case-in-point being Milwaukee. Bruce Pearl was able to recruit there and play a style that won him quite a few games. That doesn't make Milwaukee an appealing program.

Fun fact: Indiana's RPI over the last 8 seasons has averaged 110. Does that mean they're not a top half program in the Valley? Of course they are. They would easily be the best program in the league, regardless of how bad these past 3 seasons have been.

Sooooo much more goes into evaluating a university's athletic department than just RPI. How devoted is the fanbase? Do they have a strong base of donors? Do they capture media attention in their own market? Do they have a following across the state? Nationally? How well attended are their athletic events? Athletic budget size? Can it be grown if necessary? What kind of facilities do they have or do they have planned? Academics play a role too.

Take St. Louis, for example. They're being put down around here by some as not that great of a program, but that's a university the MVC should bend over backwards to get, if possible. Strong endowment compared to the other private schools. Excellent academics. Would be the 2nd or 3rd largest MBB budget in the conference. Larger overall athletic budget than all of the other privates in the Valley. Excellent facilities. Strong recruiting base in St. Louis/Kansas City. Maybe Majerus doesn't get it done, but there's no question a good coach could win there. Elign would be downright moronic if he got a call saying the Bills wanted to join the MVC and he said no.

[SubGod22]

RPI is interesting to look at, but honestly it's pretty irrelevant when it comes to looking at what programs should or shouldn't be considered for league expansion. A team is one good coach and few decent recruiting classes from having a stellar RPI, but it could still be a very medicore program. Case-in-point being Milwaukee. Bruce Pearl was able to recruit there and play a style that won him quite a few games. That doesn't make Milwaukee an appealing program.

Fun fact: Indiana's RPI over the last 8 seasons has averaged 110. Does that mean they're not a top half program in the Valley? Of course they are. They would easily be the best program in the league, regardless of how bad these past 3 seasons have been.

Sooooo much more goes into evaluating a university's athletic department than just RPI. How devoted is the fanbase? Do they have a strong base of donors? Do they capture media attention in their own market? Do they have a following across the state? Nationally? How well attended are their athletic events? Athletic budget size? Can it be grown if necessary? What kind of facilities do they have or do they have planned? Academics play a role too.

Take St. Louis, for example. They're being put down around here by some as not that great of a program, but that's a university the MVC should bend over backwards to get, if possible. Strong endowment compared to the other private schools. Excellent academics. Would be the 2nd or 3rd largest MBB budget in the conference. Larger overall athletic budget than all of the other privates in the Valley. Excellent facilities. Strong recruiting base in St. Louis/Kansas City. Maybe Majerus doesn't get it done, but there's no question a good coach could win there. Elign would be downright moronic if he got a call saying the Bills wanted to join the MVC and he said no.

Like I said, more than RPI plays into it but it gives us an idea of where they stand. I also mentioned markets and following as well as potential. You just said it in a much more long windede way

[havoc]

Have I missed anyone? How many of the teams at the top of this list would actually consider a move? Would the ones that would be worth it? Do any of these teams at least have the potential to help given a new conference? Would any media markets in this group help enough that it would be worth taking certain teams? Obviously, we'd all love to have Butler, Dayton and Xavier. But some strange things would have to go down for that to happen. Odds are they stay east. If any other teams come up, I'll try and add them to the list.

I went and added Boise since they were also rumored to be looking with AFA.

Western Kentucky might be worth looking in to. They have a pretty strong following are typically put solid teams on the floor. One big problem would be a place for them to park their football team.

[SubGod22]

Have I missed anyone? How many of the teams at the top of this list would actually consider a move? Would the ones that would be worth it? Do any of these teams at least have the potential to help given a new conference? Would any media markets in this group help enough that it would be worth taking certain teams? Obviously, we'd all love to have Butler, Dayton and Xavier. But some strange things would have to go down for that to happen. Odds are they stay east. If any other teams come up, I'll try and add them to the list.

I went and added Boise since they were also rumored to be looking with AFA.

Western Kentucky might be worth looking in to. They have a pretty strong following are typically put solid teams on the floor. One big problem would be a place for them to park their football team.

I'm starting to wonder if that's as big a problem as it used to be. AFA is in the same boat as are a few others. I guess in cases like that, it would depend on what the other conference said about moving all but football. I'll add them to the list when I get a chance.

[unipanther99]

I keep thinking the University of Denver has potential. They aren't there yet obviously. Wiki says they have an endowment of $300 million.

Must be doing something right.

Also, does anyone know what kind of interest UALR generates in Little Rock? Decent sized media market, not too far outside the footprint and they were in the tournament last year.

[MVCfans]

I keep thinking the University of Denver has potential. They aren't there yet obviously. Wiki says they have an endowment of $300 million.

Must be doing something right.

Also, does anyone know what kind of interest UALR generates in Little Rock? Decent sized media market, not too far outside the footprint and they were in the tournament last year.

I believe Denver is joining the WAC or MWC.

[MVCfans]

With the alliance between CUSA and MWC for football, plus the potential loss of schools from CUSA to the Big East, it will be interesting to see how that league reacts and if they look at adding anyone.

[Haha]

Missouri Tigers set to join SEC shortly.

I really think this is the move that will eventually trickle down to the MVC. Either allowing 2 quality additions via the destruction of the A-10 after Big East basketball breaks away cherry picks a few schools. Or the Big East survives and raids a few conferences and then at tail end a few Valley schools move.

Either way I think once the Tigers move things are going to get a little more interesting for some of the mid level leagues.