Loyola Leaving for A-10

[Kip Dynamite]

I’ll be willing to bet that if Kansas City happens to get in, that Missouri State will be gone within a year later. We recruit KC hard for both students and athletes and there’s no way we would ever allow them in the same conference as us. I’ll be floored if they actually end up getting an offer to join the MVC.

UMKC would be a terrible add, especially if it caused MSU to leave. Though it looks like MSU would be more content being a bottom feeder in a bottom feeding FBS league than staying in the MVC and MVFC—neither of which they have been very competitive in. The FBS designs that MSU has are a real head scratcher. I would like to see them redouble their efforts at being competitive in the leagues they are already in.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Missouri State the reason Kansas City got consideration to start with? As I recall a few years ago, MSU was very concerned that the western part of the MVC was disappearing with the departures of Wichita State and Creighton and they were becoming a bit of an outlier.

Consider your self corrected. Missouri state wants to add Murray State and Arlington. They do not want UMKC added. The private schools wants Kansas City added.

[DUBulldog]

The private schools wants Kansas City added.

Can you provide anything to back up that statement?

[ColonialBulldog]

Per Matt Brown's newsletter:

"I've been told that the Mavericks were at or near the top of the MVC wishlist for a while, as presidents from the league's private schools pushed for the MVC to expand into larger markets (not to maximize TV revenue so much as to improve student recruiting). Little Rock is not in that conversation."

Edit: nevermind. You were asking about UMKC. Reading comprehension is tough.

[BCPanther]

I know as a Valpo fan it really shouldn't be me complaining but I am still having so much trouble getting over how crappy the list of known candidates is beyond Murray State. I'd really rather just do 11\20 with Murray State and but I guess I could be convinced if Arlington's presentation is compelling (which we'll never know for sure until they do (or don't) invite them. I just don't want non-basketball decisions to cloud the future of a basketball conference.

If the private schools don't have new markets to draw students from, we don't have a conference. Those of us that are athletics focused don't realize the coming enrollment crisis for schools our size, especially the privates.

I can confirm that UNI is a proponent of Kansas City assuming there's a long term lease with Municipal Auditorium, renovations to the Swinney Center (WBB and VB) and a guarantee of immediate budget expansion. It's UNIs 3rd largest alumni base and we're currently drawing more students from the KC suburbs that we are from the Twin Cities, which has been a big emphasis from our president and BOR.

Belmont, Arlington and Murray are absolute slam dunks. Kansas City and, presumably, UIC do a really nice job of rounding everything out to get us to a really healthy 14.

[DUBulldog]

Per Matt Brown's newsletter:

"I've been told that the Mavericks were at or near the top of the MVC wishlist for a while, as presidents from the league's private schools pushed for the MVC to expand into larger markets (not to maximize TV revenue so much as to improve student recruiting). Little Rock is not in that conversation."

I kind of get it, but not really.

I know there's an enrollment crisis coming. I know that it's critical to get your name out there. But, if you add a bad team in a big market, and they get little to no media coverage, is your name really getting out there?

I'd almost bet that if Drake played at Murray and at UTA, there would be more people in Murray who knew Drake's name due to the game than in Dallas/Arlington.

Best way to get your name out there is via a successful program in a strong league.

[VUGrad1314]

I know this is a lot of ifs but

If Drake loses DeVries

If Valpo continues to suck

If Belmont and (presumably Murray State) struggle

and KC Arlington and UIC if all three are added are anchors

Then we're splitting one bid 14 ways which is far from ideal. These markets had better make our schools set enrollment records or it's a disaster if they don't perform.

[BCPanther]

I know this is a lot of ifs but

If Drake loses DeVries

If Valpo continues to suck

If Belmont and (presumably Murray State) struggle

and KC Arlington and UIC if all three are added are anchors

Then we're splitting one bid 14 ways which is far from ideal. These markets had better make our schools set enrollment records or it's a disaster if they don't perform.

Or, alternatively, DeVries and Jacobson stick around long term.

Illinois State moves on from Muller and figures it out.

Belmont and Murray keep on keeping on after their adjustment period.

Arlington is much more attractive to their recruiting base once they're in a basketball-centric league.

Valpo (probably moves on from Lottich) and gets back to the norm

Next thing you know, we're every bit as good at the A10.

[TheDrake]

I know this is a lot of ifs but

If Drake loses DeVries

If Valpo continues to suck

If Belmont and (presumably Murray State) struggle

and KC Arlington and UIC if all three are added are anchors

Then we're splitting one bid 14 ways which is far from ideal. These markets had better make our schools set enrollment records or it's a disaster if they don't perform.

Or, alternatively, DeVries and Jacobson stick around long term.

Illinois State moves on from Muller and figures it out.

Belmont and Murray keep on keeping on after their adjustment period.

Arlington is much more attractive to their recruiting base once they're in a basketball-centric league.

Valpo (probably moves on from Lottich) and gets back to the norm

Next thing you know, we're every bit as good at the A10.

+1 That's a lot of worst case scenario what-ifs.

[TheDrake]

UMKC is Drake's choice IMO.

Chicago St is Missouri State's choice IMO.

[hoopsmith]

It's a good thing for the institutions involved that educated people with a lot on the line are making this decision rather than the fanboys.