If Missouri State leaves, who do you add?

[VUGrad1314]

I think it's important to remember that the according to some reports the MVC checked in with NKU and Milwaukee during this round of expansion to gauge their interest and neither school was reportedly willing to commit to what the MVC asked vis a vis setting aside the budget to buy opponents for home games and such. if they weren't willing to make that commitment last year why would they do it now? I echo the concern that KC and Omaha while offering nice markets offer zero basketball tradition and aren't even the best options for the MVC from their own conference. I think if the MVC is smart it will be a four school race to see who gets 1-3 spots: SDSU NDSU St Thomas and Bellarmine. Oral Roberts might be worth considering if not for the potential cultural issues. Moreover, if--as stated in this hypothetical--we are trying to replace Missouri State adding ORU would just create the same problem we've had with Missouri State since Wichita State left (no travel partner) only worse since Tulsa is even further away. I really think it will come down to those four schools I mentioned (the Northern Tier 3 and Bellarmine and I'm not sure if Bellarmine with its apparently smallish athletics budget and endowment) would be willing or able to make the jump even if they have the basketball chops. Small endowment didn't stop Murray State so maybe Bellarmine could do it and if they want a site visit I'm all for it but I think they would rank fourth behind the Dakotas and St Thomas. Wish there was room for everybody because each of these schools could potentially do a lot for the league. Presence in Minneapolis and\or Louisville would help the MVC from a recruiting standpoint and adding one or two state flagships even from smaller states adds to the prestige of the conference as well. Not to mention all four schools being solid to spectacular athletically.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Depends what year Missouri St moves up to FBS.

If it’s immediate: UTA. There is a massive void in that part of the country for someone to fill as a non-FB mid-major power. It’s only a matter of time before someone fills it and UTA has great facilities, location, monster enrollment, and solid budget.

If it’s 3-4 years down the road: St Thomas. School/alumni are loaded, there is a massive void to fill there as well (MN has only 1 other D1 school), and the IA schools need a driveable market important to them after the league has gone south.

[BCPanther]

St Thomas plays in an 1800 seat high school level gym. They'd have to have shovels in the ground now in order to even be in the conversation 4 years from now.

[unipanther99]

St Thomas plays in an 1800 seat high school level gym. They'd have to have shovels in the ground now in order to even be in the conversation 4 years from now.

Surely they could find a mid-sized hockey arena in the area to borrow for a few years with a commitment to build on campus.

[VUGrad1314]

St Thomas plays in an 1800 seat high school level gym. They'd have to have shovels in the ground now in order to even be in the conversation 4 years from now.

That's fine. We can just take SDSU the best of the candidates and the closest analogue to Missouri State and be done with it. All the other candidates have more serious questions. St Thomas New to D1 not great basketball facilities (though they could probably just rent the T-Wolves arena for their games too if need be.) NDSU: extremely football focused making them a somewhat questionable fit for a basketball-first league. Bellarmine: New to D1 small (but growing) endowment and athletics budget. I like the potential upside of these schools but if we're just looking to keep the league strong without taking on too much speculative risk SDSU is really the only answer. Only SDSU keeps the league right where it is now in the event of a departure by Missouri State. If it's only one add let's make sure it's the Jackrabbits.

[Aces44]

St Thomas plays in an 1800 seat high school level gym. They'd have to have shovels in the ground now in order to even be in the conversation 4 years from now.

That's fine. We can just take SDSU the best of the candidates and the closest analogue to Missouri State and be done with it. All the other candidates have more serious questions. St Thomas New to D1 not great basketball facilities (though they could probably just rent the T-Wolves arena for their games too if need be.) NDSU: extremely football focused making them a somewhat questionable fit for a basketball-first league. Bellarmine: New to D1 small (but growing) endowment and athletics budget. I like the potential upside of these schools but if we're just looking to keep the league strong without taking on too much speculative risk SDSU is really the only answer. Only SDSU keeps the league right where it is now in the event of a departure by Missouri State. If it's only one add let's make sure it's the Jackrabbits.

You think SDSU leaves a conference where they can host the Tournament every other year? And doesn’t have a natural rival?

(Dakota people take pride in the Dakota’s. Not having a rival from the Dakota’s is likely a deal breaker as well)

[VUGrad1314]

St Thomas plays in an 1800 seat high school level gym. They'd have to have shovels in the ground now in order to even be in the conversation 4 years from now.

That's fine. We can just take SDSU the best of the candidates and the closest analogue to Missouri State and be done with it. All the other candidates have more serious questions. St Thomas New to D1 not great basketball facilities (though they could probably just rent the T-Wolves arena for their games too if need be.) NDSU: extremely football focused making them a somewhat questionable fit for a basketball-first league. Bellarmine: New to D1 small (but growing) endowment and athletics budget. I like the potential upside of these schools but if we're just looking to keep the league strong without taking on too much speculative risk SDSU is really the only answer. Only SDSU keeps the league right where it is now in the event of a departure by Missouri State. If it's only one add let's make sure it's the Jackrabbits.

You think SDSU leaves a conference where they can host the Tournament every other year? And doesn’t have a natural rival?

(Dakota people take pride in the Dakota’s. Not having a rival from the Dakota’s is likely a deal breaker as well)

If Murray State can leave a conference of which they were a charter member with an over 70 years-long relationship, a conference they (along with Belmont) dominated, a conference with in-state and regional rivals, a conference that moved its conference tournament to a location more favorable to them, to join the MVC then South Dakota State can leave the Summit League for the MVC if they deem it to be in the best long-term interest of their program and athletic department. I get that the ethos might be different in the Dakotas than it is in Kentucky vis a vis state pride (though I bet both areas are pretty proud of where they're from), but in many ways Murray State was the OVC in the same way SDSU (and to a lesser extent NDSU) are the Summit League--and the Racers left anyway. Money and a massive SOS boost are powerful motivators. What's more, all of their rivals ( I'm guessing they only really care about NDSU since they moved up together though there might be a soft spot for USD as well) can easily be scheduled in the nonconference if need be. I look at South Dakota State and see a great program that has more or less maxed out where it can go under its current arrangement. A program that can be more than they presently are and they know it. To grow and take the next step they must embrace a new challenge. The MVC can provide that challenge. The only question is are the Jackrabbits ready for it?

[mvfcfan]

As the poll creator I like to wait at least 24 hours before posting my opinion, as to not influence the votes. My vote would be SDSU, and I'd be okay with going to 14 if necessary.

My first choice would be SDSU, with a catch. There has to be a contract in their membership paperwork that if they ever leave the MVFC, they also lose their MVC membership. I'd also want the same contract with NDSU if we ever invited them. It would be bad for the MVC if say, SDSU and NDSU ever get an FBS Football Only invite somewhere and they use the MVC as a parking spot for their other programs. I think we should definitely replace a football school with a football school to keep the balance, and keep everyone as happy as possible. SDSU is a great basketball school, that wouldn't have the same hurdle Murray State had with trying to join the MVFC.

I know some on here seem bullish about St Thomas. I just don't see the MVC inviting a school that just moved up to D1 from D3. If the MVC wants the Minneapolis market they are way better off adding NDSU, which has a huge presence in Minneapolis. I know it may sound crazy to some who aren't overly familiar with that area, but NDSU has a ton of alumni that live there. They played Butler in a football game and drew over 30,000. When they played Kansas in the NCAA Tournament in Minneapolis, they drew over 10,000. If their fans want to come to Arch Madness they can fly direct to/from MSP to STL. Lot's of potential there.

Northern Kentucky would be my preferred non-basketball school. I wanted them over UIC, but I didn't get my wish. If the MVC invited both SDSU and NDSU, then NKU would get my vote as the 14th school, which would keep the MVC at a 7-7 FB/Non-FB balance.

[BUDude]

I don't think they leave, nor do I think they need to be replaced if they do.

[BCPanther]

As the poll creator I like to wait at least 24 hours before posting my opinion, as to not influence the votes. My vote would be SDSU, and I'd be okay with going to 14 if necessary.

My first choice would be SDSU, with a catch. There has to be a contract in their membership paperwork that if they ever leave the MVFC, they also lose their MVC membership. I'd also want the same contract with NDSU if we ever invited them. It would be bad for the MVC if say, SDSU and NDSU ever get an FBS Football Only invite somewhere and they use the MVC as a parking spot for their other programs. I think we should definitely replace a football school with a football school to keep the balance, and keep everyone as happy as possible. SDSU is a great basketball school, that wouldn't have the same hurdle Murray State had with trying to join the MVFC.

I know some on here seem bullish about St Thomas. I just don't see the MVC inviting a school that just moved up to D1 from D3. If the MVC wants the Minneapolis market they are way better off adding NDSU, which has a huge presence in Minneapolis. I know it may sound crazy to some who aren't overly familiar with that area, but NDSU has a ton of alumni that live there. They played Butler in a football game and drew over 30,000. When they played Kansas in the NCAA Tournament in Minneapolis, they drew over 10,000. If their fans want to come to Arch Madness they can fly direct to/from MSP to STL. Lot's of potential there.

Northern Kentucky would be my preferred non-basketball school. I wanted them over UIC, but I didn't get my wish. If the MVC invited both SDSU and NDSU, then NKU would get my vote as the 14th school, which would keep the MVC at a 7-7 FB/Non-FB balance.

That's rubbish. The MVFC is a totally separate entity that exists due to absolute geographic necessity. They aren't tied to the MVC, they shouldn't be tied to MVC membership and every football school should have the flexibility to make the best decisions for football and not be tied to a league that doesn't sponsor the sport.

We'll also add you to the list of people that have no idea how far away the Dakotas actually are.