Loyola Leaving for A-10

[letsgoAces]

We all have lots of opinions on the expansion issues, with valid points being made on each side. The only non-brainer for me is the admission of Murray State. The play a high level of basketball, enthusiastic and passionate fan base that travels well, and they bring instant creditability to the league. I go back and forth on naming two other additions if the MVC were to expand to 12 teams, which I believe the will. I think the ISU writer Todd Golden has it right about the league needing a Chicago presence in our league as he discusses UIC. Every MVC follower should read the article he wrote concerning expansion. My next choice would be NKU. They have great facilities, have had some success, and play in a good size market...I think they have at bear minimum at least as high a ceiling as UMKC, probably more.

There is a certain amount of intrigue with UTA....but honestly I am not so sure UALR would not be a better choice. IF MO-State leaves, which I hope does not happen, I would name one of those two...probably UALR.

I fully reserve the right to change my mind later as I continue to listen and learn from others.

[mvfcfan]

My preferences in order as of now with the 4 finalists mentioned (MURR, UTA, KC, UIC).

1) Add Murray State and play 20 conf games.
2) No expansion beyond Belmont.
3) Add Murray State and UIC.
4) There isn't a #4 for me because I don't want UTA or UMKC period. Don't want UIC either, but at least they are centrally located and have baseball.

[BCPanther]

I'd go--

Arlington- Giant Metro in very fertile recruiting area. Easy to get in and out of. Very nice updated facilities. Would thrive in a league that more aligns with their department instead of hanging with football misfits.

UIC- Need to keep a presence in Chicago. Elite academics. Facilities fit. Could be basketball power if they'd get out of their own way, Yak might be a start

Kansas City- Huge alumni bases for Missouri State, UNI and Drake. Another fertile recruiting area, especially the suburbs. Appear willing to commit.

Murray State- Most success historically. Facilities fit. Don't bring much in terms of market and expanding the footprint.

Go to 14. Play 20 league games.

[IllinoisState]

My preferences in order as of now with the 4 finalists mentioned (MURR, UTA, KC, UIC).

1) Add Murray State and play 20 conf games.
2) No expansion beyond Belmont.
3) Add Murray State and UIC.
4) There isn't a #4 for me because I don't want UTA or UMKC period. Don't want UIC either, but at least they are centrally located and have baseball.

This is it for me too with the mentioned teams.

[Redhawk]

I'd go--

Arlington- Giant Metro in very fertile recruiting area. Easy to get in and out of. Very nice updated facilities. Would thrive in a league that more aligns with their department instead of hanging with football misfits.

UIC- Need to keep a presence in Chicago. Elite academics. Facilities fit. Could be basketball power if they'd get out of their own way, Yak might be a start

Kansas City- Huge alumni bases for Missouri State, UNI and Drake. Another fertile recruiting area, especially the suburbs. Appear willing to commit.

Murray State- Most success historically. Facilities fit. Don't bring much in terms of market and expanding the footprint.

Go to 14. Play 20 league games.

This is spot on!

The addition of Valpo with no fan support or facilities in an obscure market area was a huge mistake. Murray has long term success, an awesome arena and a loyal fan base so not worried about their small market.

The other 3 will take time (like Loyola) but have great potential to be viable members of the Valley.

[VUGrad1314]

I get the potential with UIC and even Arlington but I just don't see it with Kansas City. Trust me on this. Valpo shared a conference with them and while I understand that they were new to D1 at the time it's not like they've done anything at all as a program even almost 30 years on. Arlington at least has the money. If I have to take one or the other it's Arlington by a mile but given the choice between UIC Arlington and KC give me UIC by a wide margin. They're Arlington except better and closer.

[mjs]

We all have lots of opinions on the expansion issues, with valid points being made on each side. The only non-brainer for me is the admission of Murray State. The play a high level of basketball, enthusiastic and passionate fan base that travels well, and they bring instant creditability to the league. I go back and forth on naming two other additions if the MVC were to expand to 12 teams, which I believe the will. I think the ISU writer Todd Golden has it right about the league needing a Chicago presence in our league as he discusses UIC. Every MVC follower should read the article he wrote concerning expansion. My next choice would be NKU. They have great facilities, have had some success, and play in a good size market...I think they have at bear minimum at least as high a ceiling as UMKC, probably more.

There is a certain amount of intrigue with UTA....but honestly I am not so sure UALR would not be a better choice. IF MO-State leaves, which I hope does not happen, I would name one of those two...probably UALR.

I fully reserve the right to change my mind later as I continue to listen and learn from others.

Thanks for the support for UALR (We now refer to ourselves as "Little Rock"). I would say the vast majority of our fans would love to be invited to join the MoValley. However, most of the national sources seem convinced we won't be asked to join. I'm having a hard time seeing how UTA or Kansas City are more attractive than we are. The Valley has thrived by having programs in small cities who love college basketball. Those 2 schools certainly don't fit that criteria. No one in metro DFW follows UTA and I don't think things are different in Kansas City. We have our own problems with fan support, but are certainly no worse than those 2 schools and do draw quite well when successful. Also, while I don't claim that we are some kind of juggernaut in men's basketball, we have had a ton more success than either of those schools. Not sure how much it matters, but our women's basketball program has been the best in the Sun Belt for, at least, 15 years. The argument that having a team in the DFW metro area will help recruit students to MoValley schools seems rather ridiculous. I bet you could count the number of students that have matriculated at South Alabama, Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, Georgia State, etc., because UTA is in our conference, on your fingers. Anyway, we still have our fingers crossed that we will get a MoValley invitation, although the odds seem stacked against us. I would agree that Murray State fits in very well with the type of schools you already have in the conference.

[Sunbelt/funbelt]

Little Rock is not far behind Murray State. Correct me if I’m wrong but in the last 10 years both have 3 conference championship and 1 Tournament win. Only difference is Little Rock has a couple horrible seasons mixed in there but would bring one of the top mid major facilities to the MVC.

[NuncEstBibendum]

The UIC potential is obvious and anyone here who doesn't put a school with a $2B endowment on the top of this list (along with Murray) is delusional. We all know what talks so stop fooling yourselves.

[Campbellproud]

My preferences in order as of now with the 4 finalists mentioned (MURR, UTA, KC, UIC).

1) Add Murray State and play 20 conf games.
2) No expansion beyond Belmont.
3) Add Murray State and UIC.
4) There isn't a #4 for me because I don't want UTA or UMKC period. Don't want UIC either, but at least they are centrally located and have baseball.

This is it for me too with the mentioned teams.

Same for me too. The MVC would be great with just the Murray and Belmont adds. We should not be expanding just to expand. UMKC and UTA do not fit in the league at all from a basketball or geographical perspective. Our # 1 priority should be to get as many bids as possible each year while also sharing the spoils among the smallest number of schools possible. Add Murray, call it a day for now, and see how these other schools develop. We can always add them later if they do. Frankly, the Valpo add was a mistake that the league hopefully isn’t dumb enough to make twice. We should have waited until they put their money where their mouth is before adding them. Now we are stuck with a program that sucks and plays in a high school gym. And now they are considering UMKC—a program that plays in their student rec center (1700 capacity)! Why on earth are they even under consideration?