Belmont to Missouri Valley

[Red]

I like the Belmont add, would also like Murray ST, am indifferent to UTA and UALR, but none of that gets us 3-4 bids. We will remain pretty much the same as the national landscape remains tilted away from MM's.

You must be really fun at parties.

Just never have seen an argument that made sense as to why we would jump up 1-2 bids with any of these adds. The OVC will still get their 1 bid, so then we will still be battling mid range P-5 teams for the same # at large as before. If Belmont is good in the MVC , they'll add a couple losses to most teams resume, and a quality win to a couple; like wise they'll have a couple more losses than they're used to even if solid in MVC play. Same with Murray St if they come; I just don't see any scenario where that all of a sudden bucks the trend of most of the at large bids going to the P-5 and BE mid range teams. They have a built in advantage to the # of Q1 and Q2 games they'll play in a given year and that is the main criteria being used anymore for at large bids. A team like Belmont helps some, but most P-5 will simply have far more Q1/Q2 opportunities to overcome than a normal MM schedule can provide.

I pretty much agree with what you said. However, I think the argument for adding is that if the top of the conference is better then we have a better chance for at large bids. Drake got one last year. We have to hope that becomes the norm.

[Red]

Sorry, but this is a joke. Wichita won't come back because of their ego and belief (realistic or otherwise) that the depleted/retooled AAC will still be an upgrade over the Valley going forward. But to suggest that UT-Arlington would be a better conference member than Wichita on its merits is absurd. The chasm between the programs is enormous in every way: tradition, fan bases, resources, etc.

I agree that Wichita won't be back in the MVC. But to have them back would be a jolt for the league and every game against the Shox would be the best attended game for the other schools.

[IllinoisState]

I hope Missouri State has plans to get out.

Why? And go where realistically?

[Red]

I hope Missouri State has plans to get out.

Why? And go where realistically?

WTF? Well, I guess the OVC has openings.

[BEARZ77]

I hope Missouri State has plans to get out.

Why? And go where realistically?

BearsCountry hates being in a league with privates and feels football should dominate all decisions for MSU. He may not be that far off from what some in MSU admin. think, hard to tell. I think most MSU fans are more middle ground, wanting to move up to FBS if the right opportunity presents itself, but not at the expense of being in a quality basketball conference. I think BC would take a Sunbelt bid, I wouldn't. But as I've said before, I'd really like to see what the fall out is in the next couple years for some teams in the Sun Belt/USA/ and AAC and see what conferences end up looking like then and any subsequent opportunities. JMO

[TheDrake]

I hope Missouri State has plans to get out.

The league adds a program that has made the tournament 8 times in the past 15 years and your first reaction is to leave?

[Kip Dynamite]

I hope Missouri State has plans to get out.

Why? And go where realistically?

Mo State Is wrapping up a feasibility study by the end of this year for a possible move up to FBS and having an architect do drawings for $40-50 million worth of upgrades to the football stadium. No one knows for sure but they may be trying to get into CUSA or the Sun Belt. Would still need to fundraise all the money and get an invitation to one of those conferences but as our president has stated on more than one occasion, we have to get ourselves ready and we are no longer going to sit on the sidelines.

[TheDrake]

I hope Missouri State has plans to get out.

Why? And go where realistically?

BearsCountry hates being in a league with privates and feels football should dominate all decisions for MSU. He may not be that far off from what some in MSU admin. think, hard to tell. I think most MSU fans are more middle ground, wanting to move up to FBS if the right opportunity presents itself, but not at the expense of being in a quality basketball conference. I think BC would take a Sunbelt bid, I wouldn't. But as I've said before, I'd really like to see what the fall out is in the next couple years for some teams in the Sun Belt/USA/ and AAC and see what conferences end up looking like then and any subsequent opportunities. JMO

I don't understand this thinking. Basketball is a sport where Valley schools can make it to the final four. Loyola and Wichita St legitimately could have won national championships. Why put your emphasis on a sport where the best case scenario is you being a second class citizen? MSU will never be relevant on the national stage in football.

[Kip Dynamite]

Maybe not, But if MSU would’ve moved football up five years ago when the sun belt came calling, there would be a good chance we would in the mix for a possible call up to the AAC by now. If you’re going to play FBS you gotta jump in and get in the game somewhere and hope that the dominoes fall your way to keep moving up.

Missouri State is a large public university with over 26,000 students now. Aside from Illinois state (21,000 students) we don’t really look much like anyone else in the MVC anymore. Believe me, this is no slam to the conference. I love the Valley but I’m open to a FBS move up as well if the invitation comes again.

[BCPanther]

Maybe not, But if MSU would’ve moved football up five years ago when the sun belt came calling, there would be a good chance we would in the mix for a possible call up to the AAC by now. If you’re going to play FBS you gotta jump in and get in the game somewhere and hope that the dominoes fall your way to keep moving up.

Missouri State is a large public university with over 26,000 students now. Aside from Illinois state we don’t really look much like anyone else in the MVC anymore. Believe me, this is no slam to the conference. I love the Valley but I’m open to a FBS move up as well if the invitation comes again.

Missouri State hit the geography jackpot and then was smart enough to go out and get an aggressive, charismatic leader really push the vision of being that large public institution. All the credit in the world to them.

That's another reason that I'm very much in favor of Arlington and Little Rock. Missouri State is on an absolute island and will be more so with Belmont and (presumably) Murray. With the WAC reformation and the uncertainty in the Sun Belt it is in the league's best interest to cater to them a bit. They'd be a huge loss for the Valley and MVFC when you look at their baseball, WBB and VB programs before we even start talking about MBB and Football.