Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[Rambler63]

If the MVC got BYU on the heels of a big city Jesuit school getting into the Final Four, does the MVC begin to look good enough to St. Louis?

And if you want to do travel to BYU and save money for non-revenue sports, you can do it with two home or two road games every other year. That's how the MIVA does it for men's volleyball with Grand Canyon.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

If the MVC got BYU on the heels of a big city Jesuit school getting into the Final Four, does the MVC begin to look good enough to St. Louis?

And if you want to do travel to BYU and save money for non-revenue sports, you can do it with two home or two road games every other year. That's how the MIVA does it for men's volleyball with Grand Canyon.

Very interesting. Never thought about it.

[uniguy]

At first I thought it was an off the reservation crazy idea. Now I would say it just a very crazy idea. There is some logic to it.

[MOST]

One thing to watch: if Gonzaga leaves, the WCC is in prime position to poach Seattle from the WAC, and the WAC would once again be pressed against the minimum limit required to exist as a conference.

I'd do a couple things:

1) Call BYU. It's a longshot, but the WCC sans Gonzaga is not what they want their endgame to be. With the MWC filled up and Wichita taking the non-football spot in the AAC, it's possible the MVC represents their last best chance at having semi-regular chances at at-large bids in the future.

2) Call New Mexico St. If the WAC is gonna go down in flames.....

I really like this outside the box thinking. Adding these two together would create quite a buzz nationally
and make the MVC stronger in their battle for prominence with the A10 and MWC.
This pairing would most likely not be sustainable long term but would be great while it lasts!

A long term topic on this forum is the MVC #1 goal to become a multi-bid conference again. Lots of schemes being talked to increase the number of NCAA bids to other than P5+1 teams, i.e. more bids for the high mid major conferences.
If Gonzaga moves to the MTN West, possibly accompanied by BYU, and the MTN WEST is able to pick up one or two new at large bids (on top of their 2 bids in 2018), how will that effect the the MVC and other MM conferences. It surely would tighten the number of available at large bids and hurt the chances of the other MMs (American, MVC, Atlantic 10, Colonial Athletic, West Coast, WAC, Conference USA, etc.) to increase their bids count.

[bonez]

A long term topic on this forum is the MVC #1 goal to become a multi-bid conference again. Lots of schemes being talked to increase the number of NCAA bids to other than P5+1 teams, i.e. more bids for the high mid major conferences.
If Gonzaga moves to the MTN West, possibly accompanied by BYU, and the MTN WEST is able to pick up one or two new at large bids (on top of their 2 bids in 2018), how will that effect the the MVC and other MM conferences. It surely would tighten the number of available at large bids and hurt the chances of the other MMs (American, MVC, Atlantic 10, Colonial Athletic, West Coast, WAC, Conference USA, etc.) to increase their bids count.

Yes those moves would hurt the Valley. Herein lies the problem... the MVC has been reactive to this point. They need to be the aggressor for a change and take action to improve their lot in the basketball world. Scheduling standards, adding another couple high caliber programs, etc.

[CoolArrow]

Here come the NMSU advocates again. Whens the last time they won an NCAA tournament game? Only reason they have been to the Tournament multiple times the last decade us because the WAC is a horrible conference. They have had minimal competition for the auto-bid. If the MVC wants a team that doesnt win much during March Madness, a closer team to consider is obviously Murray St.

[VUGrad1314]

Judging a team solely on its ability to win in March is somewhat lazy program analysis. Winning in the tournament is hard, especially for lower seeds. Programs should be judged by their ability to win games and get to March. Both Murray State and New Mexico State pass those tests. Both would no doubt be creditable additions to the MVC (remember, New Mexico State's run of success started before the massive outflow of teams from the WAC to the Mountain West.) The issues are inability to find a suitable willing 12th member to pair with Murray State and travel logistics and FBS football for New Mexico State.

[MOST]

A little off topic but would it help the Summit, and has the Summit considered, adding Northern Colorado. Closer to the Summit footprint, plays FCS football, and decent basketball--I think in the 2018 CIT championship game.

[VUGrad1314]

I like the idea somebody posted in this thread of the Summit League reconfiguring and rebranding as a western conference. I think it makes a lot of sense for them to do so.

[uniguy]

If the only criteria for being good enough for the Valley is recent tournament success then there aren't many teams in the MVC right now that are good enough for the Valley.