Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Murray State's AD has resigned This could be very bad for MVC expansion hopes.

https://twitter.com/TheAdamBWells/statu ... 3D2851.300

OMG the comment section regarding the interim AD's name is golden!. Best thing I've read this week.

[VUGrad1314]

I think we go if an invitation were extended. But we can’t wait and plan only for something for which we have no control. I know that a vast majority of fans would like to see the change.

I think you'll get your chance soon enough as this 11 team 20 game trend continues to sweep across the country. With OOC opportunities drying up to such a vast degree, the MVC will follow suit. A guaranteed home and home with a program like Murray State is good for everyone.

[IllinoisState]

Murray State's AD has resigned This could be very bad for MVC expansion hopes.

https://twitter.com/TheAdamBWells/statu ... 3D2851.300

I think Elgin is worse for expansion hopes than anything.

[VUGrad1314]

Wright State in the Top 144 at 141

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16353

GCU at 139

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16357

NKU checks in at 117

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16397

[RacerJoeD]

Murray State's AD has resigned This could be very bad for MVC expansion hopes.

https://twitter.com/TheAdamBWells/statu ... 3D2851.300

I think Elgin is worse for expansion hopes than anything.

Thats one that we Racers can't control...

[VUGrad1314]

Murray State's AD has resigned This could be very bad for MVC expansion hopes.

https://twitter.com/TheAdamBWells/statu ... 3D2851.300

I think Elgin is worse for expansion hopes than anything.

While I understand the sentiment behind that post, I think his hand is going to be forced over the next few years. This year and next the ACC and Big 10 will be going to 20 game schedules. The PAC 12 is exploring the idea, as is the Big East if they can find another team. I fully expect them to take one of Dayton or SLU in the very near future. If SLU plays up to expectations this year, the rumors will greatly intensify. Travis Ford is really building something there, and the geographic fit is absolutely perfect as a bridge from Chicago\Milwaukee\Indianapolis to Omaha. Plus, they don't carry the potential market redundancy that Dayton does,(we might be able to target the one the Big East doesn't take).

The shrinking number of P5 games may even force the Big 12 to preemptively raid the AAC of its top programs; and even if it doesn't, and even if the Big East doesn't take another member, the AAC is first in line to help the BE and the B12 to fill out their schedule which only increases the gulf between the MVC\MWC\A10 tier and the P5\BE\AAC tier. This makes it even less likely that we'd even get AAC-level oponents especially if we insist on home and homes. Our best hope in that scenario for more quality games is calling up teams from lower conferences to join our ranks, scheduling alliances with peer conferences, and possibly pod scheduling late in conference play. We should be wearing out the phones with the top teams in lower leagues and the WCC\WAC who need games desperately and are deep enough to provide decent matchups for our members.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

There isn’t an MVC school Dayton wants to share a conference with except maybe Loyola by virtue of being Jesuit and in Chicago. Dayton wants East Coast exposure, not 9/10 Valley markets. Dayton wouldn’t even look at a 4-bid MVC containing Wichita/Creighton when A10 was 1-bid.

There isn’t a single scenario where Dayton considers MVC. It’s like the Big Ten and Notre Dame. It’s unrealistic and imaginary - not worth wasting cognitive energy over.

[VUGrad1314]

So really our realistic list for expansion going forward if the goal is to add value to the conference is these six schools:

1. Murray State
2. SLU (unlikely)
3. Belmont (unlikely)
4. NKU
5.Wright State
6. South Dakota State (unlikely without another Dakota school)

[BEARZ77]

So really our realistic list for expansion going forward if the goal is to add value to the conference is these six schools:

1. Murray State
2. SLU (unlikely)
3. Belmont (unlikely)
4. NKU
5.Wright State
6. South Dakota State (unlikely without another Dakota school)

I think Murray and NKU would be good additions; I'd like SLU especially with what Ford is building there, but they would only come this way if desperate because of other moves that leave them in a bad A-10 . I just disagree with the rationale that adding programs like those increases odds for at -large bids . I think it can help scheduling, I think it adds to the quality of competition, I think it broadens our footprint; and those are probably good enough reasons. They don't represent a desperate must as some seem to portray, just a reasonable option that should be considered.

[BCPanther]

So really our realistic list for expansion going forward if the goal is to add value to the conference is these six schools:

1. Murray State
2. SLU (unlikely)
3. Belmont (unlikely)
4. NKU
5.Wright State
6. South Dakota State (unlikely without another Dakota school)

South Dakota State is not hooked to any of the other Dakotas. They could come alone but I'm not sure there is much incentive for them to move right now. The league tournament is 45 minutes away, they are the dominant program in that league and they are moving the league offices to Sioux Falls as well.

I think competitively they'd love to be with UNI, Illinois State and MoSt and get rid of the NDSU delusion but I don't see the Valley reaching out to them.