ESPN: Butler chatting it up with Atlantic Ten

[PantherSigEp]

Will be interesting to see what happens next in the Horizon. Do they raid the Summit League for an IPFW or Western Illinois? Do they try to continue with nine schools?

Here's a theory that leads to this still helping the MVC (and its pretty lame):
If Butler leaves the Horizon and they don't add another baseball-playing team, the conference will lose its bid into the NCAA tournament (dropping to 5 baseball-playing members). Some of their schools might look to become associate members of the Valley for baseball, finally giving the MVC ten baseball teams

EDITED to add:

This story led to a top funny of the night. Someone suggested that the Horizon should add Chicago State to replace Butler. Talk about

Most teams add 2 easy wins and subtract two losses from their overall/conference record. Sounds like a big ol' win to me!

Ignorance is bliss, wouldn't you say (by which I mean the HL in that situation, not you)

[valleychamp]

Butler will soon find out that life in the A10 is going to be a hell of a lot tougher than life in the Horizon, if this ends up happening.

After being used to rolling through the weak Horizon year in and year out, have to play Xavier, Dayton, Richmond, St Joes, and SLU only a nightly basis is going to hit them in the face pretty hard.

[Jet915]

Will be interesting to see what happens next in the Horizon. Do they raid the Summit League for an IPFW or Western Illinois? Do they try to continue with nine schools?

Here's a theory that leads to this still helping the MVC (and its pretty lame):
If Butler leaves the Horizon and they don't add another baseball-playing team, the conference will lose its bid into the NCAA tournament (dropping to 5 baseball-playing members). Some of their schools might look to become associate members of the Valley for baseball, finally giving the MVC ten baseball teams

EDITED to add:

This story led to a top funny of the night. Someone suggested that the Horizon should add Chicago State to replace Butler. Talk about

That's because Chicago State is in a big market

[pafan]

That's because Chicago State is in a big market

To make it even more attractive, Chicago is a big market that the Horizon is already in (twice) with Loyola and UofI Chicago.

[CURx]

If Evansville bolts, the obvious addition would have to be SLU. But would they want to leave the A10 now? They had a good year there and adding Butler makes it that much more of an attractive conference. Where does the MVC look next if they want 10 members? Oral Roberts? One of the Dakota schools? Who else am I missing? Or do we go to 16 games schedule and allow 2 games for strengthening non-conference schedules and not put so much wear-n-tear into an 18 game conference schedule?

[Jet915]

If Evansville bolts, the obvious addition would have to be SLU. But would they want to leave the A10 now? They had a good year there and adding Butler makes it that much more of an attractive conference. Where does the MVC look next if they want 10 members? Oral Roberts? One of the Dakota schools? Who else am I missing? Or do we go to 16 games schedule and allow 2 games for strengthening non-conference schedules and not put so much wear-n-tear into an 18 game conference schedule?

If those are the options, I say 16 game schedule.

[Haha]

SLU has ZERO interest in the Valley.

Ask Tulsa if they would like to park their oly sports in the Valley, If they say no stick to 9 schools.

Adding just to add is not cool man.

I really doubt Evansville wants to leave.

[PantherSigEp]

What would Evansville gain by leaving other than possibly having an easier chance at an auto bid? Overall I don't think that pro would outweigh the cons. Would travel be easier too? I haven't taken the time to look at the proximity of other Horizon teams

[pafan]

I really doubt Evansville wants to leave.

This.

The only people who want Evansville to leave the Valley are old school fans who miss the days when Jim Crews was coaching here and the Aces finished first or second (including ties) 6 times in their final nine seasons in the MCC (which became the Horizon).

As far as travel, the Valley is actually slightly less travel. A poster at the purple code did the analysis (although it is old and includes Butler): http://thepurplecode.com/forum/viewtopi ... 5600#p5600

Usual disclaimer: figures may be off slightly because I don't look these things up every time I write a post.

[getreal4]

Only way EVille leaves the Valley? Elgin and the have's start pushing bottom teams to commit more resources to men's basketball. If I were Wich St or CU, I would be pushing... As a Drake fan, I'd hope for more time...