Another Expansion/Realignment Thread

[MissouriValleyUnite]

I was on a trip hiking with my mom when I saw the news. We were sitting down to dinner and I saw that Belmont was added and I was SO EXCITED! I had wanted them in the MVC since Valpo joined and couldn't believe they FINALLY accepted! Was puzzled by the lack of a Murray followup but I guess football and such was the holdup there but I'm just so thrilled that they're both finally here and the league is much stronger for it! I know the next addition(s) will be great too. This league has a habit of getting it right. Being deliberate intentional and effective when it makes decisions. I still think the Valley has many great years ahead of it even in the new climate.

That's a cool story! Hiking is fun.

Like BCPanther said, I don't think the MVC's silence means anything considering the timing. 2013 happened in March/April, so the MVC had to rush. 2017 happened in March/April, so the MVC had to rush again. 2021 happened late summer, so the MVC had a full year and candidates presenting to the presidents didn't happen until winter. This time, it happened early summer, so my guess is with a whole year the MVC won't decide until winter again.

[IllinoisState]

I was on a trip hiking with my mom when I saw the news. We were sitting down to dinner and I saw that Belmont was added and I was SO EXCITED! I had wanted them in the MVC since Valpo joined and couldn't believe they FINALLY accepted! Was puzzled by the lack of a Murray followup but I guess football and such was the holdup there but I'm just so thrilled that they're both finally here and the league is much stronger for it! I know the next addition(s) will be great too. This league has a habit of getting it right. Being deliberate intentional and effective when it makes decisions. I still think the Valley has many great years ahead of it even in the new climate.

They might give us a scare with considering certain schools first, however.

[VUGrad1314]

I agree. I find myself still opposed to UT-Arlington but not because of performance their 5 or 10 year KenPom numbers as the D1360 video showed us are right in line with the candidates we are considering. I just don't see either side being too terribly excited about the marriage. I just don't think fans on either side will come out. All things being (relatively) equal. I'd rather have a team that is drivable for at least half of the schools or is a short flight for all of them that can generate fan interest and have strong attendance numbers. This is why I support NKU and Wright State (assuming the financial issues are behind them) as the next addition assuming we make one. If we're rolling the dice on potential I think St Thomas has greater potential and is a better fit for our footprint. The news that Milwaukee has made a strong coaching hire and has a new indoor practice facility either done or on the way has me more interested in them than I have ever been but they are fourth on this list for me. I completely agree that they'll scare us with some off the wall candidates first though I'm sure they've considered virtually everyone they possibly can in the region in past realignment\expansion rounds so I think anyone they contact now will be with the intention of adding them

[Chuck A]

Might not be anything at all, but I was perusing the athletics sites of potential Valley expansion candidates and saw that Northern Kentucky will be sponsoring Men's and Women's Swimming for the first time. For the upcoming season, the Valley men will have 7 teams: Evansville, UIC, Southern Illinois, Valpo and Missouri State with two MAC affiliates, Miami of Ohio and Ball State. With the addition of NKU, the "Valley" portion of the teams will basically remain the same (5) with the Norse replacing Missouri State when they leave. The men's side of the league would be one over the NCAA required number of teams. The women will maintain the 9 they currently have when Missouri State leaves and NKU possibly replaces them.

NKU seems to be putting themselves in a position to be the next member joining the Valley: New sports teams; new athletic director from MVC member Northern Iowa; and the University increasing the pay of the men's head coach Darrin Horn and the assistant coach base salary pool beginning at 359K. They also will fund one airplane flight for one regular season conference game. Could that game be UTA? Very interesting!

[VUGrad1314]

Seems like NKU is the MVC's pick and it's a good one. The flight is probably for any Iowa trips as that isn't exactly bussable. Can't see the MVC going beyond 12 unless St Thomas is available and even then it'd take a strong #14 like a change in Wright State's financial fortunes or more progress from Milwaukee. UTA makes even less sense now than they did before Missouri State announced their upcoming departure.

[PretzelDawg]

St. Thomas isn't ready for the Valley. They are having more issues with the new stadium and getting funding than is being let on. I have a buddy who looked at an opportunity there. The powers that be couldn't even get their act together on a second interview, because of all the other issues. He took a quick pass on the situation. I know there is a bunch of excitement with this place, but it is probably 7-10 years down the line.

[ReZyNeZy]

St. Thomas isn't ready for the Valley. They are having more issues with the new stadium and getting funding than is being let on. I have a buddy who looked at an opportunity there. The powers that be couldn't even get their act together on a second interview, because of all the other issues. He took a quick pass on the situation. I know there is a bunch of excitement with this place, but it is probably 7-10 years down the line.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't St. Thomas recently get approval for construction to begin on their arena? I know in April neighbors were protesting the environmental and traffic aspects of the arena, but I thought those concerns were swept away by the Minneapolis council

[Chuck A]

St. Thomas isn't ready for the Valley. They are having more issues with the new stadium and getting funding than is being let on. I have a buddy who looked at an opportunity there. The powers that be couldn't even get their act together on a second interview, because of all the other issues. He took a quick pass on the situation. I know there is a bunch of excitement with this place, but it is probably 7-10 years down the line.

Here is my prediction. St. Thomas may not be ready just yet, but in two years...who knows?! The Valley honchos don't have to make a decision/announcement really, until after the '25-'26 season. At that time, several factors would have come into play. First, for the '25-'26 season, the Valley will play with 11 teams and go with a double round robin for the 20 conference games. During this time the situations/difficulties which are plaguing Kansas City and St. Thomas will have more than likely come to some kind of progress as it pertains to their respective basketball arenas. Beginning with the '26 season, the Thommies will be a full-fledged D1basketball program...and free of their commitment to the Summit League. Both Arlington and Kansas City will have 2 years to build on their respective basketball improvement. Don't have a clue as to whether Kansas City will further help itself by adding baseball. So, with all that being said, the '25-'26 season will see the Missouri Valley Conference with 14 teams, the latest additions being Northern Kentucky, Texas-Arlington and St. Thomas, with the last spot being a dogfight between St. Thomas and Kansas City.

[VUGrad1314]

I would take Wright State and Milwaukee over both UTA and KC. My objection to UTA isn't even program related so much as geography. I want good programs in a compact footprint. I know anyone can fly to DFW but flights aren't cheap and the idea of playing conference games in Texas doesn't really excite fans on either side of this equation. UTA doesn't draw. Wright State and Milwaukee do and they're of roughly similar quality to UTA as programs I believe (especially if Milwaukee can continue its upward trajectory).

[Chuck A]

I would take Wright State and Milwaukee over both UTA and KC. My objection to UTA isn't even program related so much as geography. I want good programs in a compact footprint. I know anyone can fly to DFW but flights aren't cheap and the idea of playing conference games in Texas doesn't really excite fans on either side of this equation. UTA doesn't draw. Wright State and Milwaukee do and they're of roughly similar quality to UTA as programs I believe (especially if Milwaukee can continue its upward trajectory).

There you go again, speaking for everybody else! How do you know the 1% of each Valley team's alumni won't be excited to see their alma mater play live? They could be very excited!

Now that Coach Nagy is gone, and the problems they've had financially, I wouldn't dare touch Wright State. I also don't think you're gonna get your nice and snug, comfy footprint. There's nothing else in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. The Valley has tapped into Kentucky, but I think it doesn't want to become a Southern leaning Conference.