MVC Expansion Candidate Deep Dive

[tribecalledquest]

I think the crux of the frustration with Racer fans and what we have been hearing about MVC expansion is that there seems to be a change in philosophy by MVC presidents. This change threatens the future of the conference we wish to join. It’s a conference that our school fits well, our athletics fit well, and one that has been, and for all intents and purposes SHOULD be , a nationally respected basketball conference. To see both evaporate would be terribly disappointing.

Murray State is a top 30 program in the country. The Missouri Valley is a top 10 conference. Let’s hope the powers that be don’t overthink this.

We also have a new commissioner. Doug Elgin, the epitome of the status quo, retired and the new guy, Jeff Jackson, seems a lot more gung ho with new ideas.

New ideas don't equate to smart ideas.

[Action10]

We also have a new commissioner. Doug Elgin, the epitome of the status quo, retired and the new guy, Jeff Jackson, seems a lot more gung ho with new ideas.

New ideas don't equate to smart ideas.

Didn't most people bash Elgin for not expanding and "moving the league forward" while he was commissioner? Now we have at least talked with Kansas City and Omaha.....

[TBS_20]

We also have a new commissioner. Doug Elgin, the epitome of the status quo, retired and the new guy, Jeff Jackson, seems a lot more gung ho with new ideas.

New ideas don't equate to smart ideas.

Didn't most people bash Elgin for not expanding and "moving the league forward" while he was commissioner? Now we have at least talked with Kansas City and Omaha.....

If Elgin did his job we wouldnt be here

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Didn't most people bash Elgin for not expanding and "moving the league forward" while he was commissioner? Now we have at least talked with Kansas City and Omaha.....

If Elgin did his job we wouldnt be here

Again, this isn’t how realignment works. University presidents decide who gets in. Other schools’ presidents decide if they want in. Elgin wanted Belmont. Jackson wanted Belmont. Belmont didn’t want in until after their new president started, which coincided with when Jackson started. Elgin was interested in UTA. Jackson is interested in UTA. They are acting on behalf of university presidents who are interested in UTA.

[Action10]

If Elgin did his job we wouldnt be here

I am being sincere when I ask this... What should Elgin have done?

[bleach]

Adding Belmont makes sense. Is it good for the league? Who knows, time will tell.
Adding Murray makes sense. Will it happen and would it be good for the league? Who knows, time will tell.
Adding UTA makes little sense.
Adding Omaha or UMKC make no sense.
Adding Loyola make no sense, but time showed it was good for the league.
Adding Evansville made sense but hasn't been great for the league to this point.

I guess i'm saying we can speculate but the factors that make sense now (or don't) really have no bearing on what results. I do though, think the info available is how the decision should be made rather than grasping at straws.

[IllinoisState]

If Elgin did his job we wouldnt be here

I am being sincere when I ask this... What should Elgin have done?

Elgin couldn't make schools join, but I think he should have tried for other schools to go to 12.

Adding Belmont makes sense. Is it good for the league? Who knows, time will tell.
Adding Murray makes sense. Will it happen and would it be good for the league? Who knows, time will tell.
Adding UTA makes little sense.
Adding Omaha or UMKC make no sense.
Adding Loyola make no sense, but time showed it was good for the league.
Adding Evansville made sense but hasn't been great for the league to this point.

I guess i'm saying we can speculate but the factors that make sense now (or don't) really have no bearing on what results. I do though, think the info available is how the decision should be made rather than grasping at straws.

Loyola has private school money and is in Chicago.

I don't see that UMKC and Omaha could make a similar turnaround.

[SalukiWorld]

Murray State is a top 30 program in the country.

I'm an advocate for Murray State to the MVC but this is laughable. Murray State is #116 in KenPom's program ranks since 2002 which would put them below Northern Iowa (93), Missouri State (102), Illinois State (111), & Southern Illinois (112). Now recent success bumps them up no doubt but they're far from a top 30 program in the country.

I’m not talking about this year I’m talking all time. ESPN ranked the Racers as such a few years ago. But to be fair, CBS had the Racers at 44th best of all time, so I guess I could have said Top 50 Programs of all time. Regardless, I stand by the post.

Here is the link to the CBS story

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... 50-26/amp/

Murray State has never been to even a Sweet 16, good mid-major program but no way they're in the national conversation for best programs.

[Drakey]

We also have a new commissioner. Doug Elgin, the epitome of the status quo, retired and the new guy, Jeff Jackson, seems a lot more gung ho with new ideas.

New ideas don't equate to smart ideas.

Didn't most people bash Elgin for not expanding and "moving the league forward" while he was commissioner? Now we have at least talked with Kansas City and Omaha.....

The expansion should have been proactive and should have happened years ago. The options that were available 10-20 years ago no longer exist. If the conference had expanded 20 years ago, we might not have lost WSU and Creighton. Maybe he tried to lure other teams, but I doubt it. I know butler wanted in and they were rejected. Could we have attracted Dayton?

[mvfcfan]

This won't be popular on here, but I just don't think the MVC is necessarily an attractive league to many schools anymore. There's a lot of bad adds out there in the Horizon League, OVC, and the southern half of the Summit League that would join; but there's not a lot of good options. St Louis and Dayton wouldn't entertain the idea; while Wichita and Loyola left first chance they got. It took Belmont 8 years to change their minds, and I think a lot of that had to do with the OVC losing three members in a short amount of time. The expansion committee has been working for 4 years and this list of 5 is the best they could come up with? I'm a little pessimistic about the future of this conference.