Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[BEARZ77]

What would it take for NKU to rise to the level of a program that moves the needle? They're in a good market have great facilities and have been very impressive on the court the past few years. Is it the institutional fit that's giving everyone pause or is it the lack of a long track record? Is it geography?

For me to "move the needle" I look at a lot more than recent success, because we all know that when teams move up conference wise, that usually changes . Budget, facilities, enrollment are important and a big one for me is their ability to schedule at a high level. One of the things that raises a conference profile is the ability to get home/ home series with upper level competition. I look at a school like SLU and they had Seton Hall, Pitt, Butler,Oregon St,Houston,and Florida St this year, Dayton had Butler,Virginia, Oklahoma,Auburn, and Miss. St. Now some of those were tourneys and I'm not sure all are h/h, but conversely a N Kentucky had games against Cinn and UCF both on the road as their only upper level games. That doesn't suggest a team that would bring much scheduling clout to the mix. One of the big losses with Creighton and WSU was they were able to schedule at a level Loyola and Valpo can't match. I'm not knocking those two as many of the current MVC schools don't schedule great and don't have much clout, I'm just saying if I'm looking to add, that's a big factor I want in a new member.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

What would it take for NKU to rise to the level of a program that moves the needle? They're in a good market have great facilities and have been very impressive on the court the past few years. Is it the institutional fit that's giving everyone pause or is it the lack of a long track record? Is it geography?

For me to "move the needle" I look at a lot more than recent success, because we all know that when teams move up conference wise, that usually changes . Budget, facilities, enrollment are important and a big one for me is their ability to schedule at a high level. One of the things that raises a conference profile is the ability to get home/ home series with upper level competition. I look at a school like SLU and they had Seton Hall, Pitt, Butler,Oregon St,Houston,and Florida St this year, Dayton had Butler,Virginia, Oklahoma,Auburn, and Miss. St. Now some of those were tourneys and I'm not sure all are h/h, but conversely a N Kentucky had games against Cinn and UCF both on the road as their only upper level games. That doesn't suggest a team that would bring much scheduling clout to the mix. One of the big losses with Creighton and WSU was they were able to schedule at a level Loyola and Valpo can't match. I'm not knocking those two as many of the current MVC schools don't schedule great and don't have much clout, I'm just saying if I'm looking to add, that's a big factor I want in a new member.

So, you don't want to add anyone except Gonzaga, St. Louis, VCU, or Dayton? Pretty much what you're saying. Not going to happen.

[UNDfan]

I've seen Loyola mentioned with the BE or A-10 a number of times now. Is there any information out there that is actually causing this speculation? The Final Four run was great, but I mean......to me that is a bit of a leap at this point.

Loyola has enough credentials to go to the A10 now. For the BE, it needs to get more dance runs before SLU does.

Loyola has major upside potential still. Maybe more than Butler. DePaul is underperforming. Other MVC privates are in highest conference they can go.

[BEARZ77]

So, you don't want to add anyone except Gonzaga, St. Louis, VCU, or Dayton? Pretty much what you're saying. Not going to happen.

No what I'm saying is many of you are acting like panicked school girls desperate to go to the prom with anybody. What is clear is there will be another level of conference expansion/changes fairly soon leaving teams who are currently probably a notch above us looking for options as will be a number of our current schools. I like Murray State, have been clear about that, but I also know they are in the same boat [ actually worse] and don't really have viable options right now, meaning they will be available to add as part of restructuring plan when things shake out in the near future. What you don't want to do is make panicked moves that don't really help right now and could tie your hands a bit later, because it's a lot more difficult to shed weight than gain it. A lot of schools [ which could include many AAC, USA, A-10, SunBelt, MAC] along with us and off course those conferences like the OVC , Horizon, etc may all have opportunity to look at movement and restructure when things shake out. For some of them football is the driver not basketball, and while basketball is most important for MVC schools in general, obviously when you start talking schools like the Dakotas, bring into play potential schools like W. Kentucky, Tulsa, Arkansas State, all in our regional potential mix, then this is a lot bigger than just adding a basketball team or two. Preparing strategy right now is far more important than making knee jerk moves. We had to make moves when teams left, we don't have to right now, again noting it has nothing to do with Murray's worthiness.

[ptownbraves]

So, you don't want to add anyone except Gonzaga, St. Louis, VCU, or Dayton? Pretty much what you're saying. Not going to happen.

No what I'm saying is many of you are acting like panicked school girls desperate to go to the prom with anybody. What is clear is there will be another level of conference expansion/changes fairly soon leaving teams who are currently probably a notch above us looking for options as will be a number of our current schools. I like Murray State, have been clear about that, but I also know they are in the same boat [ actually worse] and don't really have viable options right now, meaning they will be available to add as part of restructuring plan when things shake out in the near future. What you don't want to do is make panicked moves that don't really help right now and could tie your hands a bit later, because it's a lot more difficult to shed weight than gain it. A lot of schools [ which could include many AAC, USA, A-10, SunBelt, MAC] along with us and off course those conferences like the OVC , Horizon, etc may all have opportunity to look at movement and restructure when things shake out. For some of them football is the driver not basketball, and while basketball is most important for MVC schools in general, obviously when you start talking schools like the Dakotas, bring into play potential schools like W. Kentucky, Tulsa, Arkansas State, all in our regional potential mix, then this is a lot bigger than just adding a basketball team or two. Preparing strategy right now is far more important than making knee jerk moves. We had to make moves when teams left, we don't have to right now, again noting it has nothing to do with Murray's worthiness.

Let's face it, it's highly unlikely that if a restructuring occurred, that the MVC is going to become a strategic wizard and position themselves to become the new A10 or AAC. The past has shown a leadership that is conservative, loyal and contemplative.

So lets be proactive instead of reactive in the event a major restructuring does occur. The MVC has had the luxury of taking their time when Creighton and Wichita St left. There was no other competition for Loyola or Valpo out there. Go after the school(s) you want now that align with conference strategy and don't put yourself into a box with conference size.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

So, you don't want to add anyone except Gonzaga, St. Louis, VCU, or Dayton? Pretty much what you're saying. Not going to happen.

No what I'm saying is many of you are acting like panicked school girls desperate to go to the prom with anybody. What is clear is there will be another level of conference expansion/changes fairly soon leaving teams who are currently probably a notch above us looking for options as will be a number of our current schools. I like Murray State, have been clear about that, but I also know they are in the same boat [ actually worse] and don't really have viable options right now, meaning they will be available to add as part of restructuring plan when things shake out in the near future. What you don't want to do is make panicked moves that don't really help right now and could tie your hands a bit later, because it's a lot more difficult to shed weight than gain it. A lot of schools [ which could include many AAC, USA, A-10, SunBelt, MAC] along with us and off course those conferences like the OVC , Horizon, etc may all have opportunity to look at movement and restructure when things shake out. For some of them football is the driver not basketball, and while basketball is most important for MVC schools in general, obviously when you start talking schools like the Dakotas, bring into play potential schools like W. Kentucky, Tulsa, Arkansas State, all in our regional potential mix, then this is a lot bigger than just adding a basketball team or two. Preparing strategy right now is far more important than making knee jerk moves. We had to make moves when teams left, we don't have to right now, again noting it has nothing to do with Murray's worthiness.

I think NKU and Murray are great adds. BUT, I also agree that waiting and seeing the dominoes fall is the right approach because you never know. UConn could go Big East and they might want to stay at 11 with round robin 20 games. Cincy and Houston jump ship meaning its possible Army joins for football only and VCU gets the call to the AAC. Plus, continued not in the top-10 A-10 if it stays that way could find SLU and Dayton both looking for outs and they may fall right to the MVC. Of course, its highly unlikely but its plausible with about a 1% chance of the stars aligning but it could happen and for that reason they need to wait. Murray State and NKU will always be there for the taking.

[BEARZ77]

Now i think you're making sense. I am incredibly curious to see what happens with the non football AAC teams, and also all the FBS football teams in conferences like USA and the Sunbelt. Those teams are called FBS but ask yourself, is Ark ST closer to being like North Dakota State or Auburn. Will a team from the Sunbelt or USA ever play in a major major bowl game or be included in a National Championship discussion. Of course not . They have the FBS designation, but are clearly at a second tier level that is more like top level FCS teams and schools than P-5 , and they're usually even below us in basketball. They're all losing big money trying to fund athletics to stay competitive with the big boys and it's a fools folly because they're not even being invited to the table any more than we are either in football or basketball. So to me that's what we're gonna see in the next wave or two, a clear and total separation of the Power Conferences. Right now schools in lower FBS conferences should realize that's actually in their best interests because aligning with conferences like ours is what needs to happen for them to actually be competitive on the field and financially. What that would look like conference alignment wise could be really interesting once things are realigned more along financial resource levels than arbitrary designations.

[Drakey]

I've seen Loyola mentioned with the BE or A-10 a number of times now. Is there any information out there that is actually causing this speculation? The Final Four run was great, but I mean......to me that is a bit of a leap at this point.

Loyola has enough credentials to go to the A10 now. For the BE, it needs to get more dance runs before SLU does.

Loyola has major upside potential still. Maybe more than Butler. DePaul is underperforming. Other MVC privates are in highest conference they can go.

What nonsense. Loyola? what do they have other than one good season? Certainly not fans. they are back to mediocrity this season. Next season may be worse. I'm not sure that Bradley, Drake and Evansville don't all have more potential.At least there is a remote history of excellent fan support. Has Loyola EVER had fan support other than at the end of last season?

[MissouriValleyUnite]

I've seen Loyola mentioned with the BE or A-10 a number of times now. Is there any information out there that is actually causing this speculation? The Final Four run was great, but I mean......to me that is a bit of a leap at this point.

Loyola has enough credentials to go to the A10 now. For the BE, it needs to get more dance runs before SLU does.

Loyola has major upside potential still. Maybe more than Butler. DePaul is underperforming. Other MVC privates are in highest conference they can go.

Has Loyola EVER had fan support other than at the end of last season?

This season. 4 sellouts and a student body that lines up 2 hours before tipoff.

[goramblers2011]

I've seen Loyola mentioned with the BE or A-10 a number of times now. Is there any information out there that is actually causing this speculation? The Final Four run was great, but I mean......to me that is a bit of a leap at this point.

Loyola has enough credentials to go to the A10 now. For the BE, it needs to get more dance runs before SLU does.

Loyola has major upside potential still. Maybe more than Butler. DePaul is underperforming. Other MVC privates are in highest conference they can go.

What nonsense. Loyola? what do they have other than one good season? Certainly not fans. they are back to mediocrity this season. Next season may be worse. I'm not sure that Bradley, Drake and Evansville don't all have more potential.At least there is a remote history of excellent fan support. Has Loyola EVER had fan support other than at the end of last season?

Loyola is currently 1st in the Valley with the same conference record as they had at this point last season. Definitely not at the same overall level as last year but hardly a "return to mediocrity."

Next year, they will be returning the potential MVC POY (Krutwig) along with Williamson who would be in the running for DPOY if he was healthy. They have a solid current freshmen class and the MVC's top rated recruiting class coming in.

So...not sure where you are getting Bradley, Drake and Evansville with more potential?

Fan support has been great this year. A few sellouts already and a few more to come (both SIU and MoSt games are already sold out). 3000+ were at their last game (which I believe is more than Drake's average this year)...at 6pm...on a Wednesday....in -20 degree weather.

All that being said, I dont see the Big East calling anytime soon. Not a chance.