Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Academically the A-10 is much better. In basketball their top teams are going to get poached and will flounder middle of the conference pack.

[MOST]

Where are you getting this new southwest conference from? Is it anything more than something in your head?

I said "IF" the Texas schools would pull back from the Sunbelt and CONF USA and form a brand new Southwest Conference. A southern move may be MO States' best option to move away "IF" the MVC continue to hype moving the conference foot print east by adding N. KY, Belmont, WSU, etc. Loyola going to the Big east is another big "IF" factor. Not many quality options for schools in the mid west and plains (west of the Mississippi and miles east of the Rockies: i.e., MO State, UNI, Tulsa, Wichita State).

Have to have a plan. Joining a new SW CONF ???? the best and only option.

[VUGrad1314]

This is a beat writer for NKU and a note from NKU's AD. To say they are unhappy with the Horizon League is an understatement. Their beat writer has even floated going back to the ASun so I'm sure they'd listen to the MVC's overtures. For context, the Horizon League expressly stated that the tournament venue could not be a team's primary venue... Then promptly moving the tournament to IUPUI's primary venue...

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 3D2917.125

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 3244708865

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 6834223105

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 4019773441

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 7443070977

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 2798120960

https://twitter.com/PhearThePhoenix/sta ... 1576131585

[goramblers2011]

This is a beat writer for NKU and a note from NKU's AD. To say they are unhappy with the Horizon League is an understatement. Their beat writer has even floated going back to the ASun so I'm sure they'd listen to the MVC's overtures. For context, the Horizon League expressly stated that the tournament venue could not be a team's primary venue... Then promptly moving the tournament to IUPUI's primary venue...

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 3D2917.125

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 3244708865

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 6834223105

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 4019773441

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 7443070977

https://twitter.com/dontribunesport/sta ... 2798120960

https://twitter.com/PhearThePhoenix/sta ... 1576131585

Loyola and Valpo fans are having Vietnam-like flashbacks. HL is such a poorly run conference.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Having been to countless arenas across the midwest, JQH and BB&T are the two head and shoulders above regional mid-majors. If MVC is allergic to 11, I’d welcome NKU as Murray’s running mate in a heartbeat. That program has only been on an upward trajectory its 3 years of eligibility. They make the MVC better.



(If Ford Center didn’t have hockey-style seating, it would be up there too)

[Purple35]

Just catching up to this.
I think the schools in the Horizon all belong there, though I'd argue NKU could be happy in the OVC.
If the Valley expands, the question is: Which direction, and into which market?
They have a pretty good handle on Illinois and Iowa, and there isn't much available in Indiana.
I think SEMo is a good grab but I'm in the minority. Eastern Illinois would be a good catch.
I guess the consensus is Murray and Belmont, which are competitive inside the Valley's agenda. The OVC is just as good, however.
I'd rather see an overall effort to upgrade the non-con schedule than lock in another 4 games that get replicated in Arch Madness.
Ten is enough.

[SycamoreMaze]

Just catching up to this.
I think the schools in the Horizon all belong there, though I'd argue NKU could be happy in the OVC.
If the Valley expands, the question is: Which direction, and into which market?
They have a pretty good handle on Illinois and Iowa, and there isn't much available in Indiana.
I think SEMo is a good grab but I'm in the minority. Eastern Illinois would be a good catch.
I guess the consensus is Murray and Belmont, which are competitive inside the Valley's agenda. The OVC is just as good, however.

NKU belongs in the Horizon, but Eastern Illinois would be a good catch?

[Purple35]

Just catching up to this.
I think the schools in the Horizon all belong there, though I'd argue NKU could be happy in the OVC.
If the Valley expands, the question is: Which direction, and into which market?
They have a pretty good handle on Illinois and Iowa, and there isn't much available in Indiana.
I think SEMo is a good grab but I'm in the minority. Eastern Illinois would be a good catch.
I guess the consensus is Murray and Belmont, which are competitive inside the Valley's agenda. The OVC is just as good, however.

NKU belongs in the Horizon, but Eastern Illinois would be a good catch?

I look at geography and how the league can benefit from its marketing.
Eastern Ill. is a nice fit for rivalry purposes.
NKU should look east or south for its rivals. They have virtually no history against Valley teams that matters. Valpo is the only team that played them.
As far as quality of program, I don't know how you can evaluate that.

[IWokeUpLikeThis]

Eastern Illinois would be a good catch.

University presidents are huge on the Coles County market. They can utilize Coles County as a liaison to connect with alums and accumulate student recruitment.

University AD’s can add a tradition-rich program that would raise the level of the conference with a fan base that would swarm the conference tournament in droves.

You’ve unlocked the realignment secret. MVC officials should be on the phone with you shortly.

[goramblers2011]

Eastern Illinois would be a good catch.

University presidents are huge on the Coles County market. They can utilize Coles County as a liaison to connect with alums and accumulate student recruitment.

University AD’s can add a tradition-rich program that would raise the level of the conference with a fan base that would swarm the conference tournament in droves.

You’ve unlocked the realignment secret. MVC officials should be on the phone with you shortly.

The only things Eastern Illinois has going for it: Tony Romo (retired and never won a Super Bowl), Jimmy Garoppolo (injured last year) and the first Jimmy Johns (its founder/owner kind of sucks).

Other than that, they've made March Madness twice (and not since 2001) and they are 0-2. Academically, they are near the bottom of all Illinois state schools (UofI, ISU, Southern and Northern are all clearly better schools). It is in the middle of nowhere and has no real tradition.