Loyola Leaving for A-10

[VUGrad1314]

I just can't believe we're thinking of inviting Arlington and Kansas City and that this is being driven by the private schools (well that part I can believe). It's like the private schools don't seem to care about making this a strong league and are just hoping two Texas kids per year decide they want to go to their school or something. I get that enrollment issues abound but this is such a bad move and won't solve the problem. This needs to be Murray State NKU and UIC or Wright State if we're adding three. That would give us two good markets and two solid basketball programs as well as one that seems to be up and coming or three solid programs if it's Wright State. If anybody else leaves go after Milwaukee an R1 school with some basketball tradition (assuming we invite UIC in this round). We should be drawing from the top or at the very least the middle of the leagues we're taking teams from. If the private schools are hellbent on KC and UT-Arlington then if I were a public school with any hope of getting out I would be looking for the exit because this isn't a basketball centric league anymore if those are the additions. It's a league with God only knows what priorities.

I'd also accept and even potentially rather have the Dakota schools than UIC or Milwaukee or even perhaps Wright State but they don't help as much with enrollment UIC and NKU might. Where do you think a midwestern private school is going to have more success pulling students? Cincinnati\Dayton Chicago\Milwaukee or Arlington\Dallas and Kansas City? University presidents are smart so they should really start using their heads here.

[unipanther99]

From a UNI perspective, I don't want any more eastern schools after Murray and Belmont.

1. They're outside the traditional footprint of the conference.
2. We could just be building programs up to be poached by other eastern conferences again.
3. We aren't going to start recruiting in Kentucky or Ohio. We have recruited in the KC area and Texas.

[BCPanther]

Y'all that have never been in an all sports league with the Dakotas have no idea how awful it is to be in an all sports league with the Dakotas.

SDSU alone would be tolerable because they are much more culturally like us but NDSU is the quickest way to blow up a conference this side of Texas.

We left it 40 years ago and there is zero desire to go back to it.

[Bulldog4life24]

You could even just not invite 13th place.

We aren't some low rent low-major. Everybody goes.

This. Also - do we really want to split Loyola/Drake/whoever else’s units from this year with 2 new entrants who have no hope of giving back to that within the next 2-4 years? With Belmont and Murray, we know we’re getting programs on solid footing and I’m just fine with that. I don’t want to give up some of my school’s units to a program who has had exactly 0 postseason success.

Im Im wrong and the new schools don’t receive prior NCAA units, then disregard.

[BCPanther]

You could even just not invite 13th place.

We aren't some low rent low-major. Everybody goes.

This. Also - do we really want to split Loyola/Drake/whoever else’s units from this year with 2 new entrants who have no hope of giving back to that within the next 2-4 years? With Belmont and Murray, we know we’re getting programs on solid footing and I’m just fine with that. I don’t want to give up some of my school’s units to a program who has had exactly 0 postseason success.

Im Im wrong and the new schools don’t receive prior NCAA units, then disregard.

When Loyola and Valpo entered they didn't get any units from years before they were in the league, so I'm guessing that's the case with this group.

[IllinoisState]

I just can't believe we're thinking of inviting Arlington and Kansas City and that this is being driven by the private schools (well that part I can believe). It's like the private schools don't seem to care about making this a strong league and are just hoping two Texas kids per year decide they want to go to their school or something. I get that enrollment issues abound but this is such a bad move and won't solve the problem. This needs to be Murray State NKU and UIC or Wright State if we're adding three. That would give us two good markets and two solid basketball programs as well as one that seems to be up and coming or three solid programs if it's Wright State. If anybody else leaves go after Milwaukee an R1 school with some basketball tradition (assuming we invite UIC in this round). We should be drawing from the top or at the very least the middle of the leagues we're taking teams from. If the private schools are hellbent on KC and UT-Arlington then if I were a public school with any hope of getting out I would be looking for the exit because this isn't a basketball centric league anymore if those are the additions. It's a league with God only knows what priorities.

I'd also accept and even potentially rather have the Dakota schools than UIC or Milwaukee or even perhaps Wright State but they don't help as much with enrollment UIC and NKU might. Where do you think a midwestern private school is going to have more success pulling students? Cincinnati\Dayton Chicago\Milwaukee or Arlington\Dallas and Kansas City? University presidents are smart so they should really start using their heads here.

Still no to any Dakota team, but the rest you mentioned I would prefer over either team that has been suggested.

[OfPantherandMan]

do we really want to split Loyola/Drake/whoever else’s units from this year with 2 new entrants who have no hope of giving back to that within the next 2-4 years? With Belmont and Murray, we know we’re getting programs on solid footing and I’m just fine with that. I don’t want to give up some of my school’s units to a program who has had exactly 0 postseason success.

Im Im wrong and the new schools don’t receive prior NCAA units, then disregard.

All you can ask for is effort. If KC and Arlington say they're going to invest in their programs, who is to say they don't turn out like Loyola did? Nobody at all was excited about Loyola joining after Creighton left. Nobody. But here we are.

Also, pretty rich for a "Bulldog4life" to be talking about teams being a drain on the conference. Drake had one good season in 50 before their present success. And I say this as a Drake fan.

[Bulldog4life24]

do we really want to split Loyola/Drake/whoever else’s units from this year with 2 new entrants who have no hope of giving back to that within the next 2-4 years? With Belmont and Murray, we know we’re getting programs on solid footing and I’m just fine with that. I don’t want to give up some of my school’s units to a program who has had exactly 0 postseason success.

Im Im wrong and the new schools don’t receive prior NCAA units, then disregard.

All you can ask for is effort. If KC and Arlington say they're going to invest in their programs, who is to say they don't turn out like Loyola did? Nobody at all was excited about Loyola joining after Creighton left. Nobody. But here we are.

Also, pretty rich for a "Bulldog4life" to be talking about teams being a drain on the conference. Drake had one good season in 50 before their present success. And I say this as a Drake fan.

I’m asking for more than effort. As Drake fans know, you can try really hard while making terrible decisions, with awful outcomes.

The difference is, Drake’s already a member. If Drake hadn’t been a member pre 2018 and we wanted in to the MVC, I would have said the same thing: “Why would the MVC want us?” Its a big difference for schools who were original founders of your league vs. taking a flyer on a brand with no history of success

[BCPanther]

Agreed.

We can't do the 'Well UNI, SIU, Drake, etc' are in the league stuff.

None of us are trying to get in in 2021. The goalposts have moved.

[IllinoisState]

Agreed.

We can't do the 'Well UNI, SIU, Drake, etc' are in the league stuff.

None of us are trying to get in in 2021. The goalposts have moved.

Looking at each team individually I wouldn't add a lot of the MVC or I would be hesitant on them. Including ISU.

However, we have no say and if they 100% are going to be added give them the Chicago State treatment. 5 year "trial" membership to prove they can increase spending, upgrade facilities, and win.