Loyola Leaving for A-10

[mvfcfan]

Here's the difference between Loyola and Arlington and it may be a shocker to some. Loyola is in Chicago, which is in the heart of the MVC footprint; while UTA is in Texas, which is no where near the MVC footprint.

If Loyola had continued sucking, it's not like Chicago was 1000 miles away. There were also three other MVC schools in the state already.

Adding markets to add markets is just dumb. I'm also anti adding markets to try to boost attendance at private schools. Basketball first and if they happen to be in a bigger market then that's an added bonus. Adding markets as a recruiting tool is a quick path to being a 1 bid academic league. It's actually embarrassing that UMKC and UTA are even under any kind of consideration.

And honestly if UTA is so great why does the Sun Belt want to get rid of them so bad? That fact alone should tell you that they are not worth adding. UMKC doesn't even need an explanation.

[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.

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.

Norlander's article makes is seem like Murray and Arlington are done deals at the league meetings in December but Kansas City is going to have to prove some things before they get the nod.

Some other random thoughts.....

I'd have to think that Murray and Arlington would be good to go for 2022-23 and we play with 12 next year.

The only question is do we go 22 game full round robin or do we go 20 games with 9 doubles and 2 singles (20 is my preference). If we're at 13, it starts to get awkward as you go 20 games with 8 doubles and 4 singles.

VB/WBB travel partners--
UNI-Drake
Illinois State-Bradley
SIU-Murray State
Missouri State-Arlington (cheap flights or a manageable drive)
Evansville-Belmont
Indiana State-Valpo

If Kansas City comes in, you pair them with Missouri State and Arlington becomes standalone because there are easy and cheap flights in and out.

[BCPanther]

Here's the difference between Loyola and Arlington and it may be a shocker to some. Loyola is in Chicago, which is in the heart of the MVC footprint; while UTA is in Texas, which is no where near the MVC footprint.

If Loyola had continued sucking, it's not like Chicago was 1000 miles away. There were also three other MVC schools in the state already.

Adding markets to add markets is just dumb. I'm also anti adding markets to try to boost attendance at private schools. Basketball first and if they happen to be in a bigger market then that's an added bonus. Adding markets as a recruiting tool is a quick path to being a 1 bid academic league. It's actually embarrassing that UMKC and UTA are even under any kind of consideration.

And honestly if UTA is so great why does the Sun Belt want to get rid of them so bad? That fact alone should tell you that they are not worth adding. UMKC doesn't even need an explanation.

Because they don't play football and the Sun Belt is ALL IN on being the best G5 football league.

[Bulldog4life24]

Here's the difference between Loyola and Arlington and it may be a shocker to some. Loyola is in Chicago, which is in the heart of the MVC footprint; while UTA is in Texas, which is no where near the MVC footprint.

If Loyola had continued sucking, it's not like Chicago was 1000 miles away. There were also three other MVC schools in the state already.

Adding markets to add markets is just dumb. I'm also anti adding markets to try to boost attendance at private schools. Basketball first and if they happen to be in a bigger market then that's an added bonus. Adding markets as a recruiting tool is a quick path to being a 1 bid academic league. It's actually embarrassing that UMKC and UTA are even under any kind of consideration.

And honestly if UTA is so great why does the Sun Belt want to get rid of them so bad? That fact alone should tell you that they are not worth adding. UMKC doesn't even need an explanation.

Because they don't play football and the Sun Belt is ALL IN on being the best G5 football league.

This. Also agree that the league is undervaluing itself by wanting those additions. The arguments that the Valley is close to equal with MWC or A-10 go out the window if their adding schools like Loyola and we're adding directional nobodies who no one has heard of.

[IllinoisState]

Here's the difference between Loyola and Arlington and it may be a shocker to some. Loyola is in Chicago, which is in the heart of the MVC footprint; while UTA is in Texas, which is no where near the MVC footprint.

If Loyola had continued sucking, it's not like Chicago was 1000 miles away. There were also three other MVC schools in the state already.

Adding markets to add markets is just dumb. I'm also anti adding markets to try to boost attendance at private schools. Basketball first and if they happen to be in a bigger market then that's an added bonus. Adding markets as a recruiting tool is a quick path to being a 1 bid academic league. It's actually embarrassing that UMKC and UTA are even under any kind of consideration.

And honestly if UTA is so great why does the Sun Belt want to get rid of them so bad? That fact alone should tell you that they are not worth adding. UMKC doesn't even need an explanation.

Because they don't play football and the Sun Belt is ALL IN on being the best G5 football league.

This. Also agree that the league is undervaluing itself by wanting those additions. The arguments that the Valley is close to equal with MWC or A-10 go out the window if their adding schools like Loyola and we're adding directional nobodies who no one has heard of.

And the better of the two schools mentioned is a big nobody in the media

https://csnbbs.com/thread-935663-post-1 ... id17862418

[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.

Norlander's article makes is seem like Murray and Arlington are done deals at the league meetings in December but Kansas City is going to have to prove some things before they get the nod.

Some other random thoughts.....

I'd have to think that Murray and Arlington would be good to go for 2022-23 and we play with 12 next year.

The only question is do we go 22 game full round robin or do we go 20 games with 9 doubles and 2 singles (20 is my preference). If we're at 13, it starts to get awkward as you go 20 games with 8 doubles and 4 singles.

VB/WBB travel partners--
UNI-Drake
Illinois State-Bradley
SIU-Murray State
Missouri State-Arlington (cheap flights or a manageable drive)
Evansville-Belmont
Indiana State-Valpo

If Kansas City comes in, you pair them with Missouri State and Arlington becomes standalone because there are easy and cheap flights in and out.

At that point I hope ISU hadn't voted for them and is looking to leave so I wouldn't care.

[Loyola_Fan]

I have enjoyed Loyola's time in the valley immensely and will miss arch madness and the grind of the conference season. That being said I think this makes a ton of sense. Loyola lands in a conference filled with catholic schools focused on basketball located in major cities. I think there's some risk in Dayton and SLU getting called up and leaving Loyola stranded, but that seems unlikely and even then not the end of the world.

I'm from the Chicago burbs and Drake and Bradley were schools I considered before attending Loyola. I was an extreme outlier in my freshman dorm. Many of my classmates were from the east coast and attended Jesuit high schools. Loyola has too many local students to ever lose its midwestern identity but I think this helps it tap into the large national network of Catholic students more so. From a purely basketball perspective I think it's a good idea with some risk but from a larger university brand perspective I think there's no downside.

All that to say I think most Loyola fans are grateful for the risk the Valley took on the program. I hope feelings aren't so hard that we can't schedule games in Cedar Falls, Des Moines, etc in the future. I personally consider the 2 year stretch against UNI where Loyola won by one point each game and then the next year we split the series going to OT each game the apex of mid major basketball. I hope we can continue those series in the non-con.

[municup14]

So one reason why LOYOLA was chosen is because of there large market, Chicago. So why dont the MVC go after a school in a large market area,say Indianapolis. IUPUI is the only school I can think of.

[RacerJoeD]

https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/eye- ... asketball/

Matt Norlander discusses Loyola to the A10, and MVC expansion at about 51:00

[IllinoisState]

So one reason why LOYOLA was chosen is because of there large market, Chicago. So why dont the MVC go after a school in a large market area,say Indianapolis. IUPUI is the only school I can think of.

Because people don't get delusions of grandeur from Indianapolis/Indiana and their basketball team is bad and in the current MVC footprint.