Welcome Murray State to the MVC!

[tribecalledquest]

One underrated thing that I don't think gets talked about enough is how good our TV contracts are for our level. That should be the keynote of Doug Elgin's legacy, the man was a media rights visionary long before anybody else got there.

12 games on ESPN2/U (with 6 of those guaranteed to be ESPN2) (88 Million Homes)
8 games plus the semifinals on CBS Sports Net (55 Million Homes)
25 games available on NBC Sports Chicago, Bally Sports (Midwest, KC, Indiana and we'll now add Bally Sports South and Tennessee) (78 Million homes when South is added)
Championship Game on CBS (111 Million Homes)

Throw in the ESPN3/+ deal (including 22 league telecasts) and the exposure for anybody coming in jumps leaps and bounds and should do nothing but help Murray and Belmont as well.

I sincerely hope Murray State and Belmont knock it out of the park in the MVC and allow our media deal to grow even more! Imagine both of these teams being top 25\at large caliber and getting their matchup on an ESPN network. Imagine a couple other programs stepping up to buttress and support them! It could happen! It has happened before! I think we are in a great spot. I'm not thrilled with the UIC addition but I get it and maybe they'll surprise us. At the very least the league shouldn't be any worse as we move into the post-Loyola era. As I said before I hope Loyola will remember us MVC schools in the non-con. I think a few home and homes between the Ramblers and the MVC will be very beneficial for both sides.

Loyola was only around for 8 years and 5 of those were pretty damn mediocre. I'm nowhere near sold that they're some national power that we don't have any hope of replacing or improving upon nor am I sold that the A10 is head and shoulders above the Valley.

I'd argue that the Valley will be a better league on 7/1/22 than it was on 7/1/21.

I'm with you on this.

[TBS_20]

apparently there have already been talks between the MWC and WSU. They could add 2 non football schools and keep it even. It feels like this is where Gonzaga ends up with WSU.

[VUGrad1314]

apparently there have already been talks between the MWC and WSU. They could add 2 non football schools and keep it even. It feels like this is where Gonzaga ends up with WSU.

Where have you heard about active talks between the MWC and WSU? I haven't seen that. I'm not saying you're wrong I'm just seeing if that information is sourced or speculative as I have long speculated on the potential fit between WSU and the MWC myself. If the MWC has decided to go in a basketball centric direction then kudos to them. That is absolutely the right move. Also I thought the MWC could only add one non FB school unless they're adding NDSU FB only as well to give them a second slot?

[MolineRacer]

Loyola was only around for 8 years and 5 of those were pretty damn mediocre. I'm nowhere near sold that they're some national power that we don't have any hope of replacing or improving upon nor am I sold that the A10 is head and shoulders above the Valley.

I'd argue that the Valley will be a better league on 7/1/22 than it was on 7/1/21.

I view this Loyola stretch, with the Final Four as a centerpiece, more like the stretch George Mason had in the mid-2000's. VCU has been able to have more sustained success, as has Wichita State. Wichita State does appear to be heading toward a complete implosion sooner rather than later though.

Agree. Loyola should fall off after this season.

[letsgoAces]

I expect no drop off from Loyola at all. The financial commitment they have made, new facilities, and breakthroughs in their recruiting in the Chicago Public League, will make them viable for years to come. They also offer big dollars for their head coaches. I don't see all of this and think they are somehow going to go away.

[IllinoisState]

I expect no drop off from Loyola at all. The financial commitment they have made, new facilities, and breakthroughs in their recruiting in the Chicago Public League, will make them viable for years to come. They also offer big dollars for their head coaches. I don't see all of this and think they are somehow going to go away.

I think we might see something like what happened with Wichita and Creighton. Instead of wins in the mid to high 20s the wins will be low to mid 20s.

[Hooper]

TIL: LUC has a one billion dollar endowment. Billion with a "B." Wow.

[VUGrad1314]

I expect no drop off from Loyola at all. The financial commitment they have made, new facilities, and breakthroughs in their recruiting in the Chicago Public League, will make them viable for years to come. They also offer big dollars for their head coaches. I don't see all of this and think they are somehow going to go away.

I think we might see something like what happened with Wichita and Creighton. Instead of wins in the mid to high 20s the wins will be low to mid 20s.

The existing MVC institutions just need to continue to raise their play to support the new additions who should be good. If we can do that this league is going to be more than fine.

[letsgoAces]

The MVC will challenge the Atlantic 10 for best non power conference. My hope is that the league will be able to upgrade it's TV money. This is part of the reason that the Chicago market is so important to the league, and why I believe UIC will be chosen as the next team. I absolutely think in time they could make a big turnaround.

[IllinoisState]

TIL: LUC has a one billion dollar endowment. Billion with a "B." Wow.

Then they've done really well for themselves over the past year or two because I last noticed their endowment being in the $700 millions.

The existing MVC institutions just need to continue to raise their play to support the new additions who should be good. If we can do that this league is going to be more than fine.

That's easier said than done.

The MVC will challenge the Atlantic 10 for best non power conference. My hope is that the league will be able to upgrade it's TV money. This is part of the reason that the Chicago market is so important to the league, and why I believe UIC will be chosen as the next team. I absolutely think in time they could make a big turnaround.

We are still behind the AAC, A-10, WCC, and MWC. That's a lot of ground to gain.