Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[glm38]

Northwest Missouri State just wrapped up an undefeated season and won the Division II national championship game. They played the game at the Ford Center in Evansville. Attendance for the championship game? 4,269. Attendance for the OVC championship game? 10,525

Very few care about Division II basketball. Very few would care about IAA basketball either. That's it. Bottom line.

Point: NWMO played a small D2 private school team from San Diego in the Championship game. Would not have expected much of a fan crowd to travel 2000 miles from SD to Evansville. But, what would have been the attendance if Southern IN had been the opponent (which I think it was in the semifinals). Southern Ind home is Evansville--or 5 miles to the west. Probably a standing room only.

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a wonderful Christmas.

It's like talking to a tree.

Now you understand.

[mvfcfan]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... -10-teams/

One source said the majority of league presidents were in favor of Valpo, but two league presidents stumped hard for Murray State. The league's official stance is that the vote to add Valpo was unanimous.

Does anyone know who the two schools were that wanted Murray State rather than Valpo?

[VUGrad1314]

I heard Evansville was pretty pro Murray. If I had to guess the other was Missouri State...

[BCPanther]

UNI was between presidents AND athletic director at the time. I can assure you that the current regime would have pushed for Murray. They've both been pretty Anti-Valpo since we played a volleyball game in 100 degree heat in their gym without air conditioning.

[IllinoisState]

Having a private school be that pro-public is a good thing for the future.

[VUGrad1314]

UNI was between presidents AND athletic director at the time. I can assure you that the current regime would have pushed for Murray. They've both been pretty Anti-Valpo since we played a volleyball game in 100 degree heat in their gym without air conditioning.

I was at that game. That was brutal and very embarrassing.

[Sir Sci]

I heard Evansville was pretty pro Murray. If I had to guess the other was Missouri State...

I really have no idea, but I have to agree that Missouri State likely was in favor of Murray State (unless our admin didn't want another MSU in the conference ) because it would fit the profile of peer institutions that Missouri State wants to associate with.

[valleydays]

It should have never been EITHER Valpo or Murray, it should have been BOTH. This insistence on an even number of schools is nonsense and really hard for some of us to accept.

(Personally, without a shred if evidence, I still suspect there is some other reason to keep Murray out. I have no idea what it could be -- maybe that Murray isn't "big" enough -- but I've always believed that the Lords if the MVC considered Murray "No. 12 " and not No. 11.)

(Also, this subject has been more than beaten to death, but at this point I just want to see this thread reach 100 pages, just to see if it can.)

[Mikovio]

Murray has poor academics. Personally I don't think that should be given much consideration but presidents will consider that.

I think I heard MSU and SIU were the ones who initially supported Murray over Valpo.

MSU was publicly reluctant to expand to 11 because they were afraid it would impact their travel partnership arrangement and hit their travel budget.

[RacerJoeD]

US News and World Report disagrees. For 26 straight years, Murray has been ranked as one of the top regional universities in the South overall, and even higher in the public school division. Also has been listed in Forbes' list of America's Top Colleges.




As an aside, Belmont has hired Lipscomb's Casey Alexander as their new head coach.