Would you support trying to add St. Thomas?

by **IllinoisState** » January 24th, 2025, 10:28 am

Would you support trying to add St. Thomas as the MVC's 12th member for the 26-27 season?

**Sponsor**

by **MissouriValleyUnite** » January 24th, 2025, 11:16 am

St. Thomas is knocking on the door of the top-100 before they’re even eligible for the NCAA Tournament and still playing in their D3 gym.

St. Thomas is more financially loaded than half of the Big East and is opening a new arena in 2026.

I’m firmly in the “add St. Thomas or stay at 11” camp. St. Thomas is the only school I feel confident will consistently add Q2 games to the league schedule.

by **BCPanther** » January 24th, 2025, 11:33 am

No.

Until we know how the House Settlement is going to shake out and what future tournament distributions are going to look like now that the A4 are, most likely, going to get control of the tournament, we don't need another mouth to feed just to get to 12.

St Thomas isn't going anywhere so if things work out where it makes financial sense, they'll still be there if we decide to expand. The A10 is at a super stable 14 and doesn't show any inclination to expand right now either and St Thomas would be, at best, 3rd on their list if they decided to.

by **ReZyNeZy** » January 24th, 2025, 12:26 pm

I wouldn't say St. Thomas is "another mouth to feed". Considering their financials and booster base could rival those of Big East schools if not exceed them. My personal concern is over longevity. How long until they decide they are "too good" for the MVC and move to greener pastures. They could easily split time in XL Energy or Target if the Big East comes knocking.

by **BCPanther** » January 24th, 2025, 2:02 pm

ReZyNeZy wrote:I wouldn't say St. Thomas is "another mouth to feed". Considering their financials and booster base could rival those of Big East schools if not exceed them. My personal concern is over longevity. How long until they decide they are "too good" for the MVC and move to greener pastures. They could easily split time in XL Energy or Target if the Big East comes knocking.

They absolutely are unless you can guarantee a 2nd bid every 2 out of 3 years and that the distribution model doesn't change.

The Big East isn't going after anyone either. They, too, aren't going to cut the pie up any smaller and they're going to lose a chunk of media value when UConn finds a football home and leaves the league.

Realignment is done for a while other than the WAC blowing up here in the next couple of weeks but that shouldn't affect us at all unless the Dakotas get all cute and decide to make a play for Summit League football with the Utah Schools.

by **Chuck A** » January 24th, 2025, 2:08 pm

ReZyNeZy wrote:I wouldn't say St. Thomas is "another mouth to feed". Considering their financials and booster base could rival those of Big East schools if not exceed them. My personal concern is over longevity. How long until they decide they are "too good" for the MVC and move to greener pastures. They could easily split time in XL Energy or Target if the Big East comes knocking.

I just don't get the assumption that St. Thomas will wind up in the Big East. I personally don't think the BE is even remotely interested in St. Thomas. Dayton, St. Louis, heck, even Loyola are all ahead of the Tommies. At this point and for the foreseeable future, the Valley would be the best place for them.

I think some on this board have truly underestimated the MVC this season based on the offseason coaching moves and the NIL situation. I actually see the off-season moves as great for the league long term. The Missouri Valley has always had an excellent rep for having really good coaches. In my opinion, the new hires that will be in the league, have only solidified the Valley's status in that regard. These coaches have the ability to turn around a program and hopefully keep a number of the impactful players... especially with NIL. In the upcoming seasons I see this league returning to its multi-bid form regardless of the P4 conferences (2-3 on a regular basis). St. Thomas fits the profile of the Valley, is in the footprint and spends money. This is the Conference for St. Thomas. As a matter of fact, I support them for the '25-'26 season. Once they get here, they won't leave any time soon. It's just my opinion, but that's what I believe.

by **bradley_townie** » January 24th, 2025, 2:36 pm

How do they compare to other MVC schools when it comes to things like fan support and NIL? That is arguably the biggest driver of success right now in college basketball.

Right now they are a middle of the pack MVC team with their KenPom of 129.

by **BCPanther** » January 24th, 2025, 2:47 pm

We also need to recognize that we're in the same rankings area we've always been in. There hasn't been a noticeable drop off and losing Missouri State is going to be a boost on it's own.

There's absolutely no way CUSA repeats this and the bottom is about to fall out of the WCC.

We're in great shape where we're at and there is no urgency to do anything.

by **MovingScreenOfDeath** » January 24th, 2025, 2:53 pm

bradley_townie wrote:How do they compare to other MVC schools when it comes to things like fan support and NIL? That is arguably the biggest driver of success right now in college basketball.

Right now they are a middle of the pack MVC team with their KenPom of 129.

They have a large hockey fanbase and their basketball fanbase has been growing ever since moving to D1. Their new arena might be on the small side for the Valley (5,000) but outside of maybe Drake and UNI there's not going to be many away fans making the trip to MSP.

As for their finances they put up a $61 million dollar offer to buy the golf course down the street for their campus for a new football stadium site and had it turned down by the NIMBYs with country club memberships. I don't see many Valley schools putting up a $61 million offer on anything.

by **MissouriValleyUnite** » January 24th, 2025, 3:03 pm

BCPanther wrote:We also need to recognize that we're in the same rankings area we've always been in. There hasn't been a noticeable drop off and losing Missouri State is going to be a boost on it's own.

We’re top-10 2 years in a row which is right where we were in the early 2010s with WSU/Creighton and better than the mid-2010s with WSU and late 2010s/early 2020s with Loyola.

Yet no one ever mentions it.