Sounds like Wichita St to the AAC... Who gets an Invite?

[tribecalledquest]

I didn't think a school could be a basketball only member of any league?

Basketball only is just another way of saying non-football.

If I'm the Shox I am a little reticent only because the American isn't exactly stable. UCONN and Cincy would bolt in a second for a better football league. I would go, mind you, but getting in bed with teams that want to play "big time" football is a risky proposition for a school that doesn't even have the sport.

[Redhawk]

School will likely come the Summit or the Horizon. More likely the Horizon. I personally think Valpo is the best fit.

If Valpo is the best option...I say roll with 9 teams for now. Last two additions have been low budget
Privates. Really can't afford to weaken the league any further or there will be a mass exodus!

I'm all in on the Dakotas.

Yes...I think it's the Dakota's or bust for the MVC to survive long term.

[SubGod22]

As to what the MVC would do, and not should do...

They'll look at and consider Valpo, UIC, UMKC, Omaha, SIU-E. Maybe the IPwhatevers or Milwaukee.

The big thing that got Loyola in was the market, even though they are mostly irrelevant in said market. If Elgin and company still want to play the market aspect they could double down in Chicago or try to get into the STL or KC markets (SIU-E, UMKC). Milwaukee could play into that as well. Do they add a public to replace a public? If so, there goes Valpo.

The MVC may try to reach out to Belmont again, but will most likely be turned away again. I don't know if they'd consider an ORU or Little Rock to replace WSU as a travel partner for MSU. Though UMKC could be that as well.

What the MVC should do is go to 12 and add 3. At least two of those should be the XDSUs. They have resources and have shown the desire to be good and have done fairly well for the most part. Travel may suck for some but it would make the conference stronger. Though there are some that believe the Dakota's wouldn't come because in their current situation they pretty much dominate the field and host the conference tournament and may not want to give that up.

I'd say the odds are, if there's just one add, it would come down to UMKC and UIC. Not saying that's what they should do, but I could see that being the play that is made.

[SubGod22]

I didn't think a school could be a basketball only member of any league?

Basketball only is just another way of saying non-football.

If I'm the Shox I am a little reticent only because the American isn't exactly stable. UCONN and Cincy would bolt in a second for a better football league. I would go, mind you, but getting in bed with teams that want to play "big time" football is a risky proposition for a school that doesn't even have the sport.

It would still be a better conference with more national respect if it lost either. And just because schools want to leave doesn't mean that they will. The XII had every opportunity to do so but apparently neither UConn, CInci or any others moved the needle enough to be added. That could potentially change, but I'm not sure it does. A lot of people think that when the XII contract ends it will essentially fall apart with OU, UT and KU bolting for other Power conferences. Maybe the XII is able to hold on to things and add new members, but there's no guarantee at that point that the money will make much sense for some schools to move. Time will tell.

There's also a chance that WSU could still restart football outside of the AAC and build it up to be added later. Time will tell on that. Bardo has admitted many times that his personal preference is to have football. Not only would it help the campus feel, it's believed it would help us recruit students from OK and TX and help us expand enrollment. Theoretically we could play FCS as we got things going and considering Liberty got a waiver to move up, Wichita could potentially do the same a few years down the road and have some sort of scheduling assistance with the AAC if needed. I've heard AAC fans throw some of this out there although they seem to be split on WSU adding football.

[BCPanther]

As to what the MVC would do, and not should do...

They'll look at and consider Valpo, UIC, UMKC, Omaha, SIU-E. Maybe the IPwhatevers or Milwaukee.

The big thing that got Loyola in was the market, even though they are mostly irrelevant in said market. If Elgin and company still want to play the market aspect they could double down in Chicago or try to get into the STL or KC markets (SIU-E, UMKC). Milwaukee could play into that as well. Do they add a public to replace a public? If so, there goes Valpo.

The MVC may try to reach out to Belmont again, but will most likely be turned away again. I don't know if they'd consider an ORU or Little Rock to replace WSU as a travel partner for MSU. Though UMKC could be that as well.

What the MVC should do is go to 12 and add 3. At least two of those should be the XDSUs. They have resources and have shown the desire to be good and have done fairly well for the most part. Travel may suck for some but it would make the conference stronger. Though there are some that believe the Dakota's wouldn't come because in their current situation they pretty much dominate the field and host the conference tournament and may not want to give that up.

I'd say the odds are, if there's just one add, it would come down to UMKC and UIC. Not saying that's what they should do, but I could see that being the play that is made.

I agree that adding 3 is the only way to go. Add the XDSUs and Belmont and get this done.

[acepurple84]

Add 3 schools. Belmont for the Nashville market, UW-Mil if you want another big market. or UMKC for the KC market. Valpo gets around the Chicago market again. I leave off Murray State because they play in a higher football conference now. The two Dakotas would be ok for the football part if the conference wants to go more in that direction. .

[Stickboy46]

I didn't think a school could be a basketball only member of any league?

Basketball only is just another way of saying non-football.

If I'm the Shox I am a little reticent only because the American isn't exactly stable. UCONN and Cincy would bolt in a second for a better football league. I would go, mind you, but getting in bed with teams that want to play "big time" football is a risky proposition for a school that doesn't even have the sport.

If UCONN and Cincy bolt, that still leaves SMU, Tulsa, Memphis, Temple. All historically good programs (well SMU is more recent success). A couple of those are down right now, but probably not for long because they have the support to bring them back. Toss in other good, not great teams in Houston, UCF and you still are upgrading.

[uniftw]

Add 3 schools. Belmont for the Nashville market, UW-Mil if you want another big market. or UMKC for the KC market. Valpo gets around the Chicago market again. I leave off Murray State because they play in a higher football conference now. The two Dakotas would be ok for the football part if the conference wants to go more in that direction. .

This is a terrible post all around.

[acepurple84]

Add 3 schools. Belmont for the Nashville market, UW-Mil if you want another big market. or UMKC for the KC market. Valpo gets around the Chicago market again. I leave off Murray State because they play in a higher football conference now. The two Dakotas would be ok for the football part if the conference wants to go more in that direction. .

This is a terrible post all around.

Personally I do not want them to leave. So who do you want to replace them if they leave.

[VU2014]

Belmont is not coming to the MVC. It may be the right move but their President's strategy is to literally run ship in the OVC where they don't have to compete with anyone. It back fired on them this year. They should want to compete and not just want to dominate a garbage conference.

One thing that would actually make sense for quite a few MVC schools would be to form a new Conference. Either an all Private school Midwest conference or try and make a new Midwest conference with the best MidMajors. It would be a pipe dream and vision from schools but could be a smaller version of the Big East.

Midwest Private School Conference:
-Belmont
-Bradley
-Drake
-Dayton
-Evansville
-Loyola (Chicago)
-Detroit-Mercy
-SLU (mentioned in the recent past of wanting to join a Midwest Conf)
-Valpo
-Maybe Oral Roberts...

Midwest MidMajor Power League
-Belmont
-UNI
-Dayton
-Wichita State
-SLU
-Valpo
-Oakland
-UIC
-Illinois State
-South Dakota State or Milwaukee (for the market)

These are all hypothetical and not going to happen but damn would that "Midwest MidMajor Power League" have a great chance to be a 2-3 bid league maybe 4 bid league some years.