If we go to 12 who do you want (choose 2) poll?

[RacerJoeD]

That’s my fault Bearz77, I interjected Murray St into the convo about SLU and took you guys off topic . I understood your point and think there is something to it.

[BEARZ77]

No problem, we all have pride in our Universities and their accomplishments and should be quick to defend any slight. I'm not a SLU honk, but will admit I grew up in the STL area and my introduction to the Valley was thru the Billikens in the 1960's. I was 1st an MU fan and 2nd a SLU fan until I attended MSU in the early 70's.I returned to STL to live and work from 77-91, until returning to Springfield in 92, so again followed the Billikens pretty close during that period. They are a Missouri school, a program I've followed casually most of my life, so I think I have a good sense of what they could bring to the MVC.

[glm38]

If we could add Murray State and SLU it sure would help bring the Valley back to being the far and away premier mid major conference.

Probably won't happen though. Hopefully we add Murray next year and find another decent addition. I'm just not sure who that would be?

[VUGrad1314]

I do think SLU has a great deal of potential as a program, but I believe that a major thing that has held them back throughout their recent history is their lack of concern for travel costs. Moving back to the Valley would allow them to repurpose those funds toward things that would have a more direct impact on the success of the program. They may not see it yet but I firmly believe that their path to the Big East is through the Valley, not the Atlantic 10. I just think that for all the resources at their disposal, they should be more successul. Take away the Majerus era (and the few years where the roster was heavily influenced by players Majerus recruited) and the program hasn't been to the tournament since 2000, despite membership in consistent multi-bid leagues like the old C-USA and the A10. That said the best options outside of them are quite limited. I only see Belmont and NKU as worth pursuing right now if we're dead-set on 12 teams and adding Murray State as one of them. (and I reiterate: this is the path we SHOULD be taking Murray State SHOULD be a member of the MVC and CAN help us rebuild our status as a multi-bid league. Any other possible addition needs to get its act together and demonstrate consistent success first.

[Mikovio]

SLU definitely should reconsider joining the MVC if their long term goal is joining the BE. The BE has poached the MVC before. They could save on travel costs. They could play a conference tournament in their hometown, build a semi home court advantage in Arch Madness and steal some NCAA bids they wouldn't otherwise get. And oh yeah the MVC is rated higher than the A10 so far this year at least. Seems silly to keep flying out to St. Joe's and Duquesne for east coast exposure.

Schools like NDSU and SDSU might get lucky with hires but resources like SLU has allow them to make their own luck with known quantities like Majerus and Ford. Outside of those two (jury's out on Ford so far but he's recruiting well) their luck has been bad but long term they're such a better bet than the Dakotas who bargain bin shop. And BTW ISU's best player this year happens to be a SLU castoff.

[RacerJoeD]

Murray St has gotten to see Travis Ford coach many times (he was a coach at EKU in our conference). He is pretty good, but not elite. Certainly capable at SLUs level as he recruits well. My only question is that he is a Pitino acolyte and very few of them have had long term success.

[BEARZ77]

Murray St has gotten to see Travis Ford coach many times (he was a coach at EKU in our conference). He is pretty good, but not elite. Certainly capable at SLUs level as he recruits well. My only question is that he is a Pitino acolyte and very few of them have had long term success.

He's a bit above average, think he made the NCAA 5 out of 8 years at OSU. But if he pulls a top 5[ IN STL] player out of STL yearly[ which he's done for 2017 and 2018] gets a couple other upper tier STL kids to complement, his roster will always be upper level in the Valley and his resources as well. But like I said, who knows if the Admin. at SLU gets off their high horse and comes to their senses. Probably not unless as we've discussed other A-10 teams move and another option like the AAC or Big East is not there for SLU.

[RacerJoeD]

I think that is an accurate breakdown.

My immediate thought goes to a team like DePaul- at different points in recent history, DePaul was able to pull in high end local recruits, but have never been able to move the needle nationally.

[All-MVC Fan]

He's a bit above average, think he made the NCAA 5 out of 8 years at OSU. But if he pulls a top 5[ IN STL] player out of STL yearly[ which he's done for 2017 and 2018] gets a couple other upper tier STL kids to complement, his roster will always be upper level in the Valley and his resources as well. But like I said, who knows if the Admin. at SLU gets off their high horse and comes to their senses. Probably not unless as we've discussed other A-10 teams move and another option like the AAC or Big East is not there for SLU.

Wasn't it the previous president who was dead set against the MVC? I thought I read somewhere he was gone. Could be an opening there, right? I'd like to have SLU...makes a lot of sense as a member...

[VUGrad1314]

Since superconferences seem to be the future is there any appetite on the part of the MVC for going beyond 12 teams and embracing a 14 or 16 team model if the right mix of schools could be found? Like let's say if SLU and Belmont both said yes and we had two willing public schools for balance and travel partners (Murray State and Northern Kentucky) would that be something the Valley would pursue? If that scenario did unfold would there be any appetite for further expansion such as adding the Dakotas or NMSU\GCU?