Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[BCPanther]

Also remember that every P5 league's grant of rights agreements for TV contracts (except the Big 10) are up after the 2023-24 season. So, for lack of a better term, every school not in the Big 10 is a free agent after that year.

That is going to be the realignment tidal wave that forces everybody to make a move. I actually think the Valley and Elgin are doing the right thing to be patient and wait for that fall out. I actually hope Elgin sticks around through then because having a veteran commissioner is going to be huge through that.

IMO, the biggest thing that is going to happen is that the Big 10 is going to go to 20 and basically act as two separate conferences. They'll add Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke and Georgia Tech and become a monster conference while decimating the ACC and Big 12. After that, everything else is a mad scramble to find a home.

Big 10 West-Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue.

Big 10 East-Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke, Georgia Tech

[VUGrad1314]

Aren't conferences capped at 18 members?

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Aren't conferences capped at 18 members?

There is a ncaa lawsuit right now that they are expected to lose that will allow conferences to make their own rules effectively negating the ncaa.

[valleydays]

I definitely think Elgin is waiting for the next dominos to fall. And I don't think murray an automatic. Depending how the dominos fall there are scenarios where wichita and St Louis want in. In that case murray is out unless they go 14 with Murray and wright or nku. All these ideas seem crazy but some big things are coming to realignment and we just don't know how will all shake out.

Sadly (for Murray's sake), I think you're right. I think there's a perception that Murray State just isn't good enough for the MVC. Maybe it's the taint of the OVC, which I understand. There are only two schools in that league interested in basketball, and one of them is quite happy to stay a big fish in a small pond (i.e., quit hoping Belmont changes its mind about moving).

I think Elgin is waiting for bigger fish to fall into his lap and doesn't want to not have room to land them. He doesn't want Murray if he thinks he can get Saint Louis, Wichita or similar. I don't think there's any interest in going to 14.

[VUGrad1314]

And that's a shame that he's waiting to add Murray State because adding them doesn't eliminate those grander plans and protects the conference if those plans fall through. Everyone knows the Racers would shine in this league regardless of who was in it. I hope we see them here soon and I think we will.

[Dean Wormer]

I thought this thread was ridiculous when it hit 50 pages during the off-season, but crossing 60 during the season raises that bar.

Elgin, or no one else is not adding Murray because they are waiting on anybody, especially Wichita State. I am a firm believer that exes should stay that way, and there is no benefit to either side at this point to get back together. There will be enough leftover even if the AAC implodes to maintain another version of Conference USA. If that league isn't as strong as we are, who really cares? Let it go.

Murray hasn't been added simply because no one wants an 11 team league. Plain and simple. Nothing more. Elgin isn't sitting in his office drunk dialing Wichita, or sending flowers to SLU. Murray is good enough, and the profile fits well. The only knock is they don't bring another market...but the name recognition makes up for that. Get a decent 12th, and it is a done deal.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

I thought this thread was ridiculous when it hit 50 pages during the off-season, but crossing 60 during the season raises that bar.

Elgin, or no one else is not adding Murray because they are waiting on anybody, especially Wichita State. I am a firm believer that exes should stay that way, and there is no benefit to either side at this point to get back together. There will be enough leftover even if the AAC implodes to maintain another version of Conference USA. If that league isn't as strong as we are, who really cares? Let it go.

Murray hasn't been added simply because no one wants an 11 team league. Plain and simple. Nothing more. Elgin isn't sitting in his office drunk dialing Wichita, or sending flowers to SLU. Murray is good enough, and the profile fits well. The only knock is they don't bring another market...but the name recognition makes up for that. Get a decent 12th, and it is a done deal.

if you haven't been following the lawsuit the ncaa is about to lose then you have no idea what youre talking about. were talking about conferences making their own rules and the ncaa being nothing more than a figure head. anything will go at that point. murray isn't a given. I still think when the dust settles it will be them but there is a chance of someone better which is why elgin is waiting.

[bonez]

50 pages is nothing... Try starting a thread on favorite flavor of Cheetos and you'll hit 50 in a day.

I actually thought about adding to the thread and reflecting on my own poor views of GCU (admittedly because they are a for-profit school) until I saw them play Nevada over the weekend. Maybe the geographic footprint doesn't work, maybe the MVC shouldn't consider a for-profit school, but I was impressed with their on court product. It was a lot of fun to watch.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Gcu is the next Gonzaga. Im telling you. They'll eventually be in the mountain west.

Also, they are no longer a for profit status.

[mvfcfan]

Unless the two schools added are South Dakota State and North Dakota State I am against any expansion. Both schools would quickly take over the basketball conference, just like they took over the football conference. Murray State by themselves would be fine, but we really don't need Belmont.