Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[VUGrad1314]

I think it's really this simple:

The MVC has a choice of three things if they choose to expand from which they can only pick two:

1. An elevated chance at multiple bids

2. Preservation of the double round robin

3. A neat set of travel partners and easier scheduling caused by an even number of teams.

[VUGrad1314]

Is it perhaps worthwhile to discuss Lipscomb as the private counterweight to Murray State's entry into the league? If nothing else it might motivate Belmont to take a more serious look at joining up.

[RacerJoeD]

That’s Belmont’s arch rival...

[UNDfan]

Lipscomb only has a $70 mill endowment but a 5000 seat arena on campus. They would jump at an invite to get in a mostly bus league and out of the ASun. They could play in Bridgestone.

The eligible private schools seem to be Detroit, ORU, Lipscomb and that is it with Dayton, St Louis, and Belmont taking themselves out of thee running.

Augustana (SD) may be positioning themselves for a future MVC run: if they get several hundred million from Sanford, who is rumored to start a Med School there. They already have the Sanford Center they can play in, and Sioux Falls is more than 10x bigger than Brookings or Vermillion. Bellarmine needs to go DI to position itself.

If Loyola gets a Big East or A10 bid, what would the MVC do? The private school politics might kill the conference eventually.

[VUGrad1314]

I still think that the private schools will take an urban non-football public school that's why UIC Milwaukee UMKC and Omaha have gotten site visit and Northern Kentucky is supposedly being considered. Personally I love Northern Kentucky as an addition if Dayton Belmont and SLU can't be convinced.

[Dean Wormer]

Is it perhaps worthwhile to discuss Lipscomb as the private counterweight to Murray State's entry into the league? If nothing else it might motivate Belmont to take a more serious look at joining up.

Oh boy, here we go with the let's talk to Lipscomb to make Belmont jealous bit again. First, we should have Murray State send them a note to see if they like us. They could write 1 for yes, and 2 for no.........

NO to Lipscomb, and NO to Belmont. Neither of them have fans. Nashville doesn't care about them, so why should we? The MVC has always been about programs that are THE program in their markets, with good fan support, and first rate arenas. We already made exceptions to this with the last add, no need to water the league down any more.

Outside of any combination of Murray, SLU or Dayton, just leave the league alone. Adding members who don't add to the league in ALL areas is just watering it down. Besides, conference expansion isn't decided at a Jr high lunch table.

[BCPanther]

Is it perhaps worthwhile to discuss Lipscomb as the private counterweight to Murray State's entry into the league? If nothing else it might motivate Belmont to take a more serious look at joining up.

Oh boy, here we go with the let's talk to Lipscomb to make Belmont jealous bit again. First, we should have Murray State send them a note to see if they like us. They could write 1 for yes, and 2 for no.........

NO to Lipscomb, and NO to Belmont. Neither of them have fans. Nashville doesn't care about them, so why should we? The MVC has always been about programs that are THE program in their markets, with good fan support, and first rate arenas. We already made exceptions to this with the last add, no need to water the league down any more.

Outside of any combination of Murray, SLU or Dayton, just leave the league alone. Adding members who don't add to the league in ALL areas is just watering it down. Besides, conference expansion isn't decided at a Jr high lunch table.

This. Expanding for the sake of expanding is a truly terrible idea.

[BEARZ77]

Double this. Murray is a fine program and no doubt would be a very competitive and worthwhile member of the MVC. I have no problem with the idea of them being in the Valley; but there is no compelling argument for why we need to make it happen, especially if it means grabbing another program that really doesn't raise the bar like a SLU/Dayton would, and I have never felt Belmont came close to that argument. There's lots of mid major programs that would be equitable members such as quite a few in the MAC, but again why would we make that move. It isn't gonna raise the level of the conference , just add more similar teams. We really just need to sit tight, Murray will be there if and when we identify a move that really could raise the bar.

[VUGrad1314]

What would it take for NKU to rise to the level of a program that moves the needle? They're in a good market have great facilities and have been very impressive on the court the past few years. Is it the institutional fit that's giving everyone pause or is it the lack of a long track record? Is it geography?

[uniguy]

I've seen Loyola mentioned with the BE or A-10 a number of times now. Is there any information out there that is actually causing this speculation? The Final Four run was great, but I mean......to me that is a bit of a leap at this point.