2020 Arch Madness Finals Bradley Vs Valparaiso 1:05PM CT CBS

[BCPanther]

All the credit in the world to Bradley and Valpo, they got it done.

HOWEVER, UNI-Loyola would have been a fantastic showcase for our league on National TV in front of a much larger and louder crowd in St Louis.

But, that's why they play the games...

[Valleyball]

All the credit in the world to Bradley and Valpo, they got it done.

HOWEVER, UNI-Loyola would have been a fantastic showcase for our league on National TV in front of a much larger and louder crowd in St Louis.

But, that's why they play the games...

I can agree it would have been a great showcase for the league. But not the part about the crowd.

[mvfcfan]

Bradley probably brings more fans than UNI and Loyola combined. If we ever got Bradley and SIU on Sunday the crowd would be huge.

[VUGrad1314]

Murray State would probably would bring a nice crowd too. Not saying just saying.

[Mikovio]

BU had a good 6K+ on Sunday. Bradley/SIU might have sold out the lower bowl at least. Murray State would be up there too.

Also, I don't mean to slight Valpo. It's hard to juice up the fan base after a long tumultuous season and unlikely run. I look forward to them having a good regular season someday so we can see what they're capable of.

[tribecalledquest]

Bradley probably brings more fans than UNI and Loyola combined. If we ever got Bradley and SIU on Sunday the crowd would be huge.

No kidding. And I don't think UNI-Loyola were SOOOO much better than the other teams in the league that the showcase on the court would have been all that different.

[VUGrad1314]

I feel like the game as it was was a fine showcase for the conference though you have to dig a little to see it. Bradley is one of the largest most dedicated fanbases in the conference with one of the best histories of any program even if most of that history is in the distant past while Valpo making the final as the 7th seed with a team full of freshmen and sophomores is a huge testament to the depth of the league and its potential going forward. Casual fans may not see it but those who follow college basketball will. This may sound crazy but I think Valpo getting there made a favorable impression on the committee regarding the health of the league going forward. That might pay off for us in the future.

[Drakey]

I feel like the game as it was was a fine showcase for the conference though you have to dig a little to see it. Bradley is one of the largest most dedicated fanbases in the conference with one of the best histories of any program even if most of that history is in the distant past while Valpo making the final as the 7th seed with a team full of freshmen and sophomores is a huge testament to the depth of the league and its potential going forward. Casual fans may not see it but those who follow college basketball will. This may sound crazy but I think Valpo getting there made a favorable impression on the committee regarding the health of the league going forward. That might pay off for us in the future.

Aren't you the guy that said Drake winning was bad for the conference? You seem to be a little selective with which upsets are good and bad for the conference. I think Valpo winning was good too. I of course am of the belief that non-football schools are in the best position to have long term basketball success. (I consider non-scholarship Football as a non-football school)

[VUGrad1314]

I'm not going to deny I said that. I did. It was a heat of the moment reaction because I want the MVC to be a multibid league. I would have said it even if Valpo had beaten UNI. That said, after I calmed down a bit I embraced the chaos and sort of a "why not us?" mentality if the multibid dream is dead. This allowed me just to enjoy the ride as long as it lasted. Both wins demonstrate the depth of the league and if you were terribly surprised by the fact that Drake beat UNI then you haven't been following the MVC that much because they nearly took them down in Cedar Falls. One thing we have to do as a conference is schedule now that so many programs are on an upswing enough quality teams to make this league depth matter and count for something. We're close. The multibid dream is very much alive. But our schools' administrations have to believe and have to want it and have to work for it. It's on us to get it done but it can be done.

[musiccitybulldog]

I thought Bradley had a great crowd on Saturday. They were all over the place. Looked like a Wichita crowd.