Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[agernes]

a few thoughts:

1) Murray State makes all the sense basketball-wise, but is not in a major metro. In this case, adding Belmont with them as a travel partner makes some sense. Maintains a public/private balance, and it's a two-hour bus ride between them. BUT

2) I wonder if there might be push-back from university presidents about adding Belmont or Oral Roberts due to their religious orthodoxy? We already saw a some chatter arise with Oral Roberts during the tournament, and though I don't think Belmont is as severe in their orthodoxy, plenty has been made about it in the past. I'm not trying to start a big fight on here, but it has to be thought about. With the private institutions - Drake and Bradley are secular, Loyola is Jesuit, Evansville is UMC, and Valpo is mainline Lutheran. Those are *not* going to be peer institutions, even the Christian ones, in terms of campus orthodoxy.

Of course, the Valley does have Dallas Baptist as an affiliate member right now, which is run by the Texas Baptists. Baylor is the flagship university of that system. They seem to be between Oral Roberts and Evansville on this kind of thing.

3) Speaking of - is there any mention of Dallas Baptist wanting to go D1 anywhere? That would also secure a private, major metro school that the conference already has a relationship with. I looked around and didn't see anything. But they would fit the bill of what's been discussed.

4) Even though I'm a fan of a private school here, I think Murray and Arlington make the most sense (assuming they're on the table). With Texas booming, I think it'd be dumb not to plant a little flag there. I gotta think university leaders wouldn't mind trying to draw a few kids up north. There were already a few Texas kids at Drake during my time 10-15 years ago. You can definitely draw more.

5) If you have to add a private, I add Denver and Murray. Denver is also booming and I think it's worth adding a bottom-feeder along with Murray if you can add a metro like Denver to the mix. Again, think like University leaders - they'll love the opportunity to plant a little flag there and get broaden their student recruitment base.

EDIT - Also, isn't Denver a very good school overall with a lot of research components? Seems like a big no-brainer in terms of academic affiliation.

[MNPanthers]

EDIT - Also, isn't Denver a very good school overall with a lot of research components? Seems like a big no-brainer in terms of academic affiliation.

UD is very prestigious and has a bigger endowment than Loyola's. I think adding them and 1 of Murray/Belmont would be best case scenario.

[IllinoisState]

Until something actually happens I don't trust this. The MVC has never been about changing the status quo.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Until something actually happens I don't trust this. The MVC has never been about changing the status quo.

That's the point. That's why we've fallen.

[Action10]

Am I remembering correctly that Majeras was pushing for SLU to join the MVC when he was there?

[VUGrad1314]

EDIT - Also, isn't Denver a very good school overall with a lot of research components? Seems like a big no-brainer in terms of academic affiliation.

UD is very prestigious and has a bigger endowment than Loyola's. I think adding them and 1 of Murray/Belmont would be best case scenario.

The key difference between Loyola-Chicago and Denver is that Loyola had some degree of tradition to fall back on even if they had been down for awhile prior to the MVC invite. Loyola was a former national champion who had also made a Sweet 16 when they were good. Denver has no such tradition and gets even less play than Loyola in a much less crowded sports market. Hard pass on Denver.

Until something actually happens I don't trust this. The MVC has never been about changing the status quo.

That's the point. That's why we've fallen.

I know Valpo is a Johnny Come Lately in this conference and that the MVC has prior to this past season struggled to regain multibid status but coming off a multibid season this year and with several strong teams loading up to compete next season now really isn't the time to think the conference has fallen. I'm not saying don't expand especially if you can get Murray State and Belmont but at this point we are more in a position of strength than we were before and hopefully after next year that will become even more evident if the top teams in the conference can play to their respective potential.

Am I remembering correctly that Majeras was pushing for SLU to join the MVC when he was there?

Yes, I do seem to remember that Majerus was an advocate of SLU going to the MVC but I think that was the Creighton\Wichita MVC. I wonder how he'd feel about it now if he were still alive and coaching. Another strong year for the MVC which I think is very possible would have probably helped but I don't see SLU giving up their east coast recruiting ability any time soon especially now that they are becoming consistently competitive in the A-10. The increased travel doesn't seem to be hurting them on the court. The best thing we can do is just keep doing what we're doing and eventually we will become attractive to the right candidates. There's no reason to rush this decision at this point. If Murray and Belmont want in we should add them if not we should wait and reassess the landscape after next season.

[E-Villan]

If you repeat a rumor enough times, you can eventually convince yourself it is fact. That is what the VU fan is doing with Belmont, and this whole belief they turned us down. Has there ever been one source to this rumor other than message board posting?

When Bradley and Creighton nearly joined the MCC in the 90's, it was widely reported.

When the MVC went after UE and Xavier, it was widely reported..as was Xavier's decline.

It was common knowledge who was in the mix when we added Loyola and Valpo.

We all know the MVC has been hesitant to expand. I find it almost impossible to believe that Elgin and the presidents did in fact decide to expand, went to Belmont, was rejected and that was that.

If they did in fact ever decide to expand, and by some miracle it never got to the press, I am still certain there would have been a list of targets, and ONE declining would not have derailed the entire thing. They would have simply looked at another candidate. I like Belmont, but the VU fan is on something if he thinks they alone can control when and if a conference like the MVC can expand.

[Salukimadness86]

No thanks to Denver, U T Arlington, Grand Canyon State, and UMKC. Absolutely zero tradition or history relevance. It would be difficult financially for numerous schools in the MVC to travel to those locations as well. Murray makes sense, but I believe the Belmont ship has sailed.

[Mikovio]

Denver is a hockey school (and a really good one) but if they ever wanted to prioritize basketball like Loyola did they’d be a good add no doubt. Upgrade practice facilities, shell out for coaching staff.

[BCPanther]

No thanks to Denver, U T Arlington, Grand Canyon State, and UMKC. Absolutely zero tradition or history relevance. It would be difficult financially for numerous schools in the MVC to travel to those locations as well. Murray makes sense, but I believe the Belmont ship has sailed.

That's the point of Arlington and Grand Canyon being in the discussion. They're easy and cheap to get to.