Belmont to Missouri Valley

[E-Villan]

The rumor has always been that the presidents will only approve a private school if there is also a public one to balance it. So who is next?

My uninformed thoughts:
1- Wichita St... we’ve got to at least make that call, right?
2- Murray St
3- UT-Arlington
4- Milwaukee

Wichita made their bed, they can lay in it.

Arlington and Little Rock are soon to be homeless and check so many boxes. I'll be very surprised if they aren't headed this way soon as well.

Completely agree about Wichita. It's not any bitterness, it's simply we don't need them. When a program feels it's too good for a conference, it rarely works out. I would say the same thing about SLU. They aren't too good at all, but, why take a program that will constantly be batting its eyes at the Big East? Their market will give them a good chance should the BE ever want to expand.

I would be interested in the logic on why SIU blocked Murray? I get that they technically share the same media market, but that market is very fragmented, and the Ohio might was well be 50 miles wide at Paducah. I know Missouri State and Evansville admins were vocal in their support of Murray on the last go-around. They should be the slam dunk with Belmont.

[mvfcfan]

It won't be Arlington. There's no reason to over think this. Murray State is coming. They are a public school and they have to jump through a few more official hoops than a private school like Belmont. The OVC is collapsing and they are both bailing while they can, and they both benefit the MVC basketball brand. If it's UTA my excitement will turn to anger because they suck for one and they are way far away for another.

[just ducky]

Had forgotten but Belmont WBB finished 20-21 with a NET of 64. Is overtaking the Big East for 6'th best WBB NET conference achievable?

[BCPanther]

It won't be Arlington. There's no reason to over think this. Murray State is coming. They are a public school and they have to jump through a few more official hoops than a private school like Belmont. The OVC is collapsing and they are both bailing while they can, and they both benefit the MVC basketball brand. If it's UTA my excitement will turn to anger because they suck for one and they are way far away for another.

Except they're about to homeless and have a natural partner to come with in Little Rock. It's easy and cheap to get in and out of Dallas. They've also said they are willing to invest big time in the program once they're out of the Sun Belt.

The end game here is 14 and being the best non-P6 league.

[BEARZ77]

It won't be Arlington. There's no reason to over think this. Murray State is coming. They are a public school and they have to jump through a few more official hoops than a private school like Belmont. The OVC is collapsing and they are both bailing while they can, and they both benefit the MVC basketball brand. If it's UTA my excitement will turn to anger because they suck for one and they are way far away for another.

Except they're about to homeless and have a natural partner to come with in Little Rock. It's easy and cheap to get in and out of Dallas. They've also said they are willing to invest big time in the program once they're out of the Sun Belt.

The end game here is 14 and being the best non-P6 league.

I like the Belmont add, would also like Murray ST, am indifferent to UTA and UALR, but none of that gets us 3-4 bids. We will remain pretty much the same as the national landscape remains tilted away from MM's. But adding more quality teams does help scheduling, so that's a positive .

[BuBrave2006]

I like the Belmont add, would also like Murray ST, am indifferent to UTA and UALR, but none of that gets us 3-4 bids. We will remain pretty much the same as the national landscape remains tilted away from MM's.

You must be really fun at parties.

[IllinoisState]

The rumor has always been that the presidents will only approve a private school if there is also a public one to balance it. So who is next?

My uninformed thoughts:
1- Wichita St... we’ve got to at least make that call, right?
2- Murray St
3- UT-Arlington
4- Milwaukee

If we are making unrealistic, but not insane phone calls:

1. Wichita State
2. SLU
3. Dayton
4. Murray State
5. NKU
6. Wright State

After that there's really no school I'd want to add that's not super unrealistic.

[tdawgs87]

I would be interested in the logic on why SIU blocked Murray? I get that they technically share the same media market, but that market is very fragmented, and the Ohio might was well be 50 miles wide at Paducah. I know Missouri State and Evansville admins were vocal in their support of Murray on the last go-around. They should be the slam dunk with Belmont.[/quote]

The President at SIU the last time was Randy Dunn who just happened to have been the President at Murray State at one time and was let go from there, so I am certain Randy Dun who is a snake in the grass had a vendetta against Murray. He also had a vendetta against SIU while being the President of the SIU system, and was terminated because of it. Long story I will spare you the details. Saying that, I am sure that most SIU fans and the current administration at SIU would have no objection to the addition of Murray for many reasons and think it would a great addition to the Valley. Hopefully Murray is added with Belmont.

[BEARZ77]

I like the Belmont add, would also like Murray ST, am indifferent to UTA and UALR, but none of that gets us 3-4 bids. We will remain pretty much the same as the national landscape remains tilted away from MM's.

You must be really fun at parties.

Just never have seen an argument that made sense as to why we would jump up 1-2 bids with any of these adds. The OVC will still get their 1 bid, so then we will still be battling mid range P-5 teams for the same # at large as before. If Belmont is good in the MVC , they'll add a couple losses to most teams resume, and a quality win to a couple; like wise they'll have a couple more losses than they're used to even if solid in MVC play. Same with Murray St if they come; I just don't see any scenario where that all of a sudden bucks the trend of most of the at large bids going to the P-5 and BE mid range teams. They have a built in advantage to the # of Q1 and Q2 games they'll play in a given year and that is the main criteria being used anymore for at large bids. A team like Belmont helps some, but most P-5 will simply have far more Q1/Q2 opportunities to overcome than a normal MM schedule can provide. I think we can be a sold 2 bid league in good years, and maybe have that 3rd team once in a blue moon, but also still have those 1 bid years as well. Just don't see 3-4 as feasible as a standard.

[BearsCountry]

I hope Missouri State has plans to get out.