Loyola Leaving for A-10

[letsgoAces]

What would Omaha offer that Northern Kentucky would not?

A larger athletic budget and an actual bus trip for the Western Schools for once.

No thank you.

[BCPanther]

What would Omaha offer that Northern Kentucky would not?

A larger athletic budget and an actual bus trip for the Western Schools for once.

No thank you.

We'll keep flying everywhere and y'all can save your precious budgets. Just economic powerhouses out here.

Glad you guys just got two more bus trips while UNI, Drake and Missouri State just got two more flights.

We travel exactly how we should travel but there comes a point where we'd like to be able to spend that cash on something other than jet fuel.

[Sunbelt/funbelt]

The UIC potential is obvious and anyone here who doesn't put a school with a $2B endowment on the top of this list (along with Murray) is delusional. We all know what talks so stop fooling yourselves.

UIC would be the highest ranked program in the MVC if added, but most of the foundation's $2.4 billion is U of I's. UIC's is a few hundred million.

The $2 Billion Endowment has not done much to help them win basketball games. If Valpo, who dominated the HL, is struggling in the MVC…An Horizon League bottom feeder like UIC would be an embarrassment. At some point being competitive in basketball should be considered.

[DUBulldog]

Omaha in the mix. Arlington and Murray State are "front runners"

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... -a-decade/

The way I read the article, Omaha isn't really in the mix, as much as a "potential candidate" if KC doesn't work out. Nothing in the article says that there is any interest in either direction between MVC and Omaha.

And if Kansas City falls through (despite its prime location, skepticism remains from some over its financially ability to make the jump), Omaha is another potential candidate. The league is familiar with the city, what with Creighton once being a member and all.

[Chuck_A]

The UIC potential is obvious and anyone here who doesn't put a school with a $2B endowment on the top of this list (along with Murray) is delusional. We all know what talks so stop fooling yourselves.

UIC would be the highest ranked program in the MVC if added, but most of the foundation's $2.4 billion is U of I's. UIC's is a few hundred million.

The $2 Billion Endowment has not done much to help them win basketball games. If Valpo, who dominated the HL, is struggling in the MVC…An Horizon League bottom feeder like UIC would be an embarrassment. At some point being competitive in basketball should be considered.

It's amazing how many people equate an increased athletic budget with the ability to hire a good coach. The two don't necessarily go hand-in-hand. UIC had done what was needed in 2013 in vying for the Valley: increased budget, good athletic facilities, baseball, etc. At the time we had an AD that didn't make a good hire after Jimmy Collins. The hiring of Steve McClain was another miss even though he recruited and signed 3-star players. UIC finally hired a good AD whose first move was to let McClain go and hire Coach Yaklich. Coach Yak has recruited and signed 3-star players (we also have a 4-star on the roster). The Covid year was all kinds of messed up with players getting the virus and others, injuries. Yak is a good coach and despite the team's early below .500 record (due in part to multiple player injuries again), he is the right coach for the job right now. So having money helps, but making a quality hire is what moves the program forward. We have an AD in Mike Lipitz who has already made more positive hires than not.

[IllinoisState]

Omaha in the mix. Arlington and Murray State are "front runners"

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... -a-decade/

The way I read the article, Omaha isn't really in the mix, as much as a "potential candidate" if KC doesn't work out. Nothing in the article says that there is any interest in either direction between MVC and Omaha.

And if Kansas City falls through (despite its prime location, skepticism remains from some over its financially ability to make the jump), Omaha is another potential candidate. The league is familiar with the city, what with Creighton once being a member and all.

If we're going after Nebraska - Omaha and UMKC let's just round it out with Chicago State.

[SalukiWorld]

Omaha in the mix. Arlington and Murray State are "front runners"

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... -a-decade/

The source added Missouri State isn't expected to leave the Valley. This has been whispered about in recent months due to the school's upgrades in football. Fact is, Missouri State president Clif Smart is on the Valley's board for expansion. The school's football stadium, last renovated in 2014, seats 17,500 and is "nowhere near FBS-ready," according to a source. "It's nowhere near a James Madison, which is going FCS to Sun Belt. Not in that scope. It would be an awfully big swing."

You mean the school that can't beat UT Martin with a backup QB in football and Illinois State in basketball and hasn't made an NCAA Tournament this century isn't too big for the Valley?

[Mikovio]

UIC jumped to #2 priority for me behind Murray with the Loyola news. Let's give them a leg up like we did Loyola and get back in Chicago. The $2B endowment number is obviously misleading as it's a pool with UIUC who controls the purse strings which is less than ideal but it's a strong, growing institution which is taking steps to become more competitive. Let's help them compete with Loyola.

[VUGrad1314]

From this pool UIC is by far and away the #2 option behind Murray State but this list is depressingly bad to be honest. I firmly believe not having schools like NKU and South Dakota State at least under consideration is a disservice to the conference.

[IllinoisState]

UIC's endowment is $321.6 million.