MVC Games Week 11

[unipanther99]

I mean, you beat Evansville. By a lot. That's pretty much what everyone here expected. What was interesting about the game that you would like to talk about?

[BEARZ77]

I have to laugh at that Loyola pity pot post; like others have said, what do you expect. To me Loyola leaving is very much the same atmosphere as when Creighton did. Everyone understands the rationale for the move, Loyola posters like Creighton fans have been solid MVC fans and generally respectful to other schools. And obviously Loyola far exceeded expectations during their time in the MVC. Those things have all been said[posted] numerous times by most of the other fan bases. But at the same time, Loyola's gone; the Valley doesn't get bonus points for teams having been former Valley members , nobody cares that teams like Cinn/Louisville/ Memphis etc all called the Valley home for years , and none of those schools, just like Creighton, Tulsa, and WSU haven't, ever schedule their former conference members on anything but a happenstance manner. And I don't suspect Loyola will either, but who knows. Obviously Loyola is still in position to help the Valley one ast time, although one could argue the best thing that could happen is Loyola remaining solid and winning the Valley this year and then losing in the MVC tourney. But that's on other teams to make happen . To me, I always look at this just like when a coach leaves a team for a better opportunity; thank you, good luck & goodbye, but there is someone new [ Murray St. and Belmont] that deserves our support.

[Drakey]

This Loyola post is nuts. Loyola wanted out, they are out. I don't really car about Loyola anymore. I cheered for them loudly when they were a member of the Valley. Now I cheer for their opponents.

[TheDrake]

I guess nobody in the league cares about what Loyola does anymore, even teams they're playing against.

The #22 Ramblers beat Evansville on the road,77-48, for their tenth straight victory. Loyola shot 62.8% from the field and held the Aces to 32.7% shooting.

Despite the outward indifference from the MVC side, I'm going to really miss the midwestern driving trips to different opposing arenas. It seems like MVC teams don't care much about us leaving, which is fine-- I understand. About 40% of the fans in the MVC by my reckoning didn't want us to be allowed in the league, and yet about 80% were in favor of Valpo coming in.... So you've got your wish and millions in leftover NCAA shares that Loyola gives up by departing.

Everyone was happy when we left the Horizon-- including Valpo, who thought we were dragging that conference down before they joyfully left it to join us in the MVC. Despite how indifferent MVC fans feel about Loyola leaving, the Loyola fans will feel a real loss at leaving your conference. But all those things underscore why the A-10 is a better conference for us-- you hate us and always have (even before we were in the conference), you dislike our approach to college basketball, you don't like that we have a healthy relationship between athletics and academics, you've created a euphemism hatred bag for us (too Northern, too urban, too liberal, too Illinois-connected), and the majority of MVC team fandoms don't understand how we live or what we think (even though most try to re-create how we live when they go on vacation).

But NEVERTHELESS, I think I can speak for almost every Loyola fan in saying we're grateful for our time in the MVC, we mostly love the other folks from the MVC, we deeply value the midwestern roots and DNA of the MVC, and we hope that we can continue a spirited rivalry with MVC teams.

Long, rambling and incredibly melodramatic. Were you drunk when you wrote this?

[jsaluki080]

I guess nobody in the league cares about what Loyola does anymore, even teams they're playing against.

The #22 Ramblers beat Evansville on the road,77-48, for their tenth straight victory. Loyola shot 62.8% from the field and held the Aces to 32.7% shooting.

Despite the outward indifference from the MVC side, I'm going to really miss the midwestern driving trips to different opposing arenas. It seems like MVC teams don't care much about us leaving, which is fine-- I understand. About 40% of the fans in the MVC by my reckoning didn't want us to be allowed in the league, and yet about 80% were in favor of Valpo coming in.... So you've got your wish and millions in leftover NCAA shares that Loyola gives up by departing.

Everyone was happy when we left the Horizon-- including Valpo, who thought we were dragging that conference down before they joyfully left it to join us in the MVC. Despite how indifferent MVC fans feel about Loyola leaving, the Loyola fans will feel a real loss at leaving your conference. But all those things underscore why the A-10 is a better conference for us-- you hate us and always have (even before we were in the conference), you dislike our approach to college basketball, you don't like that we have a healthy relationship between athletics and academics, you've created a euphemism hatred bag for us (too Northern, too urban, too liberal, too Illinois-connected), and the majority of MVC team fandoms don't understand how we live or what we think (even though most try to re-create how we live when they go on vacation).

But NEVERTHELESS, I think I can speak for almost every Loyola fan in saying we're grateful for our time in the MVC, we mostly love the other folks from the MVC, we deeply value the midwestern roots and DNA of the MVC, and we hope that we can continue a spirited rivalry with MVC teams.

Long, rambling and incredibly melodramatic. Were you drunk when you wrote this?

I'd say eithet drunk or his account has been hacked.
A very uncharacteristic post indeed.

[VUGrad1314]

I can't really say much that hasn't already been said very well by other posters. Nor can I speak for every Valley fan but I do believe that what I am about to say captures the prevailing sentiment of most fans around this conference: The nationally ranked #1 team in the conference with a NET in the 20s throttled the #10 team in the conference with a NET around 300. What in the events presented warrants more than a shoulder shrug and carrying on with the rest of our day? There's no real story here just business as usual. When there's something to report like when Loyola (hopefully and in all likelihood they will) plays in the tournament then all MVC eyes will be on Loyola. Until then you're more likely to see commentary if Loyola DOESN'T handle its business rather than when it DOES because we EXPECT them to win.

Everyone was indifferent to Loyola leaving the Horizon and joining the MVC because at the time they hadn't done anything to warrant any sort of reaction (especially a positive one) since 1985. By contrast, Valpo was coming off some of its best seasons in program history prior to the MVC move so there was legitimate reason to believe that Valpo was an add to get excited about. As it turns out, it seems we were and are a one family program and not a potential bellcow for the conference. Hopefully the next coach after Lottich whenever we finally move on from him makes me eat those words but right now I am not optimistic in the slightest. Most fans weren't and aren't as forward thinking as Elgin and the MVC presidents were to see Loyola's potential and wanted a more proven add. I still fell into this trap when I thought there was legitimate reason to fear the MVC passing over Murray State for programs with "potential" like UIC and UTA. Of course I believe there is every reason to believe that Murray State will prove to be a much more successful add than Valpo has due to the numerous times they have weathered coaching changes and kept moving forward as a program which we have been unable to do thus far but nevertheless when it came to Loyola we are fortunate that we had Elgin and the presidents making the decision rather than people like me who would have been all in on who LOOKS LIKE the best basketball add rather than who actually IS. The MVC is also fortunate that it had programs like Wichita State UNI and Illinois State to carry the water while Loyola got their feet under them to show us what they could do.

Like Bearz said, we aren't going to throw a parade for Loyola as they depart. We thank them for a mutually beneficial eight year run together and wish them well in their endeavors. They exceeded the program they replaced and therefore exceeded everyone's wildest expectations and parlayed that into a move that makes all the sense in the world for them both institutionally and even competitively. You'll likely get more Q1 and Q2 games in the A-10 which is great and I'm sure you'll quickly get over the loss of the midwestern driving trips when you get to play programs like Dayton SLU VCU Davidson St Bonaventure etc. as well as the numerous Jesuit institutions and your school will benefit greatly from East Coast exposure and recruiting much like SLU does. We hope that Loyola will give us one more reason to be proud as an MVC member and we hope they will remember their MVC brethren in the nonconference in future years but we don't expect it because that's not the norm in realignment.

We are grateful to Loyola. We are happy for Loyola. We harbor no ill will towards Loyola for leaving. But the MVC is no stranger to the departure of its top teams and amazingly always seems to chug along just fine more or less at the level it's always been. Hopefully, with Murray Belmont and possibly UIC as well that will continue to be the case. This is the third time this conference has faced a seismic transition of membership in the past nine years and each time the league has recovered pretty well overall. 2013 we lose Creighton but Wichita State UNI and Illinois State field solid enough teams to keep the Valley strong. 2017: Wichita State leaves Loyola elevates in a HUGE way Bradley and Drake are solid the league is fine overall and achieves multiple bids one year which is something most pundits probably thought was over once the Shockers were gone.

Now with Loyola gone we have added two programs that basically singlehandedly made the OVC a multibid league in 2019 and might do so again this year and have another potential sleeping giant possibly joining. Moreover, many of the programs that were strong when the Valley was at its strongest in the mid 2000s (UNI SIU Bradley etc) are still here. Drake UNI and Missouri State will hopefully continue to be top 100 or better programs. SIU and Bradley will hopefully continue to rise. Maybe the Indiana schools can figure it out and become solid as well. The point is there's every reason to believe that the league will be fine going forward and that is why our focus is predominantly on the future. We hope Loyola continues to kick butt this year and leaves us with one more magical run filled with great memories but until it's time for that Farewell Tour in March our focus is where it should be: on the future and how the MVC adapts to the post-Loyola world.

We expect a top 25 Ramblers team that does well in conference play and right now that's exactly what we're getting. As I and others have said, there's no story here yet and no reason for that melodrama. Loyola playing in the tournament and doing well will be a story as it always iss and that will get our attention. That's when Loyola will again get its well deserved roses. Not before. Regardless of what happens I'm sure someone (perhaps it will be me) will write a glowing retrospective of Loyola and its time in the Valley and all it has brought to the conference and all it has meant for the conference. Until then it's business as usual as both Loyola and the MVC have their work cut out for them. Loyola has to continue to win to keep its tournament case strong should it fail to win Arch Madness the MVC has to continue to be strong so that perhaps it can provide a second team capable of winning in the tournament. Loyola has to continue to do well and recruit with one eye on succeeding now and one eye on laying a solid foundation for when it gets to its new home in the A10 and the MVC has to build the best and most attractive league that it can post-Loyola.

When the last run comes we all hope it's as great as it can possibly be. We hope Loyola leaves the Valley riding high as a program and is a credit to the A-10 from the word "go" and we hope the Valley continues its high level of play into the future and that the new additions (and Valpo eventually) pan out. In short, don't take our indifference about a win over Evansville. A highly expected win might I add as a slight. We hope the decisions made by both sides pan out for everyone involved. Right now it feels like Both sides are handling their business well and so there is no story and not much to talk about except that. Check back at Arch Madness. The Loyola talk will be stronger then and thereafter I assure you.

[DUBulldog]

I guess nobody in the league cares about what Loyola does anymore, even teams they're playing against.

The #22 Ramblers beat Evansville on the road,77-48, for their tenth straight victory. Loyola shot 62.8% from the field and held the Aces to 32.7% shooting.

Despite the outward indifference from the MVC side, I'm going to really miss the midwestern driving trips to different opposing arenas. It seems like MVC teams don't care much about us leaving, which is fine-- I understand. About 40% of the fans in the MVC by my reckoning didn't want us to be allowed in the league, and yet about 80% were in favor of Valpo coming in.... So you've got your wish and millions in leftover NCAA shares that Loyola gives up by departing.

Everyone was happy when we left the Horizon-- including Valpo, who thought we were dragging that conference down before they joyfully left it to join us in the MVC. Despite how indifferent MVC fans feel about Loyola leaving, the Loyola fans will feel a real loss at leaving your conference. But all those things underscore why the A-10 is a better conference for us-- you hate us and always have (even before we were in the conference), you dislike our approach to college basketball, you don't like that we have a healthy relationship between athletics and academics, you've created a euphemism hatred bag for us (too Northern, too urban, too liberal, too Illinois-connected), and the majority of MVC team fandoms don't understand how we live or what we think (even though most try to re-create how we live when they go on vacation).

But NEVERTHELESS, I think I can speak for almost every Loyola fan in saying we're grateful for our time in the MVC, we mostly love the other folks from the MVC, we deeply value the midwestern roots and DNA of the MVC, and we hope that we can continue a spirited rivalry with MVC teams.

Hope you feel better after this post!

I don't know why this, but there is very, very little game discussion on this board, no matter who's playing. Has nothing to do with Loyola.

[Mulefodder]

I guess nobody in the league cares about what Loyola does anymore, even teams they're playing against.

The #22 Ramblers beat Evansville on the road,77-48, for their tenth straight victory. Loyola shot 62.8% from the field and held the Aces to 32.7% shooting.

Despite the outward indifference from the MVC side, I'm going to really miss the midwestern driving trips to different opposing arenas. It seems like MVC teams don't care much about us leaving, which is fine-- I understand. About 40% of the fans in the MVC by my reckoning didn't want us to be allowed in the league, and yet about 80% were in favor of Valpo coming in.... So you've got your wish and millions in leftover NCAA shares that Loyola gives up by departing.

Everyone was happy when we left the Horizon-- including Valpo, who thought we were dragging that conference down before they joyfully left it to join us in the MVC. Despite how indifferent MVC fans feel about Loyola leaving, the Loyola fans will feel a real loss at leaving your conference. But all those things underscore why the A-10 is a better conference for us-- you hate us and always have (even before we were in the conference), you dislike our approach to college basketball, you don't like that we have a healthy relationship between athletics and academics, you've created a euphemism hatred bag for us (too Northern, too urban, too liberal, too Illinois-connected), and the majority of MVC team fandoms don't understand how we live or what we think (even though most try to re-create how we live when they go on vacation).

But NEVERTHELESS, I think I can speak for almost every Loyola fan in saying we're grateful for our time in the MVC, we mostly love the other folks from the MVC, we deeply value the midwestern roots and DNA of the MVC, and we hope that we can continue a spirited rivalry with MVC teams.

pass that there bong old feller and stop tat snortn cuz it aint naw good for your membrane so please stay way from this sport site and stop ur ramblin

[smidge34]

Is there bad weather in Springfield? Watching start of Illinois State at Mo State and it looks 90% empty.

[BCPanther]

If it weren't for bad luck, UNI would have no luck at all.

Seriously, like 5 years at this point.