MVC Games Week 5

[E-Villan]

When will UE leave and USI be added? Hoping soon!

SIU has been nothing above mediocre for the last 16 years, and it looks good to make 17 this year. Considering Edwardsville is the premier campus now, switching you for them is the first move we should make.

The difference is that SIU loses more students to dropouts than UE has enrolled. SIUE would be better than UE too!

That's a ridiculous argument. Yes, UE is smaller, but off the top of my head, I know both St. Bonaventure and Davidson are smaller than UE. Enrollment is not a factor in basketball programs. If so, Missouri State and Illinois State would dominate this league.

SIU has more dropouts than most of the Big East has enrolled as well....and you are not even on the same planet in basketball.

[DUBulldog]

That's a ridiculous argument. Yes, UE is smaller, but off the top of my head, I know both St. Bonaventure and Davidson are smaller than UE. Enrollment is not a factor in basketball programs. If so, Missouri State and Illinois State would dominate this league.

I think UIC would be the real dominant force in the league if that were the case.

[pafan]

That's a ridiculous argument. Yes, UE is smaller, but off the top of my head, I know both St. Bonaventure and Davidson are smaller than UE. Enrollment is not a factor in basketball programs.

That's not true any longer (although I confirm it was in the past). UE is smaller than both schools based on full-time enrollment. UE has a lot of part time (night class) types working on both bachelors' and masters' degrees so the "total enrollment" is slightly larger, but I think we can agree a 43 year old actuary science student who is on campus one night a week isn't bringing much to the table in terms of athletics.

Davidson: 1973 FT undergrads
St. Bonnie: 1724 undergrads
Evansville: 1526 FT undergrads
Source: IPEDS government filings for fall 2021 provided by each school

Yes, I've been beating this drum for years. UE has done nothing to prove me wrong.

[So iLL 24]

That's a ridiculous argument. Yes, UE is smaller, but off the top of my head, I know both St. Bonaventure and Davidson are smaller than UE. Enrollment is not a factor in basketball programs. If so, Missouri State and Illinois State would dominate this league.

SIU has more dropouts than most of the Big East has enrolled as well....and you are not even on the same planet in basketball.

Everything you said is wrong. Next time you might want to google your thoughts prior to posting on a public forum when your feelings are hurt.

UE does have one thing in common with a Big East school though! Georgetown was winless in conference play last year similar to your 19-20 season.

If SIU isn't on the same planet as Big East schools (SIU is 1-0 in the last 3 years against a Big East opponent) what does that say about poor ole UE?

[Salukimadness86]

Maybe the Purple Aces should bring back the capes that were worn during their prime. Nostalgia can be a good thing. Illinois State just played a game at Horton Field House in front of a large crowd. Think it was a positive move by their marketing department. Nothing against UE, but they haven't exactly raised the bar, or enhanced the profile of the conference since joining the MVC.

[squirrel]

1330 Presbyterian (Big South)
1740 Queens (A-Sun)
1762 Wagner (NEC)
1772 VMI (Southern)
1773 Wofford (Southern)
1843 Davidson (A10)
1889 Mt. St. Mary's (MAAC)
2111 St. Francis (PA) (NEC)
2147 Mississippi Valley State (SWAC)
2269 Bellarmine (A-Sun)
2348 Coppin St (MEAC)
2363 St. Francis Brooklyn (NEC)
2381 St. Bonaventure (A10)
2382 Lafayette (Patriot)
2479 SC State (MEAC); Stonehill (NEC)
2498 Arkansas Pine Bluff (SWAC)
2526 Evansville (MVC)
2620 Chicago St (Independent) - and this is probably an inflated number
2629 Furman (Southern)
2837 Colgate (Patriot)
2888 UMES (MEAC)
2900 Valpo (MVC)


Until they withdrew from DI, Centenary (enrollment c.700) was the undisputed smallest.

[BCPanther]

Maybe the Purple Aces should bring back the capes that were worn during their prime. Nostalgia can be a good thing. Illinois State just played a game at Horton Field House in front of a large crowd. Think it was a positive move by their marketing department. Nothing against UE, but they haven't exactly raised the bar, or enhanced the profile of the conference since joining the MVC.

They fact that they haven't brought back the sleeves and fully embraced the throwback look that the world is going for right now is mind boggling. Lean into it. Do what you did when you were relevant because you haven't been for 30 years at this point.

Just do something to make yourself different.

[squirrel]

1330 Presbyterian (Big South)
1740 Queens (A-Sun)
1762 Wagner (NEC)
1772 VMI (Southern)
1773 Wofford (Southern)
1843 Davidson (A10)
1889 Mt. St. Mary's (MAAC)
2111 St. Francis (PA) (NEC)
2147 Mississippi Valley State (SWAC)
2269 Bellarmine (A-Sun)
2348 Coppin St (MEAC)
2363 St. Francis Brooklyn (NEC)
2381 St. Bonaventure (A10)
2382 Lafayette (Patriot)
2479 SC State (MEAC); Stonehill (NEC)
2498 Arkansas Pine Bluff (SWAC)
2526 Evansville (MVC)
2620 Chicago St (Independent) - and this is probably an inflated number
2629 Furman (Southern)
2837 Colgate (Patriot)
2888 UMES (MEAC)
2900 Valpo (MVC)


Until they withdrew from DI, Centenary (enrollment c.700) was the undisputed smallest.

Of the 16 schools ahead of Evansville on the list, 5 have been DI fewer than 30 years.

[So iLL 24]

1330 Presbyterian (Big South)
1740 Queens (A-Sun)
1762 Wagner (NEC)
1772 VMI (Southern)
1773 Wofford (Southern)
1843 Davidson (A10)
1889 Mt. St. Mary's (MAAC)
2111 St. Francis (PA) (NEC)
2147 Mississippi Valley State (SWAC)
2269 Bellarmine (A-Sun)
2348 Coppin St (MEAC)
2363 St. Francis Brooklyn (NEC)
2381 St. Bonaventure (A10)
2382 Lafayette (Patriot)
2479 SC State (MEAC); Stonehill (NEC)
2498 Arkansas Pine Bluff (SWAC)
2526 Evansville (MVC)
2620 Chicago St (Independent) - and this is probably an inflated number
2629 Furman (Southern)
2837 Colgate (Patriot)
2888 UMES (MEAC)
2900 Valpo (MVC)


Until they withdrew from DI, Centenary (enrollment c.700) was the undisputed smallest.

This list is outdated.

UE has a total of 2,000 students (full-time, part-time undergrad, grad, and Harlaxton). https://www.evansville.edu/aboutue/facts.cfm

[So iLL 24]

Maybe the Purple Aces should bring back the capes that were worn during their prime. Nostalgia can be a good thing. Illinois State just played a game at Horton Field House in front of a large crowd. Think it was a positive move by their marketing department. Nothing against UE, but they haven't exactly raised the bar, or enhanced the profile of the conference since joining the MVC.

They fact that they haven't brought back the sleeves and fully embraced the throwback look that the world is going for right now is mind boggling. Lean into it. Do what you did when you were relevant because you haven't been for 30 years at this point.

Just do something to make yourself different.

Agree 100%! They need to find ways to get younger fans involved in UE sports!

I watched the SIU v UE game and it was an abysmal atmosphere. I understand SIU dominated them from the start but even the 500-800 SIU fans weren't engaged. SIU has an old fan base but the UE fans at the game averaged 10-15 years more than SIU fans at the Arena.

Complete transparency is that I live in Evansville, donate to certain UE athletic programs, and thoroughly want them to succeed. However, after attending UE games over the years and 2 USI games this year, the product on the floor and the atmosphere at USI games is far better.