Another Expansion/Realignment Thread

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Matt Brown talked with some ADs and the consulting firm they hired, and they shared with him there's little interest in expansion.

I've been making calls about this for the last few weeks, and based on my conversations with league ADs and consultants, there's little interest in adding anybody right now just to add somebody...and also less interest in expanding dramatically outside their geographic footprint.

[BCPanther]

Matt Brown talked with some ADs and the consulting firm they hired, and they shared with him there's little interest in expansion.

I've been making calls about this for the last few weeks, and based on my conversations with league ADs and consultants, there's little interest in adding anybody right now just to add somebody...and also less interest in expanding dramatically outside their geographic footprint.

To me that reads: 'We don't have the votes for Arlington and we don't want anybody else'

I'm more than good with that stance.

[IllinoisState]

Matt Brown talked with some ADs and the consulting firm they hired, and they shared with him there's little interest in expansion.

I've been making calls about this for the last few weeks, and based on my conversations with league ADs and consultants, there's little interest in adding anybody right now just to add somebody...and also less interest in expanding dramatically outside their geographic footprint.

To me that reads: 'We don't have the votes for Arlington and we don't want anybody else'

I'm more than good with that stance.

And then they surprisingly add North Dakota State.

[Chuck A]

Matt Brown talked with some ADs and the consulting firm they hired, and they shared with him there's little interest in expansion.

I've been making calls about this for the last few weeks, and based on my conversations with league ADs and consultants, there's little interest in adding anybody right now just to add somebody...and also less interest in expanding dramatically outside their geographic footprint.

I don't believe this one bit. It sounds 180° from what I interpreted Commissioner Jackson saying at the coaches' press conference which was mentioned earlier in this thread. It said the league is proactive and the mindset is the same when the Valley added Belmont, Murray and UIC.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Jackson's comments left open the option of staying at 11. His answer left open both possibilities (11, 12).

"It's amazing how many people struggle with 11. [laughs] I've never had this struggle with 11. On Schoolhouse Rock, did they ever do 11? I think they did. The math works. I don't think there's gonna be much change from our board of presidents and chancellors in terms of how they're looking at membership. We're always proactive, we're always thinking about institutions that can either enhance or promote the experiences we can provide for our student-athletes, the type of presence and the type of reputation the Missouri Valley Conference has, and simply can be good partners. I don't think anything has changed. We think we're in great shape. We were really fortunate a couple years ago to add 3 really strong programs from a basketball and geographical vantage point, and I think that it's helped us. I think the same process and the same thought-process that we had during that time period remains."

[PretzelDawg]

20-game schedule works with 20 teams. I don't mind this.

[ReZyNeZy]

11 is fine. Would I like there to be more, absolutely, but there also is a sense of hesitancy with the current climate. Ultimately there is no reason to add unless a perfect suitor appears. Ideally the MVC is looking for a full member to fill the hole in both football and basketball. Arlington has not played a down of football since 1985. A student referendum was passed last year in Arlington's student government showing that students would be open to increased cost to sponsor football. I have yet to find reports as to if the athletic department plans to look into a feasibility study to see if football is an option, but Arlington has the Ballpark in Arlington, and Maverick Stadium ready and waiting if they decide to sponsor football again.

[TylerDurden]

Jackson's comments left open the option of staying at 11. His answer left open both possibilities (11, 12).

"It's amazing how many people struggle with 11. [laughs] I've never had this struggle with 11. On Schoolhouse Rock, did they ever do 11? I think they did. The math works. I don't think there's gonna be much change from our board of presidents and chancellors in terms of how they're looking at membership. We're always proactive, we're always thinking about institutions that can either enhance or promote the experiences we can provide for our student-athletes, the type of presence and the type of reputation the Missouri Valley Conference has, and simply can be good partners. I don't think anything has changed. We think we're in great shape. We were really fortunate a couple years ago to add 3 really strong programs from a basketball and geographical vantage point, and I think that it's helped us. I think the same process and the same thought-process that we had during that time period remains."

Jackson is correct.

11-team (odd number) scheduling issues are mostly/nearly entirely about travel partner set-ups because it messes with rest/prep time against one team - it essentially creates an inherent advantage/disadvantage every weekend. It wouldn't really impact men's basketball because it doesn't schedule that way and you're really only talking about one bye that's either valuable or not, depending on who you ask and what your injury situation is before the conference tournament.

I'm not saying we should completely ignore the issues it would cause with women's basketball, but that shouldn't be the tipping point in expansion considerations, IMO.

[BCPanther]

Jackson's comments left open the option of staying at 11. His answer left open both possibilities (11, 12).

"It's amazing how many people struggle with 11. [laughs] I've never had this struggle with 11. On Schoolhouse Rock, did they ever do 11? I think they did. The math works. I don't think there's gonna be much change from our board of presidents and chancellors in terms of how they're looking at membership. We're always proactive, we're always thinking about institutions that can either enhance or promote the experiences we can provide for our student-athletes, the type of presence and the type of reputation the Missouri Valley Conference has, and simply can be good partners. I don't think anything has changed. We think we're in great shape. We were really fortunate a couple years ago to add 3 really strong programs from a basketball and geographical vantage point, and I think that it's helped us. I think the same process and the same thought-process that we had during that time period remains."

Jackson is correct.

11-team (odd number) scheduling issues are mostly/nearly entirely about travel partner set-ups because it messes with rest/prep time against one team - it essentially creates an inherent advantage/disadvantage every weekend. It wouldn't really impact men's basketball because it doesn't schedule that way and you're really only talking about one bye that's either valuable or not, depending on who you ask and what your injury situation is before the conference tournament.

I'm not saying we should completely ignore the issues it would cause with women's basketball, but that shouldn't be the tipping point in expansion considerations, IMO.

The awkwardness in MBB is going to be everybody ending up with a weekend bye at some point and then everybody is going to have to play a 4 game week (Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday). Other than that, it's not a bad deal.

You're right on women's sports but the cleanest solution is making Belmont the 'loner' because it's easy and cheap to get in and out of Nashville and then you'll just have to get creative and not be completely married to the Friday/Saturday doubleheader schedule.

UNI/Drake
Bradley/Illinois State
UIC/Valpo
Indiana State/Evansville
Southern Illinois/Murray State
Belmont

[Aces44]

Jackson's comments left open the option of staying at 11. His answer left open both possibilities (11, 12).

"It's amazing how many people struggle with 11. [laughs] I've never had this struggle with 11. On Schoolhouse Rock, did they ever do 11? I think they did. The math works. I don't think there's gonna be much change from our board of presidents and chancellors in terms of how they're looking at membership. We're always proactive, we're always thinking about institutions that can either enhance or promote the experiences we can provide for our student-athletes, the type of presence and the type of reputation the Missouri Valley Conference has, and simply can be good partners. I don't think anything has changed. We think we're in great shape. We were really fortunate a couple years ago to add 3 really strong programs from a basketball and geographical vantage point, and I think that it's helped us. I think the same process and the same thought-process that we had during that time period remains."

Jackson is correct.

11-team (odd number) scheduling issues are mostly/nearly entirely about travel partner set-ups because it messes with rest/prep time against one team - it essentially creates an inherent advantage/disadvantage every weekend. It wouldn't really impact men's basketball because it doesn't schedule that way and you're really only talking about one bye that's either valuable or not, depending on who you ask and what your injury situation is before the conference tournament.

I'm not saying we should completely ignore the issues it would cause with women's basketball, but that shouldn't be the tipping point in expansion considerations, IMO.

The awkwardness in MBB is going to be everybody ending up with a weekend bye at some point and then everybody is going to have to play a 4 game week (Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday). Other than that, it's not a bad deal.

You're right on women's sports but the cleanest solution is making Belmont the 'loner' because it's easy and cheap to get in and out of Nashville and then you'll just have to get creative and not be completely married to the Friday/Saturday doubleheader schedule.

UNI/Drake
Bradley/Illinois State
UIC/Valpo
Indiana State/Evansville
Southern Illinois/Murray State
Belmont

You aren’t wrong, but I doubt that Belmont wants to always be the only team their opponents have to prepare for that week
They will be in the A10 before we get the schedule out