jayball wrote:WSUbballer wrote: If the argument out there is "there's always gonna be a bottom dweller" and if Evansville fans are content with being that perennial bottom feeder, then so be it.
Baller,
I understand the desire to strengthen the MVC. I just question if we will really get the giant bump forward in exposure, prestige, RPI, ect... if we trade Eville for SLU, Butler, or WKU type schools.
The MVC would likely be a bit better, but nationally no one would really care.
There are more successful teams that we could seek out. SLU for Eville might be a good trade, but it isn't going to launch us automatically into guaranteed multibid territory.
As for defending Eville, I just remember watching Marcus Wilson, Craig Snow, Clint Cuffle, ect and enjoying watching them compete back then Eville had some really tough teams. To me there is value in watching guys like Holslinger, Ely, Wagner...compete. They might not be on the most talented team or attend the most celebrated school in conference but they play just as hard and put in just as much time as the other guys. How many people would just give up in situations like that? CU in the Rick Johnson years, WSU before Turg? I just don't see the need to denigrate everything about UE.
I think there would be some greater natural interest if a team like Butler replaced Evansville. I don't think you could deny that. It wouldn't lock us into multibid territory, but it would most certainly help. That 250+ RPI is a real drag on the conference and adding a Top 10 or 20 type RPI in Butler could mean a move up several rungs on the overall conference ladder.
Every school has had bad runs. A couple schools seem to stick out more than others. And most of the Valley schools have some really good success to cancel out their bad runs.
Evansville competed much better in the MCC. They would compete better and be a better fit in the Horizon. And honestly, their overall athletic program is not good. They've had a few good runs in some sports, but nothing consistent and certainly now they have little to offer IMO.