Stay at 9?

[CBB_Fan]

I think the best option will be a merger with members of A-10 and other select schools. You would have a 14-18 team conference (7-9 MVC schools, 7-9 others to match), with a good RPI, good locations, and the ability to send more teams to the dance than either conference by themselves.

I think you could see a couple of MVC schools decide to opt out and pursue other options, whether that be jumping up (Wichita State to MWC/BE), moving for football (ISUr/UNI), or to stay in a tightly knit geographic conference (Evansville?). For simplicity's sake, I'll assume a 16 team conference with two divisions. Here is a hypothetical example of what it could look like:

West: Wichita State, Indiana State, UNI, Illinois State, Drake, Bradley, SIU, MSU (assuming Evansville goes to Horizon league to avoid travel, but this is just an example)
East: VCU, La Salle, UMass, Richmond, St. Joseph's, George Mason, St. Bonaventure, Duquesne

Conference RPI: .5367 (average rank of 111)
MVC RPI (minus Creighton): .5312
A-10 RPI (minus defections): .5271

If we subtracted the worst A-10 schools and replaced them with schools like Belmont, Valparaiso, Bucknell, Detroit, and Denver, we could have an RPI of .5530 (replacing Duquesne, St. Bonaventure, and George Mason with Belmont, Valpariso, and Bucknell).

For some more comparison, here are some other conferences:

1. B1G: .5818
3. Mountain West: .5732
5. Big 12: .5546
6. Pac 12: .5522
9. SEC: .5380
10. WCC: .5316
11. CUSA: .5183
12. Horizon: .4964

We could be the 5th or 6th best conference with the merger. Without it, we run the risk of being outside the top ten (remember, we have a new conference for next year).

[rlh04d]

If we subtracted the worst A-10 schools and replaced them with schools like Belmont, Valparaiso, Bucknell, Detroit, and Denver, we could have an RPI of .5530 (replacing Duquesne, St. Bonaventure, and George Mason with Belmont, Valpariso, and Bucknell).

George Mason has been outside of the top 100 RPI I believe three times in the last 10 seasons. Same as us. This last year their RPI likely took a big hit with VCU leaving the conference.

[REDBIRD FAN 77]

There are two independents Universities. New Orleans and Chicago State. I think I read that New Orleans is joining a conference but Chicago State opens up the Chicago market for MVC ball. May not be the most followed team at this time but If the MVC gets in the TV in Chicago it could open up. Geographically you have to think we poach the Horizon League. That conference is the closes to the MVC RPI and it is physically the closest to the MVC teams. They lost Butler...Who else wants to jump ?

Chicago State is a garbage school. Poor and dumb.. Can't blame them, the state pretty much created this school to send the underprivileged minorities of the city to college.

Plus the school is located in the murder capital of the world the south side of Chicago.

[IllinoisState]

There are two independents Universities. New Orleans and Chicago State. I think I read that New Orleans is joining a conference but Chicago State opens up the Chicago market for MVC ball. May not be the most followed team at this time but If the MVC gets in the TV in Chicago it could open up. Geographically you have to think we poach the Horizon League. That conference is the closes to the MVC RPI and it is physically the closest to the MVC teams. They lost Butler...Who else wants to jump ?

Chicago State is a garbage school. Poor and dumb.. Can't blame them, the state pretty much created this school to send the underprivileged minorities of the city to college.

Plus the school is located in the murder capital of the world the south side of Chicago.

You clearly don't know much about Chicago.

[laxrx]

So much turmoil in the conference world....so many choices but nothing seems like a home run. Big market or small market?? Basketball only school? I think the only answer can be when it comes to college sports these days is follow the money.

[m-v-c]

There are two independents Universities. New Orleans and Chicago State. I think I read that New Orleans is joining a conference but Chicago State opens up the Chicago market for MVC ball. May not be the most followed team at this time but If the MVC gets in the TV in Chicago it could open up. Geographically you have to think we poach the Horizon League. That conference is the closes to the MVC RPI and it is physically the closest to the MVC teams. They lost Butler...Who else wants to jump ?

We'd take Loyola or UIC over Chicago State, never Chicago State they are complete garbage and have around a 3000 seat venue.

Chicago State did build a new convocation center, seats about 7,000 fans and they're trying to use it as a showcase. But yeah, this is a school no one wants to touch. Probably one of the most messed-up histories in D-I, basketball program has had some putrid years and hasn't been actually good since the 80s. They actually chose to leave the Summit League and go independent (and this was when the basketball program was gaining some traction). Think there have been some serious leadership issues, and have heard the campus location is kind of scary.

[m-v-c]

So much turmoil in the conference world....so many choices but nothing seems like a home run. Big market or small market?? Basketball only school? I think the only answer can be when it comes to college sports these days is follow the money.

No doubt it's a delicate balance. Not sure if just following the money is the best long-term solution though, lot of leagues have fallen apart by trying to chase the money and jumping way out of their comfort zones. Most likely the big boys, whether its the whole BCS or a subset group of schools within it (how much do Ohio State and Washington State really have in common?), are going to break off and form their own association, either under the NCAA or outside it. Or else the entire college sports model is going to get blown up if the NCAA loses the Ed O'Bannon case. A whole lot of schools and administrators in college sports would be wise to think long-term with their decisions, not just trying to position for pie-in-the-sky best-case scenarios or for the next couple years. But not sure there are enough people who have the patience to do that.

[Lakesbison]

[quote="lurkingdog"]Just guessing, but I think those Dakota schools want to stay in together. With only one opening, they're out of luck.[/quote]

NDSU is bigger and better , biggest population growth in the USA. NDSU football makes us kings but our basketball team will make the ncaa and WE CAN GO TO MVC ALONE. we have more resources than sdsu and have no problem proving that. Our $35 million basketball arena starts this spring. Hope you guys see this apparently some of you want me muzzled such a shame

[rlh04d]

No doubt it's a delicate balance. Not sure if just following the money is the best long-term solution though, lot of leagues have fallen apart by trying to chase the money and jumping way out of their comfort zones. Most likely the big boys, whether its the whole BCS or a subset group of schools within it (how much do Ohio State and Washington State really have in common?), are going to break off and form their own association, either under the NCAA or outside it. Or else the entire college sports model is going to get blown up if the NCAA loses the Ed O'Bannon case. A whole lot of schools and administrators in college sports would be wise to think long-term with their decisions, not just trying to position for pie-in-the-sky best-case scenarios or for the next couple years. But not sure there are enough people who have the patience to do that.

And I'm sure the Valley has been telling itself this for a very long time. Just sit back and scoff at everyone else chasing the money and argue that they're just not thinking long-term. We're thinking long-term. Apparently really, really long-term, because it hasn't paid off for the last 40 years.

It sounds like you're making a vague illusion to Creighton's departure and WSU's fans wanting a departure. Here's the truth: It doesn't matter if Creighton's move fails. It doesn't matter if WSU leaves for a less stable conference and it falls apart. Because the Valley will always be here, and always take us back. What, we're going to add UMKC this season and if Creighton comes back with their tail between their legs we're going to go "Nope, you had your chance, should have thought more long term?" Creighton will always be able to return to the MVC, and if WSU wants to leave, they'll always be able to return. Just like Tulsa, or Louisville, or any of the other major programs that left would be able to return if they wanted to. The Valley is a safety net that exists for the sake of existing for the most part, and if taking a risk fails ... the safety net is still there.

The only ones not thinking long-term are the Valley's leadership. Patience is one thing, but a stubborn refusal to evolve isn't patience. It's the thinking of dinosaurs that go extinct.

You don't become a success without taking risks. And not taking risks has been the Valley's mindset for decades. What was the last real risk that the Valley took ... integration?

[ST_Lawson]

I've been waiting for an MSU fan to post.............Chicago isn't a state

Oh hey, you're familiar with our old cheer from when they were in our conference and we had to play them.

And as for them leaving the Summit...they were pressured to leave due to numerous internal problems. Trust me, you do not want them.