UIC joining Valley

[ptownbraves]

If MVC takes two teams to replace CU, should seriously consider UMKC and UIC as a package. Both have MVC potential. Both big--bigger--market towns. Opens/big recruiting potential in Chicago area for all MVC teams. Both in MVC geographic footprint. An eleven team conference is doable--10 home and 10 away conference games--would be awkard for conference tourney--would require one pigtail. If MVC takes 3 new members, WHO would be number 12?. VALPO ??? Detroit ??? Belmont ???--probably not. NDSU or SDSU ?? ORU--NO! Limited options. Forget SLU and Dayton!!.

Don't think WSU is going anywhere. Too far west for back east schools. No FB for Mountain west. Not a lot of options if they try to cut MVC ties for greener ?? pastures!!

How can you say WSU is too far West for an "Eastern" conference? Geography doesn't matter when there is money to be made. Ever heard of Creighton?

[KC MVC FAN]

Eastern conferences are too far east for WSU. They would travel east X times the number of eastern schools--thats a lot different than eastern schools traveling west one time each to play WSU. And don't forget WSU fans. Expensive to follow their Shockers back east for very many games. Stay within the conference footprint---big toe in Chicago, due south down the IN/IL State Line then turn to the west to the Heartland.

Forget Creighton. They are history. Afdditionally, CU was a private school withbig pockets and big benefactors. WSU is a state supported public university!

[isumvc1]

sounds like a late April vote will happen

http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/stor ... eedID=5089

[Snaggletooth]

Let's hear your logical argument for why any of the other 3 expansion choices are so head and shoulder above UIC that my version makes no sense whatsoever.

You don't make a move to just make a move - you stay at 9. What they are really doing is making sure the MVC a 1 bid conference by adding bad program(s).

What WSU fans should be doing is lobbying with the WSU administration to vote no.

[rlh04d]

Eastern conferences are too far east for WSU. They would travel east X times the number of eastern schools--thats a lot different than eastern schools traveling west one time each to play WSU. And don't forget WSU fans. Expensive to follow their Shockers back east for very many games. Stay within the conference footprint---big toe in Chicago, due south down the IN/IL State Line then turn to the west to the Heartland.

Forget Creighton. They are history. Afdditionally, CU was a private school withbig pockets and big benefactors. WSU is a state supported public university!

WSU has contributed $14 million to the MVC in NCAA tournament shares in the last seven years. Travel costs are not that big of a deal. They're 400 miles outside of Saint Louis in the current A-10 makeup, and about 150 miles outside of Tulsa in the current AAC.

We likely won't be leaving the conference, but I certainly wouldn't make a blanket statement of "conferences are too far east." Geography is irrelevant if the money is good enough to make up for it.

[rlh04d]

Middle Tennessee State is in the process of leaving the Sunbelt and joining C-USA this coming year. They won't change that decision because of football and the close proximity of other C-USA schools for travel.

Good point.

How about Detroit? Ex-MVC team, they've had a good team the last four years, in a major market. Would extend our travel costs as the easternmost team, but that'd be most painful for WSU, who are most capable of affording it, and I prefer expanding our footprint over being constrained by it.

Detroit wouldn't be a bottom feeder, and is a team that could be very successful if they had a hot run. Big arena, although depressingly empty. Likely still better attendance numbers than most programs we're considering, though.

[flybird1]

Let's hear your logical argument for why any of the other 3 expansion choices are so head and shoulder above UIC that my version makes no sense whatsoever.

You don't make a move to just make a move - you stay at 9. What they are really doing is making sure the MVC a 1 bid conference by adding bad program(s).

What WSU fans should be doing is lobbying with the WSU administration to vote no.

So a team that beat Northwestern is a bad program?

[flybird1]

Middle Tennessee State is in the process of leaving the Sunbelt and joining C-USA this coming year. They won't change that decision because of football and the close proximity of other C-USA schools for travel.

Good point.

How about Detroit? Ex-MVC team, they've had a good team the last four years, in a major market. Would extend our travel costs as the easternmost team, but that'd be most painful for WSU, who are most capable of affording it, and I prefer expanding our footprint over being constrained by it.

Detroit wouldn't be a bottom feeder, and is a team that could be very successful if they had a hot run. Big arena, although depressingly empty. Likely still better attendance numbers than most programs we're considering, though.

I've also thought about Detroit, a possibly good program. If we compare them with UIC, I wonder who comes out stronger.

[Chuck A]

I've also thought about Detroit, a possibly good program. If we compare them with UIC, I wonder who comes out stronger.

Well, if the Valley is looking to add a private school, then Detroit is stronger. If the MVC is looking to add a school with 17 of the 18 sports the Valley offers; a baseball team (Detroit discontinued theirs a few years ago); better facilities (including the soon-to-be-built Granderson Stadium); a larger market with better recruiting opportunities; and a chance to have the MVC Tourney in the United Center after the '14-'15 season, then UIC is stronger.

[Drakey]

Why doesn't Belmont get any support on here? They seem to have a better program in a big city.