I'm a little surprised UIC hasn't gotten more love from MVC fans. You have 1 shot at this and you want UWM over UIC? Because Milwaukee? Lol. Super academics at UWM? Better recheck the rankings. UIC has been research 1 for decades, has the largest med school in the nation, and has top notch academics. Best facilities in the HL by far...Granderson Stadium for baseball with a competitive baseball team to go along with it, a very good soccer team with tournament history/success and a brand new stadium on the way (
https://architizer.com/projects/univers ... r-stadium/), a new softball stadium coming, and a new basketball stadium in the works. Does Milwaukee really give you more than a second team in Chicago? UIC is a natural rival with tons of MVC schools, and already has a huge rivalry with Loyola. Most athletic departments are struggling financially...UIC is expanding, having added women's golf and soccer in the last 5 years. UIC is projected to reach 30,000 students in the next few years.
MVC fans have to be smarter than they've shown here. UWM gets thrown out there and everyone latches onto it like it's the next big thing. Have you followed their athletic department over the last decade? Drama.
UIC has struggled in basketball...no doubt. I think we're on the rise. Consider the potential/ceiling for the candidates...UIC's is arguably tops of all candidates...yes even higher than Valpo and Murray State. We were a finalist last time around for a reason...to fall off the face of the earth this expansion makes no sense, unless the MVC doesn't want more presence in Chicago (or Loyola has some veto power)...Valpo is not a Chicago school...I'm sorry. A fun weekend IN Chicago for games against UIC and Loyola is much better than driving 50+ miles to NW Indy.
Am I crazy? I get it...it all comes down to basketball. Murray State...Valpo make sense for that. Milwaukee? What do they truly add over UIC? We're ready to rise in basketball starting next season.