What's the next realignment domino to fall?

[uniftw]

Idaho and NMSU are officially, soon to be, out of the SBC and needing new homes.

Idaho is already Big Sky for all other sports. They will fight going back to the FCS but they won't win that. They'll drop football or be back in the Big Sky.

NMSU, OTOH, doesn't have that option. Would they be worth a phone call?

They're getting kicked out of the sun belt?

Yes.

They are football only affiliates. After next year the SBC is done with them and isn't renewing the contracts.

They will be adding 2 schools as full members to replace them that are in the southeast...Mostly likely Liberty and Eastern Kentucky - though here comes the MSU rumors

[shocktheheart]

I think NMSU would be a good add for the Valley in basketball in terms of quality of team. When WSU played them this year they looked like a mid level Valley team and have made the NCAA tourney the last couple of years. I think they could upgrade their talent level being in the Valley, but that is a long road trip for most Valley teams.

[BradleyBrave]

New Mexico St and Oral Roberts? Create an east and a west?

EAST

Bradley
Illinois St
Indiana St
Loyola
Southern Illinois
Evansville

WEST

Drake
UNI
Missouri St
Wichita St
Oral Roberts
New Mexico St

18 games - home-and-home against divisional opponents, 1 game against each of the other division opponents.

Would work for me.

[shocktheheart]

New Mexico St and Oral Roberts? Create an east and a west?

EAST

Bradley
Illinois St
Indiana St
Loyola
Southern Illinois
Evansville

WEST

Drake
UNI
Missouri St
Wichita St
Oral Roberts
New Mexico St

18 games - home-and-home against divisional opponents, 1 game against each of the other division opponents.

Would work for me.

I would rather go with Valpo or Belmont before Oral Roberts

[uniftw]

New Mexico St and Oral Roberts? Create an east and a west?

EAST

Bradley
Illinois St
Indiana St
Loyola
Southern Illinois
Evansville

WEST

Drake
UNI
Missouri St
Wichita St
Oral Roberts
New Mexico St

18 games - home-and-home against divisional opponents, 1 game against each of the other division opponents.

Would work for me.

I would rather go with Valpo or Belmont before Oral Roberts

Valpo checks the broke Illinois schools bus trip requirements.

[SubGod22]

The Aggies should definitely be added. School 12 is the question.

I don't think you'll see the Belt replacing Idaho and NMSU with anyone. They will stick with 10 football and 12 basketball for a while. There's no way they'll ever call up Liberty. Too many issues with their religious aspects. The western Belt schools will also fight for additions in the western portion of the conference. I've seen some Belt talk about going after MSU and WSU if we decide on football. Not sure how open to the Belt WSU would be.

[TheDrake]

New Mexico St and Oral Roberts? Create an east and a west?

EAST

Bradley
Illinois St
Indiana St
Loyola
Southern Illinois
Evansville

WEST

Drake
UNI
Missouri St
Wichita St
Oral Roberts
New Mexico St

18 games - home-and-home against divisional opponents, 1 game against each of the other division opponents.

Would work for me.

I would rather go with Valpo or Belmont before Oral Roberts

Agreed. NMSU and Belmont would be great. They'd keep the public v private school balance and both have been NCAA tourney level good recently. The Valley needs to be proactive for a change.

[BradleyBrave]

New Mexico St and Oral Roberts? Create an east and a west?

EAST

Bradley
Illinois St
Indiana St
Loyola
Southern Illinois
Evansville

WEST

Drake
UNI
Missouri St
Wichita St
Oral Roberts
New Mexico St

18 games - home-and-home against divisional opponents, 1 game against each of the other division opponents.

Would work for me.

I would rather go with Valpo or Belmont before Oral Roberts

Trying to think of WSU and 'regional' games with ORU. Plus ORU brings a much better baseball program to the table than Valpo. Would be more difficult for a logical East/West split if we went further into Indiana rather than out west.

Some question the longer term viability of both Valpo and Belmont once current coaching staffs move on. Both play in a gym about the size of Loyola's, and that gym isn't doing the league any favors.

I think overall ORU is the best fit of the 3, and actually a better fit than Loyola despite what Doug Elgin may say.

[shocktheheart]

New Mexico St and Oral Roberts? Create an east and a west?

EAST

Bradley
Illinois St
Indiana St
Loyola
Southern Illinois
Evansville

WEST

Drake
UNI
Missouri St
Wichita St
Oral Roberts
New Mexico St

18 games - home-and-home against divisional opponents, 1 game against each of the other division opponents.

Would work for me.

I would rather go with Valpo or Belmont before Oral Roberts

Trying to think of WSU and 'regional' games with ORU. Plus ORU brings a much better baseball program to the table than Valpo. Would be more difficult for a logical East/West split if we went further into Indiana rather than out west.

Some question the longer term viability of both Valpo and Belmont once current coaching staffs move on. Both play in a gym about the size of Loyola's, and that gym isn't doing the league any favors.

I think overall ORU is the best fit of the 3, and actually a better fit than Loyola despite what Doug Elgin may say.

Take Valpo and get rid of Evansville. Problem solved.

[TheAsianSensation]

I wish Denver could get their resources in order and get good in basketball so that they can be a worthwhile #12 team.

I feel like Valpo has a better track record of just simply being good in basketball, which I emphasize over market, especially after the year the conference just had.

Either way that choice goes, remember that we don't need divisions. Elgin and friends can easily rig the schedule every year to ensure every team has a couple of protected home-and-homes, and then can choose the other home-and-home designations based on predicted strength.