MVC targeting Valpo & Murray State to create 11 team league

[Bigdfromuic]

You may very well be right Valpotx...you may not slow down. But it seems to me Valpo has already hit their ceiling with their best player of all time finishing up his career without an NCAA win to show for it. UIC is in a better location, and despite being horrific in basketball for many years, has already landed 3-4 star recruits under McClain. Facilities do mean something...so does location...we've shown we can fill the seats when we're good. We put 8k in the Pavilion against GT after our last tourney appearance. We've had numerous 5k plus games since with horrible teams. I'm not saying Valpo isn't worthy of an invite...if basketball success is priority #1 for the MVC, you're a lock. I'm mostly just saying the silence regarding UIC is odd, and consideration of UWM over UIC is borderline laughable. Fans here and some bloggers have taken PantherU's bait and rolled with it.

For those MVC fans that love that apparent holier than thou Wichita attitude, you're gonna get more of that from Valpo. Hell some of them even know how annoying they sound...thinking their private status puts them above everyone else in the HL. I mean they're not so bad for a regional university, but come on.

[IllinoisState]

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.

I don't know if fans would be on board with another Chicago school, but a lot aren't sold on Milwaukee. I for one would be okay with UIC if they said they were definitely going to 12.

You also make it sound like the fans have a say in what happens. We don't.

[ValpoTX]

You may very well be right Valpotx...you may not slow down. But it seems to me Valpo has already hit their ceiling with their best player of all time finishing up his career without an NCAA win to show for it. UIC is in a better location, and despite being horrific in basketball for many years, has already landed 3-4 star recruits under McClain. Facilities do mean something...so does location...we've shown we can fill the seats when we're good. We put 8k in the Pavilion against GT after our last tourney appearance. We've had numerous 5k plus games since with horrible teams. I'm not saying Valpo isn't worthy of an invite...if basketball success is priority #1 for the MVC, you're a lock. I'm mostly just saying the silence regarding UIC is odd, and consideration of UWM over UIC is borderline laughable. Fans here and some bloggers have taken PantherU's bait and rolled with it.

For those MVC fans that love that apparent holier than thou Wichita attitude, you're gonna get more of that from Valpo. Hell some of them even know how annoying they sound...thinking their private status puts them above everyone else in the HL. I mean they're not so bad for a regional university, but come on.

We won the HL in back-to-back seasons before Alec joined our roster, and would be poised to stay near the top in a rebuilding year next season. You are correct that UIC has recruited well, but when you turn over much of your roster each year to transfers, it doesn't matter.

In regards to the private school view, there are some that view it as being above others, yes. My view is that I would rather my school be in an athletic conference that has other schools with a similar profile. There are only 2 in the HL (with Valpo included), and 4 others in the MVC. There used to be 4 when we first joined the HL, but Butler and Loyola moved on. When any issues come up between schools in regards to the private vs. public divide, we would rather have more allies in those discussions.

[SMUfan]

Various media reports indicated visits are over.Murray,Omaha,UWM,and Valparaiso were the only four visited and the teams admitted will come from that list.The game is over.Now it is just a matter of deciding who and how many from THOSE FOUR.

The "only four" or the only four we know of? What if they visited somewhere last year and didn't need to go back again? Just feels like there is more to it to me.

[MOST]

Not sure I understand the appeal of adding Valpo and Murray State to the MVC. Both are good BB schools, but no ways near the status of WSU or Creighton. Simply put, two topped out mid majors from the #17 HL and #19 OVC--not the teams or towns that are going to raise the MVC schools or BB profile. The MO State President said he voted to invite Loyola because Chicago was a big market that enhanced MOST' name recognition and the potential for increased enrollments from C area students--two clearly defined university president voting reasons. But, I doubt that Valparaiso, IN (pop: 32,000+) or Murray. KY (pop: !8,000) is going to enhance any schools brand or generate MOST enrollments.
If the intent is the same now as it was 5 years ago when Loyola was added then the MVC needs to push to add schools in big market cities: U. Wisconsin Milwaukee, U. MO Kansas City, U. Nebraska Omaha, and if still a possibility Belmont in big market Nashville. Wisconsin Green Bay may also be a possible add but they are small, 6,000 enrollment--but a better 2017 RPI and record than Wisc Milwaukee.

[Bjhracer]

Not sure I understand the appeal of adding Valpo and Murray State to the MVC. Both are good BB schools, but no ways near the status of WSU or Creighton. Simply put, two topped out mid majors from the #17 HL and #19 OVC--not the teams or towns that are going to raise the MVC schools or BB profile. The MO State President said he voted to invite Loyola because Chicago was a big market that enhanced MOST' name recognition and the potential for increased enrollments from C area students--two clearly defined university president voting reasons. But, I doubt that Valparaiso, IN (pop: 32,000+) or Murray. KY (pop: !8,000) is going to enhance any schools brand or generate MOST enrollments.
If the intent is the same now as it was 5 years ago when Loyola was added then the MVC needs to push to add schools in big market cities: U. Wisconsin Milwaukee, U. MO Kansas City, U. Nebraska Omaha, and if still a possibility Belmont in big market Nashville. Wisconsin Green Bay may also be a possible add but they are small, 6,000 enrollment--but a better 2017 RPI and record than Wisc Milwaukee.

The appeal is because the MVC needs basketball schools that will compete in the top half of the conference. What exactly would adding Omaha or UMKC do? It would add schools that would struggle to have a winning record thus lowering conference ranking and cause loss of recognition and notoriety . Sure those schools are in larger markets but they will never draw the fan base and local support valpo and Murray state have, without a substantial increase in basketball budget. And still even then you are building a fanbase and tradition from the bottom up. Taking valpo and Murray would mean the fanbase the tradition, the national name recognition is already well established. And those schools have proven to invest in basketball. A move to the MVC gas great potential to move these teams up quicker to that upper echelon we want for the entire conference. Multiple bids and more ncaa shares

[Mikovio]

Not sure I understand the appeal of adding Valpo and Murray State to the MVC. Both are good BB schools, but no ways near the status of WSU or Creighton. Simply put, two topped out mid majors from the #17 HL and #19 OVC--not the teams or towns that are going to raise the MVC schools or BB profile. The MO State President said he voted to invite Loyola because Chicago was a big market that enhanced MOST' name recognition and the potential for increased enrollments from C area students--two clearly defined university president voting reasons. But, I doubt that Valparaiso, IN (pop: 32,000+) or Murray. KY (pop: !8,000) is going to enhance any schools brand or generate MOST enrollments.
If the intent is the same now as it was 5 years ago when Loyola was added then the MVC needs to push to add schools in big market cities: U. Wisconsin Milwaukee, U. MO Kansas City, U. Nebraska Omaha, and if still a possibility Belmont in big market Nashville. Wisconsin Green Bay may also be a possible add but they are small, 6,000 enrollment--but a better 2017 RPI and record than Wisc Milwaukee.

The appeal is because the MVC needs basketball schools that will compete in the top half of the conference. What exactly would adding Omaha or UMKC do? It would add schools that would struggle to have a winning record thus lowering conference ranking and cause loss of recognition and notoriety . Sure those schools are in larger markets but they will never draw the fan base and local support valpo and Murray state have, without a substantial increase in basketball budget. And still even then you are building a fanbase and tradition from the bottom up. Taking valpo and Murray would mean the fanbase the tradition, the national name recognition is already well established. And those schools have proven to incest in basketball. A move to the MVC gas great potential to move these teams up quicker to that upper echelon we want for the entire conference. Multiple bids and more ncaa shares

Yep. These will be basketball adds, as they should be. They will increase the likelihood the Valley gets 2 bids, or at least will ensure that if we get one bid, it gets a decent seed (think that 12 sweetspot or better) and therefore wins more games and garners more NCAA shares that way.

I still like the Loyola add, which I see as a worthy project. They're the richest school in the conference, so if they ever catch fire, they'll be positioned well to sustain it. Moser is getting good recruits, has them competitive and got a big extension (which helps recruiting further). At least if he faceplants they could buy him out. Chicago is a pro sports town but attendance will come if they catch fire, like Butler did in Indy. Plus it helps the rest of the Valley recruit Chicago, academically and athletically. Milwaukee brings that to the table too.

[ptownbraves]

Not sure I understand the appeal of adding Valpo and Murray State to the MVC. Both are good BB schools, but no ways near the status of WSU or Creighton. Simply put, two topped out mid majors from the #17 HL and #19 OVC--not the teams or towns that are going to raise the MVC schools or BB profile. The MO State President said he voted to invite Loyola because Chicago was a big market that enhanced MOST' name recognition and the potential for increased enrollments from C area students--two clearly defined university president voting reasons. But, I doubt that Valparaiso, IN (pop: 32,000+) or Murray. KY (pop: !8,000) is going to enhance any schools brand or generate MOST enrollments.
If the intent is the same now as it was 5 years ago when Loyola was added then the MVC needs to push to add schools in big market cities: U. Wisconsin Milwaukee, U. MO Kansas City, U. Nebraska Omaha, and if still a possibility Belmont in big market Nashville. Wisconsin Green Bay may also be a possible add but they are small, 6,000 enrollment--but a better 2017 RPI and record than Wisc Milwaukee.

You add Valpo or Murray because their basketball programs are better than the bigger market schools on the table. To add UWM, UMKC, UNO, or UIC to tap into the bigger market over schools like Valpo or Murray State would be watering down the league and creating a lower quality product. Loyola has surpassed my expectations basketball-wise since they've been a member, but the value of big markets to the rest of the league is questionable when there isn't much fan support. Has enrollment in Valley schools increased from Chicago-area kids since Loyola has been a member? I'd like to know that answer but I'd be surprised if it's significant.

[thunderkwb]

You may very well be right Valpotx...you may not slow down. But it seems to me Valpo has already hit their ceiling with their best player of all time finishing up his career without an NCAA win to show for it. UIC is in a better location, and despite being horrific in basketball for many years, has already landed 3-4 star recruits under McClain. Facilities do mean something...so does location...we've shown we can fill the seats when we're good. We put 8k in the Pavilion against GT after our last tourney appearance. We've had numerous 5k plus games since with horrible teams. I'm not saying Valpo isn't worthy of an invite...if basketball success is priority #1 for the MVC, you're a lock. I'm mostly just saying the silence regarding UIC is odd, and consideration of UWM over UIC is borderline laughable. Fans here and some bloggers have taken PantherU's bait and rolled with it.

For those MVC fans that love that apparent holier than thou Wichita attitude, you're gonna get more of that from Valpo. Hell some of them even know how annoying they sound...thinking their private status puts them above everyone else in the HL. I mean they're not so bad for a regional university, but come on.

as a "holier than thou" Shocker fan... UIC to MVC would be not be a good move for the Valley.... I hope the MVC is patient... I like Murray State out of all the choices but there is no hurry. Not trolling, but I agree with Suellentrop stay still with 9 and invest in the current members. I want the MVC to get this right.

[TOPSTRAIGHT]

"Markets" should not be the FIRST consideration.TV dollars are dwindling. The best income is NCAA units and ticket sales(home sites,arch madness). It should still be on the list as a factor though.Teams that have good or at least average support and a high rate of success should be first.

Another way to increase net revenue is to lower travel costs.IMHO the MVC should consider having travel partners in basketball.It saves on transportation,hotel,food, and reduces missed class time.One trip-TWO games.Most other sports in the MVC follow this plan.This is also a big factor in choosing UWM.