Conference expansion candidates

[CBB_Fan]

I completely respect what CU has done with their hoops over the past decade, but I'm pretty sure there are some other MVC hoops programs that that been pretty respectable too. And exactly how many NCAA tourney games has CU actually won over the past decade?

Now how many NCAA tourney games have the other MVC schools won over the past decade? More than 1 and that is spread out over a few of the other Valley schools.

All the people out there that are saying the MVC is lost without CU must be in la la land because WSU hoops is good, ISU-R hoops has really been establishing in the past 5 years, UNI is UNI and both BU and SIU are back on the upswing, and that's not to mention that ISU-B is usually pretty darn competitive.

And as far as losing a larger TV market in Omaha, guess what....CU has not helped the MVC garner any huge TV anyway, so nothing lost there.

The idea that Valley hoops would drop to OVC or Horizon level is absolutely insane folks!!!!!
There are many hoops programs in The Valley that are MORE that capable of competing with some of the nation's top teams. CU hoops got better over a period of time in the MVC, and I'm pretty sure what we see with this past couple of seasons is the CU at maybe their peak. So there are some that may have a heart attack over Creighton leaving, but IMHO once Doug M leaves then The Bluejays will drop back a bit.

So what I'm getting at is even with CU there is no big TV contract, and there are PLENTY of MVC schoos that have hoops programs that can reach the level of CU hoops (which is winning how many NCAA tourney games over the past decade???).

Once again, no disrespect to the CU hoops program or their fans because I have a TON of respect for the program they've built, up but there a some Valley schools that have either established good hoops (WSU, UNI and ISU-R) or are in the catagory of their b-ball programs that are on the way back (both BU and SIU). Sooooo...with to all the doomsayers out there, I'd have to say that if CU does actually end up leaving the MVC, then good luck to them and look for The Valley to be just as competitive as ever.

KEEP IT ROCKIN' MVC!!

The problem with losing Creighton has never been just the fact that they have a good basketball team. The problems are:

1. Stability (would make WSU, Illinois State, and UNI actively seek to leave the conference)
2. Commitment (Creighton is second in basketball expenses and is actively increasing investment, not lowering it or redistributing money towards football)
3. Lack of a same quality replacement (no offense to the Denvers and Belmonts of the world)

[Snaggletooth]

I wonder what other MVC schools would do if CU leaves. Would WSU accept a home and home for men's hoops?

I would think that CU would only accept 2 for 1 at a minimum since they will be in a big time conference.

[Snaggletooth]

As a sign of league unity and solidarity I think we should avoid scheduling CU if this happens.

I agree with you just on the matter of principle, but I also don't believe Elgin has any balls so he will just roll over.

[GoShockers89]

lol at league-wide refusal to schedule CU in anything, like they'd give a rat's behind.

Which of the following RPIs would you be dying to schedule a home and home with?

14- Wichita State
39- Illinois State

Yep, I'm sure CU fans would probably be pretty pleased with these on the non-conference slate

84- Indiana State

Meh, not a difference maker or a big draw for fans but not garbage for a home and home I guess.

121- Northern Iowa
138- Bradley
163- Southern Illinois
165- Evansville
180- Drake

These would be decent buy-games, terrible home and home commitments.

327- Missouri State

MFing LOL


Very brave of the Bears fan to make a stand when his team is right behind Prairie View A&M and Savannah State on the list of squads to call for a home and home. The rest of us will continue to do what's in our own best interest to get a bid while teams like MSU sop up NCAA revenue shares for another dozen years without contributing.

[GoShockers89]

To drive this point home with a jackhammer, take a look at the Strength of Schedule hit WSU and CU will take during conference play:

http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2013/predictedrpi

Wichita State's SoS at the conclusion of the non-con? 63
Projected SoS after league play? 230 (!!!)

Creighton's SoS at the conclusion of the non-con? 37
Projected SoS after league play? 187(!!!)


I am pretty sure no one is going to weep over losing that batch of anchors from the schedule.

[Jays26]

Since it appears that Creighton is gone, I thought that I'd start a thread to consolidate discussion regarding possible candidates.

Who do you want/like/accept/hate?

Discuss

It ain't a done deal yet. Creighton will be turning their backs on history and the great rivalries they have enjoyed in the Valley. Saint Louis University and their move to the A10 should serve as a cautionary tale of what could happen. I hope if they do actually leave that nobody in the Valley agrees to play them in anything. And I mean anything. Don't let their women's cross country runners run at your invites. Don't do it. Make them pay a hefty price for leaving especially in the non-revenue sports.

Casey....always felt somewhat sorry for you and your idiotic posts and have always held back in commenting on most of them but this has got to be one of your all time dumbest things I have ever read. Do you really think this would bother Creighton in the least if they do get an invite to the new league.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

To drive this point home with a jackhammer, take a look at the Strength of Schedule hit WSU and CU will take during conference play:

http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2013/predictedrpi

Wichita State's SoS at the conclusion of the non-con? 63
Projected SoS after league play? 230 (!!!)

Creighton's SoS at the conclusion of the non-con? 37
Projected SoS after league play? 187(!!!)


I am pretty sure no one is going to weep over losing that batch of anchors from the schedule.

You are cherry picking data by just choosing this season. I am growing sick of this narrative of big old Creighton and Wichita State and the 8 dwarfs. That wasn't the reality even two years ago and won't be the reality even two years from now.

My general point is simply this: if the rest of the Valley decided to not have anything to do with CU that its going to hurt them across the board. That eliminates a ton of midweek games for sports like baseball and softball. Hurts men's and women's soccer. Track won't be able to go the Drake relays. In short it cuts into the number of potential non-conference competition that is geographically close by. That is going to have a financial impact. Not crushing but it would be annoying. This is a punitive measure after all.

So yes for the time being enjoy mocking the rest of the Valley (sans WSU) Blue Jays fans. Once Dougie Jr is gone you will return to the pre-Altman days of middling relevance. And in this Catholic League you won't have the gigantic financial advantages over the rest that you enjoy in the Valley. You will be mediocre. Middle of the pack. Certainly not dominant. Mark my words, if you leave the Valley the golden age of Creighton hoops will be a thing of the past. Instead of contending for confernence titles, look forward to fighting for 5th place. The novelty of having Marquette and G'Town visiting Omaha will disappear in a couple of years and attendance will lag. Be careful what you wish for.

I got a crystal ball that has been pretty good to me so far and I see the Valley being okay either way. Will CU be okay? I don't know. I suspect the hubris will die down within a decade in the Catholic League and if CU fans are talking smack...well...it will only be on a men's soccer board somewhere. Fate has not shined for your instate brethren who left the Big XII. You better hope that that karma is a Husker specific conundrum and not a statewide thing. Good luck to you all.

[LJay]

Funny, I don't remember "Dougie" being around for the 16 or 18 or whatever it is straight years of winning at least 10 conference games and never finishing worse than 4th. Then again, maybe I wasn't paying much attention.

[Jet915]

5th place in a 12 team Big East might just get us an at-large bid.

[MoValley John]

If Creighton turned their back on the league? In reality, the rest of the league has already turned their backs on Wichita State and Creighton. Nobody else tries. And the talk is punishing Creighton by not scheduling them? Really? I think if either Creighton or Wichita State leave, neither would want to schedule the likes of MSU, UNI or Evansville in much of anything. When you are expanding your athletic budgets, why would you want to play a bunch of teams that are cutting? Why would you play a bunch of teams that whined about the 150 rule? It wasn't either Creighton or Wichita State that had a problem with the 150 rule, and neither Creighton nor Wichita State have problems spending money.

The whole pretext of punishing Creighton is laughable. If Creighton leaves and is still willing to play you, feel fortunate.