What's the next realignment domino to fall?

[Kip Dynamite]

In my opinion, Its going to be ORU and Murray State if I had to guess right now. MSU needs a travel partner and will push for ORU since they are the closest and most obvious geographic choice. Plus they bring good baseball and basketball which will be a major factor in the decision.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

In my opinion, Its going to be ORU and Murray State if I had to guess right now. MSU needs a travel partner and will push for ORU since they are the closest and most obvious geographic choice. Plus they bring good baseball and basketball which will be a major factor in the decision.

Southern could travel with Missouri State. Indiana State would travel with NKU. Wichita State wasn't that much closer to Missouri State than Southern is. 45 minutes. It's not ideal but doable. Don't add a subpar, money strapped school for a dumb reason when there is a decent in house option. Pick the best two programs. Or, four. New Mexico State and Grand Canyon, also. I WILL NOT RELENT!!!

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Either Murray+ORU or Murray+NKU is perfect. Far and away my two favorite realistic combos.

[BEARZ77]

I'm not an ORU proponent, and while New Mexico State has historically been a good program, there's just no reason to stretch that far. Grand Canyon is even less sensible, but then I've never heard them even mentioned as a possibility so it doesn't matter.

To me there is only one sensible and attractive option to add with Murray State and it's SLU. I didn't even really like Belmont, because it's only looking at current basketball and not a more global picture of athletics, finances, travel, and academics. SLU is by far the best choice across the board, and it's obvious it is for them as well. The issue is them swallowing a little pride, eating a little crow and accepting that they would benefit more than they like to admit. My guess if Dayton and VCU bolt in the next year or two for AAC or Big East, that would sway the thinking. SLU would have a contingent of privates to align with, great location for all conference sports, be the hub of the conference, and be highly competitive in most of the main sports, MBB/WBB/VB/SOCCER/BB.

[Redhawk]

I'm not an ORU proponent, and while New Mexico State has historically been a good program, there's just no reason to stretch that far. Grand Canyon is even less sensible, but then I've never heard them even mentioned as a possibility so it doesn't matter.

To me there is only one sensible and attractive option to add with Murray State and it's SLU. I didn't even really like Belmont, because it's only looking at current basketball and not a more global picture of athletics, finances, travel, and academics. SLU is by far the best choice across the board, and it's obvious it is for them as well. The issue is them swallowing a little pride, eating a little crow and accepting that they would benefit more than they like to admit. My guess if Dayton and VCU bolt in the next year or two for AAC or Big East, that would sway the thinking. SLU would have a contingent of privates to align with, great location for all conference sports, be the hub of the conference, and be highly competitive in most of the main sports, MBB/WBB/VB/SOCCER/BB.

No further need to discuss ORU, NKU, Grand Canyon or NMSU at this time.

[uniftw]

Murray State seems like a lock.

It's the 12th spot up for debate/invite.

UT-Arlington and UALR are two names I heard behind the scenes earlier this year as possible 12s. UALR is looking at starting football, but I can't imagine their athletic department can fund that. If they do start football the SBC will need a 12th school to balance the football schedule and that *could* be where Missouri State gets their call - if Liberty never gets past the stigma of being a bigoted diploma mill.

UTA and UALR would be interesting 12th options.

I think SFA is worth a look, depending how the football conference shakes out - I'm big on the MVC starting football as it's own as a protection method, in which case we'd need schools with football and SFA is a good option.

ORU has too many issues attatched to them

NKU is interesting - but I think they are still about 5-6 years of proving themselves to be top of where they are to warrant an invite.

Belmont is the sexy name but I'm over them. They don't want to commit to MVC $ levels so F them.

SLU is the best option but a pipe dream.

The Dakota's as a non-starter for a myriad of reasons - namely Murray being the 11th.

I'd propose going after, in this order; SLU, UALR, UTA, SFA, SDSU alone, NKU, NDSU, and then...who the hell knows.

[VUGrad1314]

I just don't get the appeal of UALR. They've been very mediocre recently outside of one year in a basketball conference inferior to the MVC. I would target UTA or even possibly SFA before them and I think a strong case could be made for NKU over adding just a single Dakota school. It really is a shame that Milwaukee's athletic department is such a disaster because they would otherwise get a lot more play in these scenarios and the Lake Michigan option would look a lot better.

Since you mentioned football I have to ask: Would the stability of the MVC be threatened by the Summit League starting football? I know they're separate administratively but several MVFC members are also Summit League members. If those schools defect, would the MVC members in the MVFC look for a new conference which might take their basketball teams too. Does this force MOST to the Sun Belt\MAC and UNI and ISUr to the MAC?

[uniftw]

I just don't get the appeal of UALR. They've been very mediocre recently outside of one year in a basketball conference inferior to the MVC. I would target UTA or even possibly SFA before them and I think a strong case could be made for NKU over adding just a single Dakota school. It really is a shame that Milwaukee's athletic department is such a disaster because they would otherwise get a lot more play in these scenarios and the Lake Michigan option would look a lot better.

Since you mentioned football I have to ask: Would the stability of the MVC be threatened by the Summit League starting football? I know they're separate administratively but several MVFC members are also Summit League members. If those schools defect, would the MVC members in the MVFC look for a new conference which might take their basketball teams too. Does this force MOST to the Sun Belt\MAC and UNI and ISUr to the MAC?

I've covered this at length, and it's why I want the MVC to take football on.

The MVFC would be fine - short term. The threat of Summit League is football is very slim for reasons I've laid out dozens of times and can link if you'd like me too. They are buried at this point.

However, let's pretend the Summit school pulled out - yes, the MVC/MVFC would be okay for now, especially with the addition of Murray State. You need 6 teams to maintain an auto bid, the MVFC would have UNI, ISUR, ISUB, SIU, MSU, and YSU. Adding MUSU would give the league 7. For a number of reasons I don't see WIU following Summit League football. I think they end up in the Horizon or OVC. If they are Horizon that keeps them in the MVFC and gives the league 8 members.

This is why I want the MVC to sponsor football. Not to become a football school - but to create stability. Schools like SLU/Dayton/etc.. aren't happening. They would oppose to a conference with football. The MVFC is adding UND in 2020. That gives the MVFC 11 teams. Murray State would give the league 12, and the league may be headed for a divorce. Adding Murray State and SFA would force the Summit League's hand. The balance of voting sways very heavy to the MVC block. They will either deal with it, or break off. However, with Murray State and SFA the MVC/MVFC would be safe from any rash moves that schools like Illinois State, Missouri State and UNI (who seems more level headed than others at this point) from doing something.

Bradley
Drake
Evansville
Illinois State - FB
Indiana State - FB
Loyola
Missouri State - FB
Murray State - FB
Northern Iowa - FB
Southern Illinois - FB
Stephen F Austin - FB
Valparaiso

The concern is how SFA recovered post Brad Underwood. Last year wasn't great. However, they seem to have some pretty solid recruits coming.

That will never be allowed because it causes "too much" of a swing to football and public schools. I think we'll end up stuck with ORU if we must keep the private/public FB/nonFB spit. I'd take UT-A over ORU though. Their new arena looks quite nice (holds about 7k), and is unique but not stupid with it's design. The big draw back for them is geography - but if we insist on staying in our current footprint we don't have many options (as we've discussed), and lack of any familiarity/rivals with MVC members.

[jacksfan29]

Dom Izzo‏
@DomIzzoWDAY
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Viverito on expansion: "Not a 12th team we're looking at right now, but a 12 team league with two divisions would be attractive to us."
8:14 AM - 25 Jul 2017 from Moorhead, MN

UND gives the MVFC 11. The Summit will be adding a school within the next 12 months. If the league does not go after UMKC (SDSU and NDSU do not want UMKC), expect it to be a football school (UNC or EIU).

UNIftw's dream will die as will any dreams Murray has of getting an invite into the MVC unless they can find a home for their FB program.

[UEACES80]

Nacogdoches TX (SFA) is over 900 miles from several MVC schools - doesn't make a lot of sense.