Aargh wrote:I watched the MVC go from the #1 basketball conference in the country to the #12 conference in the country.
I watched teams like Louisville, Cincinnati, and Memphis leave the conference and be replaced by schools just transitioning from D2 (or college level - whatever they used to call it) to D1. When the Valley used to replace schools that had left, the reaction from WSU fans was often, "who? never heard of them". I doubt current MVC fans would be real thrilled if that was the type of replacement for WSU.
At one time the Valley was filled with schools similar to WSU. Memphis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Tulsa. Urban schools. WSU no longer really fit the image of the MVC. WSU has a lot more in common with the urban type of schools in the AAC than with the schools in "college towns". Athletic Department budsgets were also a bad match between WSU and the rest of the league.
I can't say that I will look back on WSU's departure from the Valley with much nostalgia, or sadness to see the long relationship end. Disappointment in the degradation of the league (even in the last decade) is more likely.
After the post I made about Baker/VanVleet before they had ever played a game and how well that turned out, I started another about Shamet/McDuffie. I'd be happy to keep MVC fans informed of the progress those two make before they leave for the NBA if the fans here would like that information.
Valid points all; I grew up a Valley fan in the 60's as I lived 45 minutes from St Louis and so followed SLU and the Valley before I attended MSU and long before they became a member. I appreciate WSU's perspective on what has happened with the Valley over the years, just not some of your fans blaming that on the Universities that simply took advantage of the opportunity in front of them to join. I think the timing for WSU's departure is right and good for both, and I think both will benefit.
I don't think we need posts about WSU players on this board because that info is readily available to anyone interested via the Shocker board, the AAC board, and news services. Given that, it would seem questionable as to the motivation for it be placed here anymore. If there hadn't been so many posts in the past year about how badly WSU wanted out and how little respect was afforded the remaining Valley schools, it might be different, but I doubt so. JMO