by mvfcfan » August 2nd, 2017, 10:04 am
So here's the options on the table I would like the MVC to consider in order of what I would like to see happen and then I'll explain the steps the conference needs to take to make each one happen.
Option 1= Murray State and St Louis
Our conference office is in St Louis, so this shouldn't be difficult. An MVC representative and occasionally Elgin himself needs to walk (or take a taxi) everyday Monday through Friday and go to the Billikens office and try to convince them to come to the league. Make SLU file a restraining order against the MVC if necessary. We don't have to add anyone at all, so let's think big here. There are a lot of pros for SLU to join the league so let's sell them.
Option 2= Murray State plus X (Oral Roberts, Northern Kentucky, UW-Milwaukee)
If we can't find a 12th team that meets our standards then skip to option 3. I think Oral Roberts would be a good add. They give MSU a travel partner and keep the public-private split even at 6-6 and have had previous success. Northern Kentucky has potential, but they are very new to D1 and I think they are a very risky add. Milwaukee could be a good 12. I'm not really sure there are too many good "12" options out there. Oral Roberts is my favorite #12 and it's not even close. I could live with NKU and UWM.
Option 3= North Dakota State and South Dakota State
Yes this isn't a football league, but let's be very serious. The MVC and the MVFC are basically one in the same. They are run out of the same office and the key words here are "Missouri Valley". NDSU since joining the league has won 5 consecutive national championships and they sell out their 18K seat dome every game. SDSU averages around 15K themselves. There is definite support up there for these two schools.
Now let's talk basketball. You have to go back to 2011 to find a team not named NDSU or SDSU that made the NCAA Tournament by winning the Summit League. The Summit League typically gets seeded poorly which makes it extremely difficult to win in the NCAA tournament, but when NDSU was a 12 seed guess what? They upset Oklahoma. Tons of potential in the Dakotas and they are worth looking at.
Option 4= UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay
Not the greatest option out there, but hear me out. Both schools do focus on basketball and both play in nice arenas. They also both play in larger market areas, so they are at least worth looking at. Also gives the MVC a rivalry game. Keep in mind that this is a fourth option and that if we are going to add UWM at all we should probably do it in Option 2.
Option 5= Go to 14, add all 4 Dakota schools
I prefer option 3 to this, but adding all the Dakota schools makes the conference more stable and the MVC would practically own 2 states at that point. It expands our footprint and overall makes our league better. South Dakota just won the Summit League regular season title, and North Dakota just won the Big Sky and made the NCAA tournament. UND and USD also both have a lot of potential. I don't think the privates would ever go for this though. We'd be lucky if they agreed to Option 3.
Option 6= Stay at 10
If none of the above options makes anyone happy, then let's just stay at 10.