26 Schools Under Consideration?

[SubGod22]

I believe it was the Bradley AD that said something about 26 schools in the footprint to look at. While I think that number is pretty high and there are probably less than 10 that could get serious consideration to replace a departing Creighton, I thought I'd look into which schools they could be and give some superficial numbers and thoughts on them. The following are in order of where they stand in the current RPI today. I will give their average RPI finish over the last 10 years (I'll use this years number as of this morning. 3/1) as well as their average attendance last season, their arena capacity and market size. All things that will be considered on some level. I'm not going to look into finances just yet. I've never been good about finding those and don't want to do that for this many schools. Maybe if we narrow it down to a smaller amount it'll be worth looking into. I found 30 schools within what may be acceptable range and left out New Mexico St, Arlington and Denver. Obviously, not all will be considered.

Belmont -------- 98.4 ------- 2,012 - 5,000 - Nashville, TN (29)
Detroit -------- 174.3 ------- 2,272 - 8,295 - Detroit, MI (11)
Valpo --------- 145.1 ------- 3,383 - 5,432 - Valparaiso, IN (3) (Chicago)
SDSU --------- 210.7 (7yrs) - 3,320 - 6,500 - Brookings, SD (113) (Sioux Falls)
NDSU --------- 173.1 (7yrs) - 3,156 - 6,000 - Fargo, ND (120)
Murray -------- 103.3 ------- 6,144 - 8,602 - Murray, KY (78) (Cape Girardeau)
Tenn. St. ----- 208.7 -------- 3,338 - 10,500 - Nashville, TN (29)
Oakland ------- 147.1 ------- 3,346 - 4,005 - Rochestar, MI (11) (Detroit)
W. Illinois ----- 270.4 -------- 1,182 - 5,139 - Macomb, IL (???)
ORU ---------- 106 ---------- 4,494 - 10,575 - Tulsa, OK (61)
Green Bay ---- 141.5 -------- 3,064 - 10,000 - Green Bay, WI (70)
UIC ----------- 187.2 -------- 2,934 - 6,958 - Chicago, IL (3)
Wright St. ---- 136.4 -------- 3,903 - 12,000 - Dayton, OH (64)
Little Rock ---- 178.8 -------- 3,222 - 5,600 - Little Rock, AR (56)
Youngstown --- 245 --------- 2,485 - 6,300 - Youngstown, OH (109)
Cleveland St -- 169.6 -------- 3,260 - 13,610 - Cleveland, OH (17)
Loyola -------- 205.4 -------- 2,277 - 4,486 - Chicago, IL (3)
Tenn Tech ---- 192.2 -------- 2,006 - 9,282 - Cookeville, TN ()
SEMO --------- 279.1 -------- 2,356 - 6,972 - Cape Girardeau, MO (78)
South Dakota - 268.75 (4yrs) - 1,701 - 10,000 - Vermillion, SD (113) (Sioux Falls)
E. Illinois ------ 284.4 -------- 1,327 - 5,300 - Charleston, IL (???)
N. Kentucky --- 278 (1yr) ------ ???? - 9,200 - Highland Heights, KY (???)
IPFW --------- 257.2 --------- 1,657 - 13,000 - Fort Wayne, IN (107)
UNO ---------- 284 (1yr) ------- 897 - 4,691 - Omaha, NE (76)
UMKC --------- 251.1 --------- 1,308 - 1,500 - Kansas City, MO (31)
SIU-E --------- 312.25 (4yrs) - 1,625 - 4,000 - Edwardsville, IL (21) (St. Louis)
Milwaukee ----- 134.9 -------- 4,154 - 3,500 - Milwaukee, WI (35)
C. Arkansas ---- 314 (7rs) ---- 1,429 - 6,000 - Conway, AR (56) (Little Rock)
IUPUI ---------- 169.5 -------- 1,133 - 1,215 - Indianapolis, IN (25)
Austin Peay ---- 159.4 -------- 2,712 - 7,257 - Clarksville, TN (???)

Obviously market isn't as big a deal to the MVC as some conferences, but consideration could be made for areas that could increase exposure by putting us in an area that opens up new stations and households as well as recruiting areas. Some of these are just plain sick while others could have potential.

[rrshock]

Only 3 of those averaged under 130 in their RPI. That's deplorable.

It is definitely time to exit the MVC if given the right situation.

Also, I believe that the MVC would probably be better off booting out one member (take your pick) and not replacing CU with another school.

[SubGod22]

Only 3 of those averaged under 130 in their RPI. That's deplorable.

It is definitely time to exit the MVC if given the right situation.

Also, I believe that the MVC would probably be better off booting out one member (take your pick) and not replacing CU with another school.

I understand the concerns. Like I've said, you have to look at the whole picture and find the school most likely to succeed. There's a good chance that a few of those schools could improve their performances with MVC backing.

I totally agree that if an option comes about, we're gone.

The MVC wouldn't do that because they know that either way, we're looking to get out and a couple of others may upgrade football in the not too distant future. The MVC will have to protect itself by staying at 10 or going to 12.

[another shocker]

damn. plenty of 3,000 seat attendance teams there.

[RoyalShock]

That list is why there are only two desirable options for WSU:

1. Beg the MWC.
2. Beg Elgin to beg the MVC presidents to beg the top 3-5 A-10 schools to join forces.

See the common theme there?

[SB Shock]

That list is why there are only two desirable options for WSU:

1. Beg the MWC.
2. Beg Elgin to beg the MVC presidents to beg the top 3-5 A-10 schools to join forces.

See the common theme there?

BEG = SOL?

BEG = BOHICA?

[jdmee]

That list is why there are only two desirable options for WSU:

1. Beg the MWC.
2. Beg Elgin to beg the MVC presidents to beg the top 3-5 A-10 schools to join forces.

See the common theme there?

That WSU is basically:

[Rlh04d]

The MVC cannot become a better conference by poaching from smaller conferences.

The conference will become worse, and worse, and worse. That cannot be the solution for us. It's all just a crap shoot at who would weaken the conference the least.

This has been the game plan for decades. And for decades the conference has been declining in quality.

[SubGod22]

The MVC cannot become a better conference by poaching from smaller conferences.

The conference will become worse, and worse, and worse. That cannot be the solution for us. It's all just a crap shoot at who would weaken the conference the least.

This has been the game plan for decades. And for decades the conference has been declining in quality.

That's how conference movement works if you like it or not. You can't poach from better conferences. You target the best from beneath you. Or you do nothing and die

[Rlh04d]

That's how conference movement works if you like it or not. You can't poach from better conferences. You target the best from beneath you. Or you do nothing and die

I understand that. But there just really isn't anything left below us. I think the MVC has reached the point where any teams that had a chance to improve the quality of the conference are now gone, and poaching from below just keeps making the conference worse.

Essentially, the MVC is at the point separating perennial one bid leagues from the rest of NCAA basketball, and poaching from one bid leagues won't be enough to maintain the status quo.

So, yes, the MVC can become a better conference by poaching from smaller conferences, in theory. We just won't, if these are our options. I'm not sure any of those options would replace bottom feeders in the MVC. There's no other option, of course ... it's continue becoming a worse conference through expansion or die. But the MVC will be a worse conference with any of these moves. And it will continue in perpetuity.